charmaine
Well-Known Member
Hands up, who has bought a disastrous horse purchase/and or been ripped off by a seller.
who on here will own up to ..........
- Thread starter ihatework
- Start date
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Yes I bought a pretty horrid horse, was I ripped off? Probably not, I was just very naieve when I bought the horse.
Flibble
Well-Known Member
Yep I put my hand up blamed myself for lack of ability kept it for 2 years cried a lot sold it cheap to an expert as she knew it was my crap riding that made it so bad and guess what it was a bad horse!! Nearly gave up riding found out later the girl who sold it to me wasnt the owner at all. It had been away to learn some manners and its real owner hid and got someone else to pose as her to sell it!!
katie_southwest
Well-Known Member
I paid 1500 for my first horse was told it was this that and the other and got her home..realised the owner dumped her and went to france and she was a total nightmare! probably my own fault though as i was so excited to get my own horse i believed everything the seller said
Happytohack
Well-Known Member
Puts hand up.
Bought one from Cambridge sales because I was sorry for her
I ended up with a leg in plaster, followed by operation to realign leg, followed by 8 months of physio.
Bought one from Cambridge sales because I was sorry for her
mrgoop
Well-Known Member
Sadly i made 2 bad purchases in a row, and lost a fair bit of money into the bargain.
My only mistake was to believe the lying gits selling the horses.
Thrid time lucky with my "max"
My only mistake was to believe the lying gits selling the horses.
Thrid time lucky with my "max"
dieseldog
Well-Known Member
Yep, which is why I haven't been jumping in nearly a year. Thought I did everything right chose a recommended dealer - shame I managed to speak to the only person who has ever bought a horse of him that is any good, since found loads of people who also have lame useless horses.
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
Oh yes! Mind you I wasn't ripped off, just a bit stupid!
Mrs_Wishkabibble
Well-Known Member
Yep, *holds two hands up really high and waves frantically*
Paid £6k for a "Quiet confidence giving allrounder" suitable for me to compete BSJA and also quiet and sensible enough to teach hubby to ride on as well - turned out to be a loony tune bucked like a rodeo horse, stood on me when he bronked me off twice and was the spookiest horse you would ever sit on!
Not just me being a wimp. Had a couple of people down to assess him and they both said we had been well and truly stitched up like kippers!!
Not quite so confidence giving I can tell you!
Paid £6k for a "Quiet confidence giving allrounder" suitable for me to compete BSJA and also quiet and sensible enough to teach hubby to ride on as well - turned out to be a loony tune bucked like a rodeo horse, stood on me when he bronked me off twice and was the spookiest horse you would ever sit on!
Not just me being a wimp. Had a couple of people down to assess him and they both said we had been well and truly stitched up like kippers!!
Not quite so confidence giving I can tell you!
FinellaGlen
Well-Known Member
I have been conned by a dealer and I am willing to name names in a PM if anyone is thinking of buying a horse from a dealer in the West Midlands. It is my belief that the horse was actually doped when I went to try it out. I hacked out and actually gave the nanny horse which came with me a lead past scary obstacles but, once I got the horse home, it chucked me off at a canter and it wouldn't let me get back on.
I had every check under the sun from vets, physios, dentist, saddler etc - all of whom found no physical problems. I paid to have it re-schooled twice but each time it came back to me because it had bucked everyone on both yards off shortly after mounting and they had got precisely nowhere with its re-schooling.
Maybe I was naive but I don't think that dealers should be allowed to sell dangerous horses as novice rides. It is very hard for the buyer to beware unless you can take a horse on trial for a couple of weeks.
I had every check under the sun from vets, physios, dentist, saddler etc - all of whom found no physical problems. I paid to have it re-schooled twice but each time it came back to me because it had bucked everyone on both yards off shortly after mounting and they had got precisely nowhere with its re-schooling.
Maybe I was naive but I don't think that dealers should be allowed to sell dangerous horses as novice rides. It is very hard for the buyer to beware unless you can take a horse on trial for a couple of weeks.
ironhorse
Well-Known Member
Yes, a friend had this problem - horse was quiet to hack when she tried him, but once she got him home was so spooky he was a nightmare to ride out, so tense that he even put the wind up the other horses.
She could barely hold him in an indoor school - even at walk he went at 100 miles an hour. Yet he was a sweet horse to handle and had obviously been well schooled in the past. We have no doubt that he was doped, but the vendors denied it and she didn't have him vetted (so no blood tests) there was no proof.
She could barely hold him in an indoor school - even at walk he went at 100 miles an hour. Yet he was a sweet horse to handle and had obviously been well schooled in the past. We have no doubt that he was doped, but the vendors denied it and she didn't have him vetted (so no blood tests) there was no proof.
malibu211211
Well-Known Member
Yes, but it was kind of my own fault
I had D on loan to start with, he was hobdayed and had, had alot of problems with intermittent lameness which I later found out was inflammation in his coffin joint.
So he had not done much work and was pretty unfit. He was an absolute thug on the ground and didn't think twice about headbutting you out the stable
At the time he was a star to ride, 110% in heavy traffic and just a dependable TB who had been there and done it all
Things changed when he was fit to the point where I used to dread riding him. He would rear and throw himself about if you turned back on yourself on a hack and he was unpredictable out in a open field.
Well I paid £1750 for my delightful Irish TB who is now fully retired 3 years on at the grand old age of 13
due to his unpredictability when ridden, a problem with his pelvis which we found out after I bought him and his lameness issue
But he's happy, comfortable, pain free and living the life of luxury as a babysitter to my friends filly
I had D on loan to start with, he was hobdayed and had, had alot of problems with intermittent lameness which I later found out was inflammation in his coffin joint.
So he had not done much work and was pretty unfit. He was an absolute thug on the ground and didn't think twice about headbutting you out the stable
Things changed when he was fit to the point where I used to dread riding him. He would rear and throw himself about if you turned back on yourself on a hack and he was unpredictable out in a open field.
Well I paid £1750 for my delightful Irish TB who is now fully retired 3 years on at the grand old age of 13
YorksG
Over the hill and far awa
We bought a beautiful spotted mare, I couldn't go to try her as I was working shifts, sister and parents went and told me how good she was, jumped with the seller, but passed them with no problem with sister, absolute star. She came home and was awful. If you wanted a straight line, she was bendy, if you wanted bendy, she was in a straight line.
Had no breaks, but never broke stride, we were both walked off with many times.
She was awful t ohack on her own. WE kept her because we could not have shown her to anyone! She cam into her own when we got a baomb proof companion. She was also the most affectionate, funny and charcterful animal in the world. We think she was dehydrated when sister tried her. We kept her for 23 years, until she was pts in Octber 2007. She is hugely missed, but she never could do the job she was bought for.
charmaine
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all your replies. This makes me feel a little less of an idiot as I've gone and got stitched up for a second time after a year of no horse. I'd like to warn anyone off buying a horse from a woman in the Broughton area, Clwyd, Nr. Chester. I swear the horse was doped but can't prove it as no bloods taken at time.
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
Me! I was a teenager getting my first horse after outgrowing ponies. He was a strapping 16.2hh warmblood. He was 8yrs old and Id been told he was a "schoolmaster", was a fantastic competition horse and was also "amazing cross country". The truth was he had been beaten up as a youngster at shows so his attitude stank. He was the perfect horse at home, would jump ANYTHING and was just such an easy ride. But go to a show and he'd nap like hell even to get in the ring. His heart was totally not in it. Yes, he was a machine cross country AFTER we always got eliminated for wasting 10 mins rearing and napping at the start box! I thought it was me so battled with him for 4 years. I ended up letting someone else try to SJ him for me, he chucked her off...
The horse was the sweetest horse in the world EXCEPT at an event. I feel guilty that I kept asking him to do something he hated. Now, he's in a super home where he just hacks all day! Either way, the horse was anything BUT a schoolmaster OR "fantastic competition horse"!. I have to say he was my ONLY mistake Ive made with horses though, and at the same time he did teach me a lot!
The horse was the sweetest horse in the world EXCEPT at an event. I feel guilty that I kept asking him to do something he hated. Now, he's in a super home where he just hacks all day! Either way, the horse was anything BUT a schoolmaster OR "fantastic competition horse"!. I have to say he was my ONLY mistake Ive made with horses though, and at the same time he did teach me a lot!
catembi
Well-Known Member
Oh yes... bought a gorgeous TB who turned into a raving lunatic. I'm reasonably competent, but it scared the living daylights out of me cos it was one nutcase horse, to the point where I was going to give up riding altogether.
In the end I px'ed it with a dealer who knew what it was like & got a rock steady ID mare, & plodded about for 2 years til I got my nerve back & wanted to crack on again.
In the end I px'ed it with a dealer who knew what it was like & got a rock steady ID mare, & plodded about for 2 years til I got my nerve back & wanted to crack on again.
NeilM
Well-Known Member
Not me, but a friend got stitched up with a Section D which she drove miles to try and then only rode in the school (so at least 50% her own fault).
Actually, she bought a really sweet natured horse, with the usual 'destructo' Welsh tendencies, but it was a total loony to hack out. My friend was told that she was fine to hack out alone or in company, which was a lie, she would not hack out alone at all and in company she needed some time on a leading reign, as she just thought she was in competition with every other horse on the ride. She would walk and trot OK, but the next gate was a flat out gallop...anywhere and you needed an anchor to stop her. She tried to canter down a steep rocky path with me on board once, which I just managed to prevent. I never rode her again.
We are convinced she had been sedated when my friend bought her.
Shame is, she is a really nice horse, without a bad bone in her body, just no sense of self preservation
Actually, she bought a really sweet natured horse, with the usual 'destructo' Welsh tendencies, but it was a total loony to hack out. My friend was told that she was fine to hack out alone or in company, which was a lie, she would not hack out alone at all and in company she needed some time on a leading reign, as she just thought she was in competition with every other horse on the ride. She would walk and trot OK, but the next gate was a flat out gallop...anywhere and you needed an anchor to stop her. She tried to canter down a steep rocky path with me on board once, which I just managed to prevent. I never rode her again.
We are convinced she had been sedated when my friend bought her.
Shame is, she is a really nice horse, without a bad bone in her body, just no sense of self preservation
c7mlm
Well-Known Member
been ripped of 2 times last year. one with false paperwork the other weaved like a pole dancer. got my money back on both of them but so wary now of anyone. even when they might be telling the truth i read things ito it. i hasten to add after these two horses i saw loads more that were wrong and bad.if i had not been so cautious i could of been caught again
Zoobie
Well-Known Member
Sort of. Bought a mare as ISH teaching her 8 year old son to ride. Seller said her Dad had breed her and the she was half sister to the other grey at the yard. I was very honest about my riding ability ( Novice ). Passed a 5 statge vet. When I bought her signed a piccy of her to say that the mare that I had bought. Bought her and her coat started to fall out as her summer coat came through she had DWB branding, phoned seller and she denied any knowledge bearing in mind she said that her dad had bred her. Passport was posted a couple of weeks later ( this is when passports were just coming in ), Mare was very sharp but very talented too talented me and.. We did keep her for 2 and a bit years and did lots of ground work with her, she had obvioulsy had a tough time in the past. I was novice and spent lots of time with her. Turned out she was a dressage superstar which I made a mint on. I was very honest when I sold her and she is now at a lovely home competing ( I don't even do W & T !!!).
JanetGeorge
Well-Known Member
Mmm ... sort of! MANY years ago I bought a rather smart 16.2 hh 4 year old, Cleveland Bay x Anglo-Arab, allegedly just 'backed and riding quietly'! I paid £2,000!
The next day he tried to rip a hole in F.in L's chest with his teeth. Backed, my eye! They'd tried - and failed. Found out he'd been sold at the HIS sales 8 weeks earlier for over £3,000 - went to a 'professional' yard who dropped £1200 in 8 weeks!
He was a napper and a rearer (and that was once we'd actually managed to get on him!) and for the first year he spent more time on his hind legs than all fours! People used to ask me why I kept him - my ansswer - 'do YOU want to buy him?'
But he ended up being one of the best and safest hunters I've ever ridden - although even at 14-15 he would still rear if a bigger horse came up alongside him (seriously, he didn't like anyone/anything being above him!!) Broke my heart when he was killed in a paddock accident - kicked in the head by another horse.
The next day he tried to rip a hole in F.in L's chest with his teeth. Backed, my eye! They'd tried - and failed. Found out he'd been sold at the HIS sales 8 weeks earlier for over £3,000 - went to a 'professional' yard who dropped £1200 in 8 weeks!
He was a napper and a rearer (and that was once we'd actually managed to get on him!) and for the first year he spent more time on his hind legs than all fours! People used to ask me why I kept him - my ansswer - 'do YOU want to buy him?'
But he ended up being one of the best and safest hunters I've ever ridden - although even at 14-15 he would still rear if a bigger horse came up alongside him (seriously, he didn't like anyone/anything being above him!!) Broke my heart when he was killed in a paddock accident - kicked in the head by another horse.
archoak
Well-Known Member
Did the same as Ben and Jerrys, bargy KWPN mare with a fantastic jump who once clocked up 1500 penalties at triathlon xc, - poor Jack - she was a complete cowbag. However was a super hunter and we sold her to a hunting home and made a profit (don't worry they knew exactly what they were getting
).
Salcey
Well-Known Member
Ooo yes. I was looking for a TB mare for my son to ride and jump. It was the first time I had bought a horse for years and years (thats my excuse
) Went to ride it and decided it would do.
After a few days of having it at home I was contacted by the horses owner. Apparantly the horse was on loan to the person I bought it off as a field companion because it wasn't to be jumped as its legs were knackered.
How they got it sound I still don't know
Absolute nightmare..............
After a few days of having it at home I was contacted by the horses owner. Apparantly the horse was on loan to the person I bought it off as a field companion because it wasn't to be jumped as its legs were knackered.
How they got it sound I still don't know
Absolute nightmare..............
Chestnuttymare
Well-Known Member
My goodness, scary to see all the people who bought the wrong horse, for whatever reason.
I did it too, a supposed friend told me that she had the perfect horse for me and I bought her. 2 weeks later, she had a flaky and just totally came apart. Dangerous, aggressive.and terrified the life out of me. When i spoke to her she said she would take her back and send her for meat!! Well , long story short, she is still with me 4 years on. She is gorgeous, we do parelli (our salvation) we hack, school, spend lots of time together and she is my big mate. Luvs my horsey
I did it too, a supposed friend told me that she had the perfect horse for me and I bought her. 2 weeks later, she had a flaky and just totally came apart. Dangerous, aggressive.and terrified the life out of me. When i spoke to her she said she would take her back and send her for meat!! Well , long story short, she is still with me 4 years on. She is gorgeous, we do parelli (our salvation) we hack, school, spend lots of time together and she is my big mate. Luvs my horsey
becksten
Well-Known Member
Yes, well we was ripped off. Bought my 2nd horse as a 7yr old quiet, sane and sensible cob. for £4000 (without tack) and we found out 6months after buying him, he was a 4yr old, he napped, bolted, bucked reared etc. I persevered and hes a star now!
Tinker_Belle
Well-Known Member
Weirdly enough, same problem as Chestnut_mare1 with the 'friend' situation.
Needed a small pony for brother & sister to ride, it had to be bombproof & a 'nanny' for them to just do the odd bit of jumping, pony clubbing & local shows. Nothing spectacular at all, just a kiddies pony. Friend told me she had the ideal one, a black Shetland X. Id seen him & knew of him & thought I knew what he was like.....
Rode him, he was fine. He came to us two weeks later. First time we led him out to groom he pinned my older brother against the wall with his teeth, & bucked his rider into jumps. Realised then that he wasn't a real novice ride but thought we'd give him a chance. My one sister (not novice) rode him in the paddock (she's the type that holds no fear & gets back on after a thumping fall) He bolted with her in the paddock & slipped his shoulder, then kicked her. He was supposed to be a snaffle mouth but the only thing that gave you any sort of steering or brake was a hackamore! Had physios, vets, everything but he was pronounced sound.
A friend rode him & pony decided he didn't want to trot so rolled & broke his saddle.
We'd persevered for 2 years by this time, some days he'd be fine, others he'd be a complete demon.
Final straw came when we were catching them up to change grazing, caught my mare & she was fine, we were leading them through the yard when he ripped the lead rope from my hands & charged at my younger, very novice, sister who was grooming one of our minis, she was 5 at the time & there was an adult keeping an eye on her. He went for her, & I've never ever seen a horse be so vicious for absolutely no reason, he literally tossed her in the air. God knows how but she was ok bar bruises & shaken up.
He was on the trailer at 7 the next morning to be driven back to the supposed 'friend' that sold him to me as a bombproof childs first pony.
He'd never been ill treated, we never hit him & he was never yanked around. He was just extremely spiteful & extremely unpredictable.
If it had been from a stranger I would have been more vigilant but you don't expect a friend to sell you something like that so I suppose my guard was down. As the old saying goes, buyer beware!
Needed a small pony for brother & sister to ride, it had to be bombproof & a 'nanny' for them to just do the odd bit of jumping, pony clubbing & local shows. Nothing spectacular at all, just a kiddies pony. Friend told me she had the ideal one, a black Shetland X. Id seen him & knew of him & thought I knew what he was like.....
Rode him, he was fine. He came to us two weeks later. First time we led him out to groom he pinned my older brother against the wall with his teeth, & bucked his rider into jumps. Realised then that he wasn't a real novice ride but thought we'd give him a chance. My one sister (not novice) rode him in the paddock (she's the type that holds no fear & gets back on after a thumping fall) He bolted with her in the paddock & slipped his shoulder, then kicked her. He was supposed to be a snaffle mouth but the only thing that gave you any sort of steering or brake was a hackamore! Had physios, vets, everything but he was pronounced sound.
A friend rode him & pony decided he didn't want to trot so rolled & broke his saddle.
We'd persevered for 2 years by this time, some days he'd be fine, others he'd be a complete demon.
Final straw came when we were catching them up to change grazing, caught my mare & she was fine, we were leading them through the yard when he ripped the lead rope from my hands & charged at my younger, very novice, sister who was grooming one of our minis, she was 5 at the time & there was an adult keeping an eye on her. He went for her, & I've never ever seen a horse be so vicious for absolutely no reason, he literally tossed her in the air. God knows how but she was ok bar bruises & shaken up.
He was on the trailer at 7 the next morning to be driven back to the supposed 'friend' that sold him to me as a bombproof childs first pony.
He'd never been ill treated, we never hit him & he was never yanked around. He was just extremely spiteful & extremely unpredictable.
If it had been from a stranger I would have been more vigilant but you don't expect a friend to sell you something like that so I suppose my guard was down. As the old saying goes, buyer beware!
the watcher
Well-Known Member
These posts make me realise how lucky I have been over the years - yes I had one youngster (on loan) that would have been a star bucking rodeo pony but that was because he was young and barely broken - that is the worst I have had to deal with
dawnpetenathshir
Well-Known Member
Oh yes I bought a Highland pony which had in IQ about 50 points higher then mine, spent 6 months absolutely terrified of it before I sold it to someone very experienced who loves him to bits. turned out well really cos I did learn a lot
blossom01
Well-Known Member
I think the theme here is, people believing what they want to hear when they buy a horse........I've been there too! and got sold a looney nut of a horse.
and now I'm looking for another horse I don't believe a word I'm told I try and find out as much history of the horse as i can.
beginning to give up hope of buying something.
and now I'm looking for another horse I don't believe a word I'm told I try and find out as much history of the horse as i can.
beginning to give up hope of buying something.
dawnpetenathshir
Well-Known Member
Don't give up, I tried loads of horses before I got my bloke but OMG was he worth the wait xxxx
saskia295
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
beginning to give up hope of buying something.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh please don't! I felt the same way after a nightmare purchase (and I'm sure a lot of others on here did too) but there are some honest people out these who only want the best home for their horse and will be absolutely honest with you. I'm glad even after my nightmare experience I managed to find one of the most incredible horses I've ever had the chance to ride, let alone own. Chin up, you will find your perfect partner, it may just take a bit of time.
It's scary how many people on here have been 'done over'. I've read all the posts here and I am pretty shocked at how many of us have come across such dishonest sellers and even some 'friends'. Selling horses is horrible and heart wrenching (it has been in the past for me anyway) - seeing something you've built such a bond with go on to someone else. You want to make sure they have the best home and care. So when you are buying, why are these honest people so hard to come by?!
beginning to give up hope of buying something.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh please don't! I felt the same way after a nightmare purchase (and I'm sure a lot of others on here did too) but there are some honest people out these who only want the best home for their horse and will be absolutely honest with you. I'm glad even after my nightmare experience I managed to find one of the most incredible horses I've ever had the chance to ride, let alone own. Chin up, you will find your perfect partner, it may just take a bit of time.
It's scary how many people on here have been 'done over'. I've read all the posts here and I am pretty shocked at how many of us have come across such dishonest sellers and even some 'friends'. Selling horses is horrible and heart wrenching (it has been in the past for me anyway) - seeing something you've built such a bond with go on to someone else. You want to make sure they have the best home and care. So when you are buying, why are these honest people so hard to come by?!