Taking a horse on trial

Serephin

Serephin

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I have been looking for a new horse and have found one i really like - I asked whether I could have it on trial - the owner said yes, but would need all the money up front and would give us something in writing to say that if we gave the horse back after the week (providing in same condition as he left them) would give our money back - is this how things are normally done? I realise that it is a matter of trust on both sides, understandably - but they seem very keen to get rid of the horse and it is a lot of money - just wondering if it was the way things were generally done?
 
Yes that is how its done,that way if you break the horse while its with you, they arent out of pocket. Just make sure you have a written signed agreement.
 
ah cool, thank you - I haven't done the trial thing before.

he is a lovely boy and they said they could deliver whenever I wanted - just want to take my time a bit and not rush things!
 
Absolutely!
After being burned I now always insist on having a horse on trial or a short loan before buying, true many owners dont like this, but I would rather miss out on one right horse than buy 10 wrong ones!
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Are you close enough to have the trial at their place? Go up and ride the horse where it is kept? So not really a trial as such. That is what I am doing at the moment. I have been up to ride a horse 3 times in last 2 weeks. The first time I rode it, she was very good, the 2nd time, she was a bit argumentative etc, and I rode her today on a hack down the road, but I fetched her in, tacked her up etc and it has given us a little time to test each other out and to bond a little.
If you hand over your money, and something happens to the horse when it is introduced to new horses, then you are left with the horse. But take into consideration that not many people have the chance to ride a horse more than once before they get it home!!! Then, you have to work the problems out. It is a difficult one when buying a horse.
I would ask if you can go up and ride the horse a couple more times if you are close enough. Good Luck.
 
I am about an hour away - so isn't too bad, but not down the road - I would have him in individual grazing if I took him on trial, so no danger of any field injuries from other horses. He would be stabled next to another horse who likes to try and bite my horse at the moment, but nothing aggressive (he is just playing). I must admit that the idea does worry me a little, but not as much as the idea of buying a horse then discovering it wasn't what i thought!

Plus this one is very chilled out and seems the type that would sell very quickly as has done a lot and has a go anywhere attitude - a total polar opposite to my horse!
 
It's how we did it when I sold Jazz. If it's not cash which mine wasn't, I insisted on a building society cheque as you know then it has been cleared from their account and I put it into my BS account but didn't touch any of it until the trial was over! We had a written agreement we both signed with the condition that if he was injured in any way at all, he was considered sold to her, full stop. If he had been alright but just didn't suit her, then she had her money back less transport costs. That was four years ago and she still has him and sends me regular updates. I also kept up the insurance until he was actually sold.
I think you need it in the agreement that if the horse doesn't suit you FOR ANY REASON, then you have your money back in full (unless they are delivering/collecting when they'd charge for that)
Good luck, hope he suits!
 
yes, i did that with the only 2 horses i've ever sold. i also asked them to arrange insurance cover for the month's trial, and to sign a piece of paper saying that if they injured the horse and returned it, they'd pay vet's bills. i got the payment up front and agreed to keep it in my account untouched for a month until the trial was up, in case they wanted to return the horse for any reason at all. never had a problem, it gave me peace of mind that the horses had gone to the right people and that they'd totally suit each other.
 
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I have been looking for a new horse and have found one i really like - I asked whether I could have it on trial - the owner said yes, but would need all the money up front and would give us something in writing to say that if we gave the horse back after the week (providing in same condition as he left them) would give our money back - is this how things are normally done? I realise that it is a matter of trust on both sides, understandably - but they seem very keen to get rid of the horse and it is a lot of money - just wondering if it was the way things were generally done?

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A horse just left my property under these conditions today. ( see post below)

I think how it's "done" greatly depends on both parties involved. You can only do what you are comfortable with in terms of buying and selling. You could be burned any way you do it so just go in with knowledge and eyes wide open no matter what you choose I say and hope for the best but always be prepared for the bad.

Some may be willing to let you have a trial *sale* while others may not . Only buy how you feel safe and on your terms
 
I think thats fair, but I would perhaps (if a lot of money) ask for a third party (solicitor) to hold the money to protect both parties in case of a dispute.
 
Trial for a week?! Surely it would take longer than that for the horse to settle so may not be the same as when you tried it at their place? It's a good idea though, although a week really isn't long.

Also ask them about insurance whilst the horse is on trial. I agree with Filly about keeping the money with a solicitor.
 
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