Selling a schoolmaster - Rant!

Gloi said:
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


Don't you think they have already done that by having the pony brought to their yard with lots of distractions and the pony, who is used to a quiet yard still behaving itself? As to them not knowing the owner, I think that is irrelevant especially as the owner has been prepared to transport the pony already for them to try. That must show a certain amount of commitment to finding the right new home for this pony.
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I'm another who doesn't think they're doing anything wrong.

I've seen quite a few posts on here where it's actually been suggested of the potential purchaser that they ask if the horse/pony can also be trailed at a show.

Buying a pony is a big leap of faith for many parents. And if the daughter is that nervous, might just be the thing that persuades them that the pony is for them.

There's a word of difference trying out a horse in an arena on it's own, to the slightly 'buzzy' atmosphere of a show (no matter how low key).
 
Gloi said:
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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That is the point it would seem that that are not seriously interested and it isnt just a sale we want - we have had this pony for 3yrs and want the right home for her we live locally to them 15 miles away, so are hardly going to cause oursleves any unnecessary grief from not being honest. Would rather wait and get the right home as ponies like this are as rare as hen's teeth!
 
There's a word of difference trying out a horse in an arena on it's own, to the slightly 'buzzy' atmosphere of a show (no matter how low key).[/QUOTE]

I think the OP said there were other ponies in the arena jumping whilst they were in there and they have produced the rosettes etc. won by this pony. Wish he was big enough for an adult sound just what I want.:D
 
amymay said:
I'm another who doesn't think they're doing anything wrong.

I've seen quite a few posts on here where it's actually been suggested of the potential purchaser that they ask if the horse/pony can also be trailed at a show.

Buying a pony is a big leap of faith for many parents. And if the daughter is that nervous, might just be the thing that persuades them that the pony is for them.

There's a word of difference trying out a horse in an arena on it's own, to the slightly 'buzzy' atmosphere of a show (no matter how low key).
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Dont think you have read all the posts - the pony has been tried on its own at home and at another yard of their choice in a small menage with 5 jumps set up and 4 other horses cantering and jumping around her in exactly the same arena etc where the show is going to be held..
 
Crugeran Celt said:
There's a word of difference trying out a horse in an arena on it's own, to the slightly 'buzzy' atmosphere of a show (no matter how low key).
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I think the OP said there were other ponies in the arena jumping whilst they were in there and they have produced the rosettes etc. won by this pony. Wish he was big enough for an adult sound just what I want.:D[/QUOTE]

Thank you CC! :)
 
EQUISCENE said:
Dont think you have read all the posts - the pony has been tried on its own at home and at another yard of their choice in a small menage with 5 jumps set up and 4 other horses cantering and jumping around her in exactly the same arena etc where the show is going to be held..
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Sorry, yes had read all the posts, but didn't go back and check before I posted.

Either way it's your choice (and I do understand your reluctance). As you say, this is a cracking pony and the right home will be out there for it.
 
TBH if i was selling a competition horse, I'd expect people to want to try it at a competition. But I personally would have the horse out competing myself, and let them try it there after I've finished for the day, I doubt I'd take it there especially.

And to be honest, to sell a horse for decent money, to a decent home, I'd try to be as accomodating as possible.

If the kid is a novice, three rides is not unreasonable to see if they like the pony. I'm experienced, and will sometimes go and ride a second time if I have doubts.

The difference here is they are expecting you to do all the leg work, which isn't cricket. Its up to you to decide if they are timewasters (looking for 1.5 years is a bad sign) and if not, what you can do to be compensated for your time and effort in taking the horse to a second trial. Maybe ask for a deposit, subject to the satisfactory second viewing?
 
Hackie said:
TBH if i was selling a competition horse, I'd expect people to want to try it at a competition. But I personally would have the horse out competing myself, and let them try it there after I've finished for the day, I doubt I'd take it there especially.

And to be honest, to sell a horse for decent money, to a decent home, I'd try to be as accomodating as possible.

If the kid is a novice, three rides is not unreasonable to see if they like the pony. I'm experienced, and will sometimes go and ride a second time if I have doubts.

The difference here is they are expecting you to do all the leg work, which isn't cricket. Its up to you to decide if they are timewasters (looking for 1.5 years is a bad sign) and if not, what you can do to be compensated for your time and effort in taking the horse to a second trial. Maybe ask for a deposit, subject to the satisfactory second viewing?
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Hackie it would be the third trial and practically the same as the second trial - if they wanted to see/take her hunting or do something different I could understand!
 
EQUISCENE said:
Hackie it would be the third trial and practically the same as the second trial - if they wanted to see/take her hunting or do something different I could understand!
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As I said, I've often gone back and looked at a horse for a second time (exact circumstances), and I'm reasonably experienced. So a third ride, in whatever circumstance, for a novice child rider seems reasonable to me.

And again, I'd expect to be able to ride in a competition environment if buying a competition horse.

However, as I said above, I wouldn't expect the owner to go out of their way to accomodate me.

But would I give a third ride? Maybe not in the circumstances you describe but generally, I would, yes. Pain in the bum, yes, but I'd try and be accomodating for the right home and the right money.
 
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I would allow someone to view a third time for a nervous novice quite happily,but it is your transport and time being used for this show. I am sure you would rather be in charge of the transport anyway but I think you at least need diesel money out of it, and I would want probably want a deposit too. I think you have already been obliging by taking the pony to their yard, and the price sounds fair for what sounds like a real gem of a lovely pony.
It's up to you, if you don't do it, they're not going to buy, I take it you are not desperate to sell but are you confident the next buyer will be as good? If you wait for another buyer you can assume there will be two viewings so that's more time.

I think the fact they've looked for so long just shows they are worried about finding the right one, or it could show they haven't been ready to commit so far.
 
You see I honestly don't think that the 3rd time will be the clincher. Your comment of mother hunting for 1 1/2 years makes me think nothing will be suitable. While I understand their desire to be sure, they are also making you go through a lot of hoops. I do like the idea of calling their bluff to a degree so only agree if they are going to pay you £100 for transport and YOUR TIME! its taking the best part of another day out of your free time as well when you could be showing the pony to someone else. I would also tell that the pony will be shown to other people and possibly sold up to that time as well, unless they are willing to put down a 10% deposit, refundable in the event of non successful vetting.. and put that all in writing.

I have (honestly) heard a very OTT mother at a small yard, asking the vendor if she could guarantee the pony in all ways. She was somewhat taken aback when the vendor said she could not, she could state that pony had not done x, x, or even x with her but could not offer an open ended guarantee for the future.
 
I dont think its too much to ask.
They are looking for a school master, presumably paying a premium. They want to test it thoroughly before parting with money.

Better than not testing a horse properly and ending up with something unsuitable.
Then you ending up with a mis sold/ not fit for perpose accusation
 
Has the girl tried the pony on the roads?
If not, they are not serious, it's all just bluster.

It's possible that they don't want the girl to have a pony and carry on like this to keep her quiet.

What parent would make a fuss about seeing the pony in a little competition rather than on the roads?
It makes no sense.

Plus, who would cover the insurance if something went wrong at this show? I would have thought the insurance company would try and wriggle out, they are not known for their generous nature.
 
We had this when we were selling our horse. The lady came with her friend first, then came with her trainer then wanted us to take him for her to have a lesson witb another one of her trainers . We said no anothee person tried him once and bought him straight away
 
As said already, why have they not tried the horse on the roads? Sounds like they've only tried it over jumps?
It does sound odd.

And what would the insurance position be, if you allowed them to use the pony at a show, then either pony or child got injured?

I'd be saying no to their request.
 
At £2750 she is a bargain too
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If she's really as saintly as you say and she's attractive (good confo etc...) then she does sound cheap. My friend bought a 13.2hh total competition schoolmaster who also hacked safely in 2010 for £7k. I'm not saying that you should double the price, but it's possible that at the moment you are attracting the wrong type of buyer.
 
I think they're taking liberties, to be frank. Aside of insurance issues, the time and expense of taking the pony to the show, the thing that would honestly worry me is that these pony-testers are imposing on your time beyond what is reasonable; if they were to buy the pony, would they continue to infringe on your time with queries, complaints, requests for advice etc? They sound as they don't value other people's time. For me, that would be a red flag.
 
i think shes too cheap and as said before you are attracting the wrong type of buyers.
she sounds smashing and at a height that mum can hack too, priceless .
hang tight and a better home will bite your hand of.
 
Op, forget what everyone else thinks, what do you think?

Do you want to sell the pony to the girl?
How long have you been trying to sell for?
Do you have lots of other people interested?
How much out of your way is it to get to the show?
How much expense has it been to you?

Do you think they are genuine or taking the piss?



If you think they are genuine, that its not to troublesome for you (ie you don't need to take a day off work) then Id say to them that its fine for her to try a class at the show, however pony will not be bathed plaited etc and they will need to cover your petrol money and time - and ofc will your insurance cover this? if someone or the horse gets hurt?

Even somthing like, a £100 gesture of good will for your time and costs - that when they do buy the pony you will return. And if they are taking the piss, you keep the £100.


Personally... its a step too far imo.
 
Personally I would comply you want to sell the pony and a buyers a buyer at the moment .
If you are not just say no , if they proceed be sure to be prepared to take the pony back if it does not work out.
 
A big thank you everyone - I have just had a text from the mother saying that their trainer thinks that they are better putting the money towards something else as the child will grow out of our pony in 6 months time ability wise and they will have to go through the whole process again - It is absolute rubbish as the trainer was present and very pro on both trial rides and the child had apparently never even cantered or jumped anything esle she tried as she was so nervous - so mother will probably end up over horsing the poor child. I reckon they never had the money and it was all a pipe dream, onward and upward our pony deserves better!
 
EQUISCENE said:
A big thank you everyone - I have just had a text from the mother saying that their trainer thinks that they are better putting the money towards something else as the child will grow out of our pony in 6 months time ability wise and they will have to go through the whole process again - It is absolute rubbish as the trainer was present and very pro on both trial rides and the child had apparently never even cantered or jumped anything esle she tried as she was so nervous - so mother will probably end up over horsing the poor child. I reckon they never had the money and it was all a pipe dream, onward and upward our pony deserves better!
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Problem solved :)

Hope your wee star of a pony finds a great home :)
 
I soooooo wish my little one was old enough/big enough because tbh a 14.2hh that'd been owned for 3 years, confidence giver, qualified etc... etc... I would chew my right arm off for! The initial trial obviously, a second trial at their yard I might have considered in your shoes if they offered fuel money and inconvenience money, but to ask to trial the pony at a show as well is, I think, taking the mickey! If they still haven't come back to you I would be readvertising and if they do come back for further trials I would be charging them - you want to sell her not give free rides!!! It is a bad market at the minute but true confidence giving ponies will always find a home.
 
EQUISCENE said:
A big thank you everyone - I have just had a text from the mother saying that their trainer thinks that they are better putting the money towards something else as the child will grow out of our pony in 6 months time ability wise and they will have to go through the whole process again - It is absolute rubbish as the trainer was present and very pro on both trial rides and the child had apparently never even cantered or jumped anything esle she tried as she was so nervous - so mother will probably end up over horsing the poor child. I reckon they never had the money and it was all a pipe dream, onward and upward our pony deserves better!
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Such is life, on to the next one hope you find the right ones next time.
 
wildwest said:
i think shes too cheap and as said before you are attracting the wrong type of buyers.
she sounds smashing and at a height that mum can hack too, priceless .
hang tight and a better home will bite your hand of.
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We are not desperate to sell & agree wildwest, we have only just put feelers out as I was hoping she could stay local and they were the first to try our pony.
 
EQUISCENE said:
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..
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I read that as "someone got fed up with our constant demands for more and more trials etc" rather than someone else let her down!

EQUISCENE said:
A big thank you everyone - I have just had a text from the mother saying that their trainer thinks that they are better putting the money towards something else as the child will grow out of our pony in 6 months time ability wise and they will have to go through the whole process again - It is absolute rubbish as the trainer was present and very pro on both trial rides and the child had apparently never even cantered or jumped anything esle she tried as she was so nervous - so mother will probably end up over horsing the poor child. I reckon they never had the money and it was all a pipe dream, onward and upward our pony deserves better!
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Phew, problem solved. I think you (and even more so the pony) had a lucky escape!
 
Yep - request too far - taking an animal to a show and competing is just too much. Taking it to the show to trot around the collecting ring - that is a different matter IMO. I really do wonder about people who push their luck with trialling then cry when someone else nips in and buys the pony from under their noses!
 
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