Selling advice needed!!!

[Goldenstar]

Poor pony ,that’s was the most irresponsible way sell a pony
You should at the very least been ready to take the pony back .
Because it was likely to happen .

 

[ycbm]

Poor pony ,that’s was the most irresponsible way sell a pony
You should at the very least been ready to take the pony back .
Because it was likely to happen .

Likely? Really? If somebody advertised asking for a pony of that size and they ran a livery business, it wouldn't occur to me that the child would turn out to be too small for the pony. I would also assume that if the pony turned out to be unsuitable, the livery owner would sell it on. I've sold a trustworthy pony unseen, I don't think the seller did anything unreasonable in the circumstances. If it's pay your mortgage or have the ability to buy back a pony you sold in good faith it seems like a no brainer to me.
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[Htxx2]

Likely? Really? If somebody advertised asking for a pony of that size and they ran a livery business, it wouldn't occur to me that the child would turn out to be too small for the pony. I would also assume that if the pony turned out to be unsuitable, the livery owner would sell it on. I've sold a trustworthy pony unseen, I don't think the seller did anything unreasonable in the circumstances. If it's pay your mortgage or have the ability to buy back a pony you sold in good faith it seems like a no brainer to me.
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Thank you ?

 

[Winters100]

Poor pony ,that’s was the most irresponsible way sell a pony
You should at the very least been ready to take the pony back .
Because it was likely to happen .

I'm afraid I don't really agree. I can say that it would have saved a lot of bother if the seller had been able to take a bit more time to get to know the buyer, and as I said in my previous post it is always better to know as much as you can about the rider and the living arrangements, but she has since clarified that she was under severe financial pressure. In this situation, with financial worries and a professional buyer who knew the child, I would probably do the same. It is easy to say that she 'should' take the pony back, and in an ideal world where there were no worries about money it would be best, but she has sold for a good reason and it does not sound as if she made any misrepresentations in selling the pony. In her position I would simply assume that if the partnership did not work out the professional involved would help the child, or ultimately sell on. In the end it was the decision of the parents to trust the judgement of this pro. I have great sympathy for those who have suffered financially from the effects of the pandemic through no fault of their own, and I do not believe that OP should now have more stress of taking a pony back in difficult circumstances because the buyers made a mistake.

Edited to add that in these circumstances I would have felt that this was actually very unlikely to happen. My parents bought ponies for me more than once on the advice of the trainer without me trying them. Normally in this situation the pro will work with the child to get the right results, even if there are teething problems, which to be honest we did have in buckets with one pony. When I think about it I would perhaps be more confident in selling a pony to a pro without the child trying it, than I would in selling a pony to a child who tried the pony, but had non-horsey parents and little professional or knowledgeable support.

 

[Jellymoon]

I don’t have the money… this is the problem, i had mounting debts I needed to clear (being a hairdresser through covid has took it’s toll)
I did not foresee a problem.
anyway he has sent a video today of girl riding and pony was good. However she does look a bit small for her ?‍

Ah, ok, tricky then. There’s not much you can do other than offer to resell her, or offer to help with the child/pony relationship. 7 is very little for that size pony, but that was up to them really, they can’t blame you for that.

 

[Lurfy]

When buyers get horses that are beyond their abilities, usually regular lessons can help resolve the situation, if the horse is good, which sounds like it is in this case.

 

[Reacher]

Pretty much what Jellymoon said. Would it be possible for you and your son to go over and lunge / ride the pony a few times and get the pony settled in? Hopefully then with some lessons the child can get used to it.

You would have to first slap down the numpty YO and tell him you are absolutely not liable, pony was sold in good faith and you are only offering to help out of the goodness of your heart!

Otherwise offer to take it back and sell on their behalf.
(Edit - I think I’ve read further on you have given back the land so can’t take pony back).

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I think criticism is very unfair. Sounds like you were in a very difficult position and actually needed to sell which was probably incredibly sad and hard. But far more responsible than sticking your head in the sand and getting into more and more debt. The last thing you need now is more stress.

You have done nothing wrong: a pro was charged with sourcing a suitable pony for a child from a non horsey family. I presume he was paid for that. It is not your fault that the pro is an idiot nor that the family trusted him to find a suitable pony without wanting their child to ride. So you owe absolutely nothing to the pro or to the buyers. You did not misrepresent the pony.

The only remaining question is do you feel you owe anything to the pony? In an ideal world perhaps you'd help out. But this is far from the ideal world and you have enough on your plate. The reality is that nice ponies easily find nice homes so I don't think the pony is going to come to any longterm harm. The fmaily will either pay for advice/support and figure it out. Or the pro will sell on to someone more suitable. They just want you to make that easier for them but it's not your problem. If you are only taking back to sell on then someone else can just as easily do that too.

I am so sorry you are in this position.

 

[Xmasha]

I think criticism is very unfair. .

I dont think criticism is unfair.

I firmly believe that anyone selling a pony , ( especially a pony that is being sold as a first ridden) has a duty of care to the pony and the new owner to do everything they reasonably can to ensure the pairing is right. Admittedly you usually have just one or two viewings to do that, but within that you should at the very least see the child on the pony.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

A viewing is unlikely to have made any difference at all given that the pony woild probably have been foot perfect and the problem here is a family unware that ponies need time to settle and a pro telling them the pony was missold.

I actually would feel more confident that a professionally sourced pony would be well matched to a child whteher the child came to see or not.

 

[Xmasha]

but it doesnt appear to be 'professionally sourced' . The OP has gone on to say the livery owner appears to have a bit of a reputation.

She could also have seen that the child was too small.

 

[Htxx2]

I think criticism is very unfair. Sounds like you were in a very difficult position and actually needed to sell which was probably incredibly sad and hard. But far more responsible than sticking your head in the sand and getting into more and more debt. The last thing you need now is more stress.

You have done nothing wrong: a pro was charged with sourcing a suitable pony for a child from a non horsey family. I presume he was paid for that. It is not your fault that the pro is an idiot nor that the family trusted him to find a suitable pony without wanting their child to ride. So you owe absolutely nothing to the pro or to the buyers. You did not misrepresent the pony.

The only remaining question is do you feel you owe anything to the pony? In an ideal world perhaps you'd help out. But this is far from the ideal world and you have enough on your plate. The reality is that nice ponies easily find nice homes so I don't think the pony is going to come to any longterm harm. The fmaily will either pay for advice/support and figure it out. Or the pro will sell on to someone more suitable. They just want you to make that easier for them but it's not your problem. If you are only taking back to sell on then someone else can just as easily do that too.

I am so sorry you are in this position.

Thank you, yes I feel sick for rehoming to the wrong home only for the pony tho, I think he’s an idiot!!
when his groom was trying the pony he was also selling another horse but a buyer had come to try, this was some serious horse that could really jump he was more interested in that and keeping an eye on my little pony. They were both in the school together and this horse was jumping on me to turn right next to my Pony and she didn’t put a foot wrong. She did get excited when she first went over across Poland Canter she raced off into canter but then soon settled think it was excitement from the great big horse that was in there I think she tried to be like him LOL ? She soon settled and it didn’t seem to put anybody off. She went down a whole line of little cross pole grids she just trotted over them okay she knocked half of them down ? but I think that was testament to her she had all that going on and she was still such a good girl. If there are issues now it will be because the little girl is too small for her and maybe it’s making the Pony feel a bit insecure because I can imagine the little girls leg aids aren’t very strong. I’ve told him I’m here to help but only for the little girl in the Pony I think he knows he’s massively over Horse this little girl and now he’s panicking

 

[Htxx2]

Thank you, yes I feel sick for rehoming to the wrong home only for the pony tho, I think he’s an idiot!!
when his groom was trying the pony he was also selling another horse but a buyer had come to try, this was some serious horse that could really jump he was more interested in that than keeping an eye on my little pony. They were both in the school together and this horse was jumping 1mtr 10 right next to my Pony and she didn’t put a foot wrong. She did get excited when she first went over across Pole in Canter she raced off into canter but then soon settled think it was excitement from the great big horse that was in there I think she tried to be like him LOL ? She soon settled and it didn’t seem to put anybody off. She went down a whole line of little cross pole grids she just trotted over them okay she knocked half of them down ? ….but I think that was testament to her she had all that going on and she was still such a good girl. If there are issues now it will be because the little girl is too small for her and maybe it’s making the Pony feel a bit insecure because I can imagine the little girls leg aids aren’t very strong. I’ve told him I’m here to help but only for the little girl in the Pony I think he knows he’s massively over Horsed this little girl and now he’s panicking

 

[millikins]

If he's taken a fee from the buyer then he's acted as an agent and he is responsible, but for the pony's sake I'd offer to have back to resell if that is at all possible. I currently have a very nice connemara who has ended up with me after a similar scenario; non horsey, well off dad enlisted an agent to source a pony for his novice 12 tear old daughter. The agent purchased on his behalf a 6 year old, performance bred connie mare and it was downhill from there until she was put on sales livery at half her original purchase price. I have no idea if he's taking action against the agent but I would, he's several thousand pounds out of pocket. The original seller in this case would have had the mare back but was not informed for several months.

 

[Goldenstar]

OP you have not rehomed this pony you have sold it to a child you never saw ride it .

 

[tristar]

pony is far too big for the child, he should know this, you should make this very clear to him, his idiocy is causing you even more stress

hope you can find a way through and it works out for the pony

 

[Htxx2]

OP you have not rehomed this pony you have sold it to a child you never saw ride it .

Yes I did!! And a big learning curve for me!! However I was trusting the professional to make that judgement call as he was being paid to do so!! I hold my hands up and wish I did things differently but I also felt he was texting me with this lovely home on full livery with him and his team.
please don’t kick somone while they are down!!

 

[Goldenstar]

You believed it because it made it easy for you it’s what you wanted to believe .
There where huge red flags .
You failed your pony .

Now here’s a question who paid you for the pony .

 

[ycbm]

You believed it because it made it easy for you it’s what you wanted to believe .
There where huge red flags .
You failed your pony .

How bloody judgemental.

GS you own land and multiple properties, employ grooms and pro riders and are having your perfect retirement home built. That is really easy for you to write. I think you should maybe hold off making comments like that to a self employed hairdresser who has lost 50% of their income in the last 18 months and is now in debt.

Would you like to have a go at me instead? I have sold five horses in my lifetime to people I've never met. So go on, shoot me!
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[ester]

I suspect what happened is that non-horsey full-livery paying (ergo potential for quite a bit of his future income) parents weren't too happy at their daughter falling off said new pony, so complained to him and him then to you as he realised he might not have judged the situation correctly.

If the most recent video is good, I would just leave it with him and say if he does need a hand you/son are willing to help but she will likely settle more anyway.

 

[Htxx2]

You believed it because it made it easy for you it’s what you wanted to believe .
There where huge red flags .
You failed your pony .

Now here’s a question who paid you for the pony .

like I said big learning curve for me…. I’m not a professional, and I like to see the good in people. Even you!! And your need to kick somone when they are down then to ask more questions so u can kick some more ?‍

 

[Htxx2]

I suspect what happened is that non-horsey full-livery paying (ergo potential for quite a bit of his future income) parents weren't too happy at their daughter falling off said new pony, so complained to him and him then to you as he realised he might not have judged the situation correctly.

If the most recent video is good, I would just leave it with him and say if he does need a hand you/son are willing to help but she will likely settle more anyway.

Parents don’t have a problem, they are unaware of any red flags… 1st message I got off him was a picture of little girl on pony he said she fell off and she got back on and then pony was perfect. He said they adore her.
then he was handling the Pony the next day and it was barging because they tried to put a hosepipe on her and she clearly didn’t like the hosepipe. I don’t have connected water so I’ve always used a bucket and sponge.
It’s then he starts telling me she’s too much she keeps running off with a little girl going into canter. I told him she’s never done this before and I assume it’s a settling in issue he said he’s going to give her another week parents are unaware and he doesn’t want to alarm them just yet. I think he knows damn well that he chose a pony far too big for the girl.
I do feel bad for not seeing the little girl first but they were on holiday I had other viewers lined up they seen videos of her being ridden out in traffic in open fields etc and they wanted her. I wish I’d have insisted but I didn’t and it’s done now. But that is all I am guilty of being a little naive. But I think it’s very unfair the yard owner is coming back to me like it’s my problem and Iv miss sold he didn’t pay much care and attention he tried her once in his own school as I bought her over to him to try he got his groom to ride her and he was doing two viewings at the same time. He didn’t ask to take her out on a hack he didn’t try and groom her, however had he have done these things I know she would’ve been perfect and he would’ve bought her anyway… she was always foot perfect with us if there is a problem now it’s probably because the little girl is too small on a pony that isn’t settled.
after this conversation with him the next day he did send me a short video of the little girl trotting on her and he did say she’s been very good today but all they did was trot and they’re doing it in the lunch pan so she does run off there’s not far to go then they went on a hack through fields. I’m sorry but a pony that he thinks isn’t suitable for a little girls it keeps running off why would you take it through a field? I know she’ll be good at hacking she doesn’t even spook.
I think she’s just had a few settling in issues he’s panicked because he knows he’s screwed up slightly size wise so he’s trying to blame me before he even mentions it to the parents.

 

[Goldenstar]

Did the dealer/ yard owner pay you ?
If so the contract is with him and I bet that it’s more likely than he was selling on at a profit to the child’s parents .
To be clear if this where me I would bring the pony straight back home and resell it as I would never a leave a horse that had been mine it this situation .
If you don’t want to do that then I would write down everything that happened and then sit tight .
He has not a leg to stand on .
He sounds like a complete idiot never sell a horse to an idiot that’s your lesson .

 

[Htxx2]

Did the dealer/ yard owner pay you ?
If so the contract is with him and I bet that it’s more likely than he was selling on at a profit to the child’s parents .
To be clear if this where me I would bring the pony straight back home and resell it as I would never a leave a horse that had been mine it this situation .
If you don’t want to do that then I would write down everything that happened and then sit tight .
He has not a leg to stand on .
He sounds like a complete idiot never sell a horse to an idiot that’s your lesson .

Yes big lesson for me and Iv been Naive… but I did have faith that pony would be fine, but I didn’t think about settling issues.
he paid me the deposit from his account….. then parents paid the rest over 3 days later.

 

[Htxx2]

Yes big lesson for me and Iv been Naive… but I did have faith that pony would be fine, but I didn’t think about settling issues.
he paid me the deposit from his account….. then parents paid the rest over 3 days later.

I have offered to help him resell if pony isn’t a match but I can’t have her back as I no longer have the grazing. Iv told him il. One ride her lunge her help her settle or il help him resell. But I did state that was a good will gesture

 

[ycbm]

she’s been very good today but all they did was trot and they’re doing it in the lunch pan so she doesn't run off

Best typo all year ???

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes big lesson for me and Iv been Naive… but I did have faith that pony would be fine, but I didn’t think about settling issues.
he paid me the deposit from his account….. then parents paid the rest over 3 days later.

That’s a shame .

 

[Melody Grey]

@Htxx2 i think you’ll be just fine- it sounds like a mis-match of horse and rider on the pro’s part that they’ll no doubt improve over time. I wouldn’t beat yourself up over not seeing the child ride, lots of children’s ponies change hands this way. A pro, whose opinion you clearly respected at the time was telling you that it was a good match, I can see why you never questioned it. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but you can only work forward from here.

FWIW, I’m a self employed musician who lost 50% income (at least) over lockdown with no government support. It could easily have been me having to sell a horse in a rush. You did the best you could with the options available, don’t beat yourself up.

 

[Reacher]

OP if you had other viewings lined up for the pony can you offer to give the parents their details if they are still interested in the pony?

 

[Winters100]

Yes big lesson for me and Iv been Naive… but I did have faith that pony would be fine, but I didn’t think about settling issues.
he paid me the deposit from his account….. then parents paid the rest over 3 days later.

And in my opinion the pony will be absolutely fine. They will either figure it out with training, get someone else to ride the pony until the child grown into it, or sell. It is a fact of life that children's ponies are usually not kept in one home for life, the pony sounds very nice, so the most likely scenario is that it will go to a nice home if it is sold. Don't worry, you have done what you needed to do, and the pony will be just fine.