Pony purchase difficulties

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Sunshine

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I have been looking for a bigger and more experienced pony for my daughter to do more BYRDS & affiliated dressage on since Sept. Spotted an ad on a popular, recommended site back in Oct and tried to call but got no reply. Assumed it had been sold by the time I had noticed the ad until ad reappeared in November, called again and got no reply, then about ten days later had a return call saying they had problems with their answerphone and had we called them. Explained that the pony was still for sale and they hadn't had anyone try it because of the phone issues. I accepted this and got lots more info. It seems like a great pony but because my daughter is quite young I wanted to arrange for lightweight trainer to accompany us and ride it first, so I told them and they agreed this was fine. The first arranged date had to be cancelled because their arena was frozen solid and I asked them to call once their surface ok to ride. Didn't hear from them until two weeks before Christmas and they asked if we wanted to go down that weekend, which we couldn't do with trainer. But I immediately booked for trainer to come with us at first free appointment and tried to confirm with vendor, who didn't return our calls until after Christmas, some two weeks after the proposed date.
Anyway, we finally managed to go and view 2 weeks ago, in the dark but with trainer. Had to discuss it with her and arranged to go back last weekend in daylight and do some jumping, hack out and a proper conformation assessment but trainer couldnt come, but we went alone. Pony performed well and we explained that we really liked her and would check with trainer/PC DC for any other questions we needed to ask and would call back on Friday. They said they hadn't had anyone else and were happy for us to do so and take the time to do that.
We tried to call Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today on both home and mobile phones, have sent emails and contact via advert and have had no replies at all. I just don't know whether we have done something wrong or have been misled about other interested parties and hte pony has been sold or they have somebody else waiting until the weather improves to go and try. Daughter is getting upset because she had started to feel a connection with the pony and was looking forward to riding.
It has been a very long time since I bought a ridden pony, daughter backed and schooled her 12hh by herself as I am unable to ride it. What did we do wrong and what would you do? Walk away, as there might be others, see it as fate that it isn't meant to be or keep waiting for some response?
 
I wouldn't get too worked up about it. They may well have someone else in the pipeline, but equally they may have other things going on in their lives that mean that selling the pony is not their top priority. Or they may just be rubbish vendors and you will have to be very persistent in order to be able to buy the pony
 
It does seem strange doesn't it but if you are interested in the pony I would persevere. I'm sure someone who bothers to advertise and demonstrate the pony wouldn't not want to sell so there maybe some innocent explanation, holiday, illness etc etc.
 
Personally I would walk away. I cannot stand unreliable people and if they are like this at the beginning then they are not going to get any better IMO.

Seriously though daughter needs to stop looking at the photo's and winding herself up about it, its not healthy. She has only seen it a couple of times!
 
Its difficult to say - you have no idea of what is going on their life, they could have a serious family issue i.e. mum or dad in hospital etc.

So I would tell my daughter to start looking for something else, but i would try again over the next 2 weeks and then give up.
 
Some people are just awful at returning calls even if they have something to sell. I'm one of those I'm ashamed to say

I'd persevere and keep it lighthearted and encouraging for now.
 
Maybe they are out and about people! If the pony is right then till the weekend is not going to hurt.... ESP with the weather!
 
Unfortunately with private sellers, be it horses, cars, eBay or elsewhere, they are not always well versed in how to treat a customer and I should imagine with most people selling ponies they are only doing it because they have to, and would really rather not go through the hassle! This doesn't really help you but at the end of the day if you and your daughter are keen on this pony and you can eventually get hold of them to complete the sale, I suggest making all the arrangements as soon as you are comfortable with, then pony is yours and you don't have to deal with them any more!

Do they have an email address you could just say 'we are interested in buying the pony, please let us know so that my daughter can know one way or the other' I think they need reminding that it is a young girl's feelings they are dealing with, and I really hope to god that they have not just sold it to someone else!

It is probably a good idea to keep looking though, just in case!
 
If you really like the pony I'd persist, they may have a reason for not replying. However, I'd also be keeping my options open and looking for other ponies in case nothing comes of this one.
 
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