When do you say 'no' (buying a horse)

O

Otherly

New User
Joined
1 February 2014
Messages
3
Visit site
I am currently looking for a horse and I confess I'm fairly picky. After a long time of 'making do' with other peoples cast offs and project horses with 101 thing wrong with them I have the time and money to buy the horse I have always wanted.

I am in no rush to find him/ her and know exactly what I want (and am prepared to pay for it.

So this morning I went to see a warm blood and before I even entered the stable I could tell she wasn't the stamp of horse I wanted. I went thru the rigmarole of saying she's lovely. Watching her tacked up and ridden and rode her for a short time - out of politeness to be honest...

I don't want to waste peoples time but neither do I want to be rude ... So when is the right time to say thanks but no thanks....
 
I think it is always best not to waste peoples time. I have in the past said no after seeing the horse's head over the door.
 
Totally agree with Cortez. I've said no to a horse as soon as i've seen it because it wasn't the one i wanted. Yet i wouldn't go looking at a tb if i didnt want a tb. So i think you have to be honest with yourself as well as others.
 
I think to say no straight away if you are definitely sure is absolutely fine. Far better than riding knowing you aren't remotely interested in the horse!
 
I think, in your case, I probably would have ridden anyway just in case I was pleasantly surprised. Unless, of course, I knew there was NO way I would want them even if they jumped like Milton or moved like Valegro, in which I'd just say thanks but no thanks. I wanted to buy a large WB type for SJ last year and ended up buying a little PRE for dressage though, for precisely this reason! Rode her and then fell in love!

I looked at quite a few last year... Mostly, for those I didn't buy I made the decision after I'd gone back to my yard and discussed my viewing with friends/instructor. There were three I said 'no' to there and then though - one which just wasn't for me, as although she was lovely I didn't want something that would need that much retraining. The 'fantastic potential eventer' refused a 2'3'' cross with his owner and then fell over 2' fence, taking the poles with it. Owner put it down to her nerves (not sure how she competed him at 3' plus then, as advert stated) but I wondered about back pain. Finally, one mare was not sound when trotted up (on second viewing, with my instructor) - I was prepared to wait and go back when the horse had rested and come sound, but owner insisted she was fine and she was going to ride the mare if I didn't as it needed exercise. I felt bad for the mare, but there was no way I was buying from someone who worked unsound horses.
 
Last edited:
I agree in general, though I have been surprised by horses - my sister's horse, for example, the dun in my sig, I didn't ride for about a year, and I assumed he'd be heavy, because that's how he looks. I was actually really pleasantly surprised, he's light mouthed and manoeuvrable and genuinely fun! So I'm not sure I'd say no if it wasn't quite the right stamp, until I'd had a little ride in case it was fantastic under saddle!

I also always try to give a reason (it's too sharp/advanced, not quite forward enough for me, bit big etc) if I decide I don't want a horse after viewing, which I'm not sure always goes down well, though if it was me I'd want to know the reason, and I'd want to know specifics in case it was something I could improve/put in advert!

I have to say though I would want to 'click' with a horse before buying it, and that is such a vague concept that I'm probably the last person to listen to advice from ;)
 
Last edited:
I think its easier going through a dealer to look & say no on 1st glance.... when I was buying my 1st mare we bought from a dealer & got shown a few & I said there really not what I wanted then I got shown a rising 4 year old which I loved but sadly as the step up to horses was a step too far but I said I wanted something his "type"

Im quite fussy with horses too they have to be my type of horse.... I generally know when I look at a horse if I will like it under saddle, I know exactly what I like... people always say to me but you wouldn't say no to (insert any top horses name) & i always say I would because they are not my type of horse, I can appreciate what a good horse they are but personally I wouldn't want it

I don't think theres anything wrong with just saying lovely horse but not what im looking for so dont want to waste time
 
If I know no matter he nice they ride I won't buy then I don't waste time. I just say sorry isn't what I'm looking for. Have done this a couple of time over the stable door. A couple more as soon as they came out and several as soon as trotted in hand.
 
I've said no when the horse was brought out of the stable. The seller was genuinely grateful that I hadn't gone through the rigmarole of having the horse tacked up and ridden. I did end up buying a different horse from her who was my horse of a lifetime.
 
I follow a set procedure when I look at horses. Eye, feet, bone and then I say no thanks. That only works when you are looking for a very specific type of horse, in my case show hunters. If I am looking for an all round type for somebody else I have a really open mind. There is many a diamond in a rough package.

I was very naughty back in 2004 when I was looking for myself after losing a treasured hunter and having a major confidence crisis and being close to giving up. I set out to look for another horse and realised I had problems with riding a strange horse in front of strangers. I viewed and rode horses that did not fit my requirement purely to gain confidence and pull myself together. Dreadful behaviour really but it put me back where I needed to be when trying nice horses and finally buying one.
 
When we were looking for a jumping pony years ago, one we went to see I just didn't like on sight. She was rude and ill mannered and a pig to tack up. I knew that she was a fab jumping pony and won everything, but I also wanted my daughter to have a friend, who she could groom and spend time with. I knew she was not going to be able to see to her by herself and so we said no at that point. The owners seemed surprised that we didn't want to ride her but I just felt it would be a waste of their time as I knew she wasn't the one for us.
 
Im looking at the moment and if i dont like it when i see it i say so. Last week i went to see one and when she took it out of the stable i just looked round him and said 'hes lovely, but not what im looking for, sorry!' She wasnt offended and just put him back in his house.
 
I got as far as a bit of trot in one viewing, didn't ask for canter and told the vendor I didn't want to waste any more time and he wasn't really what I was looking for. Another ticked all the boxes but we didn't click, so I did the whole viewing then called the next day to say no - that was down to inexperience, I think now if I don't feel I want it it's a good sign I don't want it!
 
I'm another who thinks it' more polite to stop the viewing as soon as you see something that you don't think is suitable, I've driven miles and then politely said, "not what I'm looking for" as soon as it comes out of the stable. Better not to waste people's time (or my own). However, i do ask a lot of Q's before I go to view in an attempt to narrow the field. I've been lookingfor a new horse for six months and only been to see two. First was bigger than advertised, wouldn't have gone in my 3.5 lorry and the second had appalling feet, neither was even tacked up.
 
If I am selling anything (ie car, horse, house) I would prefer people were honest and told me it wasn't what they were looking for as soon as they knew. I prefer if they give a reason, but that's up to them. I certainly wudnt be offended if they said it wasn't what they wanted immediately on arrival. My pet hates are people who go away saying "I'l think about it" and never ring back. While they are 'thinking' you are turning away possible buyers.
So I try to be the same when I am buying....
 
When I bought my last horse (via a dealer), the dealer actually said to me that it was refreshing for someone to be decisive and say no. It didn't hurt his feelings just meant that we got on and found the right horse quicker wasting less time.
 
I don't think it does any harm to just say the horse is not what you are looking for (as early as possible) but to list a few good points (surely, there must be some?) and say, although he is not for you, you will pass the word as someone you know may be interested. It might sugar the pill at least! No point in upsetting people needlessly. And you never know, it might actually be true!
 
I have said no more or less over the stable door too. Some people are grateful, some not so much. For myself I don't want to start riding a strange horse that I already know I don't want. For the owner it is a waste of their time.
Not that I always come home with the horse I visualised....... But I do have to like them, in fact I have to feel that I can't go home without them before I buy. That is what gets you through the cold, wet winter!
 
[So this morning I went to see a warm blood and before I even entered the stable I could tell she wasn't the stamp of horse I wanted. I went thru the rigmarole of saying she's lovely. Watching her tacked up and ridden and rode her for a short time - out of politeness to be honest...

I would class this as wasting the vendors time be honest IMHO it is much better to say no and soon as you think no!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top