Seller's Woe

[SilverLinings]

I sold a horse via a newspaper ad 30 years ago, he was an excellent hunter, strong over fences but would jump anything and also ride a dressage test. I had a man ask to view him, he spent a couple of hours riding, including schooling, riding out on the roads and jumping round the x-country course. The horse was great as usual, but at the end of all that the man said 'he's a lovely horse but I only really want a black one' The advert had literally started with the words 'Chestnut gelding'; I am pretty sure he never had any intention of buying a horse and it was a ruse to have a free ride.

I hope you manage to sell soon OP, you have my sympathy!

 

[SilverLinings]

I don't know if there were more dodgy dealers 20 years ago or social media has made it easier to indentify the issues. Vetting has become more of things that people do now. When I was a child 40 years ago none of my childhood ponies were vetted and I expect they would not have passed the vet.

There are fewer dodgy dealers now than previously in history, not just because there are far fewer horses in the UK, but also because the internet makes it easier to trace a horse's history, and microchips probably help to a degree too.

I have several books from the 1800s that are about how to buy a horse and not get conned, the best one was written by an ex-horse coper (dodgy dealer), and the methods they employed to make a horse look younger, healthier or more 'fashionable' were certainly inventive, and in several cases horrifying! There are references to these tricks in books written in the centuries before that too.

They also comment on buyers who think they are capable of managing more horse that they can, and those who pretend to be knowledgeable but actually know nothing, so little has changed!

 

[AandK]

I sold a horse via a newspaper ad 30 years ago, he was an excellent hunter, strong over fences but would jump anything and also ride a dressage test. I had a man ask to view him, he spent a couple of hours riding, including schooling, riding out on the roads and jumping round the x-country course. The horse was great as usual, but at the end of all that the man said 'he's a lovely horse but I only really want a black one' The advert had literally started with the words 'Chestnut gelding'; I am pretty sure he never had any intention of buying a horse and it was a ruse to have a free ride.

I hope you manage to sell soon OP, you have my sympathy!

I got my now 26yo as a 5yo. Someone else had been interested before I saw him and tried him several times, had their instructor out to see him etc, in the end they said he's lovely but I don't want a grey!!

 

[canteron]

Ask for a short video of them riding in the ad - this does weed out the ‘hobby ad responders’ as takes a bit more effort of their part!!

 

[Kaylum]

They want ready made horses. Aren't prepared to.put the work in and expect them to be dopes. In reality when we were breeding and bringing on it took hours of work. Hacking getting them out on the roads and streets seeing things. Selling through word of mouth or the paper. They were vetted as they were quality horses but it took a lot of work. If they are nervous they need to go to a riding school. You never learn to ride until you get your first horse . People give up too easily these days.

My first horse was wild would rear and buck but put the work in and he was an amazing jumper. I didnt care as he was my horse and didn't even think too much about how far we had come. Definitely taught me to ride and learn about horses.

 

[Sossigpoker]

In answer to the very first post: you're probably getting all those nervous nellies because nervous and novice owners seem to think cobs are all kick-along and therefore the safest horse to have. Your cob sounds like what every one of those wants so that's why you're getting all those questions.
Ironically I know lots of cobs , my own included, that are not suitable for a nervous or a novice. Because they're intelligent and powerful horses that will quickly get the measure of their handler /rider.

 

[Jellymoon]

I’ve got so jaded with the whole damn thing over the years that for new horses I have three local small dealer/producers I like and have bought from before. If they have something that’s the right age/height, I just go to look, don’t bother with pics and vids. They are all within an hour’s drive, one is only 20 mins away.

If they don’t, I just wait a few weeks until the next Irish trip! I guess it’s easier though, tbf, as I’m buying 4/5 yr olds from Ireland, so I’m expecting something very green with no record. It’s so much harder to find good older horses that have done a bit.

On the odd occasion I need to sell something, I have two really good sales livery yards I send them to. I cannot be dealing with buyers, drives me nuts.

 

[horsimous]

I’m selling a cuddly toy online and so far I’ve had 7 no shows, a lot of messing me about (it’s amazing how people who were fine and arranged to collect an hour ago suddenly cannot cope with their health issue, have a relative in hospital or make up some other unbelievable excuse) . I’ve had people sending me tons of unnecessary emojis, another sending photos of their child with their current, and similar cuddly toy and I’d say at least 3 of the ‘buyers’ were completely weird! Good luck selling your cob as I’m sure the horse world has far more strange people in it!

 

[Keith_Beef]

You could take this thread and replace the words "buyer"and "seller" with "candidate" and "recruiter".

 

[meesha]

A friend is currently looking for a new horse. OP if yours is 15h to 16h and within 3 hrs drive of Somerset can u message me...thanks.

She had a viewing lined up Friday and was cancelled for no reason at the last minute, think the process is hard on both sides !!

 

[sollimum]

A friend is currently looking for a new horse. OP if yours is 15h to 16h and within 3 hrs drive of Somerset can u message me...thanks.

She had a viewing lined up Friday and was cancelled for no reason at the last minute, think the process is hard on both sides !!

So sorry he is not quite big enough.

 

[meesha]

So sorry he is not quite big enough.

Thanks anyway, good luck

 

[Glitter's fun]

In answer to the very first post: you're probably getting all those nervous nellies because nervous and novice owners seem to think cobs are all kick-along and therefore the safest horse to have. Your cob sounds like what every one of those wants so that's why you're getting all those questions.
Ironically I know lots of cobs , my own included, that are not suitable for a nervous or a novice. Because they're intelligent and powerful horses that will quickly get the measure of their handler /rider.

Also, I think a lot of riding school ponies are cobs, so novices transitioning from RS to owning look for something familiar, not realizing their RS cob has 24 hour turnout in a big mixed herd and is getting low-octane food, experienced handling and a lot more exercise than the average single owner pony.