Why do all 'Wanted' ads want a horse for free?

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trickivicki

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Selling my chap, so having a flick through the wanted ads.... they all seem to want a free horse.

I find this ever so strange!
 
I was on the look out for a freebie or a cheap horse as I wanted a summer project. I was told about a gorgeous little boy who just needed some TLC. We went and got him and he's over the moon with the change.
What's strange?
 
Well people don't usually advertise freebies, so you have to ask who has freebies.
People advertise horses for sale, so you rarely need to ask who has horses for sale.

And of course people buy horses still!
 
trickivicki said:
Every single wanted ad is after a freebie, do people not buy horses anymore?
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If you look on some sites, it seems that some people get the horse, then realise they don't have tack, rugs, haynets, mucking out kit etc., so they just get on the internet and ask for everything free!

Would love to know if they actually get it.
 
I looked at a cracking TB at the weekend which im more than likely to get and he isnt going to cost me anything other than vet check and transport costs. He has been used as a companion for the last nine months and needs bringing back into work which im capale of doing and this was all through word of mouth.

I would feel a bit cheeky advertising for a freebie though :o
 
Some of those adverts really annoy me!
We all like a bargain but we don't expect things for free.

I saw an advert on a Facebook horse page.
Someone wanted a nice pair of jodhpurs boots for showing, must be size 6, free or cheap!

Yeah id like that too but Im not so cheeky!
 
Grr. It's the cheap horses who will turn out to be the expensive ones, who will turn into welfare cases :(
 
WANTED

HORSE 14 HANDS ABOVE FOR FREE RIDE!!!

Wanted horse 14'' or above! i am quite advanced i can walk trot canter with ease and can jump upto 4 foot!!!
i have been riding for 4 years
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WANTED

TB or sporthorse broodmares

Hi, we are wanting ex racing brood mares must be sound vice free and Sportshorse broodmares in foal or not, must be papered and cheap or free, we have our own stallions and good home offered in a up and coming stud.
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A quick search of free horse wanted came up with lots of ads. These two were sadly pretty typical.
 
My favourite (advertised in the 'horses for loan' section, not the 'loan wanted'):

I'd like a ride on a decent horse...16hh+...
I am 20 years old...
I have no problem to take care of the horses (muck out, haynets, etc.) please let me know if something can be arranged. I do not believe that the whole Manchester not gonna find a decent jumping horse for experienced rider....I'll take it really seriously...thx
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Just type in 'free horse' on preloved, absolutely tonnes!
lots of companions and youngsters!

Wigan: Oh if I was nearer and had land!!
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107725589/shetland-colt-and-filly-foal.html

Bradford:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107455502/cheeky-stunning-chesnut-foal-for-sale.html

Stockton:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107351750/free-to-5-star-home.html
(Oh watch out, this one is pregnant due to not being rideable)
Manchester:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107788466/good-home-only.html

Durham:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107756451/small-pony-free-to-good-home.html

Pontefract:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107721890/pony.html

Dare I go on? There's lots of lovely ponies to, if I had money and land i'd snap them up!
 
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When I was looking for my boy I put a wanted ad out- with my (reasonable!) budget on it. I wasn't looking for a free, or even particularly cheap horse- just a safe one due to massive loss of confidence- and I specified that in my ad.

I was inundated with offers... of totally unsuitable horses, most of them cheap or free!

What saddened me most were the number I was offered that clearly had issues that probably could have been dealt with fairly easily and cheaply had people been prepared to put a bit of time and effort in, but when I asked the 'Back, tack, teeth checked?' question the usual answer was either 'no, can't be bothered' or 'no, cause my mate doesn't think there is anything like that wrong' :(
 
The ones that are free and cheap nowadays are youngstock, elderly or companions. Which get left out because they're expensive to keep and you can't ride.
 
Its as bad on Facebook, so many people wanting all kinds of stuff for free

If you offer them anything they then say they cant travel and can you deliver it?!

Someone was desparate for a bale of straw recently and saw me offering one to someone else (who I knew and who was just down the road) I got a message from them saying they would take me up on my 'offer' and could I deliver half to them (10 miles away) and half to their MIL (7 miles in the other direction) ummmmm
 
Parachute said:
Just type in 'free horse' on preloved, absolutely tonnes!
lots of companions and youngsters!

Wigan: Oh if I was nearer and had land!!
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107725589/shetland-colt-and-filly-foal.html

Bradford:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107455502/cheeky-stunning-chesnut-foal-for-sale.html

Stockton:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107351750/free-to-5-star-home.html
(Oh watch out, this one is pregnant due to not being rideable)
Manchester:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107788466/good-home-only.html

Durham:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107756451/small-pony-free-to-good-home.html

Pontefract:
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/107721890/pony.html

Dare I go on? There's lots of lovely ponies to, if I had money and land i'd snap them up!
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Oh ! that Manchester one makes me cross , lame her then give away to an uncertain future after produceing another horse because you have not got enough grazing grrrrr
 
Parachute said:
The ones that are free and cheap nowadays are youngstock, elderly or companions. Which get left out because they're expensive to keep and you can't ride.
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The free horse wanted ads want a safe, sound, paragon of virtue that will win every competition they enter.

Something doesn't add up. ;)
 
My concerns with a "wanted free or cheap" ad for an animal is that they don't have the finances behind them to cover all those unexpected vets bill, replacing ripped rugs...all those costs you can't predict.

If someone said "budget under £X" I would be more inclined to think they actually knew what they were doing and just weren't looking for something expensive.
 
Faracat said:
The free horse wanted ads want a safe, sound, paragon of virtue that will win every competition they enter.

Something doesn't add up. ;)
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I've seen wanted ads wanting eventers or hacks,but must include tack and rugs :rolleyes:
But never any asking for companions or ponies :(
 
Parachute said:
I've seen wanted ads wanting eventers or hacks,but must include tack and rugs :rolleyes:
But never any asking for companions or ponies :(
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I was just going to edit to say that on the side of offering a horse for free, I'd be worried someone would take it, then ride it anyway, as it's a horse right, got four legs, so obviously can be ridden :mad:

I've heard of horses with navicular being given away for free to a "good" home. That person has then gone on to sell the horse on as a ridden horse. Partly why both my ponies were with me until the end.
 
hnmisty said:
I was just going to edit to say that on the side of offering a horse for free, I'd be worried someone would take it, then ride it anyway, as it's a horse right, got four legs, so obviously can be ridden :mad:

I've heard of horses with navicular being given away for free to a "good" home. That person has then gone on to sell the horse on as a ridden horse. Partly why both my ponies were with me until the end.
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I didn't even think about that!! Imagine all the horses that have being rehomed as companions being used as ridden horses and then sold on or put down because they get injured and cost a bomb with vet bills!? :eek:
 
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