Sale trial terms? Advice much appreciated! :)

You say they are local, surely they will see more of the 'settled horse' if they trialled him for a couple of weeks off your yard?

If however he is going I would do everything said about re. insurance etc. restrictions on who can ride him, what activities can be done if you don't want him at the boxing day meet etc, whether he is allowed to travel off the yard, what he is allowed to travel in (on the basis that a travelling accident could be pretty catastrophic), who and how many others he will be turned out with (it's actually one of those situations where temporary indvidual turnout may be most appropriate).

And realistically the main question has to be is it a risk you are happy to take, and what do you do if the horse unluckily ends up permanently injured. If you are prepared for that and the quality of the home is worth the risk to you then all good :).

We had a 10 day and a weeks trial on both of our horses, both at their 'home' yard as they were local suited both parties.
 
Shysmum said:
A word of warning.... if they "break" your boy, he could come back you you broken...and unsellable. My advice, for wgat its worth is to NEVER lrt a horse go out on trial....sorry. NO WAY... MONEY UP FRONT OR NO HORSEY...
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I agree with this. I would never want a horse 'on trial' - I wouldnt want the responsibility. And I would never let one go, certainly not for 6 weeks!! Payment, with a written contract saying you will refund in full if buyer proves horse isnt what you said (not just if they change their mind!)
As its a local buyer, couldnt they come and try him as much as they want where he is?
 
I wouldn't personally do this in a million years. What I would do is accept full payment and give a refund if they return him in the same condition within three weeks.

What if he colics, who pays? What if he pulls a ligament hooning around the field on his first turnout there? I have just seen too many things go wrong during trials over the years. I'd let them ride him as much as they like at my yard for three week. Or else pay upfront and return within a few weeks.

Just from friends and yard experiences somethings ive seen happen are
- horse broke pedal bone backing off horsebox in trial yard
- horse was ridden in bad saddle and returned to a friend with a new bucking habit
- horses have come back regularly in rubbish condition- skinny and stressed
-new triallers actually taught horse to rear due to hard hands

just too much risk!
 
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I would say no to a trial theses days, the only time I did offer one it actually went really well. The new owner hadn't asked about it but after a few things came up on the vetting, I said if they wanted to have him still they could have a trial to see if he was suitable. It was a two week trial, with a full loan agreement and a non refundable deposit. It gave them confidence in the blips on the vetting and they bought him. Why I wouldn't do it under your circumstances is 6 weeks is far too long for something not to go wrong, especially at this time of year.
 
I had a one month trial when I bought my horse. Similar situation, friend of a friend so they knew I was legit. We used the BHS loan agreement, paid a deposit, and they kept her insured.

It worked well, I have an absolute gem of a horse who I wouldn't part with for the world and they are still in touch and know she is happy. However it could have gone horribly wrong, the first time we turned her out she jumped out, then about a week in she injured herself causing a scar.
 
You need to check insurance, will yours cover, do they have any? Also your tack, list anything he is going with. Get everything in writing its hard but don't trust peopl
 
Thing is, however tightly you try to draw up contracts, going after a private indivudual would be costly and pretty ineffectual. It's hardly worth it.

2 weeks to come to your yard, do an agreed set of trials/activities and then vet and purchase. Sounds like they feel they have you over a barrel....
 
As has been said by others, I wouldn't do it either, just so much could go wrong and to be honest I think expecting a seller to agree to six weeks trial is taking the P a bit.
 
I had a horse on trial for 2 months I did know the people who owned the horse and they had a basic loan agreement drawn up for the 2 months I had him, if I were you I would do the same otherwise your just handing the horse over with nothing in place.
 
Insurance, most new policies will not cover much in the first xyz days.

Agree with others, sell for full price after a full 5 stage vetting.
If they want to return within 30 days (not 6 weeks), you'll need another vet check yourself, plus a 10% discount off the purchase price, to cover your costs in holding stable etc, and this only if horse passes re-vetting.
The above is std dealer warranty.
 
Full long agreement....make sure he's insured to the max and also what will happen if he costs go over insurance cover...this happened to us once...a £7500 vet bill and without a watertight agreement we'd have had to pick up what insurance didn't cover. Also something to say if his value is lowered in anyway whether on a temporary or permanent basis than they are liable for his purchase price.
 
I’m against the grain of most of you here!
Draw up loan agreements with view buy at set date.
I would not be handing over money to a seller, and having contract stating it can be repaid if horse not suitable etc. My reasoning for this is that the seller may have spent the money, and you may have to peruse through the courts to return the horse, and get any monies owed. If seller were to have no other assets or money, you as the buyer lose out.
I appreciate you’re the seller, OP, but in your position I would do this as a loan.
You maybe need to include a clause covering loss of value in the event the horse were injured or something happened to decrease the value.
 
Spottyappy said:
I’m against the grain of most of you here!
Draw up loan agreements with view buy at set date.
I would not be handing over money to a seller, and having contract stating it can be repaid if horse not suitable etc. My reasoning for this is that the seller may have spent the money, and you may have to peruse through the courts to return the horse, and get any monies owed. If seller were to have no other assets or money, you as the buyer lose out.
I appreciate you’re the seller, OP, but in your position I would do this as a loan.
You maybe need to include a clause covering loss of value in the event the horse were injured or something happened to decrease the value.
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Oh, I think we all agree on this thread that there are dozens of reasons why a trial is a good idea from the *buyer's* point of view. But it is a terrible idea if you're a seller!
 
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