Selling - What to do?

[lcharles]

I have a 17hh ISH gelding, he's almost 8 years old. He's very gentle and sweet on the ground and once you have a bond with him he will do anything for you and try his hardest!

He would make a brilliant eventer or Hunter and has Welton and King of Diamonds lines. When i first had him he used to rear, buck, spin and anything to 'test' me to the extreme! Every now and again he'll try and have a little strop and will do a little rear but nothing major. He has improved soooo much in the last 8 months and wins out showjumping on most occasions and his dressage is coming along well. XC he is super bold and tries his best in all situations.

Now, with me he will do anything on the ground and ridden......but, if someone else rides him he'll rear, buck, spin etc until he feels he has been conquered and will then perform brilliantly. He doesn't 'test' people in an indoor or in the outdoor arena but will do it if someone tries hacking him or going out towards the xc course. I've had friends ride him in the schools and he's been fine but don't want anyone else to attempt to ride him out until i know, or can be a bit more sure that he wont do it because he is dangerous when he does it as he really, really tries to get them off!

I had a lovely chap come and ride him with intentions to get him out eventing a bit more this year, he loved him on the ground, in the school and i did warn him about how he could be when riding out and he said that he would give him ago! He got him off 6 times before we even got to the xc course but as he got back on everytime (you HAVE to, otherwise he wins!) once he started jumping him he was fine apart from the odd buck when he landed on jumping to test him out! Luckily this chap laughed (even though he came off quite badly twice), he said he can really see his potential but i decided not to go through with it as i didn't feel he was any better a rider than myself, which is what i wanted.

Now, if i wanted to sell him, how would people try him out?! I would tell people what he is like so they would be aware but is there any way to solve this problem and stop him 'testing' people out.

Back, teeth and all that are fine. He only does it with new people!

 

[Odd Socks]

To be honest I don't think anyone would voluntarily pay for something like that at the moment seeing as quality horses are going for peanuts in the current market. You could LWVTB to an extremely good home so the potential owner would have an opportunity to see if they can 'conquer' him. I don't think a dealer would take him with that amount of behaviour! Maybe sales livery?? Sorry I couldn't be more positive.

 

[lcharles]

Well i had him as a LWVTB and fell in love with him. I sort of like 'special' and difficult horses though! x He would definately need the right sort of rider but is there a way of desensitising him to other people? My friends will ride him in the schools because he's fine, would letting them ride him - even if it was for ten minutes, to get him used to other riders. The thing is, if i was injured or ill or couldnt get to the stables, i'd need someone else to ride him so i'd like him to be ok with other people for that reason too! x

Not looking at selling him yet as I have done so much work with him and he still has a lot more to do i think and i love him to bits but i want to get him used to other riders so he could be sold if need be! x

 

[Wagtail]

I really don't understand why you are even thinking of selling a horse you 'love to bits'.

 

[Flame_]

I'd just advertise him like any other horse, then suss people out on the phone. He's got positives in that he's done stuff competitively. You need a good, brave competitive jockey to come and try him. Maybe ask potential buyers what level they are currently competing at and if they are actually not really competing at a good level put them off. Also tell people he isn't a sweet, easy ride and what it is he does when he's tricky. It might take a while and you'll have to weigh up how you price him, but he sounds like he'll do a job for the right person. Don't worry.