Some advice quickly need please

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SALLYT

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I have a super gelding for sale 99% safe in every way and some people came to view last night, he did everything asked , they said they loved him.
Phoned this morning and offered under the asking price which is to be expected, but he's a lot of horse for the money really, Yo said I'm silly really but home more important to me than price.

Anyway getting to the point, they want him on a weeks trial, I don't like doing trial because I have heard awful things happening and then you are left with a very different horse coming back, and really a week isn't long enough to see if a horse settles imo.

I dont mind if they want to come back several times to try him, but do you think I should stand my ground and say no , do you think they will pull out ?

I have had a t least 3 people ring me this morning and I have 2 viewings already arranged for tonight and tomorrow.

I hate selling and have vowed never again.
 
I may be completely useless at this, because i have never sold (or indeed bought) a horse, but i wouldn't do a trial. What if they break him during the trial, or even worse, vanish with him? I think i would rather say that they could come and try him as often as they liked, but no trials.
 
I can see it from the buyers point of view as well with the trial but if you don't need to sell in a hurry and are not 100% sure that these are the best people to home your boy with then stick to your guns and say no to the trial.
 
Deffo wouldn't do the trial thing - accidents can happen & all that! If they love him they'll buy him anyway. Good luck!
 
I wouldn't allow a horse to leave my yard on a trial again, about 10 years ago we did this and the ending was awful, and I had a ruined horse returned to me.

A week does not show a horses character that well to be honest.

I suggest they come back as many times as they want, but get a deposit so if they are wasting your time you have something at least.
 
I personally wouldn't allow them to trial, but would offer the facility that they can ride him for a few days unless he's sold first
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Im with trundle. I agree let them try as many times as they like but accidents happen and he could come back broken.
 
They are not very far away at all 20 mins away, I have no problem with them coming back to try.

I had taken a deposit from another lady who was adamant she wanted him but not until middle of July, she tried him at least 3 times in various situations and he was a star. Then she rang out of the blue a week later and said she had changed her mind and felt he might be a tad too much for her, but would have him on loan if I couldn't sell him.

I still think a horse will need more than a week to settle in a new home, and he's so laid back I know he'll be fine there.I just am going to say I'm sorry but you either want to buy him or you are welcome to try him as many times as you would like to decide.

I'm such a pushover but for his welfare I need to stand strong .
 
Ooops sorry forgot to say thank you for your quick replies makes me feel better knowing I'm not being difficult for difficults sake.
 
Agree to a trial on the provision they give you the full asking price as a safe guard deposit. That'll prove how much they are REALLY interested!
 
I also wouldn't recommend the horse going away for his trial. If you like these people in question, suggest they trial him from your premises. Of course, if these particular people have come a distance to see him this will cause them a problem travel wise but if they like him enough they will travel to try him at your yard. I think any reasonable person will understand your reluctance to have him go away for a trial period. There is just too much that could go wrong and who would be liable should he become injured? Nah, you have other people interested in him so do not need to compromise.

I trialed out a highly strung Arab I was selling a few years ago. I let the girl 'have him' for a couple of weeks to come and go at my yard, as she pleased. It was very reassuring to arrive daily to find him tied up in the yard being groomed and fussed, and then tacked up and hacked out. I felt a lot better seeing him go when the time came because I knew the girl had the experience to take him on and he had gelled with her a little before he left me.

Whatever you decide, make sure you have adequate insurance for him whilst your selling him!

Good luck
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I wouldn't trial for a week no. Although saying that we did take a horse on trial several years ago although we pretty much knew we were going to have him, we also 'traded' my pony with the dealer for them to try sell for us. I think the trial was for 2 weeks in which time we had him vetted and decided to have him. Pony however came back, they deemed him a bit, erm 'erratic'!

If they are only a fairly short distance away then I would say just come and try him a few times. In my mind you either like and want a horse or you don't. I wouldn't bother trialling again, i trust my instincts now and would just go see and try a horse several times beforehand.
 
Absolutely no to a trial away from home.anything can go wrong and anything can happen......people often ask for trials, vets and every friend they ever had to come and see and then decide they had a free ride/weeks entertainment etc and return the poor animal worse for wear.....they are not usually so willing to do any of this if its going to cost them money.

If they were buying your car they wouldn't ask for a trial, would they?...cars and horses cost similar prices.
 
I would say no they can't have him on trial, however they can come and ride him as often as they wish at your yard, at least until he is sold. Do NOT hold him for them as they could easily change their mind at the end of the day.
 
Thanks everyone, I just want him to go to a nice home its the least he deserves, I guess i'm not 100% sure of these people.
But can you guarantee anything with anyone.

Am I being too picky?
 
FWIW - I took Henry on trial for 6 weeks before I bought him. I wanted to be absolutely sure he was the horse for me (after a terrible experience with my previous nutter) and his then owner wanted to be certain I was happy with him and wouldn't be selling him on.

I also let my nutter go on loan for a month - it was the only way I could be sure he'd find a home for life, and not end up in a sale or a dealers yard (he had HUGE issues). In this case, his now owners bought him after two weeks, which was fine by me!

So I guess it comes down to how much you want to find the right home for him, or how much you want to get a sale... The BHS website do a great loan contract that I amended to suit my loan, and the nutter - just make sure you specify your purchase price so that offers cannot be made after the trial...
 
ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO A TRIAL! It's bad bad bad news. I'd never ever ever agree to a horse going on a trial.

I'd say they can come and try as many times as they like but trials are just a no go.
 
I am going to say no to a trial, yes I want the best home for him and yes to be honest if I sold him I wouldn't have financial pressures of 2 at livery when my new one arrives.

If they say no they are no longer interested because of the no trial facility then I won't be upset, what can you really tell from a week anyway.

He's gentle , well mannered and a super chap, their words, he generally isn't the type to be phased by anything.
 
I let my mare go on trial and ended up paying for a lorry and experienced person to go and collect her with me, as the people decided she wasn't the one and then couldn't load her back in the trailer, she was fine when she went.

Ended up costing me over £100 with no sale.

We have recently bought a pony and she is only just settling in with us now after 3 weeks, so a week won't really let the horse settle.
 
If they're only 20 minutes away they shouldn't need him on their yard for a trial..agree with the other comments - not tarring every potential purchaser one with the same brush it's not worth the risk.
 
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