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Jinx94

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Recently I've seen a few horses for sale from someone who is very specific about the work that they are to do with their new owner.

Normally it wouldn't bother me as I'd assume that the limitations were due to age/health. But one of her geldings is gorgeous and I am wondering about going to view him in the new year if he hasn't sold. She's stated that he is only to go to a hacking/fun ride home and that he must only be neck-reined as retraining him would upset him. He's 12 with no health issues/vices, and on paper looks brilliant.

But the limitations make me feel a bit uncomfortable as I would like to do some schooling, pop a few fences - maybe do low level dressage and a few fun shows. In previous adverts she has said that her horses should only go to hacking homes as they are family horses who should be loved :S

Does it put you off when sellers put limitations on what you should do with the horse in the future?
 
it would put me off yes

I can see why people NEED some horses to go to a low impact exercise home and I can see why others ask for a competition homes if they have bred the horse themselves but beyond that it can get silly

If the horse is capable of the work then once you have bought it you should be able to do what you like with it

In saying that if the lady was local and likely to cause a scene at a show or is the type that rants then I wouldnt buy the horse full stop - I wouldnt want the hassle
 
at the end of the day surely if you were to buy the horse then she wouldnt be able to stop you doing what you wanted with him/her? if she was abdament that he can only be hacked etc. then surely shes best of putting him out on loan? obviously she can advise on what she thinks is best but as long as their is nothing phsically worng with the horse then there isnt much she could do to stop you i wouldnt have thought. also if it is too much for the horse to be retrained then im sure you would figure this out for yourself and do what you see fit.
 
I think alarm bells would be ringing if it were a horse I was interested in.
Why?? Unless it has some medical problem. Once it's yours you can do as you please but I certainly wouldn't buy without a full vetting.
 
I went and saw a horse once and on the phone, as I was arranging to see it, the owner said she would want to see me ride before she would accept any offer I might put in.

I canceled the viewing.
 
Surely when the cash has been paid and the passport handed over what the new owner does with the horse has absolutely nothing to do with the previous owner.

I understand a vendor explaining limitations on ability or physical elements and as such the purchaser can make a decision, alongside veterinary guidance, whether or not the horse is suitable for the activities it is required for.
 
EquestrianFairy said:
I went and saw a horse once and on the phone, as I was arranging to see it, the owner said she would want to see me ride before she would accept any offer I might put in.

I canceled the viewing.
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Rude on the part of the vendor, but surely you'd be wanting to ride the horse before you made an offer anyway?
 
Cortez said:
Why don't you go find a horse that is more suitable for what you want?
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What's to say he's not suitable? Just because the current owner doesn't do anything else with him doesn't mean he can't.
Go to see him. If you think it might be suitable and you're willing to put in the work to retrain if necessary you might get a gem. It might be hard to make that decision if you can't ride him the way you want to when you try him though.
 
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I actually don't mind when people say they want a horse to be a hack or pleasure horse as usually there are reasons such as slight arthritis etc. But what really pees me off is when they say they want the horse to go to a competition home. Whilst I have competed a lot in the past and I would compete again if I had a suitable horse, I really don't think that competing is something a horse would choose! If the horses wrote the ads they would say 'must go to a home with maximum turnout and minimum or zero riding, with lots of tasty grub!'
 
Cortez said:
Rude on the part of the vendor, but surely you'd be wanting to ride the horse before you made an offer anyway?
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That was my plan! However I was totally put off by the fact she wanted to discriminate my riding on a horse I was possibly going to buy. She made it very clear that she would only sell to a certain rider which I felt was unfair, we aren't all Ellen Whittaker.
 
I am looking out for others that are already where I would like them to be this one popped up though and he's described as forward going, responsive and athletic - she just wants him to have an easy life. I'm still in two minds about it, and will be doing a lot of thinking. If something more suitable turns up then I'll go see that instead!

ETA thanks so much for all the responses!
 
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