The (odd) things owners do... viewing a new horse...

DappleDown

DappleDown

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So there I was this morning mucking out in the dark early hours, when my mind wandered onto how well the girls are settling into their new home with us, and how our horses had behaved when we first went to view them.

Upon arrival for viewing, my potential new mare was tacked up ready for Clint Eastwood to ride. Fully Western with a bit that was little more than a thin rust coloured wire on rings. With all the many questions and distractions I lost my train of thought so I never got to take a really good look to find out what it was and ask about it.

Another horse I viewed a few years ago was on the bottom ring of a 3 Ring Dutch Gag (straight bar). When I asked the reason for it, I was told it was the fashion down the yard and everyone had them.

This same horse ground to a halt every time we passed the entrance gate in the sand school, no matter what pace we were in. After pushing the horse on a few times only for him to do it again the next time around, I asked the owner about it. She proudly told me she had taught the horse to do that so she could light up her cigarette each time it got to the gate. It transpired she rode with a cigarette in her mouth and needed to light up a few times when riding so she trained him to stop at the gate so she could let go of the reins, get her lighter out and fire up the ciggie! :frown4:
 
When I was looking for a horse to buy I would pass by any adverts which had photos of the horse being ridden in a 3 ring dutch gag - and / or a flash / grackle noseband. Prefer to see horses being ridden in a plain noseband and snaffle...
 
People who stand on their Horses backs, I won't even view the advert. It shows nothing.

I could easily stand on my Horse in the menage. Out hacking is a different story altogether.
 
I can't stand this fashion of people getting on or (even worse) chucking their children on bareback with no hat to show just how 'bombproof' said, usually coloured cob, is. Some even going so far as to have videos of them riding on the road in shorts, no hats, and god forbid any hint of hi-viz with just a headcollar on to prove that this horse is a 'true beginners ride' at the ripe old age of 3 1/2.
 
Went to see a young Fell pony once that I wanted for showing. She looked good in the picture. Owner led her out and she still looked good but he kept turning her round so I only saw the left side. When I finally got to the off side of her her eye was missing, like I'd not have noticed before I took her home.
 
Not viewing but I rang about a horse that was a considerable distance from my home. To avoid wasting time on a journey and viewing I had a list of questions ready. Part way through the owner said “ You ask so many questions this horse won’t be suitable”. I had no intention of driving for over 3 hours to discover the horse was unsuitable in a way that could have been ascertained over the phone. Not surprisingly I didn’t go and see it.
 
once when i rang up to ask questions about said horse and could i come to see her, got told only if i was going to buy her, if not then don't come. said i wouldn't buy something i hadn't seen and they put the phone down on me, never got to see her
 
Yep, was also going to say the standing on their back thing. What the heck is that, I'm not in the market for a circus pony.
 
I see quite a lot of ad photos with the horse laying down or just a head shot. Call me old fashioned but I like to see a horse has four decent legs before I contemplate enquiring about it.
 
I went to try a horse once at a local hunt / dealer yard. Lovely Connemara just over from Ireland. I'm sure it wasn't an intended part of the initial go around, but the groom was riding the horse initially when the land onwer's gander flew at it and grabbed on to the tail. Apparently this was relatively normal and the horse carried on without concern as the infuriated gander refused to let go for two more laps! It certainty was bomb proof - but not forward enough for us!
 
Gloi said:
Went to see a young Fell pony once that I wanted for showing. She looked good in the picture. Owner led her out and she still looked good but he kept turning her round so I only saw the left side. When I finally got to the off side of her her eye was missing, like I'd not have noticed before I took her home.
Click to expand...

Oh dear...now that made me laugh. You're right, that is very - err - "optimistic" of the seller!
 
Gloi said:
Went to see a young Fell pony once that I wanted for showing. She looked good in the picture. Owner led her out and she still looked good but he kept turning her round so I only saw the left side. When I finally got to the off side of her her eye was missing, like I'd not have noticed before I took her home.
Click to expand...

Clearly thought you had no-eye-dea
 
Rang up about a pony, to be told it had just passed a 5* vetting, so I asked why the people who did the vetting didn't buy and was told well it passed the vetting but they were just timewasters. So I persisted 'was there anything came up on the vetting that they didn't like and made them change their minds?' 'No, as I say it passed the vetting' After re-asking this in differing ways a couple of times (was it sound, did it have any conformation difficluties or anthing that would affect its suitability for a child's jumping pony?' the owner said 'like I said, it did pass the vetting but it had windgalls and the people that had it vetted said they didn't want it after all, they were just timewasters, but the horse will jump 1m so it's perfectly suitable it's only windgalls so it can still jump'

I don't understand why she was so put out that I refused to travel 3 hours to view.
 
Not viewing, but the owner of a yard I briefly volunteered at had some potential buyers to come and look at horses for their riding school on a Thursday. Come that weeks' Wednesday, she grabbed one of her 4yo youngsters who had only been ridden in a halter before, stuffed a bit in his mouth, got on and then attempted to see-saw his head down, so that he would be able to be ridden in a bit the very next day... Said youngster then threw a rightful fit and almost went up and over her. Guess who didn't get bought the next day...
 
A few years ago now, we where looking for my daughters first horse ( transition from ponies). Went to a yard, and was told, this is the sweetest horse, the girls on the yard wont ride her because shes so quiet, so I have to get on ( YO). Took it into a very small indoor school, where it went around, looked as though it would explode any minute. Daughter still got on but she was petrified, and refused to let the chap let go of the reins ( baring in mind she could ride). She got off, pretty quick. the YO led the horse out of the indoor, by which time it was getting even more het up, the minute it got outside it reared up and went over backwards. Its never done that before .... Then after it got up and walked a few more strides, did it again !
 
Did go and see one where the owner wasn't there; they just gave us directions and we texted them a photo of the gate saying is this the place - apparently it was!

Nice horses though, unfortunately the 3yo we'd gone to see was a tank of an animal and not for me.
 
We went to see a horse 'suitable for a novice' at a dealers yard in Surrey. I was immediately suspicious when the dealer said that lots of people buy her horses without riding them. Then doubly suspicious when she presented us with a Irish draught hat -rack (it was the start of autumn, so no way should have looked like that) we watched her ride it, sawing and pulling in his jaw, then, slightly against my better judgement my sister rode it, where upoun the horse started bucking 'he's never done that before' yes, really.
After this, and several views of other horses 'suitable for novices' we decided that suitable for a novice actually means 'you're so stupid you won't notice if its lame/un rideable' and looked at riding club horses instead.
 
Not long after I started riding again post broken ankle, I went to view an Appaloosa mare. I had explained to the owner that I needed something that would stand steady at a mounting block for me to get on and off "Oh yes that's no problem" and that I wanted something good in traffic "Oh yes, she's good on the road".
The mare was a lovely looking animal, although apparently had had mouth ulcers (?) when she first arrived with the owner. I asked to see her ridden, which seemed to surprise the vendor, she 'went to get her hat', taking the mare round a corner. I followed to find the vendor hopping on one leg round the field trying to mount, "Shut the gate!", as the mare might try to dash out.
Having finally mounted, it then became obvious that the vendor couldn't get the mare to go anywhere unless her daughter's pony went first, even in the field. I declined to mount and we left, despite the vendor's pleading.
 
The horse I wanted to try was on the Big Island, so I had planned to visit my retired mare and try out two horses: one before seeing my mare and one after. I got a text just as I got buckled into my seat on the flight over. "So sorry but cannot show the horse today due to a family emergency." This was from the trainer, as the owner had started college on the mainland. Luckily, the family emergency, while genuine, ended up being not too bad, and I had texted the owner, who contacted her mom, who arranged for me to see the horse. I did get to visit my girl too, who is looking great.

I ended up having to cancel the second horse viewing, but I did buy the first horse. I felt awful for canceling but would not have had time for my flight back to Honolulu, and I ended up offering for horse 1, so I would have been a timewaster. But as nice as the owners were and are, they did hide a few things about my pony. He was already tacked up, and it turns out he can be a PIA getting tacked up. That is all sorted now, as I have a custom fitted saddle on the way and am riding in my western saddle (which fits) until new dressage saddle gets here. I specifically asked the size tree they used and got some pretty vague answers about how a 'regular' saddle should work. Aren't they all regular? Anyway, not a big deal as he has been an awesome pony so far!
 
I have only ever tried ponies once in my life. The rest have been bought unseen. When looking for something bigger than my shetland we went to try a Welsh B that was supposedly forward going but well schooled. It was ridden in a 3 ring gag on the bottom hole and the minute it saw even a pole on the ground it tanked towards it. The next one was a very fat, lazy fell pony that was overheight so that was ruled out. Then we went to see Jasper. We had been warned by others that he was dangerous and the last person to try him fell off and broke their collar bone. He was a freshly broken 4yo fell pony who hadn't done much cantering but he did everything I asked, went round the field, up and down the road past a tractor and a car without batting an eyelid. He was forward going but listened. So we bought him. The person that broke their collar bone fell off because they were unbalanced and he was unbalanced in canter and they fell off going round a corner. He turned into one of the best ponies I ever had!
 
Can't stand it when photos are posted with horses jumping in the distance and you can't really see them. Another pet hate of mine is when people post videos with chart music over them.

I saw an ad for a horse, with a girl in full makeup, her head swung to one side in full pose. It was a real kim kardashian post, eh? no thanks.

My favourite one is a guy who rode his horse backwards full pelt down a tarmac lane, no hat, wearing adidas - what a sight - haha!
 
I viewed a mare who came crashing out the stable when the vendor was trying to tack up (she's never done that before etc...), it box walked while she was trying to tack up and the rider and owner started having a disagreement about why the rider was putting a thick ear bonnet on it (rider- it looks pretty- said with many sidewards glances at owner. Owner suddenly shut up)
Horse was ok at walk and trot, albeit had as much bend as a wallpaper table. Girl came back over and asked if I wanted a go. I had already made my mind up that it wasn't for me, but I did ask why she hadn't cantered, to be told that it didn't have a canter but she could try and show me if I wanted. On the phone to the owner I had been told this horse could go out and do a prelim so when I relayed this to the rider she suddenly changed her tune and told me that yes it can canter but it's unbalanced. She then set off and asked for canter and the thing rodeod her down the long side with its head between its knees.
I thanked them for their time but said she wasn't for me. A two hour round trip, but I had a nice coffee at the service station on the way home.. silver linings!
 
When I was looking for my first I went to see a cob. I had discussed with the dealer beforehand that I didn't mind a little bit green, but i wanted something with a sensible head on its shoulders as it's my first and needed something for confidence. I also wanted my mum to be able to ride it occasionally and she was a novice only been riding a few years. Dealer assured me that cob was fine, just a little green in the school so would need some work there.

Went to view, it was quiet enough on the ground, the person hacked it down the lane and back and it seemed sensible on the roads and was by itself which was a plus. Then went to ride in the school, I could tell they were having to hold it back a bit but I thought, OK, so he's a bit strong, no worries, I'll just take it slow. Hopped on and I could feel every muscle in his body ready to go, not quite what I was expecting for a 'suitable for first time owners' horse. I walked him round for a while until he felt a bit calmer, then I gently asked for a trot and he trotted for a few strides and then bolted, flew at the fence and stopped dead, spun round and cantered/galloped round the edge until I managed to lean forward, grab the rein as far down as I could and turn his head round so he couldn't keep ploughing forwards. I couldn't think of what else to do as he was not stopping!

Dealer only said 'well sat' and then, probably from the look on my face, said 'so he's not the type of horse you're looking for then?'. Well no, not exactly what we'd discussed.

Dealer than proceeded to say, 'OK if he's not what you're looking for I'm sure we have something, what about X and X', pointing at horses in the field that I had no information on. I declined them as they all looked small. I did end up riding one more horse there. In hindsight I probably should have just walked away but I was excited about buying my first horse. The other horse was OK, very different from the cob. Older and well-schooled but not right for us. I did really like him, but he was a bit out of price range, but then the dealer tried to convince me to put a deposit down there and then. I said I wanted to go and think about it and the dealer kept saying that those ones go quickly, he's got lots of people interested, if you're serious you need to put a deposit down now.

I walked away as it didn't feel right. But it seemed they didn't want me to leave without making a sale.

ETA: I know the whole point is that they make a sale haha. But I felt very pressured, which I don't think is right.
 
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When I was looking for what became Archie, I had very specific criteria 5-8 years old, gelding, 15.2+ middleweight, part native, perfect in traffic, willing jump, done a little bit of everything and either doing or ready to go on to do riding club. I put a wanted ad out locally and got a call about a 5yr old Welsh part bred, doing local dressage, jumping 3ft, hacking nicely etc. He sounded perfect. Alarm bells started ringing when she told me he was at a well known trekking centre where the horses certainly aren't the sort of quality I'd be looking for but she told a good story about selling him as she was getting divorced and he was at this place temporarily as she'd had to leave the farm she shared with her husband and it was the only place with vacancies at short notice.

He was only 1/2 an hour away so I though it was worth a look. When I arrived I was shown him by a 15/16 year old boy who clearly hadn't been told the story to give. It was obvious he belonged to the centre and was used on treks for clients. I'm no expert on teeth but even I could see he was no more than 3. He was skinny, dirty with a tangled mane down to his shoulder, terrible hooves and a half chewed tail.

The boy was desperate for me to hack him on the beach rather than take him into the school but I insisted I was not taking a strange horse to ride on the beach on my own without knowing if he'd stop. He said we was used for beginners on treks so I'd be fine but I insisted on riding him in the school. I soon learned why he didn't want me to try him in there. He couldn't canter let alone leave the ground and every time a car went past (school was right next to the road) he'd freeze and stare at it like it was some sort of alien. He'd clearly gone straight out onto the beach and never seen traffic.

I can't believe they thought I wouldn't notice! They didn't want cheap money for him either. I eventually bought Arch, a bombproof 8yr old ID x who really had done a bit of everything and was exactly what I was wanted for the same price.
 
As a teenager went to try a 14.2hh pony. The owner was at uni and the rest of the family didn't ride. Seemed like a nice pony so I got on. They were keen for me to ride it down the road, even offered to lead me. However, I wasn't starting off down a busy main road on a pony I didn't know so insisted on riding in the field. They opened the gate and it shot off at a canter bucking continuously. I lasted half way across the field before I went flying! Luckily was only winded. Found out later it had been shut in the stable for 2 weeks and no-one had turned it out or exercised it, poor thing. We didn't buy it.
 
We had one specific criteria for a pony for my nervous 11 year old novice niece. Had to be a complete dope on a rope. We weren't bothered about sex or age or height (just had to be able to take up her leg well). My sister (niece's mother) is a decent experienced rider, so after the owners rode, she hopped on for a spin. Think we saw 5 that were described as a novice "anyone's ride." One was lame (didn't ride it obviously), one was a chronic laminitic (probably why it was reluctant to move- didn't ride it), 2 were just not quite suitable (although nothing wrong with them). One though, we got there, pony was in it's stable. Owner got her out, we had a look. She was bagged up with wax plugs. We said no there and then! Think the owner was a little relieved as she said she was scared of riding her anyway. They then admitted it had run with a stallion the previous year. Suspect they had a new arrival not long after that.
 
Too man of these:
Buying my first horse - luckily I had a very experienced friend with me - we massively down played my ability, made it clear my 'instructor' was coming with me and she got on everything first (I say first, I only got on 2) - she got bucked with , reared with, bolted with, cantered sideways down the road with. ALL of the horses were 'novice ride' etc etc. I ended up buying a cool little section D, ex riding school whose owners did the exact opposite of dodgy ones. Brought him in when we were there, trotted him up, groomed, tacked up, they rode, my friend rode, I rode, they offered to take me out on a hack with their other horse, he was BOMB proof (motorbike wheelied passed us, didn't bat an eyelid).

Buying my most recent, I was looking for an eventer, had honest conversations with everyone. I saw a horse so fat it could barely trot (apparently eventing fit). I saw a horse advertised at 16'2" that was 18" and never cantered under saddle (despite me asking over the phone, though bin fairness they did canter it for me and I did get on). Saw a mare despite checking that it was a gelding. Again ended up with the opposite: saw him compete, owner brought him to me to try, I had a lesson, a hack and a jump. Perfect :)
 
The last one I viewed I was taken out into a field full of pregnant mares to see the two year old colt who was the sire. They didn't even bring a headcollar. And they warned me not to let a tank of a chestnut mare get anywhere near me. It was the weirdest buying experience I've ever had, but I bought him and he's a cracker!
 
When we were lookingfor our first horse for Sis and I to share, many years ago when I was an undersized 15 year old and Sis was twenty, we scoured the local paper (it was a long time ago!) We found a couple that appeared to be suitable, rang and spoke to the sellers and went to see both on the same day. The first was a smart looking grey, advertised at 15hh, in the flesh he was 16 hh if he was an inch! The bloke rode him first, telling us the horse was his sons who had lost interest and taken up football. Sis got on and couldn't ge the thing out of the gate. I tried to get on but the animal spun round while I hopped, so gave it up as a bad job. We always said we too would have taken up football if we'd got that one and mother was visibly shaken! We then went to see a non discript bay cob, who had obviously just had the mud washed off him. Safe, sane and sound, he was delivered the week after as our parents valued our safety :) He was the perfect first horse.
 
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