What questions do you ask a purchaser?

[Dry Rot]

Or perhaps you don't?

I confess to being a bit fussy about who buys my livestock! One prospective purchaser admitted my pony would be living alone and when I suggested she could get a Shetland as a companion, I was told she "did not want to go to that expense"! I felt it only fair to save her even more money by not selling her the pony! What would you have done?

Do you ask questions or just take the money? And, if you ask questions, what are they? What if you get the wrong answers? Would that make you refuse the sale?

BTW, I am not an eccentric multi-millionaire. I breed ponies purely as a hobby, hopefully without losing more than I can afford as a pensioner!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I would have done the same as you.

 

[Elsiecat]

I question without questioning. I try to avoid upfront questions and instead steer the conversation subtlety towards the areas I'd like to know about. You'd be surprised with what people come out with.
If there's anything left to ask I will ask but I prefer to let people speak and find my answers from there!

 

[tankgirl1]

I would have done the same as you.

Me too

 

[maree t]

I find out about turn out during the winter. It gives a good indication of the kind of life they intend for the horse. i am also turning away anyone that I think is too novice. I want to know how much work they plan on etc. It saves them wasted time aswell, some ponies are happy hacking at the weekends and some love to be out competing

 

[Venevidivici]

I would have done same as you

 

[showley1]

I find out about turn out during the winter. It gives a good indication of the kind of life they intend for the horse. i am also turning away anyone that I think is too novice. I want to know how much work they plan on etc. It saves them wasted time aswell, some ponies are happy hacking at the weekends and some love to be out competing

Guess it depends on the type of pony you are selling, everyone is a novice at sometime, does not mean they can't provide correct care, obviously as long as they have taken correct measures/ research first?

 

[MagicMelon]

I always question the buyer, if things arent perfect in my books I dont sell!

 

[JFTDWS]

*sniggers, and yet you sold two to me Madness, I tell you!

 

[be positive]

*sniggers, and yet you sold two to me Madness, I tell you!

It's probably why he now questions potential buyers

I often ask more questions of buyers than they ask about whatever I am selling and frequently tell people that they are not suitable for various reasons, a horse living alone would be one of my reasons to not sell.

 

[CobsGalore]

The seller asked me lots of questions on the phone and when I went to view my horse. She also told me that she had spoken to lots of people on the phone and not allowed them to come see him.

It confirmed to me that the seller was genuine and cared about the home he was going to.

I saw other horses where the owners obviously couldn't care less and just wanted rid. One woman offered me a weeks trial before I even saw the horse!

 

[Dry Rot]

*sniggers, and yet you sold two to me Madness, I tell you!

I'm an old bachelor and got took advantage of!

Not once but twice!

I suppose you could always try for a third and see if I learn from experience.

Anyway, my ponies life in a herd and just having two is beastly and cruel!

 

[Mongoose11]

*sniggers, and yet you sold two to me Madness, I tell you!

Darn it, you got there before me!

 

[JFTDWS]

I'm an old bachelor and got took advantage of!

Not once but twice!

I suppose you could always try for a third and see if I learn from experience.

Anyway, my ponies life in a herd and just having two is beastly and cruel!

Hehe I would love to put that to the test, if only I had the land for more! I don't like the idea of not having another to start, now Darach's getting going...

But I'm sure you'd have learnt your lesson and wouldn't dream of sending another poor, helpless highland down to be worked into the ground and never fed - if you've been believing what Darach's letters home say anyway!

 

[Polos Mum]

Not that I've sold any in 10 years other than one that when to a lady who'd shared him for 18 months then loaned him at her home for 9!
But had lots of sharers and I guess the initial process is a little the same, rather than direct questions a few general 'what sort of horse are you looking for?' and why are you looking for a new horse? then if they come to view how they actually handle the horse in the first few mins - can tell you a wealth of info!!

I'm looking for something to go 1* for my budget of £500 - I did a walk trot dressage test last month so i'm pretty much ready, and I'm looking for a new one as the last one went lame, not sure what from as I couldn't afford the vet - but I did sue the seller so they took him back. Then they can't catch him in the stable - would set off a few warning signs for me!!!

 

[Dry Rot]

Hehe I would love to put that to the test, if only I had the land for more! I don't like the idea of not having another to start, now Darach's getting going...

But I'm sure you'd have learnt your lesson and wouldn't dream of sending another poor, helpless highland down to be worked into the ground and never fed - if you've been believing what Darach's letters home say anyway!

I know what you mean. I am increasingly doing more with them in the hope that the recession will end one day soon!

Took this photo today. I think I need to build a bigger jump! She was foaled June 2010 and I'm anxious to see that she goes on to be a bit more than "a happy hacker" and "safe plod" as many seem to think Highlands should be! It will be a local version of The Spanish Inquisition before she leaves here!

 

[JFTDWS]

Who is that? She's looking very mature. You clearly need to build a bigger jump...

Have I ever shown you D's approach to jumping?

eta - I'm almost considering breaking him to drive in the future... I rather fancy driving trials, and I reckon he'd love it

 

[maree t]

The pony I am currently selling is not a novice ride . She can be mareish and I only want an experienced home. Despite the honest adverts I am being called by people wanting a first pony for the 9 year old kids. One person wants a second pony for their daughter. They didnt understand that just because the child is moving from their first pony that a ' second pony, forward going , fast etc' is the right sort.

 

[Dry Rot]

Who is that? She's looking very mature. You clearly need to build a bigger jump...

Have I ever shown you D's approach to jumping?

eta - I'm almost considering breaking him to drive in the future... I rather fancy driving trials, and I reckon he'd love it

That is Morrich Kelpie. I have a new girl working for me now and she agrees that Kelpie has both brains and courage. She also says she is a comfortable ride. She's over 14HH now. (Pony, not the girl).

Difficult to explain but if there is anything a bit adventurous to be done, Kelpie does it! She jumped a post and rail fence the height of the uprights of that jump, free, from a standing start -- presumably just because she thought she would! There was no grass or other inducement on the other side!

I'd like to see more of D. He was always a favourite of mine. Uncomplicated and a regularly nice person. K is, I think, out of a half sister of D's dam by, of course, the same sire, Josethdene. We may be starting to drive here sooner rather than later.... You have PM.

 

[JFTDWS]

She sounds like a mare-ish version of D - he's not scared of anything, and does daft things for fun - but hey, after peeling him off that gate, you know that right? He hops my fencing too - blinkin' animal! She sounds lovely, if only I had the room... Not that I'm a big fan of mares anyway... She is nice though...

This is what Dae thinks of jumping - after seeing this, I realised why he hops my fencing like it's nothing He wasn't even meant to be jumping - he was loose and I was running Fergs over, so he joined in!

He went straight in to the ford without hesitation (this is his 4th or 5th ride!)

Doing some long reining this week

Under saddle the other week

He is just lovely, really straight forward and level headed - but with a keen sense of fun

 

[Dry Rot]

That's really lovely! I think there must be something in the water up here as we are all mad!

I've had the yearlings (2), born June 2012, doing an obstacle course today -- stepping onto a pallet, over a sheet of plastic, and across an 8' x 4' of 25mm ply balanced on a fence post to make a see-saw. After we'd finished, one of the foals walked across the see-saw on his own. Probably just checking things out! They do make me laugh. The video should be on YouTube tomorrow along with another of them self loading into the trailer!

 

[JFTDWS]

Sounds pretty cool, I like the sound of the seesaw. I will have to check it out on youtube (Off to bed, not ignoring any further comments, by the way!)