Timewasting adverts - from the other side!

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DuckToller

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Following on from the timewasting thread, thought I would share just a few of our experiences of trying to buy. (I am a dreaded PC mother btw, and I would never ask to loan if something clearly states for sale!)

We have travelled miles and spent hours and hours looking for something that will jump 1.15/1.20 tops for a competent but small 17yr old and that I can school and hack.

We spent 2.5 hours on a bank holiday driving to see a schoolmaster that was hopping lame (she was fine yesterday), 2 hours to see a horse where the 'good trial facilities' consisted of 2 barrels and one and a half poles in the middle of a triangle of mud - couldn't even approach in canter.

Tried a horse that was bigger than we should have tried, but ad clearly stated it was ridden by a 15 yr old girl. Didn't mention said girl was very tall and seriously good. Maybe we were timewasters that day as I don't normally see 16.2s, but if you say your horse is ridden by a teenager, please add the word tall.

Saw a well-bred mare as the video clip showed a girl jumping her beautifully. Video was over a year old, since when the chap that owned her had done nothing much. Still, she had potential, and I asked why she was 'not a novice hack'. For not a novice hack read 'never ever been hacked on the roads'. So why not say that in the ad?

So I upped the budget (didn't tell OH) and went to see a gorgeous professionally produced horse that ticked every box and could clear 1.35m. He could also buck to 1.35m and although she sat the first 3 rodeo bucks, she sensibly bailed out at the corner. I believed them when they said he had never done that before, but guess he wasn't used to another rider on him. Sadly the experience hasn't really helped her confidence - it was just one of those things, but it has put us both off trying anything else :(

The trouble is everyone can write a good advert, and even videos can be deceptive. When someone wants to sell their horse they will say all the right things and as a buyer it's what I want to hear. It's what they don't say that matters. Genuine buyers are out there, it's just getting the advert right and weeding out the numpties I guess.
 
As you said, it's all about the advert wording. If you advertise your horse honestly as he is rather than what will get people interested you won't get the volume of timewasters.... ok there are some joyriders out there anyway but most timewasters are just buyers who don't want your horse and don't have the manners to say so striaght away.
I'm a big believer in giving a horse a fair future, and I never advertise saying the horse does this or that and can be a difficult ride. Your first call can be so enlightening! We have one that came to us as a project horse, he's no such thing and is anybodys ride. But because he's rude on a headcollar, because they allowed him to be, he was sold as a 'problem horse'. Our gain!
 
If you want to read genuine descriptions of horses, read the tracing horses adverts. If you want the seriously airbrushed descriptions, read the for sale ads. ;)

Good luck finding what you are after. :)
 
Friend of mine bought a cracking mare (sadly no longer with us RIP) from someone who had advertised her very honestly. The advert ran something along the lines of 'great potential but I've knocked the price right down because she has issues'. Friend had a long conversation with owner about the 'issues', decided they were manageable and bought the horse. Never looked back.
She was so grateful that the mare's quirks had been spelled out to her right from Day 1 so she could put a management plan in place for her and so she wasn't expecting My Little Pony.
Mare was lucky too - she went to a good, knowledgable home and one that was prepared for her.

To advertise your horse as something that it is not is doing it a huge disservice. Surely it is better to get it in the right home than for it to be potentially passed from pillar to post?

Good luck OP, I hope you find the horse that is right for you! He or she is out there waiting!
 
there is so much negativity towards buyers when infact sellers can be as bad!

I found an advert that described exactly what i was looking for, so mum rang up and asked a few questions had a good chat and we arranged to view it,

said horse was 2.5hours away and the woman was going somwehere that weekend but arrived back in the afternoon so she said she would ring us when she was 2.5 hours away from home.

I got up got ready sat waiting for her call for 4 hours and nothing happened.
Rang her that night and she said she was sorry but she is pregnant and had been taken ill, i understood this and arranged for monday (this was the saturday) she then said that said horse had wrenched a shoe off and yet again failed to tell us until very late and then on she said farrier was coming wednesday morning and we could come wednesday afternoon, come wednesday she yet again failed to ring us when she said she would,

My dad then texted her from another phone asking if he could pop up wednesday afternoon and she said she had just packed the lorry up to go to wales competing!! I couldnt believe it, i thought she was genuine at first,

if horse was lame - why not say?
if she changed her mind about selling i wouldnt have minded either!
 
I am quite lucky that I found my horse quickly (although there was some buyers grief with the 1st horse I looked at).

Have you tried finding a horse word of mouth via your instructor or from your local PC? Did you like the mare that hadn't been hacked before? If she seemed nice but hadn't hacked, I probably would have taken a chance with her. I'd steer clear of Professionally Trained Horses, as they are great for competition riders who know how to push their buttons, but not so much for amateur riders.

Good luck finding the perfect horse, they do exist!
 
I would look on the PC web site or ask at PC for whats likely to be sold soon. Another one is forum web sites like, http://horsegossip.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sale,
often people post on here because they don't want the looneys.
I have bought a few though small free ads, its a pain trawling through them but sometimes there is a gem, we bought our dressage schoolmaster who would have cost ££££ for liitle money as he was an ex show horse from a free ad.
http://www.saddlesoap.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=classifieds;sa=view;id=768
Not perfect but a honest sounding advert
 
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I dorve 3 hours to see a horse. Pictures were over really old and she looked nothing like that anymore. They were selling her as a potential SJ, but said I couldn't see her loose jump and she hadn't jumped under saddle yet. OH half and I just laughed when we got in the car.
Luckily on the way home we stopped off at an honest dealers to view a couple and Holly has been with me for 4 weeks now and is exactly as described. They warned me she was skinny and hadn't been with them for long and she was. Other than that not a lot you can say about an unbroken 3yo
 
I've been lucky. Ones I've bought were from people known to me or firends of friends who would vouch for them. Were exactly as described, priced appropriately. As a small breeder I take great care to be honest, as I love the (few) horses we produce, have done all their handling myself, know them inside out & want them to go to homes that will bring out the best in them & love them as I do.
 
I quite agree OP.
3 yrs ago, just as I was getting back on board after breaking my ankle, my lovely, kind Clydie had to be pts.
So I went horse-shopping. The first horse I went to look at, fortunately not very far away, I had stressed over the phone that she needed to stand at a mounting block for both mounting and dismounting. "Oh yes she's very well-mannered". When I got there to see a gorgeous Appaloosa, it was a good job I had my sensible head on because when I asked the vendor to ride her first (she was a bit surprised), it took her several minutes of hopping about while the horse circled to be able to get on.
I thanked the vendor very much and we went home.
A great shame as she looked very much like our first Appaloosa and we would have snapped her up if she had been well-mannered.
 
I've had numerous timewasted experiences - from the 16.2 hanovarian who was actually a 13.2 ish hanovarian cross (with a seriously bad attitude problem) to doped horses to a horse I really liked that I travelled 3 hours to see. said I'd have it to be told that he was already sold... Odd seeing she'd just let me ride him across the countryside on my own for the whole afternoon>... I couldn't get it at all...

Ho hum if I'd got any of these horses I wouldn't have the boys I have now so all works out well in the end.

BnBx
 
I have been very lucky that the last 2 horses I have bought have been pretty much as described.

Equally, the 2 I sold have been advertised honestly - I cared deeply about both of them and their future welfare, so wanted the best homes possible - if you mis represent the horse it may end up with somone who can't manage it, so get sold on etc.

There are honest sellers out there, it is just finding them, coupled with a lot of luck!!
 
Im currently looking for a horse and have seen 7 in 5 months. The last but one threw me off and Ive developed a really bad back meaning I cant do much canter work as it hurts too much. Im also getting fed up with horse hunting and horses not being as described.
 
It shouldn't be this difficult to buy a horse, should it! A bit more honesty from both sides would work to everyone's advantage. I don't expect a horse to be perfect, but at least if it was as described I wouldn't have wasted quite so many days of my life.

Well not all were wasted, as we have had some fun and met some interesting people, and some of it is my fault because I failed to ask some obvious questions - such as what do your good trial facilities consist of :) ! My friend went to see a horse and was told she couldn't ride it as it wasn't fit enough - so why advertise it as a riding horse? And another had a huge scar running from one side of its body to the other - umm, major surgery perhaps? Oh now you mention it, yes...

MissParis - I would have taken a chance on the mare that had never hacked, except she was so green in other respects too, and I was still hopeful I would find something a little more forward in its education at that stage.
 
silverstar said:
Im currently looking for a horse and have seen 7 in 5 months. The last but one threw me off and Ive developed a really bad back meaning I cant do much canter work as it hurts too much. Im also getting fed up with horse hunting and horses not being as described.
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Where are you and what are you looking for??
 
I'm in a similar position -pony club mum and looking for a quiet lead rein suitable for coming off lead rein. We saw 3 the other weekend. Not one was accurately described. One of them was advertised as a very quiet lead rein/first pony suitable for those just coming off. Well, it behaved as if it had barely been backed, it was throwing my 4 year old around and ended up spinning and trying to shoot off whilst on lead. There was no chance my dd could stay on and she had a bad fall (which really hurt her). He'd never done that before, apparently.
Another we went to see was held very tightly in the stable and nipped me four times and was very dodgy when you touched anywhere near it's back end. I asked for it to be trotted up outside (they weren't keen) and it spooked 3 times. This was a quiet lead rein pony (well might be in a years time).
Why can't people be honest when they are advertising, especially a pony suitable for a young child? For goodness sake, we're talking about safety here. I've seriously upped our budget and my dd is not getting on anything until I'm convinced it's absolutely safe with another rider first.
 
Definately agree with this (though I livery at a small dealers yards so have a good perspective from both sides) My Saga:

Decided to buy a horse after 1 year of riding at the age of 20. Had a very experienced friend who thank goodness came with me to see everything, I was asking for a weight carrying novice ride who could jump 85cm. In no particular order and ALL were advertised as novice rides including conversations over the phone by two experienced friends.

A Connamara who was in such poor condition I nearly bought her out of pity, she cantered sideways as soon as my friend mounted. Being sold 'on behalf' of someone.

A Welsh Sec D who was lame and unshod (though not barefoot if you get me). 'Don't know why she is like that, do you want to pop back (2hrs) tomorrow?'

Another Sec D who bucked and dealer wouldn't ride because she had a cold.

A Warmblood who reared.

Another connamara who reared and bucked and kicked when you went near it's back legs.

A warmblood who was severely out of condition 'he's been on loan and wasn't looked after propery, we've had him back a month'.

Finally found my beautiful who was exactly as advertised and was perfect. Sold him on completely honestly a year later as I outgrew the jump and ability of my boy (16 yo Sec D).
 
but then you do meet some genine sellers. I so very nearly bought a lovely novice eventer - very nice owners, selling him to focus on daughters BE ponies, long chat and BEFORE I went to see him, she told me he had been operated on for surgical colic. I wasn't sure, sent to see him at an event and liked him and then went back to try him. We had a long and frank conversation and she told me there was someone else interested but they were dragging their heels. I agreed I would call my insurance company to see what the cover would be and come back to her. All fine and we agreed I would take him XC (with her ) and my instructor. Funnily enough, when I had nearly got to the wire with this horse, the original people got off the fence, upped their very cheeky original offer and she did say they were first. I still wonder how he got on (didn't see him eventing again) but that particular vendor was nothing but lovely, truthful and helpful all the way through. Still regret not getting there earlier but thats just life! She had a younger horse she was considering selling but actually said she didn't think I would like him having got on so well with the other..!
 
Loving all the horror stories, glad I'm not the only one who's struggled buying a horse! We spent almost a year looking for my first horse, and out of sheer desperation decided to go see a chestnut mare who was smaller than we wanted, less experienced than we wanted, and whose owner was adamant that she wasn't a novice ride. After all the horrific horses we'd seen who sounded perfect in the ad, I didn't even want to get on this one but we thought what the heck!

And of course she was perfect, it was love at first sight, and we had three very happy years together before she had to be pts with a leg injury.

The old owner had already turned people away who wanted to buy as she didn't think these other people understood that the horse just wasn't ready to go out and compete, and would need a lot of work. Funnily enough both the horses I've owned have been tricky, and both sellers have been completely honest and stayed in touch with me throughout, giving advice whenever they can. If only more were like that!!
 
Llewelyn said:
Tried a horse that was bigger than we should have tried, but ad clearly stated it was ridden by a 15 yr old girl. Didn't mention said girl was very tall and seriously good. Maybe we were timewasters that day as I don't normally see 16.2s, but if you say your horse is ridden by a teenager, please add the word tall.
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I agree completely that there are very many individuals on both sides of the deal who can be less than honest. Your statement about the size of the horse puzzles me, though. Did you ask what height the horse was before you went to view him or her? My son was 6ft at 15yo and it would not occur to me to explain to a prospective purchaser that he was so tall or a good rider. I would have thought that being a good rider was a positive thing so that the horse was well educated and produced, and the height would always be stated at the outset.
 
I think so many people out there are branded timewasters and have done nothing whatsoever wrong!!! I wanted a horse a year ago, id fallen in love with him (he was the irst one id seen so instructor was dubious) but he ticked all the boxes and more and was within budget. He threw in a few bucks when jumping but i didnt mind that....so i said i wanted him and wanted to get him vetted. So i booked a vetting for 5 days later ( dont think that is too far in the future, i was lucky to get a vetting so quickly) and he passed the 2 stage, got to the part where he needs to be ridden and the owner had conveniantly "forgotten the saddle". How in heavens name can you forget a saddle to a 5 stage vetting???? The owners were very aware what a five stage vetting was as had sold numerous horses in the past. The owner then told me as he had passed the 2 stage i should just buy him at that, i said thats ridiculous and i wanted him to be fully vetted. They then told me i would have to pay for another full vetting even though it was their mistake, and i couldnt be sure they would remember the bloody saddle again. So i walked away. They readvertised him and called me a timewaster. Id followed everything to the book, the lady only lived 10 mins away so could have gone to get the bloody saddle. Got a call a few weeks later saying hed been sold to an event yard and its my loss. Then saw an advert for him in my local tackshop about 2 months later, still for sale. I was really upset that they called me a timewaster and think people should look on both sides o the coin a little more!!! I would have that horse now if they hadnt been so ridiculous!!!
 
I went to see one once...took me 4 hours to get there (should have been 2 but I got lost).

When i eventually got there i said...Ive come to see the IDx TB.

Oh says she...I havent got one of them...:D
 
When i was horse shopping travelled all over the place to 10 different horses not a single one was as described!! Different heights than said, one of the main things i wanted to do was jump, and told people on the phone got to one and she said oh ive never jumped so i dont know if he does, one laady said when we asked to ride, oh i didnt realise youd want to ride today!! Another we were supposed to be looking at was a 15.3 warmblood X it turned out to be a 13.3 slight pony!! I actually made them put a tape on it!! We ended up finding the perfect horse 10 minutes down the road.

It got worse when i was looking for my daughters pony, one pony started bronking are competent 11 year old, we were looking for a lead/rein first ridden, another trampled my daughter when she went to stroke it and the lady said watch out he doesnt like children!!!

I mean what are these people on!!! And the buyers apparently time wasters?!! Although have sold and loaned aswell and had timewasters from that point too!!
 
:D I know the other way around. Trying to sell a sporthorse and some people make an appointment and never show, others are hours late... No phonecall nore email.

Some classify themselves as experienced riders but are affraid to approach a horse and can't put on a saddle properly. And they come for a honest but sensible dressage sporthorse as advertised.

He is lovely for the right match but the rider needs the skills to make him work, otherwise he will entertain the rider in his own way. Cheecky monkey would be a proper discription.He's so smart that new exercises in his training are learnd within a day and can't be riden twice in the same place in the same order because he takes over the thirth time and starts himselves with the specific exercises and just takes you as rider along.

But if you like a sensible sporthorse he'll make you smile every time you'll see him.

Fortunatly last sunday a potential buyer showed up half hour early. This sixteen year old girl rode him with a big smile on her face and tomorrow she'll be back with her ridinginstructor.
 
The problem is, that if you advertise warts and all, you can't sell - so have to lower the price and then have novices turn up (over-stating experience) to ride a competition pony. Have only tried to sell one ever - she's thankfully going on loan now - but because I advertised her honestly and said that she headshakes slightly without her supplement, no-one was interested in a straightforward, bold young jumping pony with tonnes of scope.
 
When we were looking for my son I couldn't believe how out some of the heights were. We were looking 15.2 to 16h & some we saw described as in that range were below 14.2 or above 17 . That's nothing to do with how much detail to put in, it's just plain wrong. I'm 5'2" so a 15.2 the withers are at the top of my head - not a couple of inches below my nose, which they were for one we went to see! It can be so hard to judge the height from a photo.
 
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