Share your seller red flags!

Don’t buy anything ad has been up for a week or more. There’s a reason it’s not sold!

If the owner says ‘she can be a bit/a little… ignorant/stressy/marish etc’
It means said horse is a LOT of whatever it is. (Lesson learned…!)

Also, make sure the horse can eat hay - mine was fed Haylage and I only discovered after I transitioned her to hay that SHE CAN’T EAT IT. Lol. (Also lesson learned!)
 
southerncomfort said:
To be honest, unless the horse was a fair distance away (and these days I won't travel very far anyway), I'm not fussed about videos.

Video's can easily be misleading, and I'd rather see the horse in the flesh and make my own judgement.

One short video showing the horse in walk, trot, canter and popping a small jump is more than enough I would have thought.
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A lot of videos seem to be edited to miss the transitions. :(
 
Ladybird L said:
Don’t buy anything ad has been up for a week or more. There’s a reason it’s not sold!

If the owner says ‘she can be a bit/a little… ignorant/stressy/marish etc’
It means said horse is a LOT of whatever it is. (Lesson learned…!)

Also, make sure the horse can eat hay - mine was fed Haylage and I only discovered after I transitioned her to hay that SHE CAN’T EAT IT. Lol. (Also lesson learned!)
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Don’t buy anything where the advert has been up for a week or more?

I don’t think this should be an off-putter. Maybe the owner wasn’t available for viewings?
Maybe the horse needs a particular rider?
Maybe the seller actually cares where the horse goes?
 
CluelessShowjumper said:
Don’t buy anything where the advert has been up for a week or more?

I don’t think this should be an off-putter. Maybe the owner wasn’t available for viewings?
Maybe the horse needs a particular rider?
Maybe the seller actually cares where the horse goes?
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True enough. I stand corrected. I have had some pretty interesting experiences though 😂😂
 
Ladybird L said:
Don’t buy anything ad has been up for a week or more. There’s a reason it’s not sold!

If the owner says ‘she can be a bit/a little… ignorant/stressy/marish etc’
It means said horse is a LOT of whatever it is. (Lesson learned…!)

Also, make sure the horse can eat hay - mine was fed Haylage and I only discovered after I transitioned her to hay that SHE CAN’T EAT IT. Lol. (Also lesson learned!)
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This just isn’t true. I have had one up for a week and he is a total gem. Just not managed to find the right fit for him but also recognise my videos are a bit crap and I need to sort them. He has a brilliant temperament but still needs some polishing and education as only 5. Had someone try him today who could barely ride 😱. Also I have been low balled on the other so why should I sell at such a reduced price when already priced to sell?!? I bloody hate selling horses as it is and this type of comment drives me nuts. There are loads on the market right now as well.

I had someone contact me who had. £4k budget and thanked me for not being rude in my reply. My actual suggestion was she start on horse quest at the back with ones who have not sold as will be online 5-6 weeks and then enquire with their budget to see if they can get something good value.
 
SilverLinings said:
Ignore anything the seller says/does to put you under pressure. Whilst I was viewing a horse a couple of years ago the seller kept taking phone calls from other potential buyers ringing to ask about him. Unbeknownst to the seller's husband my mother (who was with me) had nipped back to the car for my hat, and she saw him hiding in the garden phoning his wife pretending to be other people!
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I'm just revisiting this thread as I embark on my own first horse shopping journey. The mental image of this made me laugh out loud (I'm guessing the husband wasn't literally hiding in a bush but that's the image my brain offered me)!

I'm wondering about cagey-ness for contacting previous owners. I know this is not always going to be possible but when current and previous owner supposedly know each other, I wouldn't have thought that a difficult thing to arrange 🤔
 
NotInTheKnow said:
So I'm still looking for my impossible horse.

A recently discovered red flag is the seller's lack of good quality images and videos of the horse in their advert. It tells you there is no genuine desire from the seller to showcase the horse properly considering most buyers will have to travel great distance and carve out time to view them.

I am genuinely baffled by the poor quality videos especially (if they even have them at all) presented by most sellers when advertising horses online. One would think that advertising a horse for sale without a decent quality video in this day and age of smartphones is inexcusable.

In an ideal world, I think these 3 videos should be readily presented: 1) to show conformation at a 360-degree angle without tack 2) being ridden in 3 gaits and lateral movements in both reins 3) being trotted on hard and flat surface in a straight line both towards and away from the camera. At a minimum. I'd even go as far as how they are when being groomed, loaded and turned out.

Whenever I have to ask for these or any one of these, which a buyer shouldn't really have to, the vibe I usually get makes you feel like you've just asked the seller for their kidneys

Is this a 'dodgy' tactic? Are there actually genuine sellers of good quality horses who for whatever reason can't be bothered to take decent quality videos in the name of transparency?
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I know quite a few people who have good horses and are not technically minded.
One in particular hates keep being asked for videos. After sending one they will say if you are interested just come and see him and won't send anything else.
 
SaddlePsych'D said:
I'm just revisiting this thread as I embark on my own first horse shopping journey. The mental image of this made me laugh out loud (I'm guessing the husband wasn't literally hiding in a bush but that's the image my brain offered me)!

I'm wondering about cagey-ness for contacting previous owners. I know this is not always going to be possible but when current and previous owner supposedly know each other, I wouldn't have thought that a difficult thing to arrange 🤔
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The horsey people I know fall out all the time, plus said horse may be good with the current owner, but nightmare with old owner or vice versa. Ie my horse did not hack out alone at old home. Ive put alot of work in a now hacks a dream. Similarly one person came and tried a horse and it threw the loud person off, now has a pony club life with a quiet young girl and hasnt put a foot wrong. Can but judge the horse on the day, they do change .. Also said previous owner may want the horse back but they may not feel its in the horses best interest / face judgement for selling on again..
 
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SilverLinings said:
Ignore anything the seller says/does to put you under pressure. Whilst I was viewing a horse a couple of years ago the seller kept taking phone calls from other potential buyers ringing to ask about him. Unbeknownst to the seller's husband my mother (who was with me) had nipped back to the car for my hat, and she saw him hiding in the garden phoning his wife pretending to be other people!

Run a mile if the seller won't let you take bloods. I would always take bloods; I have never needed to test them but I knew they were there if needed. Even if for some reason I was unable to legally pursue the seller (if the horse turned out to be lame or nuts) I would still like to know what was going on drug-wise at the point I bought the horse.

If height is important (e.g. to compete in certain competition classes) then take your own stick with you, or ask the vet to bring one to the vetting. Even if the horse looks 'about right' don't take chances, particularly if they need to measure in under a limit. Tell the seller when you ring to arrange the viewing that you will be measuring the horse, it is surprising how often this makes them admit that either they've never actually measured it, or that they *accidentally* put the wrong height in the advert- at least if you know at that point you won't have wasted a trip.

Good luck OP, there are some lovely horses and sellers out there so hopefully you find the right horse soon.
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We have a dodgy Kent dealer who had his wife ringing up pretending to be inquiring about a horse to put pressure on the buyer. Unfortunately she fell for it and bought the horse who was a nightmare, had her off several times and totally rocked her confidence. Turned out later that it had face planted the male owner in the dung heap!.
 
Don't try one who lost a shoe the day before you go to try it. If it fails the vet it will be because it was worked without a shoe.

Also check foot balance when you try it, and don't fall for a PRE which is pigeon toed.
 
My flags are:

1. Edited photos and videos - should show a honest full view of pony, not the best clips. Also, look for riders who are in the same clothes in all photos and videos.

2. Reluctance to share information and history - particularly in writing. I have had a few say they’ll call to discuss which is fine, but I’ve had my fingers burnt with words of no substance.

3. Any dealer is a red flag. Again, experience of even those with an apparent reputable background have made me realise that those ponies are with dealers for a reason.

4. Short ownership without any real explanation.

5. Friend of a friend. You drop your fences because you think there is some loyalty. There isn’t; sellers have to earn your trust.

6. Selling on behalf of…only deal with the actual owner.

7. Doesn’t have anyone to ride it anymore.

8. Anyone who is contacts/friends with known dealers. FB is great for doing background checks.

9. Happy to sell without vetting, or without allowing a second viewing.

Those are just mine from experience.
 
Ladybird L said:
Don’t buy anything ad has been up for a week or more. There’s a reason it’s not sold!

If the owner says ‘she can be a bit/a little… ignorant/stressy/marish etc’
It means said horse is a LOT of whatever it is. (Lesson learned…!)

Also, make sure the horse can eat hay - mine was fed Haylage and I only discovered after I transitioned her to hay that SHE CAN’T EAT IT. Lol. (Also lesson learned!)
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Thats very unfair.
I have a spectacular 7yr old flashy riding club mare for sale currently. She's advertised everywhere Ireland/Uk for 2 weeks and no one seems interested in a genuine, kind, safe allrounder!

Im still competing her away while we wait for her perfect family to come along.
 
Ambers Echo said:
Yes a week is a bonkers time-frame to write a horse off!
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Also agree. I bought one that had been up for around 3 weeks, he is an angel. He had only had one viewing from an older lady who on reflection needed something smaller. I think the market was just busy (I viewed in April 24’) as he is brilliant.
 
I am very depressed by this thread. How on earth am I to find a first horse for myself?
I don’t have the experience to buy a youngster and bring him on
 
HelenMac said:
I am very depressed by this thread. How on earth am I to find a first horse for myself?
I don’t have the experience to buy a youngster and bring him on
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Do you have an instructor you trust and respect? Ask them for help and advise. Instructors normally have lots of contacts and usually have a client or 2 looking to sell.
 
Ambers Echo said:
Tbh I am not even sure how a responsible seller turns a horse around in a week. A dealer won't know the horse well enough and a private seller won't have time to vet homes and arrange viewings.
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First pony types go in a week or less. You put up the ad, are inundated with enquiries, someone keen jumps in the car that day/the next day and puts a deposit down at the viewing.
 
Asked for vet records as it had a significant scar. Sent records, didn't look to bad but there was no vaccinations this year. Pressed for full, was told nothing but check up and vaccinations.... pushed again, check up 5 months later horse still lame and vet recommended surgery which hasn't been done.

Another horse, cancelled when I was nearly there. Still turned up and adamant can't ride a wet horse. Very suspicious that they had intended to lunge and hadn't had time. The seller who apparently loved the horse very much, never asked about the type of home, my experience or what we would do.
 
A horse I know with an EXTENSIVE vet history is for sale for mega ££££. THey may disclose to viewers who ask. But knowing the horse, I wuld not ay a fraction of what he's up for. Hey ho. I'm very glad I have Mylo waiting in the wings. Amber does produce very nice level headed babies. Maybe I need a few more in the pipeline.....
 
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