Selling horses and trial periods - again - sorry!

oofadoofa

oofadoofa

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www.mearecourtequestrian.co.uk
I posted yesterday as I have a lady interested in a horse I have for sale and was going to offer her a weeks trial or maybe two. The lady is fairly novice but got on really well with the horse and is going to keep him at livery, so I'm happy that he is going to be well cared for. He's an ex racehorse by the way, but very quiet and sensible.

However, lady now says she wants him on trial so that she can take him hunting a few times before making her mind up. I'm really not happy that she thinks she will be able to just get on him and go hunting, especially as she is so novicey and he hasn't been out yet this season. I'm proposing to say to her that maybe I will take him cubbing next week and she can follow and maybe swap over for a bit to see how she gets on. What do you think? What would you expect from a trial?
 
I would say this is not the horse for her if you are worried about her ability to cope with him hunting, if that's one of the things she wants the horse for.......
 
id say certinally not! far to many things can go wrong, your idea sounds good, i honestly dont think a novice on a horse that has just moved home going hunting for the first time is going to end well.

IF she does take him hunting, id want to see a copy of her insurance and have the full asking price agreed in my hand just incase somethign happened.
 
Yes oofa, do that, do not let her take your horse hunting without you being there! If you DO let him go on trial, then demand 100% of the money up front, to be refunded if she returns your horse in the same state that he was taken in.
 
Sorry, I didn't explain myself that well. Horse is a doddle, but hunting is a different ball game to hacking on any horse. The lady hasn't ridden much in the last 20 years apart from the last few months, she got on well with the horse, took him for a good canter through open fields etc, but someone that novicey shouldn't really expect to just go hunting on a strange horse IMHO.
 
I would be worried about something happening and him getting injured and then you are stuck. but the same with letting anything go on trial really, its a nice luxury but think it is getting less these days.

I think your suggestion sounds reasonable.
 
My concern would be if the horse got injured while on trial. I think the best thing you can offer is what you have recommended that you go clubbing with her.

She is asking a lot from you, imo.
 
oofa, not sure there is any need to go 'clubbing' with her, dellars is rubbish anyway
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sorry BFG couldn't resist
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i little thought what if she has horse on trial and damages it hands it back to you and says not my problem or winds the horse up and you get back a nervous wreck. i would say no to trial as not give any my horses out for me to the have to pick up the pieces
 
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i little thought what if she has horse on trial and damages it hands it back to you and says not my problem or winds the horse up and you get back a nervous wreck. i would say no to trial as not give any my horses out for me to the have to pick up the pieces

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Yes, would definitely have to have the money in my hand before letting him go out on trial and only offer a refund if he came back in the same condition that he went in.
 
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oofa, not sure there is any need to go 'clubbing' with her, dellars is rubbish anyway
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sorry BFG couldn't resist
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must learn to proof read before posting.... thanks for that lol
 
dim question aswell, but does this woman know anything about hunting? if shes that novicey maybe shes thinking its just like a fun ride?
 
Even if she's a good novice, taking a new horse out hunting (despite if the horse will be a saint) and even cubing when you've not had chance to get to know the horse and let him/her settle into a new home, from a sellers point of view I'd be a little worried that she even asked you this.

However your suggestion sounds very reasonable providing she'd be insured to ride out on another.
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I had someone ask something like this quite recently - I suggested she pay for the diesel and cover my costs. Think your suggestion is reasonable for one strictly supervised cubbing outing, but take some money if there is an outlay or expense. Taking him out hunting on her own is an absolute no no on the injury risk front.
 
I think your suggestion is more than reasonable.

My friend was lead a merry dance by a potential buyer and it has put me off no end.

Horse for sale for £3000 it had done all RC events, won unaf dressage, BE intro (not placed but showing good form) absolute saint to handle, shoe, clip, box, hack etc
Woman wants it and seems very genuine and keen, BUT she is worried that it has never hunted or traveled in a trailer. Could she have it on trial to check these things out.
My friend agrees and the buyer pays her with £1500 with the promise that if everything is ok at the end of the first week the rest of the money would be paid. Fine.
First week up, no money. Buyer wanted to let the horse settle so could she have her for 2 more weeks. Friend says yes, but only if the rest of the money was paid.
3 weeks later!! (and after many phone calls and promises of money that haven't shown) My friend turned up with her horsebox to pick up the horse and the woman said
"Thinking about it she isn't worth £3000 but I'm willing to keep her for the £1500 I have already given you"

Gobsmacked wasn't the word. It turns out in the 4 weeks she had her on trial the woman had hunted her 6 times and taken her to dressage and showjumping (being placed at both)
 
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I think your suggestion is more than reasonable.

My friend was lead a merry dance by a potential buyer and it has put me off no end.

Horse for sale for £3000 it had done all RC events, won unaf dressage, BE intro (not placed but showing good form) absolute saint to handle, shoe, clip, box, hack etc
Woman wants it and seems very genuine and keen, BUT she is worried that it has never hunted or traveled in a trailer. Could she have it on trial to check these things out.
My friend agrees and the buyer pays her with £1500 with the promise that if everything is ok at the end of the first week the rest of the money would be paid. Fine.
First week up, no money. Buyer wanted to let the horse settle so could she have her for 2 more weeks. Friend says yes, but only if the rest of the money was paid.
3 weeks later!! (and after many phone calls and promises of money that haven't shown) My friend turned up with her horsebox to pick up the horse and the woman said
"Thinking about it she isn't worth £3000 but I'm willing to keep her for the £1500 I have already given you"

Gobsmacked wasn't the word. It turns out in the 4 weeks she had her on trial the woman had hunted her 6 times and taken her to dressage and showjumping (being placed at both)

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bloody cheek!
 
There is now way I would allow someone to have a horse on trial. They could easily ruin it.

Absolutely no way I would allow them to hunt it.

Find yourself another purchaser. This one is a time-waster.
 
I wouldn't offer a trial full stop. Unless I knew the person. Sorry, but horses get broken/ruined very easily.

I think its pretty rude of the person to assume she can take the horse out at all, especially for hunting which is a pretty high injury risk. Id tell her she can come and watch you doing it but thats it.
 
Can she not trial him at your own yard for a week? well come and ride him a few more times at least it would be under your supervision and the person can see the horse in his true colours and point out that you will be advertising him, just in case she does not want him at the end of the week, this way you won't loose any viewings, she doesnt loose out on a bit of a trial, you said she seemed nice enough, so it would be a shame to loose out on a good home just because she was silly enough to ask something that to most of us, wouldn't be acceptable, after all if she's a novice, she probably wouldnt realise the risks etc, but if you pointed out your reasons why your not happy with that, then at least she's learnt something!...if nothing else!
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