Tenacious buyer just won't give up...

Casey76

Casey76

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It's been a bit of a saga trying to sell Blitz. I've never selling another horse again.

The first lady who came to see him tried him in early spring, during the first really hot spell we had. He had exchanged a lot of emails before hand, and she had contacted my instructor to get more details etc. She watched my instructor ride him, and then got on herself. She adored him. I thought everything was sorted. She said that she had to wait for a friend to return from holiday to arrange transport.

Then a couple of days later she called to say that her friend (who is supposedly a vet) had watched the video and thought B had "very large nostrils." I said that he has never had any problems with his breathing, had no problems with recovery times, but was welcome to have her own vet come and do a full PPE.

She said it was too far for her own vet to come, so I gave her details of the local vets. No one was available to come within 24 hours, so in the end she got my small animal vet to come and do a limited respiratory test. (This vet does my vaccinations, and he is well known in the area for disliking any horse-related work).

The vet came and looked at B, asked me to lunge him for 10 mins and looked at him again, at which point he pronounced that there "could be" a slight noise; but further investigation would be needed.

The lady was already at her budget limit, but in good faith I said that I would pay for a further investigation, even though I believed there was nothing wrong. Over the course of several days, the "simple investigation" requested escalated, to the point where she was demanding I pay for a full respiratory work up. I declined.

I phoned my regular vet, asked them what tests I could do, and based upon my vets experience, in that she had seen B just 10 days prior, what was her opinion. My vet said that she didn't think B needed scoping, that he was fine. I got that in writing, and passed it on, but this wasn't good enough.

I left it saying that the lady was welcome to pay for a PPE with a vet of her choice, but I wouldn't pay for any further tests.

That was in April. Since then I know the lady hasn't found another horse to buy, and she keeps calling, texting and messaging my instructor, asking if B is still for sale, and why won't I respond to her messages.

She knows that B is injured, as she saw the photos on FB, before I unfriended her.

The last email she sent was basically "have you decided to keep Blitz? I really liked him, but it is a shame about his breathing problems, and I have to be guided by my friend and coach"

I've just received another email, saying "You haven't responded to any of my emails and I don't understand why. Are you ready to sell Blitz?"

I don't know if she is just pushing to get the price reduced (even though she was going to buy him for 2k less than his advertised price to start with) or what.

Do I keep on ignoring her, or should I write back and say he isn't for sale at the moment due to his injury?

(The whole "big nostrils" thing has become a yard joke, even my vet asks "how big are B's nostrils today" whenever she comes by)
 
sorry, dont know what the injury is. I'd just reply that he's for sale at XX amount as is and that she can take it or leave it.


I always thought big nostrils were a good thing in a horse. less good in a bloke.
 
I'd reply saying I will be prepared to sell him for x amount as soon as he has recovered from x injury. If you wish I will send you an email when he is back on the open market. He will be open to vet on a first come first serve basis.


But I do agree with the above that this buyer sounds like trouble before they have even bought anything!

I was a tenacious buyer ...ish. I wanted a pony, was told by very honest seller that pony wasn't "yet" suitable for the purpose I intended for him (unbroken, wanted kids pony). I waited and a few months later asked again if I could buy him :p just had my heart set on him and couldn't see anything as nice! Sent him off to a professional to be broken and I couldn't be happier with his progress!
 
I don't understand her e-mail. She didn't want him because of his perceived breathing problems. Nothing has changed (presumably his nostrils are still the same size?) so why does she now want to buy him? I'd tell her that he will be for sale once he has recovered from the injury but the price will now be €x (whatever she offered plus a couple of k more, which looks like the original price you wanted anyway). She sounds like trouble with a capital T!
 
I'd get back and say it's not your responsibility to 5* vet your horse for her! And I wouldn't want to sell to her anyway. She sounds annoying.
 
Shady said:
Honestly Casey? i think that if you sell to her you will never get any peace and within weeks she will be on to you for something and demanding a refund.
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This all day long.

Just tell her he's not for sale and not to contact you again.
 
ester said:
Presumably his feet are as much of an issue too ATM?
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Seriously, don't! The second lady who came to see him, brought her mother with her. Again, she adored B; even left a deposit. Then couldn't get a vet to come to do a full PPE. They even turned up with a trailer the second time viewing, but the mother decided his feet were "too small" (he was overdue a trim, and his feet were long to my eyes); and horror of horrors he was wearing boots to hack. Obviously he was really as lame as a duck, and the fact he was wearing boots was a travesty (i.e I was selling a lame horse)

Right now, I couldn't well him in good faith, as he is lame without boots and pads. My vet bills are in the 1000's investigating/treating etc.

I hadn't planned on re advertising for at least 6 months until I get the feet thing sorted out; and instead of being advertised as a competition dressage horse, he will be advertised as a hack only. It breaks my heart, but it is the reality of things.
 
Casey76 said:
Seriously, don't! The second lady who came to see him, brought her mother with her. Again, she adored B; even left a deposit. Then couldn't get a vet to come to do a full PPE. They even turned up with a trailer the second time viewing, but the mother decided his feet were "too small" (he was overdue a trim, and his feet were long to my eyes); and horror of horrors he was wearing boots to hack. Obviously he was really as lame as a duck, and the fact he was wearing boots was a travesty (i.e I was selling a lame horse)

Right now, I couldn't well him in good faith, as he is lame without boots and pads. My vet bills are in the 1000's investigating/treating etc.

I hadn't planned on re advertising for at least 6 months until I get the feet thing sorted out; and instead of being advertised as a competition dressage horse, he will be advertised as a hack only. It breaks my heart, but it is the reality of things.
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Casey, i don't know what it is like in your bit of France but here everybody wants a 'hack' for nothing and will still pick him apart and haggle like you wouldn't believe, they will also expect him to be foot perfect if unshod as it is the norm here and boots are very rarely used. I'm sorry you are having foot problems with him and i hope you get him sorted again, he's a lovely looking horse but don't advertise him too cheap or you will not find a decent buyer
 
Get rid of the ridiculous non buyer - I would probably be quite blunt with her.

Why would you readvertise as a hack not a dressage horse though? Is hacking really going to be easier on his feet than dressage?
 
God, she sounds like a nightmare! I'm actually dreading looking for a new riding horse here.

My only experience has been buying a small companion pony. Basically lied to about every single thing. Specifically asked how she was with electric fencing and if she respected it, and she escaped the first time we put her out and had to be sedated to be caught and walked the five miles home. It would be such a relief to buy from an honest seller! I'm looking for a new hack next year, but I'm really apprehensive.

Honestly, I would be very careful with this lady, I think - as others have said, she could be a real problem even after you've sold the horse to her! Its your right to refuse to sell to her.

Also, I can't stop laughing about the nostril thing - sorry but that's hilarious.
 
As others have said - walk away from that woman she will be nothing but trouble. I sell horses for a living and I have learned that when people contact me looking for a horse and then give a lot of qualifications like: don't want X colour, don't want x breeding - it basically means that they are impossible to please. At least that's how it's worked out in practice.

If you sell her that horse I bet she'll be back with other imaginary health problems to complain about, like the big nostrils. You could either say you've decided she's not the right person for him - but that will likely only set her off again - or you've decided to keep him, that's probably best. She's already proved herself to be a nightmare, don't entertain any more of it.
 
We turned away a would be buyer although she wasn't annoying like yours. My horse failed his vetting..sore across his back which we doubly annoyed at having checked all the basic tests the day before. My vet came out, horse was noticeably better in a day regardless and put it down to unfortunate timings. Now the original buyer prevaricated, didn't want to X Ray because she would have to disclose to insurance. I was not prepared to pay for one as my own vet was happy. It went around the houses and then we pulled the sale to her. Now this sounds like a painful buyer..however...when you then find her previous horse had to be out down due to kissing spines it puts a whole new light on it. We pulled the sale as told her (truthfully), she would always be worried and it was better for her to look elsewhere. Needless to say, said horse flew through his vetting for another buyer 3 weeks later with a stringent vet. Thats horses for you!
 
Wildfox said:
God, she sounds like a nightmare! I'm actually dreading looking for a new riding horse here.

My only experience has been buying a small companion pony. Basically lied to about every single thing. Specifically asked how she was with electric fencing and if she respected it, and she escaped the first time we put her out and had to be sedated to be caught and walked the five miles home. It would be such a relief to buy from an honest seller! I'm looking for a new hack next year, but I'm really apprehensive.

Honestly, I would be very careful with this lady, I think - as others have said, she could be a real problem even after you've sold the horse to her! Its your right to refuse to sell to her.

Also, I can't stop laughing about the nostril thing - sorry but that's hilarious.
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This ^^^ I lost it at nostrils too :lol:
 
Your seller sounds like a total timewaster and PITA to boot.

You've done all that was required, nay more, as you'd paid for the additional vet test to be done which you need'nt have.

IF, and I say if, you felt you wanted to sell to her, then I'd be inclined to wipe the slate clean and invite her to get a viewing from a totally different vet to those who've looked at the horse to date, and see what their findings are on the day with a different set of eyes on the job. With the proviso this is totally at her expense and that SHE not you will pay for any additional invest's if recommended (don't you DARE go paying for it!!).

But really, do you want to sell to this woman? She is obviously a total f@ckwit and I can see trouble ahead TBH if she's being so difficult now. She's the sort to mess you about big-time and will be hassling you to have the horse back in all likelihood if it so much as farts when she gets it home. I personally wouldn't trust her, and certainly wouldn't want her to have anything of mine, no way.
 
DO NOT SELL TO THIS WOMEN! You will never hear the end of it, she will ALWAYS be a pain and you WILL regret it and she will be WORSE once she has brought him. You have been warned. Tell her you are not interested in selling him to her and then just dont reply to any further emails. Job done.
 
Now I hate sellers posts who say "no time wasters".
I always think that sellers who are expecting real money for their horses should never describe their potential purchasers as "time wasters".
I will never on principle respond to an advert that states this - it tells me a lot about a seller if they could possibly describe potential customers in such a manner. I do not want to know them or their possibly perfect horse.

But this woman! Unbelievable! Are you so desperate to sell that you need to stay in contact with her? Presumably you don't - so just ditch her.
 
Why don't you just tell her that he is now unsound/injured and that you won't be selling him for months, if at all? Then block her number, delete her from any other forms of contact and just don't respond to any messages that she does manage to get through.
 
As other have said on here .... don't sell him to her, as she will be on your case forever more. Also, why subject this animal to such a potential irritating owner?

Thank you for putting this on the thread.. reading it has made my Monday morning =]
 
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