new owner having problems with a pony i sold

J

jcneill

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Please can someone give me a bit of advice. I have just sold my daughters pony that we had for two years and was good as gold with us, but needed firm handling. I was completely upfront about this.
The new owners are completely inexperienced but assured me that there was plenty of help available on the busy livery yard they were going to and the pony was going on full livery. Anyway it turns out that he didn't end up going on full livery at the busy yard, he was in a field on his own on DIY livery. I told them that he had never lived on his own before and this might unsettle him. They told me that someone had offered a companion horse if he didn't settle.
They rang tonight to say they are having all kinds of problems with him. First of all he started kicking his stable door. I put this down to the fact that he was used to being able to see other horses from his stable and couldn't in his new home. They said there were horses in the next field that he could see and thought this would be good enough. Someone told the new owners to let him live out so they have done. But tonight they fed him in the field and while he was eating the little girl went up to the side of him so he turned and kicked her. I told them that he probably thought it was another horse trying to steal his food, but they think i've sold them a dangerous pony. Someone has also told them he is head shy, but he isn't, he needs a confident handler. They want me to take him back but i know it is down to their inexperience. They assured me they would have help but it seems they are trying to do everything on their own. I feel sick at the thought of the pony being unhappy, and them thinking i have sold them a dodgy pony. He has only been there since Sunday and they need to give him a chance. I'm not in a position to take him back and have offered to go down and show then how to handle him. What else can i do? I have told them to get advice from a vet or and instructor if they don't believe me. Has anyone else had a similar experience and how did it turn out?
 
Personally, I'd take him back, for the pony's welfare primarily.
A good pony will sell again fast enough, and hopefully you will get someone who's a bit more honest and capable next time. If you don't get him back, what is going to happen to him?? I can't really see how a situation can change so dramatically in a few days to mean you can't collect him, unless you mean the money has gone.
 
Absolutely no question, I'd give them a full refund and get the pony back asap.

I would then find him a suitable home.
TBH, I wouldn't have sold him to them in the first place, it doesn't sound like a match made in heaven.
 
I'm really sorry but do think you should take him back. Sadly, they clearly are just not cut out to cope with & the consequences don't bare thinking about.
How many phonecalls did you get when advertising him? Do you still have contact details of anyone else interested?
I wish you all the best but sadly it sounds as though things will go from bad to worse if you don't take him back quickly.
 
Not read the posts above but why on earth did you sell him to them?

It's unthinkable what might happen to him if you can't help them enough and he is sold down the road for no money - or worse, he hurts them/himself/someone else through lack of control?

I honestly do wonder sometimes.

Your offer to help is generous and I'm sure you would do anything to get them going with him, but unless they REALLY want it to work it won't, they'll sell him on and...

They should have told you the truth or maybe he could have gone on trial - or they could have come to you to get used to him. It's a bloody mess to be sure.
 
Tricky one - can you get them to get intouch with a local instructor who could teach them some basic handling and give them on going support?
Our old pony went on loan and she was nappy and tried to kick them when they put boots on her and generally was a bit of a cowbag. I went over to help and she tried to kick me - one good smack was enough to remind her! They persevered and got to grips with her in the end but as she was on loan locally I was able to keep an eye. She did come home eventually with dreadful manners but is lovely now again!

It is early days but I think you need to be very honest and say to them that you told them the pony needed firm handling and that he had not lived alone and that he was unlikely to be happy like this. I would also put all my concerns in writing to them asap so that if they try to "sue" you there is evidence that this is their problem and not a problem that you sold on.
Poor pony - they need boundaries and consistancy and I think novice owners dont realise this. (I know I didnt once!).
 
why did you sell him to then in the first place??
you have said yourself that they don't have a clue then go on to say he need a confident handler. for the pony sake give them a refund and have him back. also maybe next time vet the people a bit more.
 
you could offer to have him back less X pounds to re advertise him. this is such a coommon occurence when novice/first timers buy a horse!! What did you put in ad and receit? was pony sold as seen? If you rate the pony and he did you well for 2 years then i would offfer to have him back less x for readvertising and inconvenience.
 
We have one out on loan a bit similar - a damn fine second pony but a bit canny for total beginners. Total beginnerss have her but they 'trained' here with her for several weeks and are extremely well blessed with 1- common sense 2- experienced help very close to hand (and me) 3- a pony well-suited to living on her own (very unsociable) although she can see others and mixes with them often
4- a vetted and customised to my specification 'home' ie it is where they said it would be! 5- the option to return her at any point should they struggle with anything they feel they can't surmount before some damage is done to anything or one.

If she were ever to be sold (unlikely) the exact same rules would apply. She is too precious and has served us too well for me to offload her onto unsuitable types to be ruined.
 
I sold them to him because i was happy he would be well cared for on full livery. I was happy he was going to a good home. Its obvious now i have to get him back, i just wanted it to work for them. My first horse caused me loads of problems but i didn't just give up with her. I had loads of interest in him but they were the first ones to see him.
 
sorry but i have to agree with others ,but all things aside i would refund money and get him back , the only problem would be is the fact you have sold him to a home that is not experienced owners by the sounds of it . i think there is a high percentage that he may be ruined and probley will need re-edicating again . good luck anyway
 
I think the pony needs you to take him back - poor thing.

If the reason you think you can't take him back is financial - the suggestion to resell him on behalf of the new owners sounds like a good compromise.

good luck.
 
i would just like to stress again that this pony was supposed to be going on full livery to be handled by experienced people. He was often turned out and brought in by others on my yard and caused no problems. I was told by the new owners that even though they were novices, there was people around to show and advise them and they were going to sit back, watch and learn. I thought my pony was going to a good home
 
I don't think anyone is judging you, you tried to do the right thing. Just it seems that the situation is not as it was put to you, and that now you may need to take him back.

If you had a lot of interest you should be able to find a more experienced home 2nd time round.

I had an owner say I was not experienced enough for her horse - she was right - I had actually reached the same conclusion myself after trying to ride her.

My new horse is coming tomorrow, I am a novice and do have support and back up. The difference is that the owner has assured me that my horse is suitable for a novice and I have tried her on several occasions and know that I can handle her on the ground and whilst riding.

I do hope it all turns out okay.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I don't think anyone is judging you, you tried to do the right thing. Just it seems that the situation is not as it was put to you, and that now you may need to take him back.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto.

.
 
thanks for being so sympathetic, i'll contact them tomorrow and get him back asap. Obviously with hindsight i would have never sold him to them but they seemed like genuine people. Why did you sell him, at this point doesn't help much
 
Good luck with it all. Hope you find a lovely new family for him. Let us know when you have a happy ending.
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Sometimes in life things fail to work out. Don't give yourself a hard time or worry too much. It would be ideal if you could take the pony back and sell him on again. That way you ensure your pony is well looked after and that the current owners can find a more suitable pony. I wish you luck and hope all is resolved quickly.
 
<font color="blue"> I was told by the new owners that even though they were novices, there was people around to show and advise them and they were going to sit back, watch and learn. I thought my pony was going to a good home </font>

I stand by the opinion that they hadn't tried him enough and now you are left upset and worried that he's not happy, they are out of their depth and were not as honest as they led you to believe. You aren't the first nor will you be the last to have the best intentions in selling and have been open and upfront about the pony, only to find all is not what it seemed with the new owners. Fortunately, he can come home (it now appears) and we will wait for the happy ending and lovely new home he deserves.

That you had teething problems and didn't give up on your horse when it first arrived is the difference between a horseman and a quitter!
 
Hi there,

I think that some of the comments posted although are true are very unfair.
Yes it would be wonderful to buy him back and find a wonderful new home but I appreciate that this may not be possible due to each individuals personal circumstances.

When you sell a horse unless clearly stated in the receipt/terms of sale - it is not a buy, try, and return if unhappy contract!
You were miss-sold the truth at time of sale therefore cannot be held accountable for any problems thereafter.
I too was almost caught in a similar situation but ratted out the potential new owner the day before my horse was sold. I retracted from the sale and the new potential buyer became very abusive towards me - what a luck escape!

My point is although you may feel emotional attachment and obligation to your horse you cannot be held responsible for their errors or dishonesty.
What ever the outcome do not be pressured into a decision that you cannot accommodate or ill afford - You have done nothing wrong!
smile.gif
 
You haven't done anything wrong, we all make mistakes and you were lied to anyway! I am sure you wouldn't of sold them the pony if you knew the truth, however this is in some way irrelevant now as the current situation needs to be dealt with regardless. For what its worth, I think if it were me and it were possible, I would take the pony back for the pony's sake. It doesn't matter about anything else
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi there,

I think that some of the comments posted although are true are very unfair.
Yes it would be wonderful to buy him back and find a wonderful new home but I appreciate that this may not be possible due to each individuals personal circumstances.

When you sell a horse unless clearly stated in the receipt/terms of sale - it is not a buy, try, and return if unhappy contract!
You were miss-sold the truth at time of sale therefore cannot be held accountable for any problems thereafter.
I too was almost caught in a similar situation but ratted out the potential new owner the day before my horse was sold. I retracted from the sale and the new potential buyer became very abusive towards me - what a luck escape!

My point is although you may feel emotional attachment and obligation to your horse you cannot be held responsible for their errors or dishonesty.
What ever the outcome do not be pressured into a decision that you cannot accommodate or ill afford - You have done nothing wrong!
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but putting the horse first is a much better prospect for his welfare don't you think?

OP don't beat yourself up too much, a similar thing happened to me, sometimes people are less than honest when buying horses. If you can and for the sake of the poor pony, I would take him back and find him a much more suitable home.
 
thanks for all the comments, some more helpful than others. I will take the pony back but will have to find somewhere else to put him as my yard is now full. So tomorrow and perhaps most of the weekend will be spent looking for a new place for him and splitting my time between 2 yards as i have one of my own as well. This will be a lesson learnt though and a mistake i won't make again. Once again thanks for the posts, especially the ones towards the bottom of the page.
 
What a nightmare! Hope you find somewhere to put him this weekend. I think you are doing the right thing taking him back, but also think you are in no way to blame for how its turned out!

The people who bought him have not been honest with you and the problems are down to them not doing what they said they would! Hopefully they have learnt a lesson too in terms of what they need to buy next time!
 
Well done you for putting the pony's needs first and bringing him back. I can well understand what a logistical nightmare it will be for you and hope you can find him an experienced new home soon.

Just goes to show that we moan about untruthful sellers but these buyers completely misled you. Just hope your boy settles back down soon after the way these numpties treated him.
 
when i bought my pony she kicked the door, ran up and down the fence at bring in time (others were brought in first and fed) and had diarohhea (sp). She was desperately unhappy being out in the field on her own.

I moved her to a full livery yard with a good routine. Door banging and dragging to the field had stopped within about 4-8weeks. She was a much happier person.

The new owners are not considering the horses needs properly. If you can get it back I would. They sound like a liability.
 
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