TIMEWASTERS!!!

rowan666

rowan666

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can anybody tell me why so many people insist on timewasting when trying to loan/sell a horse? im trying to loan one of my boys as struggling with 3 while pregnant and so far had a few people now desperatly want him begged me to take down the advert, draw up a contract, and say they've booked a box to collect, then turn round and tell me a few days/even the day before they are due to collect that they suddenly cant afford/work patterns change and they cant take him and i have to go through the whole heartbreaking ordeal again!

ive never tried to loan any of my horses out before and only ever sold one (that was sold by the 1st person who viewed!) why are their so many timewasters/joy riders and day dreamers out there???

i now have a girl of 16 just rang wanting to view tomorow but i saw in a wanted add she posted on preloved that she claimed to be working in a local riding school but she just told me on the phone she is unemployed!? how would a 16 year old girl thats just had a baby afford a horse? am i being mean and a tad bitter? jst sick of people who clearly just want a free ride!
 
Perhaps the girl is "working" at the riding school voluntarily/in return for lessons/for experience? In that way she could still be seen as unemployed.

I know quite a few 16 year olds (or thereabouts) who have horses, either paid for by parents or funded by the teenager working.
 
this is what im hoping!, my parents did pay for mine till i was about 23! lol

im going to give her the benefit of the doubt, she says she currently has one on part loan but its too far away(fair enough i thought) i have explained he is a high maintenance horse and costs ALOT to feed and stressed i dont want anymore time wasters! bet ive scared her off now! :confused:
 
well my 1st thoughts were right yet another time waster! after saying sh'ell be there between 11 and 1 she hasnt turned up or let me know she wasn't bothering! some people are so thoughtfull! :mad:
 
What is your horse like? I am looking for a loan for my apprentice. She has a high standard. Can ride and my yard is well run. Pm me if you like.
 
Not a great time to sell unfortunately.

One thing I would stress, is however annoying it is, don't put 're-advertised due to timewasters'. (Not saying you have already or will... but) I read that and immediately flag an issue. Don't put any negative swing on an advert.

What I'd do is start looking locally. Word of mouth is a great way to sell.
 
rowan666 said:
i am only looking to loan locally have stressed on my add no timewasters! :eek:
feel like giving up!
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Sell the good points. I hate how many ads are without photos or with bad photos. Get one moving nicely but get a cuddly/stable/field one on there too. If you say he jumps, get a jumping photo.

I don't read 'timewaster' ads as is negative and the first thing I think (having been a 'timewaster') is that quite often the 'timewaster' is someone who has turned up to find an unsuitable horse, not as described, or ill, or had hundreds of conditions placed on them etc.

Also is the loan possible for where they currently are? I'd put that currently on * livery with * hay/turnout etc. With the option to stay or move locally? Finding a livery yard if no other horses at winter is not an option I'd like!
I'd also mention the baby... give a reason he's for loan, rather than people guessing at behavioural quirks etc
 
PandorasJar said:
Sell the good points. I hate how many ads are without photos or with bad photos. Get one moving nicely but get a cuddly/stable/field one on there too. If you say he jumps, get a jumping photo.

I don't read 'timewaster' ads as is negative and the first thing I think (having been a 'timewaster') is that quite often the 'timewaster' is someone who has turned up to find an unsuitable horse, not as described, or ill, or had hundreds of conditions placed on them etc.

Also is the loan possible for where they currently are? I'd put that currently on * livery with * hay/turnout etc. With the option to stay or move locally? Finding a livery yard if no other horses at winter is not an option I'd like!
I'd also mention the baby... give a reason he's for loan, rather than people guessing at behavioural quirks etc
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That is exactly what puts me off adverts that mention timewasters. As a viewer I assume that someone has not proceeded with a purchase/loan for a reason and that the same reason might apply to me. So maybe the horse is misdescribed or unsound or the owner is a nutcase. An advert that says no timewasters would make me think that the owner isn't going to very patient about a genuine person wanting maybe a couple of viewings/trial period etc which would put me off.
 
i wouldnt have a problem if they turn up and he isnt suitable for them, its the ones who beg me to take my add down, tell me to write up a contract, theyl pick up next week and then suddenly change thier minds the day before! i am fine with him moving yards, hes just a bombproof happy hacker as stated in my add not a competition horse i had no responses at all when i advertised my anglo!
 
rowan666 said:
i wouldnt have a problem if they turn up and he isnt suitable for them, its the ones who beg me to take my add down, tell me to write up a contract, theyl pick up next week and then suddenly change thier minds the day before! i am fine with him moving yards, hes just a bombproof happy hacker as stated in my add not a competition horse i had no responses at all when i advertised my anglo!
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Totally get your point, I was just saying what impression those adverts can give.

I would simply refuse to take down the advert until he's gone, and refuse to stop future viewings either. If they are serious they will get a move on.
 
rowan666 said:
i wouldnt have a problem if they turn up and he isnt suitable for them, its the ones who beg me to take my add down, tell me to write up a contract, theyl pick up next week and then suddenly change thier minds the day before! i am fine with him moving yards, hes just a bombproof happy hacker as stated in my add not a competition horse i had no responses at all when i advertised my anglo!
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I'm not saying yours are. What I'm saying is how it appears to me on an ad without knowing the reasoning behind it :)

And I'm saying to point out that he could stay or go (this would sway me dependant on when/what I was looking for). Might be that someone would rather keep him where he is with those facilities than move somewhere unknown. And vice versa.

I'd get photos out hacking on a road/past some other horses etc to show this.
 
Kat said:
Totally get your point, I was just saying what impression those adverts can give.

I would simply refuse to take down the advert until he's gone, and refuse to stop future viewings either. If they are serious they will get a move on.
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think i will definatly be taking this route! thanks... i have toned down the timewaster bit in my add now too! lol
 
I wouldn't respond to an add which said no timewasters. It looks rude and aggressive to me, and as someone else said it all depends on your definition of timewasting.
 
Kat said:
I would simply refuse to take down the advert until he's gone, and refuse to stop future viewings either. If they are serious they will get a move on.
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Personally I'd agree to remove adverts/stop viewings with a deposit to cover advertising costs, time and drawing up of contracts.
To be refunded when contract is in place (within 30 days or terms void), or after 30days loanership or if horse is vetted and fails/becomes ill within 30days not due to loaner.

I'd be happy to deposit an amount on a horse I liked (with terms in writing) however I wouldn't want to be rushed into finding a yard to move/getting bedding/hay supplies in etc with no guarantee that someone else wasn't going to jump in ahead of me. I don't like being put on the spot, easy way to get the wrong person pushed into taking the horse.
 
i have said to these people im more than happy to do a trial and that if for whatever reason they change their minds at anypoint in the loan they can bring him back straight away (i have my own place so wouldnt need to wait for livery place)
i have taken the add down when asked everytime so far and have never rushed them into taking him asap just would expect them to stay true to thier word! maybe the deposit thing is a good idea i would be happy to pay a deposit for a horse i was serious about taking
just so frustrating when youve been more than honest and accommodating to people and they just let you down!

ive now removed the timewasting bit from my add completley!
 
Well ok maybe not "until he's gone" but until a contract is signed or until the loaner has taken on responsibility for his keep. I didn't mean pressurise people, just don't take down adverts too soon. You can always say as I've been let down in the past I won't take the advert down but you've got first refusal, then keep a note of the details of anyone who is interested and tell them that you will call them if things don't go through.
 
I had arranged a viewing of a horse, however the day before I was going a deposit had been put down subject to vetting. The didn't pass the vetting and I got a call to say the horse was for sale again, they explained why it failed and I decided not to view it. Following week, "Re-advertised due to timewasters"... It would definitely put me off reading an add further if it said that, as it only flags up to me that someone was interested but there was a good reason for them not to proceed.
 
well im only loaning not selling and fully intend to pay insurance/vet if needed myself, ide even cover cost of farrier and i dont need notice should they want to return him, im also flexible on him moving yards within localish area, im pretty sure most loners arnt as flexible as i am willing to be??

all i want is someone sensible to pay him some extra attention that im currently struggling with. everyone thats view him has said hes perfect, they desperatly want him, they just all seem to let me down a week-the day before they are due to take him and state reasons like work pattern has suddenly changed without notice/decided they cant afford him or tell me theyl be ther for a viewing between 11 and 1 and dont even turn up or let me know they arnt coming after spending all morning txting me!

am i just being unreasonable labelling these people as time wasters?? (i am NOT talking about people who view a horse and decide its not right for them, of coarse you need to view a few b4 finding the right one!)
 
rowan666 said:
i now have a girl of 16 just rang wanting to view tomorow but i saw in a wanted add she posted on preloved that she claimed to be working in a local riding school but she just told me on the phone she is unemployed!? how would a 16 year old girl thats just had a baby afford a horse? am i being mean and a tad bitter? jst sick of people who clearly just want a free ride!
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Wouldn't touch her (personally) I list questions and ask them on each call and write down the answers then go through them and decide who's viewing first, second etc. And I'd only speak to parents.

Anyone on a livery yard (unless they can provide references maybe) are ruled out. My view is that someone on a livery yard can disappear overnight, someone with their own house, land or better still business cannot. Anyone mentioning a budget, loaning cheaper than buying etc is also ruled out immediately. I'd only loan to people who own their own land, stables and have horses already - this way you see how happy they are, tack used and so on.

You want to know that the people loaning have money to afford any vet bills etc, short of asking you can only judge that sort of thing by what they have - car, trailer, horsebox? If not, why? What do they do for work?

And before anyone jumps on me, you are dealing with strangers, you can never be to careful.
 
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tiasmum...this girl i actually gave this girl the benefit of the doubt and after spending a long conversation last night and spending all morning texting me she said she would view between 11-1 and she never turned up or even bothered to let me know she coulnt make it!! obviously me stressing about cost of a horse hit a nerve although i am willing to pay most of the costs anyway! i had another email from a woman saying her beloved horse has died a year ago and she wanted to get back into riding then i noticed her more recent preloved account says she has 2 horses!? :confused: i cant trust anyone! so depressing! i think though you are absolutely right about people with nothing who could up and leave ive heard so many horror stories of loan horses diapering! :(
 
It all sound very depressing. I wouldnt deal with anyone who communciated by texts for something ike this - they need to be able to talk to you about it - texting is not in the real world.

Only loaning to people with their own land etc seems a bit over the top - for me having a horse on loan was a serious committment but one that was reversible if necessary. I kept him at the same yard he was already at so couldn't whisk him away anyway. I ended buying him.

Try your local riding clubs / BHS riding schools to see if any of their members are interested.

A keen teenager, living locally could be fab - but if they rely on parents for transport a loan starting in the winter is going to hard to maintain.
And lastly - at least by not turning up they have prevented him being messed about by going away and coming back after a short time when the romance wears off.
 
In relation to 'suitable' people to loan your horse ( who sounds lovely, btw) I would certainly not get past the telephone interview! No land, live on an old barge, have two old cars, both rather scruffy, use livery yard, work in an unfashionable profession, and don't have any secure collateral except professional qualifications, intelligence and good reputation.

But - I have owned and ridden horses all my (long) life, and they have never had anything but the best, and with dogs and cats, come before anything else in my life.

I know where you are coming from and why. Please don't discount someone that does not fit your stereotype, you may find that they could be reliable guardians for your precious horse, even though they dont have house, land, stables, fancy profession, smart 4x4 and Oakley box! i know a number of such people and wouldn't trust them with a rocking horse, let alone a real one!
 
Tiasmum said:
Wouldn't touch her (personally) I list questions and ask them on each call and write down the answers then go through them and decide who's viewing first, second etc. And I'd only speak to parents.

Anyone on a livery yard (unless they can provide references maybe) are ruled out. My view is that someone on a livery yard can disappear overnight, someone with their own house, land or better still business cannot. Anyone mentioning a budget, loaning cheaper than buying etc is also ruled out immediately. I'd only loan to people who own their own land, stables and have horses already - this way you see how happy they are, tack used and so on.

You want to know that the people loaning have money to afford any vet bills etc, short of asking you can only judge that sort of thing by what they have - car, trailer, horsebox? If not, why? What do they do for work?

And before anyone jumps on me, you are dealing with strangers, you can never be to careful.
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I'm on a livery yard (ish) private land owned by a friend.

Don't own my own home, I'm renting.

I'm at uni, although I have a part time job.

Yet I still have a full loan. He wants for nothing, is insured etc.

So just because a person has their own land and trailers etc does not mean that they would necessarily be the best person to look after your horse. I get what your saying about strangers, but even people who are on private land can disappear etc. I think the best thing you can do when looking to loan your horse is to check regularly at least at first and get references. I'm not questioning you, but I just don't think their are any certainties. It's a big thing and your placing a lot of trust in a random stranger, I'm very grateful for someone placing so much trust in me, but don't know if I could do the same if I owned a horse.

And roman it's a shame you weren't looking a few months ago, I'm in Cheshire and have not long got my boy on loan :) after much searching, it can be just as difficult trying to find a loan as it is a loanee. I found most people wanted to loan project horses.
 
i dont have a problem with people who arnt rich loaning him!, hence offering to pay insurance/vet/ farrier, ide also pay for worming and teeth if needed i just want someone to love and fuss him! im far from rich myself, i just spend every penny i do and dont have on my horses! :D

i think the point tiasmum was making was about trusting strangers with your horse and what with so many horror stories around about loan horses dissapearing and being sold on, that the situation is less likely to arise with someone who cant just up and leave at the drop of a hat
 
I know what you mean about not being able to up and leave, there are so many horror stories giving good loaners a bad name...

Hypothetical question, even if person appears to have own land whos to say they're not renting it and what's to stop them from disappearing too? Unless you get to checking deeds and ownership then there's no guarantee. I do really appreciate my boys owner trusting me with her boy, it's hard trusting strangers even with references etc...
 
very true! i have had a few horses on loan in the past (back when my mum paid for everything!), so i do appreciate things from the loanee side! but this is the 1st time ive actually tried to loan out one of my own and i now appreciate why so many adds have the 'no time wasters' thing!

sooo frustrating! i know theres someone out there who can love him as much as i do who maybe dosnt want/cant afford the commitment of buying so im going to keep trying!
 
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