New pony viewing - this takes the biscuit

measles

measles

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So fed up. Travelled 120 miles (240 miles) round trip to see a 14.2hh pony who turned out to be 13.2 and a half ie 140cms). I took my measuring stick incase he was too big, but little did I know.. The vendors said they'd been told he was 14.2hh when they bought him some years ago.
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Why oh why don't people describe ponies (and horses) accurately? We've had so many wasted trips when I've asked all the right questions. There must be one 148cms pony with potential to showjump out there! Surely?
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Vendors time is wasted too. I just don't get it. We have an up to height child and so need something more than 14hh, something I'm quite up front about. We've been to see 6 ponies so far, covering around 2,500 miles, and got as far as riding two of them. One failed the vet and the other "experienced showjumper" wouldn't go within 6 strides of fillers. I give up!
 
This is my big bugbear too. It's not that difficult to measure a pony! And I started to take my stick along too when I was looking for a replacement pony, so you're definitely not alone.
 
Surely the owners could tell the difference between a 13.2 and a 14.2, some people are such timewasters.

On weds we travelled for 2.5hrs to see a pony that was hopping lame when they trotted it up. It could barely walk back to its stable it was so lame and to make it worse the people were'nt even that apologetic. They wasted five hours of our time and a whole tank of diesel!
 
I can beat that RobinHood! A few weeks ago we travelled an 801 mile round trip to see a pony that we had seen video clips of and I had taken 3 references for (trainer, PC DC and jumping trainer). Guess what - it was lame behind and I was told "oh, he always moves like that". Well, that's OK then..!!

Interestingly, very few ponies seem to be selling as most appear over priced and mis described. Your average 1m pony is not worth 10K, no matter how hopeful the vendor is!
 
YO advertised her section B as approx 12.2 but could be 12.1 - 12.3hh. Someone came to see her today in case she was 14.2hh....
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I have been to see a few ponies in the last few months and the problem I am getting is that they are bigger when I get there or are not LR suitable!
The pain of this is daughter likes the look then I have to be bad mummy and say no.
 
Sorry to hear about waste of time but been the receiving end too as Have good 14h honest but young pony for sale...tell people only come if youy are looking for that 5 yr old second pony.... and whole family turn up to ride and for the next hour its taxi pony time !! till in the end ...quite rightly after 4 people "had a go " the pony planted itself and refused to move ...
 
Try asking what rug size the pony takes! That helps to give you an idea of whether it's a small 14hh (takes maybe 5.6) or a full-up bursting at the seams 14.3 (which might take a 6' rug). Not a guarantee, but it has saved me some diesel (although I bet some people probably couldn't even get that right!).
 
My local riding school offloaded a 12.2hh(life measured) grade A showjumper to a local dealer as he wasnt easy enough for the average child to ride (he waas very bloody and of show pony type).
We wondered for a while what happened to him. Then one new client(12yo girl about 4ft10-5ft id guess) started to come for riding lessons and within a few wks her mother asked the instructor about buying a pony for her. Instructor told her to hold off for a year or so and that the daughter would need a 13.2hh-14hh pony with a bit of experience.
About 6 weeks later, the client comes in saying shes just got a new pony - a "bay" 14hh mare called Daisy. She wanted to bring the pony in on livery for A WHILE as she was afraid to ride her at home alone.
Imagine the instructors surprise when this 14hh BAY mare turned out to be the same 128cm chestnut gelding (with flaxen mane) that we had got rid of 6months previously!
OK so this was more of a case of a dishonest dealer, but had the client tried to sell the pony on themselves, they would surely have tried selling it as a 14hh mare as they knew no better.
There are plenty of idiots out there!
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Try asking what rug size the pony takes! That helps to give you an idea of whether it's a small 14hh (takes maybe 5.6) or a full-up bursting at the seams 14.3 (which might take a 6' rug). Not a guarantee, but it has saved me some diesel (although I bet some people probably couldn't even get that right!).

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That's a good idea - must remember that one.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Try asking what rug size the pony takes! That helps to give you an idea of whether it's a small 14hh (takes maybe 5.6) or a full-up bursting at the seams 14.3 (which might take a 6' rug). Not a guarantee, but it has saved me some diesel (although I bet some people probably couldn't even get that right!).

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unfortunately not alway reliable concidering my 14hh connemara is an a 6ft rug and i know of one 14hh coloured traditional who is in a 6ft 6.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Try asking what rug size the pony takes! That helps to give you an idea of whether it's a small 14hh (takes maybe 5.6) or a full-up bursting at the seams 14.3 (which might take a 6' rug). Not a guarantee, but it has saved me some diesel (although I bet some people probably couldn't even get that right!).

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My little 14.1hh connemara / higland cross took a 6ft 3" rug!!!
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Then again she'd never have been any good against the clock!
 
What type of pony you looking for - jumping? I can keep my ears open for you as mum deal with PC SJ team so there be the odd one or 2 up for sale - shame it's not few years earlier, I have a definitely full up 14.2hh but he's now 21 yrs old and partially retired as basically I wouldn't let him go out on loan as he's not the easiest ride and not the most consistent jumper I would say. I mean, once he's decided to start there's no stopping him it's just the starting that's the issue - he's great at reversing though!!! hee hee

Shame cos he has the most fantastic jump and ability he's just never hand the brain to cope with it!
 
It took me 6 months to find a pony for myself (small adult) people's perceptions of their ponies are often so different from reality! I was looking for 14-14.2 and so many were under height. A couple described as forward going were very difficult to get going indeed the riders had to give them a good wallop to get them into canter!

It was worth it in the end as I got my 5 year old forester at the end of Sept and he is just lovely.

I started asking them "how do you know the pony is 14h have you measured it and how much leg do you need to use to get it into canter etc. It is a waste of their time as well as yours if you view something totally unsuitable from the start.
 
I think its just because most people dont have measuring sticks! I know I dont. I have a pony just now who I dont actually know his height. He's a Welsh B so I know hes not over 13.2hh. But Im unsure if he's only 13hh or what! However, before I properly put him up for sale I do plan to borrow a measuring stick :P
 
The thing is, it's easiy enough to have a fairly accurate measure with a schooling stick or long bit of wood at right angles to the pony from the withers to a wall, then measure up the wall with a household neasuring tape. I wouldn't blame anyone for being slightly out, but 3 inches is pretty significant...

LadyT - we're looking for a genuinely-sized 148cms jumping pony.

SO1 - I'm glad that you finally found your perfect pony. We've just outgrown a 13.1hh NF JA pony who is virtually perfect and we'd love to find a 148cms NF who could jump.
 
I find 15.2 easy to judge as it's my height! Went to look at a "15.2" the other week & it only came up to my nose. We were looking at 15.2 to 16 but were looking at ads up to 16.2 as we found so many were not up to the advertised height, but also saw a 16.2 it was more like 17h. Touch wood we saw the right one yesterday but nearly didn't go to see it as it was a long way & we were convinced it would be 14.2 when we got there. Just need the vetting to go ok now.
 
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Try asking what rug size the pony takes! That helps to give you an idea of whether it's a small 14hh (takes maybe 5.6) or a full-up bursting at the seams 14.3 (which might take a 6' rug). Not a guarantee, but it has saved me some diesel (although I bet some people probably couldn't even get that right!).

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unfortunately not alway reliable concidering my 14hh connemara is an a 6ft rug and i know of one 14hh coloured traditional who is in a 6ft 6.

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Agree, my 15hh mare is in 5ft9, but friend's 14.3hh gelding is in 6ft6.
 
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