Torn and confused - Selling my pony

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horse18

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My second pony has been for sale for about 8 months now but never sold before as we just had no interest whatsoever. Lately we have had two viewers come to see him, one said he was 'too young' after trying it three times, which was a little annoying as she obviously knew the age before trying! (just turned 7 years old) And the second viewer, well.. they turned up and wanted me to jump him over quite a few things, which was fine by me, he was perfect with me and listened to everything. Anyway when the woman got on she claimed he was very excitable, when to be honest he was just a little excited from jumping and now being cantered around the jumps. This doesn't bother me when i jump him, but they didn't like it. And then when she asked for a canter towards a jump, and he did two fast strides she pulled up and said 'sorry i can't have a tanker, but i really did like him' and they then said there goodbyes and left. I just overlooked it and put it aside and just thought 'well if they weren't the right people fair enough!'

Here comes my dilemma, today the same woman rang up and said she went to try a few things over the past week and nothing is close to how much she liked my boy. So she would like to come down and buy him. This shocked me a bit so i said 'would you not want to come ride him again and just be sure' and she was insistent that she wants to come down and buy him and take him and that she will 'work through any problems' she has with him.

I feel torn, as i don't like the way she just has changed her mind, it worries me that there might be something more going on (overthinking i know!) Any advice on similar situations or what to do? I decided that i want them to get it vetted before they buy it if it does continue just incase there is some underlying issue (god forebid) and she then returns it.

So confused :confused:
 
At the end of the day, he is yours, and you don't have to sell him to anyone that you don't want to.

If you just let her come and take him you will forever be worrying about him.

Ring her back and say that you would like her to come and ride him again, as you want to be sure he is going to the right home.

Nevermind what she wants, it's up to you.

Hope she comes for a second viewing and all goes well.
 
Daft question perhaps? But do you want to sell your pony (that has been on the market for sometime) or not? You have someone who perhaps has noticed that your pony may have some 'issues' but wants to buy regardless? Why are you are not wanting to sell it? Confused?
 
dressedkez said:
Daft question perhaps? But do you want to sell your pony (that has been on the market for sometime) or not? You have someone who perhaps has noticed that your pony may have some 'issues' but wants to buy regardless? Why are you are not wanting to sell it? Confused?
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Because she wants to make sure the pony goes to the right home. I wouldn't sell a pony I thought a lot of to someone who I thought might be unsuitable. Although the OP wants to sell the pony, she is trying to ensure it's future.
 
dressedkez said:
Daft question perhaps? But do you want to sell your pony (that has been on the market for sometime) or not? You have someone who perhaps has noticed that your pony may have some 'issues' but wants to buy regardless? Why are you are not wanting to sell it? Confused?
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Completely disagree. I would feel the same as OP. This person referred to the pony as a 'tanker' because he did a few fast strides towards a fence and considered him very excitable on his home turf after popping a few fences.

I would worry about the potential buyers ability to manage the horse when he truely is very excited and in honesty it would put me off. But that said I wasn't there.
 
I wouldn't overthink this woman's change of heart too much - you've got to consider how much she must have thought about it since she saw him to change her mind. In fact, if she has considered your pony in the context of trying others then that's a really good thing in my book.

It may seem like an abrupt decision to you, but to her it is probably something she's put an awful lot of thought into over a period of time.

Having said that however, it is of course your choice what you choose to do with your pony. But if I was a potential buyer I think I would feel a little patronised if a seller insisted I come and ride a horse again before buying.
 
dressedkez - I want to sell my pony of course, but i would rather have him for another 8 months than him going to the wrong home, and either, him ending up being carted from owner to owner since he was unsuitable, till he ends up at a dealers yard/a auction or them wanting to return it after a few weeks when that wouldn't be possible for me. I have had him since a three year old, only just broken, he is essentially 'my' piece of work, everything taught to him was by me. I want someone who is going to work from that, and therefore just be fair for the owner and the pony.
 
I fully understand your reluctance. Maybe the lady has explained what happened to her trainer who may be able to help her? She's probably realised that yours is in fact a straightforward pony compared to many others! I'd definitely try and get her to try him again, I wouldn't like to let him go straight off.
 
Boxers and vieshot - Thankyou for understanding. I really just want a home where both the rider and my pony will actually succeed and have fun together.

DabDab - I understand that it could feel patronising for the woman, i just really don't want her to make the wrong choice! But thank you for shining a new light on the situation, i suppose she must have thought a lot.


Ah i probably care to much.
 
horse18 said:
Boxers and vieshot - Thankyou for understanding. I really just want a home where both the rider and my pony will actually succeed and have fun together.

DabDab - I understand that it could feel patronising for the woman, i just really don't want her to make the wrong choice! But thank you for shining a new light on the situation, i suppose she must have thought a lot.


Ah i probably care to much.
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Fair enough - but you may your values may be too high, which is why you are struggling to sell, and if your values are that high - then put the animal out on loan view to sale and then you can micro manage the whole process.
 
dressedkez said:
Fair enough - but you may your values may be too high, which is why you are struggling to sell, and if your values are that high - then put the animal out on loan view to sale and then you can micro manage the whole process.
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Apols - this post makes little sense - read 'maybe your values are too high' then it might make be better articulated!
 
Be honest with her.

Tel her what you have said here, if she wants your pony that should actually make her keener. If you care a lot about him, that's a very good thing for a perspective buyer.
 
When selling you can only do what you think is best once gone they are no longer under your control and no matter how good a home you may find it isnt as genuine as you think the only way to guarantee a future for any horse is to keep it until you pts You really do have to sell then let go unless you dont need the money in which case you could sell put the money away and if it doesnt work out buy back but most of cant do that so you should do the best you can now and then forget about it
 
If she is a sensible person she should understand that you would rather she came and tried the pony again. You can put it that you are doing her a favour, she has got to collect anyway. When she comes let her do everything from catching it to tacking up and get a feel for the sort of person she is and if you are not happy, tell her you think its lame and you want your vet to have a look at it before it goes or you can be blunt and say the ponies not for her.
I have not sold many of my animals but I once sold a mare to what I thought was a long term home and they sold her three weeks later through an auction and it still upsets me today. If you have done your best and things go wrong you have will still be cut up but not as badly as if you were unsure.
 
Sorry im going to say that yes i understand you want a good home, and to me, someone who says they will work through any problems is a good home. You could get someone who tried him 2/3 times, buys, then passes on if unsuitable...
 
Maybe trying a few others has allowed her to compare/think about him. Also having the time to think about this, means she wanted to be sure whether he was the one for her, not everyone is going to be 100% decided on the day.
I actually like a person who thinks things through properly before committing to buying, as we all know the horse we want may be with us for life, it's not something to be taken lightly, he or she has to be right for you.
 
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