Selling horse - would you let buyer go XC schooling?

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cluedo

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I am selling a lovely horse who has won almost every WH class he has been in, got 30 dressage points in 4 shows and is lovely. He has been schooled XC and is bold but green. Some people came to see him today and want to take him XC schooling now, and in particular want to jump him into water, which he is inexperienced doing.

Apart from the very wet weather conditions, he has no studs, and hardly anywhere is open, would you allow this to happen.

I am worried he might be injured or that they will ask him to do something in bad ground conditions that may frighten him. I said I am not happy and they have said no-one else has said no.

They want him for eventing, know he hasn't done this yet, but shows promise and have jumped him over some massive fences in an arena, and jumped some logs in the woods.

Gut feeling is telling me no.
 
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Gut feeling is telling me no.

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Then don't. I wouldn't, and I certainly wouldn't be expecting a seller to allow me to.
 
My thoughts, I thought it dangerous and personally stupid to ask a horse they know is green to do those things. I'd never think of asking, even with an experienced horse. Oh well, have probably lost the sale, but would rather have my horse in one piece and safe.

So, if you are buying a horse to event, and don't see XC, what do you look for when you see the horse to make your mind up?

They have seen him jump some pretty big fences very boldly and love his movement, and know his competitive history...... surely thats enough?
 
Definitely not
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Another no. Sounds like you've put a lot into the horse and brought him on carefully. One bad experience could undo a lot and you'll be the one stuck with the results.

I think its an unreasonable request.
 
No, never!!

Especially with something he is inexperienced with...if they ride him incorrectly, he panics and has an accident and gets hurt...they get to walk away (or sue!!) and you're minus one horse to sell.

Most people judge a horses ability to go XC by watching it's movement, it's jump and assessing it's temperament...the rest is the gamble you take buying a horse. A the seller, do not risk it.
 
He has been brought on slowly and he is totally unspoilt in every way completely and its how I'd like him to stay. he will event next season but will begin schooling (if still with me) slowly to remind him of the good experiences he had last time.

he is at a yard for sale and they were reluctant to allow it so made it my call and when I spoke to them they made me feel I was completely unreasonable and that every horse they had been to see they took XC.

Irresponsible of the owners to allow I think.
 
Wasn't there another thread recently, with almost identical conversations between vendor and prospective buyers about refusing to buy the horse unless they were allowed to jump certain types of fences. They also said that "noone else had refused". Wonder if they are the same buyers.
 
If it was the right time of the year, you could've offered to ride him yourself XC schooling if they paid. That would've been the only compromise I can imagine.

Can't understand what else they want to see really, when they've jumped some logs in the wood etc.
 
If they have taken lots out to try that would ring alarm bells.Sounds like they will move on after trying him out.I wouldnt risk ruining him you will find the right person you will get to know him first without over phasing him.
 
When I sold our cob last year, he had only just started jumping so the people who came to see him popped him over some working hunter fences which was fine. Then they wanted to jump the water trays. As he hadn't been over them before, we swapped jockeys back again as I wanted to make sure that he was given every opportunity with a jockey who knew him well. I wouldn't like a total stranger to jump my horse over fences that he was not confident with.
 
I'd say "no" as well. I generally don't let people (especially if I don't know them and respect their opinion) do anything new with a sales horse as if I say yes to one, I have to say yes to everyone and odds are someone's is going to endanger the horse or affect its confidence right at the time it counts the most. If people aren't experienced and reasonable enough to see what they need to see within the horse's current skill set then they don't know what they're up to and are probably even more likely to cause a problem.

What I MIGHT do, if this is an absolute deal breaker and they are going to pay the money you want, NOT want a trial, and generally use this situation as a final test of the horse, is take the horse somewhere myself, where I am comfortable with the circumstances to show them what they want to see. (If I could I would take the horse out once first on my own but if I'm pretty sure the horse will be okay I might wing it.) I would work out in advance what they needed to see and what I was comfortable doing (honestly, probably a little less than I was REALLY comfortable with).

The "other people said yes" thing is blackmail. The obvious answer (albeit and inside thought
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) is why didn't you buy one of those horses then?

Your horse sounds like a corker with lots of options open for his future. There is no need to risk him for people who, quite frankly, already sound like they might be tire kickers.
 
I felt really under pressure, I said their instructor could come and ride him (must be mad cos last instructor rode him so badly and sabotaged it cos we wouldn't pay her commission!!) and have a lesson on him and they can jump some logs in the woods and there is a stream they can take him through but nothing else.
 
Definitely not - and by saying that every other owner they've seen said yes they're just trying to pressure you. And this probably isn't true anyway! He sounds lovely, so no doubt you'll find somebody else for him
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When FranA posted the same thing, but from the buyers point of view everyone posted that there must be something up with the horse if they wouldn't let her see it jump XC fences. Can't win can you!

Personally I would take it XC schooling and let them see it go thru water - unless it won't do it
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If your horse is honest and straight and you are going to be there you have nothing to worry about.
 
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When FranA posted the same thing, but from the buyers point of view everyone posted that there must be something up with the horse if they wouldn't let her see it jump XC fences. Can't win can you!

Personally I would take it XC schooling and let them see it go thru water - unless it won't do it
tongue.gif
If your horse is honest and straight and you are going to be there you have nothing to worry about.

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I was thinking similar.

Plus.

You say he is XC schooled but then say he has only jumped in an arena and popped some logs in the wood. This, to me, is not XC schooling.
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I think i'd be inclined to offer a compromise. If the horse were mine and the buyer seems genuine enough, i would offer to take the horse myself (or with the rider that the horse is used too). I would expain that i would not be taking any risks but would be willing to walk (perhaps trot) into water depending on conditions.

At least that way the horse would be with a familiar rider and presumably insured.

Good luck either way, i hope you find the right buyer.
 
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Gut feeling is telling me no.

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Then don't. I wouldn't, and I certainly wouldn't be expecting a seller to allow me to.

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I agree. If that means they walk away then that wasn't the right home for him. Trust your instincts.
 
I would say no, but might consider if THEY pay and I jump the horse, wouldn't let a stranger loose on any of my horses. After all they can then see he does jump without you being at risk of a) your horse getting hurt or b) the buyers getting hurt, would also put off tyre kickers as they wouldn't be getting a ride.
 
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