Selling horses- is it me or is it hard work?Long sorry- advise...

charlie76

charlie76

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I am in the midst of selling my horse who is a super mare and very easy to ride and do having won a number of BD and unaff dressage up to elementary.
Had a person com eto try her yesterday who helped groom and tack her up( her suggestion not mine- I usually like to present my horses clean and tidy!).
She the saw her ridden in walk, trot and canter plus jumping on both reins( mare did put in the show me up because you don't usually do it, spook but was otherwise foot perfect). She then rode her in the school for 45 minutes inc jumping and then took her for a half hr hack in the woods, fields and on the road and the horse was great(she always is).
She said she loved her and really wanted her and went away to think about it.
She has since called me to say that she really likes her but wants to come back again either today or Friday to ride her in the school again, hack her again, catch her, turn her out, load her and lead her- phew!
And then, come back AGAIN on Saturday to ride her again with a 'friend' to have a look.
Perhaps its just me but is that an awful lot to ask?
She also asked if she could have a lesson on her tommorow(even though I told her I was not there for 2 days) without me there with another instructor!Then asked if she could take her on trial for 2 weeks.
I already said I would give her a 2 week money back guarentee as I am gutted about selling her and if she had to come back it isn't a problem(even though I can't see why she would want to).
I have shown her lots of pictures, her dressage test and videos.
Would others be prepared to do all this or do you think I should walk away from the sale and wait for some one else?
 
That does sound a lot to be honest! It's perfectly acceptable for her to ask her instructor/trainer to come and have a look and perhaps ride her - or give the buyer a short lesson. I also think it is acceptable to ask to catch the horse in from the field, feed it, groom it - all the things you need to do day to day. All of this should happen whilst you are there. I would not allow access to the horse if I was not present. I would also never allow a horse to go out on trial - I know someone that had a horse returned crippled after a two week trial.....
 
Yes to her coming back as many times as she wants, on the understanding the horse is still advertised and can be sold at any point.

No to lesson without you there, yes to it with you there.

No to trial (hence yes to her coming back to your yard as much as she wants).
 
In your shoes I'd tell her she was very welcome to come back with her advisor, at which point she can catch her, tack her up and then proceed to have a lesson. But that's all. After that she either buys or walks away.
 
If the girl is cautious and has had her fingers burnt in the past, then this behaviour is probably the way I would be!! But as you have said you would give her a 2 week money back guarantee, then I think that is very fair of you and would say you are away, it isnt convenient and see what she comes back with.. Good luck with the sale!! She sounds lovely!
 
She sounds like a joy rider tbh.
I would tell her that you have someone coming to see the mare on Friday, who sounds very keen. I would refuse the trial on principle, if the woman is a nighmare when simply trying out horse then think what she'll be like when she has it at home.
I would also let her have the lesson, which is fair enough if she wants the go-ahead from the trainer, but I would vet the trainer & keep an eagle eye on the lesson, sometimes the trainers are worse than the numpties.
 
I suggested that she came at the weekend with her advisor and caught her, groomed her, tacked her up, rode her, saw her load and helped put her to bed. And also let the instructor ride. I just feel 3 times at over 3 hrs a time is an awful lot of time to spend(she prob end up not having her!)
If I thought there was any issue with her A) I would not offer the money back guarenetee B) I wouldn't be selling her without ironing out the problems as I have been ripped off before! I am the ulitmate honest person when selling horses as I am in a yard where we wouldn't risk our reputation even though this horse is mine not the yards.
 
She sounds a bit like a joy rider tbh- three free sessions with the horse- I always found that I kind on knew if i liked a horse enough to buy after spending 20min around that horse- If she just wanted to see her being caught loaded etc then that would be understandable but to ride her three times and without you there! I would say yes to the lesson but only with you there and yes to the loading and catching etc. But if shes not committing after that then walk away as selling is the hardest thing to do and people to stretch things out like that make it so much harder!
 
I think for some people it's such a big step they need to be absolutely sure it's the right horse for them, so yes, let her come back.
I would ask to have the lesson under your supervision however, and say no to any trial. I know to my cost a horse can be wrecked over two weeks (they kept it inside the whole time and eventually in frustration it kicked the wall and damaged it's coxxyx)
We once had buyers to a cheap really evil mare who we had bought in foal and ridden afterwards, her temperament was so vile I wouldn't pass that breeding on again. They turned up all 6 of them, rode her one after the other, returned four more times and eventually sat in the stable with her for four hours. By this time we were past caring what they did!
They had her vetted (vet couldn't pick her back legs up at all, she lashed out but passed ) paid us and we never saw them or the horse again.. So if you come across an evil liver chesnut called Mayday, she used to be ours!!!
good luck with your sale...
grin.gif
 
i would NEVER offer any sort of trial or loan or money back. you are not a dealer and if she wants this sort of arrangement then she should go to a dealer.
If your horse is a nice honest sort you will not have nay worries selling her and will not need to offer these sort of "incentives".

she will mess you around and send the horse back after 2 weeks. Just let her pratt around under your supervision. (or another person you trust) as much as she wants. just dont let her take the horse out of your sight.

dont worry you will sell your horse if she is as described.
 
I think it is acceptable for someone to want to see a horse three times before they buy it. After all, it is a big investment and so many people have had their fingers burnt in the past.

However, I would not let anyone see the horse without you being there and I would not let it go on trial!

It is a lot of hard work, but its better that the person that buys your horse knows that the horse is sutable for her. If not, she could end up selling it to a not so nice home!
 
i'd say yes to one more session getting her in etc etc and trying her, with the trainer there.
i always let mine go out on a month's trial, but insist that they insure the horse fully from the start, and get in writing that if the horse gets injured and sent back to me, they'll cover all vets bills. never had a problem, never had one come back.
i can see what you mean... i'd tell her the truth, that it's a lot of your time to take up, especially given that you've already offered a 2 wk trial, which is plenty more time to make sure the mare is right for her.
 
I certainly wouldn't let her go on trial or ride without you present. I'd let her know she is welcome to come with her instructor to have a short lesson etc. and then I would want for some indication of commitment.

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I am gutted about selling her and if she had to come back it isn't a problem

[/ QUOTE ]

If you're not in an urgent rush to sell her then I wouldn't go bending over backwards to accommodate a potential buyers whims.
 
I think I am concerned that she seems the type that will be on the phone all of the time questioning what the horse is doing. The horse is a straightforward, easy to ride and deal with mare but she is TB x and she is a talented competition horse, not just a plod about(although she is quiet to hack)so she does have the odd spook or can be a bit more forward some days.The person in question is a middle aged lady that has owned her irish horse for many years- he is now 15 or so.
I'm not sure whether she is the right person for my horse- although she is a lovely lady and is very much smitten by my horse- ohhhh- its difficult!
 
Depends on what you are selling her at, slightly OTT but then some people are not as experienced as you and also may be parting with what is a lot of dosh for them and have to be 100% sure and could have had bad experience. I would say yes to one further short hack, possibly a quick schooling session, no trials, and tell her you have other people trying her out but you feel you ahve been fair adn reasonable.
 
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