Where do I stand if my horse bucks a viewer off?

In the past iv always made initial correspondance via email or facebook so iv got written proof that iv told them of any issues the horse has and their response to it. I also include me asking their experience and their response
 
I would be finding out why the horse bucks and sort it - its either pain or behavioural, either way I think that you shouldn't be passing on a 'problem' unless you are pretty sure the next owner has the ability to sort it unless you want to find it in the abattoir queue. Poor horse.


Ha, ok so how do you 'sort' excitement bucks?? As previous posters says any horse will buck in the right circumstances and no amount of sorting will fix it!

Very weird post
 
Ha, ok so how do you 'sort' excitement bucks?? As previous posters says any horse will buck in the right circumstances and no amount of sorting will fix it!

Very weird post

my horse bucks out in the field - should i get a vet or a behaviorist first do you think?

OP, as long she is in a daily riding routine leading up to the viewing (unless the viewer wants to see her when she hasn't been exercised regularly), and you ride first then there shouldn't be too much excitement involved. I would reiterate the excitement bucking to her before she gets on and talk to an insurance company about temporary insurance if you are really worried.
 
Personally I'd write her an email or something stating AGAIN that the horse can buck out of excitement and that you wanted to confirm she was still happy to come and try the horse. Then you're covered as she should email back saying yes she accepts that.

Any horse can buck as you say - a horse I sold a few years ago NEVER bucked in the 5 years I'd had him but some girl came to try him and seemed to wind him up (how I dont know as she was tiny) and he put in one big buck and off she plopped. I was mortified as he really had never done that before, the viewers obviously looked at me like I was a dishonest liar...!
 
MagicMelon - Ha, that is always the way!

I have just double checked and I do have it in email form me saying she can buck so I have the 'proof'.

Thanks for all the replies.
 
She really is very unfortunate living in a 10 acre field with all of her buddies, being spoilt rotten and being ridden once a week.

I'm sorry but I couldn't take this comment very seriously. If you read my previous posts, you'll see I say she bucks out of excitement. I think people have got it in their minds that she is a dangerous loon. I'd like to clarify that this isn't the case at all. She has perfect ground manners, is fab to hack and isn't phased by anything. Once in a while she can get excited and put in a "wahooo let's go!" buck. That's all.

Complete Cr** or you wouldn't be worrying ....... typical horse selling 'buyer beware'.
 
I would make sure she was ridden regularly in the days leading up to the trial and I would lunge her in the morning before the potential buyer arrived.

I would draft a basic "ride at your own risk"- like many yards have- and have them sign it. It's a good policy to have for any visiting rider.

I would be totally honest about the horses prior behaviour on email, but tell the buyer that you are planning to lunge her in the morning so she is not too fresh.

You can't be called negligent, they can't claim to be uninformed and everyone will be safer if she's not too fresh.
 
Complete Cr** or you wouldn't be worrying ....... typical horse selling 'buyer beware'.

I don't blame the OP worrying, some riders say they ride better than they do and can't even sit to a horse shying at something on the ground. If seller rides first and horse bucks then potential purchaser can make the decision whether or not to get on.
 
Any horse can buck as you say - a horse I sold a few years ago NEVER bucked in the 5 years I'd had him but some girl came to try him and seemed to wind him up (how I dont know as she was tiny) and he put in one big buck and off she plopped. I was mortified as he really had never done that before, the viewers obviously looked at me like I was a dishonest liar...!

Exactly the same thing happened to me - woman got on her, plonked down hard on her back and my horse dumped her immediately!
 
3rd party cover would not cover for this unless specifically stated as, in general a horse insurance policy covers whoever has been given permission to ride the horse ad if they were the policyholder. Therefore it would cover them if they had an incident involving a 3rd party whilst they were riding/trying your horse but it would not cover them for injury to themselves. God, what happened to the days where you just tried a horse out st your own risk? I have been thrown off whilst trying a horse before. In hindsight I should have never got on after seeing the horse rear exceptionally well with the owner/dealer!! Disclaimers aren't worth the paper they're written on so I wouldn't bother with that either, you'd be best off recording yourself either on video or something telling the prospective buyers and them acknowledging what you have said!

This post got me thinking so today I spoken to my insurer I AM covered if someone riding one of my horses, friend or potential buyer was injured and sought to sue me.
However they said that any claimant would have to prove I had been negligent for any claim to suceed .
 
This post got me thinking so today I spoken to my insurer I AM covered if someone riding one of my horses, friend or potential buyer was injured and sought to sue me.
However they said that any claimant would have to prove I had been negligent for any claim to suceed .

That makes sense - so the third party can be someone riding your horse as long as you are legally liable, otherwise it's just one of those things.
 
OP I would definitely investigate third party liabiltiuy cover - not just for viewings but if your horse got loose and on the road and caused a car accident - even if your yard was broken into and the theives left the gate open so your horse gets out - you are still liable if they cause an accident (madness but there we are!)

It's only £60 ish for a year with BHS, BE, BD etc membership and isn;t linked to you horse specific insurance so it'llcover any horses you ride/ look after when this one is sold. It is cheap becasue the events that call for a claim to be made are thankfully rare but you don't want to be the one stuck with a £millions bill even if that is a 1 in a million chance of i happening.!

IMHO everyone with a horse should have third party cover, it's likethird party car insurance
 
It is quite true that a horse that "has never bucked" can do so with a new rider. Someone came to try one of mine, and no, she didn't buck but I wouldn't have blamed her. After watching me put her through her paces the prospective buyer got on and thumped her with both heels in her sides - this on a horse that only needed the lightest of aids to go or stop. Luckily the horse only put her ears back and didn't do anything.

I think it is a worry as lots of people don't tell the truth about their riding ability, or don't take on board what a seller is telling them.
 
Top