Selling a schoolmaster - Rant!

EQUISCENE

EQUISCENE

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Is it me or would you be annoyed? I am currently selling a hopelessly outgrown 14.2hh confidence giving schoolmistress after 3 yrs of fun so feel very disallusioned this morning following yesterdays second viewing at a propective purchasers busy livery yard. First viewing at our place a quiet private yard in a snow/sleet storm with their trainer, nervous novice 11yr old child rides pony including jumps up to about 2ft6 pony doesnt put a foot wrong so they then want second viewing at their busy livery yard. Okay we take pony down to yard do everything they ask like tack up in their barn etc. Child rides our pony in a small 20x40 arena with 5 jumps in it pony again behaves impeccabley jumps everything they require with 4 others jumping /cantering past ect at the same time. Then mother says to me do know what I would really like if the child could try her at a show next Sunday at this same yard!! WTF would be the difference this gem of a pony has just proved she performs individually or in a crowd etc I was flippin' annoyed and although she said she would speak to the onsite trainer and let me know she still hasn't had the courtesy to get back to us grrrr
 
I think you have been really obliging!

Do they want to see if the pony is a winner before they buy? Sounds like they are making you jump through hoops.
 
Forgot to add we have shown them all her cups/tophies rosettes she has qualified for trailblazers CT and SJ too. She is a confidence giving careful pony up to about 3ft not an affiliated competition machine and we have told them this information before arranging the first viewing!
 
Very cheeky of the buyer and a step too far imo. If she offered a £100 to you to cover the 2 trials maybe - but I wouldn't be asking and I also would not be obligng to this further request.
 
The thing is good ponies are always sought after and if you have a proven competition record to show and the faciities for a proper trial - I cannot see that that is not suffice. You have owned the pony for 3 years which speaks volumes to me too.
I can understand buyers particularly of children's ponies wanting to try more than once to be sure, but if they brought the child's trainer with them in the first place alot of uncertainty would surely likely be eliminated.

You know what will happen - you will have another viewer who buys the pony and these folk will be up in arms :D

Ah - missed that they brought their trainer with them first time. They are probably as frustrated as you :)
 
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I dont think you are going mad.
On the one hand they are being very cautious as one would expect when buying a pony for a nervous novice and they are doing the right thing by involving a 'trainer' and putting the pony through its paces.

On the other hand I think you have done enough for them to now make a decision and they are asking a bit too much of you to be honest.

Explain the pony is also excellent at shows and that this is a sale and not a trial and leave it at that.
Good luck with the sale, Oh to be young and small enough for a 14.2 again :)
 
You are totally right to rant! What more do they want - pony on trial for 1 year?? I'm sure you want to sell what is obviously a gem of a schoolmistress but asking to "borrow" pony for a show is taking the p***********
big time!:mad: If only conditions weren't so dire (for sellers) you could tell them to take their cash (and I'll bet they try to beat you down on price if haven't already?) & shove it......

Feel for you -its morally crystal clear but times is hard. Maybe ask for diesel money/your time? at the very least. Let us know what happens & I'm keeping fingers crossed:D
 
Sounds like a request too far, especially as they have seen the pony in a 'warm up' type situation and the show is at the yard that s/he's already been tried at.
I'd politely ask what it is that they don't feel they have seen the pony do yet?

If they are insistent and you think this is the right home maybe clarify that this will be the last 'trial' (bar vetting) and suggest they pay you £100 for your time/ diesel for the day and that if they really think they want the pony they should pay a sensible deposit (£500) subject to a disaster at the comp (list out the things that could go wrong on the receipt and vetting. Explain that while the pony is out competing with them you can't show him to anyone else hence you'd like a depoist.
 
I personally would say (and mean) that the child should be given more time to get used to the pony before entering shows, and that you would also rather not risk the pony getting damaged at a show with a new, novice rider in collecting rings until it has been paid for. I would also suggest that it is now the time to be making a decision or moving on! A good pony like that will sell.

You have been perfectly reasonable in letting them try the pony at their yard with other horses in the school, that should be enough to tell them that the pony is safe. They're either taking you for a ride or a bit OTT and the types that will ring up and fuss about every little nothing that the pony does wrong! And I'm not saying that parents shouldn't make sure that their little darlings are perfectly safe before buying a pony, just that this has been shown by now!
 
Honey08 said:
I personally would say (and mean) that the child should be given more time to get used to the pony before entering shows, and that you would also rather not risk the pony getting damaged at a show with a new, novice rider in collecting rings until it has been paid for. I would also suggest that it is now the time to be making a decision or moving on! A good pony like that will sell.

TBH this pony would just go out and do the job for the child who is very novicey and it was in a collecting ring environment with all the others flying about at their yard I am beginning to think they like the thought of darling daughter having a pony but perhaps don't have the funds to pay for a pony she needs at this stage of her riding. At £2750 she is a bargain too some people are clueless, the trainer was great, its the non horsey mother that is the problem!
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Being a suspicious sort of person I'd begin to start wondering if they were having you on in order to get a free pony for a show day.

Pony sounds a star.
 
Sounds like they want a nice pony to take to a show for the day- I'd say that you have other people interested, so you'll come back to them after they've been. If they're really serious about buying, they'll soon up their game! Poor you, I hope you find the pony a lovely home. Some people are quite unbelievable.
 
Personally I think this is very cheeky and a request too far. Totally concur with everything Honey said. You have already been more than accommodating with them and gone the extra mile unless you think this is going to be the best possible new home your pony could have I wouldn't be preparing it and taking it to a show for them. It's not just the cost of taking the pony to them it's your time getting it ready and pandering to them all the time it's there.
 
I think you've been more than reasonable, but am not sure how you can get out of doing it and still keep the sale going through. Good luck!
 
I am a competent but sometimes nervous rider, due to previous experiences. I wouldn't go taking a new horse to a show after riding it twice, I'd want some more time to get used to her!

Sounds a bit like you are being taken for a ride, sadly. Seems a nice way for the kid to ride what sounds like a cracking pony, hopefully get a rosette, and then say "no, she's not quite right for us" with a trophy to go on the mantelpiece. I would say no- and I think that's fair enough. I don't think it's at all a reasonable request, especially if they haven't even offered to put down a deposit on her. They obviously think it's reasonable behaviour- but would I would never dream of asking such a thing, probably wouldn't even if I said I'd hand over a substantial deposit and would only not buy her for some very specific reasons not including "but she didn't win".

I am still short enough to fit a 14.2hh (riding a 14 hh at the moment), but sadly I decided I wanted to own a horse for the first time in my life as opposed to a pony, or I'd snap her up! :D Ode to my trousers never being too short for me :p
 
you could agree to their request but at a cost to them. It also depends how far you are having to travel the pony to and from their yard.I would certainly stay with the pony for the duration of the show.
Could you possibly get some references that they are genuine people perhaps?
 
I would suggest that the child could try him again when they are getting him vetted. Cleaning up and boxing to a show is a big time commitment if they are putting any deposit down,
 
Crugeran Celt said:
I think that is really cheeky! The pony is either suitable after two trials or is not, surely.
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That was my thinking exactly - I feel for our pony she is a gem and sensibly and calmly did everything asked of her yesterday their child would gain a lot from her experience - it is probably best in the long run that we find her a more appropriate family where she will be cared for and appreciated. I thought they would bite my hand off as the mother said they had been looking for 1 1/2yrs and someone else had let her daughter down with a pony. Well you live and learn..
 
It can sometimes easily take more than two trails, especially for a child. First one to make sure he's vague what the ad said he was, 2) with instructor 3) going for hack even 4) take to new place/ do XC (if facilities not available at home) etc.
BUT I'd be putting a deposit down after the second viewing and asking to see/ do something different each time.

Your second trial at a new place, in a group environment having been seen by instructor sounds like they've ticked all the boxes already - I'd ask them what they want to see this time round.
 
I have to say I would be willing IF

The venue isnt too far away
The people were willing to prep the pony and tack up etc themselves (and lets face it the child should know how to!)
They put down a decent deposit
They will pay the asking price for the pony

I would get the terms of the deposit put in writing
 
WelshD said:
I have to say I would be willing IF

The venue isnt too far away
The people were willing to prep the pony and tack up etc themselves (and lets face it the child should know how to!)
They put down a decent deposit
They will pay the asking price for the pony

I would get the terms of the deposit put in writing
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The competition is at the same yard as where we took her for the second trial (15 miles from us although about 50 mins trailer ride as narrow windy roads with potholes) it is a low key affair novice show so similar to the second trial in my opinion!
 
Lol @ nicnac!
I agree tho. If they had asked to hire a show jumping course or x country to see how the pony is away from home then maybe.
Really I would want a deposit before anything else.

Your pony sounds like a gem tho and doubt you will have trouble selling.
 
I wouldn't let her compete on it as a trial even for payment.

We bought a pony last year, had him for 2 days and there was a show at our yard. Daughter begged me to let her ride him in it.

She was told she was to treat it as a clear round and to go steady but she got carried away and both her and the pony ending up being flat out on the floor when she cornered too fast. Totally her fault as she was over-confident and was riding like she did on her old 4x4 pony and leaned into the corner!!

Both were ok but you never know.
 
I don't think they are doing wrong at all. They don't know you from Adam and want to be sure their child will be safe on a pony so are doing as much as they can to see that is going to be the case.
There are certainly far more ponies around than purchasers at the moment so if someone is seriously interested do what you can to make sure you don't lose the sale.
 
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