Question re: selling...

Rambo

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We are in the process of selling kids pony...outgrown etc....

Just had a call from a lady who wants to come and see on sunday....from about 4 hours away by lorry. She seems to have done some research and sounds like she knows what she wants....but is planning on bringing lorry on sunday to see said pony, and if she likes it wants to take it there and then...no vetting or anything
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She says the pony would have a home for life....

Now, i understand that it's a long way to come, and that the money being talked about is not mega....but would you think this was 'normal' behaviour for a buyer, or would you be wary
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We are very fond of the pony and want what's best for her...but obviously in this scenario wouldn't be able to go and 'vet' the future home.
 
I would personally want to see a few potential buyers so that you can choose the one you think a is best suited and b is more likely to mean that it has a home for life.

xx
 
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I have seen this done before yeah, but its up to you if you could do that, or would you prefer to see their home.

Has she given you a landline number etc, then you could check her out?

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My OH is the one dealing with the sale, but she has given us some details including the name(s) of some her of her other horses (race horses !?) that we might 'know'. I'll check to see if it's a landline number though....OH is calling her back tonight after she's spoken to me
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I have a friend who has done that a couple of times before, and always comes back with perfect horses. Some people do just seem to know straight away whether the horse/pony is for them I suppose.

I wouldn’t consider it dodgy, if the money is in your hand and you like the person.

Just because she brings the lorry doesn’t definitely mean she is going away with the pony?
 
you do get the most weird calls for horses, my mate has just advertised her awfull pony, its not brill to catch bit nappy and so on, she had a call from a man 2 days later she explained truthfully what the pony was like, ( she didnt really want it to go to sales) he replied; bring it to mine now in your lorry and i will pay cash, we thought hoax or loony, however we took the pony was greeted by his groom and 3 children he paid cash no squalms and off we went, best sale i av heard of, still cant believe it.
 
If it's not mega-bucks involved then I wouldn't really be bothered. You have to bear in mind that she probably knows lots of people and is confident she can sell the pony on if it's not what she wants. You could always ask for a reference (a phone number, easier to spot someone covering for someone else than in a letter), or just ask around - seven degrees of separation and all that....
 
Yes it is normal behaviour from someone who lives many hours drive away. I always take a trailer with me if I am viewing a horse further than 2 hours from me.

Don't forget a 4 hour drive is not infact that.......it is an 8 hour drive round trip!
 
Be wary! Five years ago I agreed for my stallion to go to a privet breeder - I had a few interested but one just organised similar action to your potential buyer. I thought 'wow, great, I like decisive people' - they saw pictures and videos etc. It all end up with me 'rescuing' my horse a few months later because it turned up the 'breeder' didn't own the yard, didn't pay for the stables they used and my horse was to be given to the yard owner as a debt repay! (it was quite a good stallionand their debt was substantial) I was informed about all this by a complete stranger (who got hold of my details god knows how) while away travelling. Would never send a horse to anybody I haven't vetted anymore.

Edited to say: it's a bit different if you sell of course but if you have a pony you want a good home for it's worth checking a few things here and there.
 
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Yes it is normal behaviour from someone who lives many hours drive away. I always take a trailer with me if I am viewing a horse further than 2 hours from me.

Don't forget a 4 hour drive is not infact that.......it is an 8 hour drive round trip!

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Yes, that's very true
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OH has her name so we can do some googl'ing too....just all seems very quick
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Crazy thing is, it would be great if it did happen quickly as we already have the replacement lined up
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If they pay the money then I can't see what the problem is! WHen I sold my show cob last season, the lady who bought him rang 20 minutes after the ad was put on, said she would definitely have him, arrived three days later, didn't even ride him, and took him away. That was March 2006. In October 2006 he was 4th at HOYS with her. Some people know what they want and your OH obviously has described the pony well, so hopefully everyone will be happy!
 
Make sure you TELL them that you will not allow the pony to go unless they bring CASH! Do not even consider giving the pony over without seeing it.

I always, always pay cash for horses.

Oh......and good luck!!
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Yeah, i know what you're saying.....but i guess there's a (teensy weensy) bit that just feels a bit guilty about letting her go without knowing exactly where
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I haven't sold a horse in 20 years....and even then, the hard selling was done by my parents. OH has never had to sell a horse or pony in her life before, so it's a whole new experience for her
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Make sure you TELL them that you will not allow the pony to go unless they bring CASH! Do not even consider giving the pony over without seeing it.

I always, always pay cash for horses.

Oh......and good luck!!
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Oh yes ! Absolutely 100% she ain't going anywhere on sunday without the folding variety
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totally acceptable in my view, imagine the cost of the diesel for another 4 hour trip and you see why people bring cash and their transport.
The last horse we sold they brought a largish amount of cash, their trailer and relied on the fact the horse looked sound and I was happy for them to ring my vet there and then and ask him about any treatment he may have had.
If you don't like the look of them just say you have changed your mind. It won't be pleasant but it is an option.
We also bought our last horse on the spot for cash and as it already had a vet's certificate accepted that.
If you are doubtful find out more about her and ring the local PC DC I find they know most people in their area and are very good at helping you.
 
We've done that twice - the first time when we bought our boy nearly 5 years ago and the seond time was a loan horse, which unfortunately turned out not to suit us (but at least it wasn't a purhase). I wouldn't personally do it now as what I'd be wanting would be a bit more expensive, but if the woman is prepared to take that risk then I see why not. Ask to see photos of where the pony will be going and you make a fuss that you're very concerned about where it goes - it may reassure you that he actually is going to a home for life.
 
we have sold a few horses this way - particually ponies etc.

prehaps try googling her name to check shes not a dealer or anything but i wouldnt be overly concerned - after all - if you dont like her you have the right to say no!!
 
Nearly always buy our horses this way, 2 from a dealer yard, so not quite the same situation, but 2 privately as well.
Just because it's quick doesn't mean it's wrong!
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Equally have sold a mare after two visits from the prospective buyers, and after going to see where she'd be living, and delivering her a week later to what was to be her 'forever home' only to find out she was sold on 2 months later.
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I sold my last mare that way.

The people who bought her own a welsh stud and have a lot of her line, inc her sister, they saw my mare advertised, rang about her, paid a £200 deposit via bank transfer, unseen, then came and collected her the next weekend, 6 hr trip each way.

They didnt ride her or anything, just gave her a quick look over.

They did however go into great detail offering me refs, details of their website, their horses and what stallion my mare would be put too.

My mare is very happy with them, the new owners text or email me every week and they ar even going to show her.

I was a bit wary about someone buying unseen but I had been completely honest about her and luckily the people were lovely!
 
There are no guarantees when you sell a horse about where it will eventually end up. When I bought my mare last summer, I took the full asking amount in cash with me just in case I wanted to buy her as it was a long way away and I wouldn't have wanted to travel there again. If we had had a suitable lorry at the time, I probably would have driven it there. in the first place. I didn't bother with a vetting as for what I want and for me, it wasn't necessary. I think you must go with your gut instinct when these people arrive. After all, they might not like the pony. (BTW, my mare is wonderful and I have sent the previous owner pictures of her in her new home, so we are all very happy.)
 
well you get good and bad in all sales.
i bought a pony over the internet by just seeing photos but it was 4 months old, sent a cheque for him and picked him up 2 months later when he was ready to be weaned. but it was a 10 hour round trip which is why i did this.

my sister sold a pony last week they did everything that could have been asked of him when they veiwed him. but he is now going for sale at beeston auction next week as they have really un nerved him.
but they really pulled the wool over my sisters eyes with the"oh the kids love him to bits he will have a home for life" load of c**p.

all the best , just go with your gut instinct.
 
I would be wary personally. I viewed so many horses for sale that were nothing like their descriptions or after riding them I found out they were manic cribbers. I always went to see every horse with an open mind. I was wary about anyone who wanted to sell their beloved pet to me without even meeting me. By all means let them come down with trailer, but don't feel pressurised to sell, esp if you think they are a dealer
 
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