Trial period? Yes or no, what would you say?

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After buying a very un as described mare recently i am on the hunt for another but wary at any advert. And people are so against trials :confused: I see where they are coming from i.e timewasters, health of the horse etc.

But would/do you? Pros cons? :)
 
No trial. Takes a while for a horse to settle and makes it all very tricky unless it is someone you know really well - as an example a friend of mine has had a seriously nice horse on a weeks trial to see if he could event. However in this case, both parties knew each other well.
 
No way.

Sorry, but the horse would have to be paid for in full before they left my yard. I would let the potential new owner come and try here a few times and I would also be willing to travel to see them (unless 100's of miles away) if there was a problem. I have never asked for or expected a trial when buying, because I think that it is just far too risky for the seller.
 
I'd never send a horse on trial - perhaps if I knew them, but even then I'd rather not as I feel it takes a good month or more for a horse to really settle. In over 30 years of having horses I've never had anyone ask either. I got offered one of my current horses on trial two years ago, but just bought him as I would be worried of anything happening to him.

I would be perfectly happy for people to try a few times in various situations, with instructors and vets etc. If you're wary, take a good instructor that knows you well when you go to see the horse.
 
Faracat said:
Is your pony OK now?
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He is fine in himself now, settled back down within a day, completely 100% himself. His coat is coming through after much brushing and raking.
He is still tight and lame in trot but back lady coming monday and have been advised to just keep him ticking over lightly, which he is enjoying just plodding.

We think they have just thrashed him around as it is his back end that is tight and he is reluctant to extend. We think they have been riding him with his saddle on either to far back/to side.
 
I think most people would be wary, but a trial at their yard could be negotiable as Gleeful Imp says :-) You could put a deposit down and trial it for two weeks maybe. You would just need to find some local horses that you like which is not easy!

Some people like dealers might agree to take the horse back or exchange if its not suitable, but good luck getting all your money back in that case :-/
 
If you're set on a trial go to a reputable dealer. A lot of them give you 2 weeks or even 30 days.
 
Im another one who has been badly let down in the past and would never let a horse go for a trial again. However, I would be more than happy for the would be purchaser to trial the horse from my yard and try it in any situation they wished with my supervision, to ensure the horse's well being.
 
Oh god I didnt consider all these things :eek: Hearing your stories i totally see why not :o Feel absolutely awful for asking now!

Also have you taken an instructor with you for a lesson on a viewing before?

Thanks for all the advise though, Reeeeeally apreciate it!:D

Wewillshowthem and dragonslayer hope your horses are all alright! You forget how careless people are!
 
Its not wrong or cheeky to ask, some people would let you trial probably.

Having a lesson on it with your instructor is a very reasonable thing to ask.
 
I dont see why you cant ask for a share like arragement aswell as a show or cross country trip if thats what your buying it for.
 
Hopefully my new horse is coming tomorrow or Mayb next weekend, depending on my friends availability to transport it. She is free to good experienced home, due to some behavioural issues, and The owner has asked me to have her on trial for 3 months (I know her through the friend), as she has sum quirks and went on loan last year but came back pretty sharpish. they want to make sure I am happy with her or they will have her back and turn.her away again. I have always taken difficult horses, so am not too worried, but this arrangement should work well for both of us. X
 
Understand the concern on the seller side but this gives much more comfort for the buyer. I have a mare on trial but at her yard. Gives me comfort that the sellers trust her, allows me to see what she's like when she's settled and to work out whether we really do suit which is what both seller and I want.

I know not everyone would do this but has been great for me and I would strongly recommend this seller again to others. I put a deposit down, had her vetted before hand and have taken my instructor with me once.

I'd do the same if I was selling my boy, not that I would.
 
I've had 3 horses LVWTB and would do the same with mine. The horses I have loaned were local to me so the owners were in regular contact. To be honest if I couldn't have a short trial I wouldn't buy. And yes if the buyer wasn't too far away I would let my horse go on a short trial, with certain conditions.
 
I don't think that I would buy a horse without having a trial of some sort, be it a couple lessons or a week or two's share. Although from what has been said on here, I do understand why people are reluctant.
 
I'm going to rock the boat and say that I would be put off by someone wanting a trial, as I would think the home the horse was going to was nervous and inexperienced - not what I'd want for my beloved ponies. Both my ponies sold recently went to experienced, old fashioned homes, who only viewed them once and decided they were having them. Both of them have wonderful homes, just what I would have chosen, and we are still in touch.

That said though, I would never be anything other than honest and helpful to the buyer. I would never con someone as I want the horses happy first and foremost.
 
I was so lucky that I had a trial for three weeks with my current horse. His owner actually insisted on the trial to make sure he was right for me, but before we picked him up she came to visit our yard (2 hours away from her house) as she said she wanted to check where we lived in case we went missing.During the trial we texted and phoned most days and she answered questions I had about his behaviour. We also had a contract to cover the trial period and she came to visit me again at the end of trial to check that all was well, and to check if we were looking after her horse to her standards. She then agreed that we could buy him. I had the feeling that the trial was very much a two way thing. It was brilliant to have him to try at home as my RI had been unable to come with us to view him, but she then had the chance to ride him and give me lessons on him.

Two years down the line and my boy has been everything we were promised. We love him so much. We're still in contact with his old owner and share lots of photos with her on FB. If I ever had to sell him (God forbid :() I would probably do a trial, but on the same basis as when we bought him.
 
I wouldn't do a trial. I'd be happy to trial from my yard, under my supervision for a deposit if they changed their minds. I've had a number of projects & have sold one of mine, but none of them would have gone without being paid for. Did offer to have them back if there were problems but mine went after one visit & a vetting, projects had either one viewing & or a second with instructor.
 
I'm getting a mare on loan next weekend, we decided on doing a months trial to make sure all parties were happy - owner loves the horse to bits and wants to make sure she is comfortable and happy with me. Also gives me the chance to see what she is like before determining how long the loan term is :)
 
grumpyoldmare said:
Im another one who has been badly let down in the past and would never let a horse go for a trial again. However, I would be more than happy for the would be purchaser to trial the horse from my yard and try it in any situation they wished with my supervision, to ensure the horse's well being.
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This.
 
No I wouldn't do a trial although I have been luck enough to have my daughters most recent pony on trial but I bought it from the dealer on my yard so she just came into my stable for a few weeks .
I did ask when I went to view others if I could trial too most said no which I understood. The one that offered before hand turned out to be lame when I viewed she then said you can take him on trial to see if he gets better!!! Erm I think not!!!
 
It would depend on the pony and the buyers.

I allowed my daughters old 12.2 to go on a months trial. But they were people I know of and it was only 2 miles away. I called in to see her regularly. The pony was easy too, as long as she had food she didn't stress and was as tough as old boots.

They loved her and bought her after 2 weeks. Although I have now moved from the area I believe she is still there 10 years on.

The others, probably not. My oldie was always a stress head and the little cob certainly is when she moves yard. The warmblood has quirks and needs handling correctly, so I would probably insist that a buyers loaned her on our yard for a few weeks anyway. Then I wouldn't sell the oldies anyway :o and I doubt if I could give the warmblood to anyone.
 
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