Selling a horse and trial periods....

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Vix1978

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All,
If you were selling your horse, would you let it go on a weeks trial period, and if so, what stipulations would you put in place....

thoughts please
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No. Would never allow a trial period unless it was at my yard.
A one week trial period is pretty useless anyway as horse would be unsettled after the move so purchaser wouldn't get a true picture of the horse.
 
We had our gelding on a months trial. But to be fair, we knew of the owner, the yard she was selling it from is just across the road from our field and the lady who owns land next to ours is a close friend of the lady selling.

We bought him
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I would never put a horse out on trial - but I do invite potential buyers to visit as often as they like, and make myself available to them if they wish to visit. I think it is not fair on any of the parties involved - and especially not on the horse.
 
No I wouldnt. I did with a couple of ponies in the past but when I put my last horse out on a trial it peed me off so bad I wont ever again! I was nice enough to take the horse to her (3 hours away!) as I believed she would certainly buy him after the trial however 5 days later she called up saying she didnt want him because her horse dentist had said he looked to have a hip problem!!! What the hell?! Absolute trash. I asked for him to be returned to me ASAP, she basically paid some local lorry driver to bring him up in hers. After he hadnt turned up for 4 hours I called to find out where my horse was, apparently the driver had stopped for some lunch and a kip!!! He turned up 2 hours later. He had NO travel stuff on, was sweating (never does), very thirsty and had rubbed his tail. She had also not returned his complete tack I sent him with so she had to return those a few days later. It was totally unacceptable.

Its too dangerous to let them go on a trial. Its like trusting strangers with your car for a week / few weeks! So much can go wrong and you'll be left to pick up the pieces.
 
I might consider a couple of months loan period if I felt that the people were right for the horse but a weeks trial is rubbish - the horse won't have settled down properly by then, but the person would have to be very suitable.
 
I think its an area fraught with problem. I as a buyer have always asked for a trial period and I think it says a lot if an owner is happy to do this. I always insist on a written contract, that the owner sees where their horse is coming to and that I insure the horse whilst in my care. I have bought both my horses in this way. The benefit is that a niggly doubt you have when trying a horse out when viewing is often sorted out if you spend some time with the horse. I really liked my mare when I viewed her but she was a bit twitchy. The owner was fantastic and let me take her on a 2 week trial and I spent a lot of time with the mare and have never looked back. Had the owner not agreed to let me take her trial I probably would have walked away. I also had another horse on trial that rode lovely at home in a quiet village, I was told it was used to traffic but after coming back with me on trial period nearly ended up dumping me on the bonnet of a car, I would have been really upset if I hadnt had that on trial. Needless to say it went back.
On the otherhand, I would be reluctant to let my horse go on trial unless I was 100% about the person taking them. If you are very honest about the horse and all quirks then there is no surprises. The owner of my mare told me everything she did and didnt like which can be scary but it meant I knew what I was buying and I was honest with her about my abilities. I have to say I did wrap the horse up in cotton wool, as was petrified that it would break a leg in a freak accident but again the owner was realistic and we discussed this and agreed that I would pay all vets cost if injury happened in my care. If in a vets opinon a problenm was an old one or conformation then I would pay call out but could return the horse.
Very difficult situation I think
 
i always allow a 1 month trial period, but stipulate that the horse must be fully insured, and that if it is injured, they will pay for all vets bills etc.
never had a problem. it gives huge peace of mind to me and to the buyer.
 
i was asked to do this recently - i had to say no - it takes longer than a week for a horse to settle and to build a relationship - i dont think its fair on either.
 
No way, I would never put my horse on a trial before purchase. Yoo unsettling and especially for a week, it would take that long to settle them, minimum.
 
I bought my mare after a 2 week trial, but then again on the Isle of Man everyone knows everyone so you can't really take the horse anywhere without everyone knowing. Plus they kept her passport and only gave it to us when we gave the the cheque to buy her.
 
I wouldn't. The last horse I sold I let the buyer come and ride her, go for a hack by herself, after going out with me, and take her out in the trailer for a lesson, etc.

Of course, she was local, so it worked out well.
 
I let my horse go on a months trial, and I wouldn't do it again; I think they were mickey takers who just wanted a free horse while their own was out of action!! I went to go and get him back and he had a big gash on his fetlock. Never again (but I won't sell him now anyway.. we're stuck with each other!!)
 
Never - had my first pony on trial and she cut her head in the stable on trial so felt we had to buy her - wouldn't have done otherwise
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Personally I would never alow one on trial and would never ask for a trial when I buy - you don't get a trial with a 2nd hand car so why should you with a horse? Would maybe ask to see the horse either at a show or a different location but thats all
 
I had my gelding on trial for 2 weeks, but kept at the owners yard. Worked out really well and I bought him before the end because I had fallen in love with him.
I would allow a potential buyer to trial a pony if it remained at my yard, otherwise no

xxx
 
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