Why lie?! :/ dealers....

[Troyseph]

And yet on another post, you say that you've only been riding 16 years, since you were 7, so therefore you're only 23 years old yourself.

I've been riding for 35 years, and I would never get on a horse without seeing someone else ride it first. Not a case of "been there done it", you have no idea what issues the horse might/might not have.

Seems to me that this is just an inflammatory post against dealers, especially since a lot of other things don't ring true in the post. There are good dealers out there, and there are good horses out there. There are also bad dealers, uneducated horses and private sellers who are less than truthful

I don't think my age should matter in my abilities? someone double my age who may have been riding their whole life may not have the same experience or confidence? Or been in any of the same sort of situations.

Age is just a number after all, I know a girl who is 17- has probably more knowledge than myself and is by all means a miracle worker with what she does with some horses...

And of course, no one knows what a horse will do... Nobody knows what any horse could be capable of... But if I've dealt with basically everything that could be thrown at me behaviour wise from a horse, and most being other people's so therefore strange horses, why would I be any different in this situation other than just getting on??..

And it is by no means an inflammatory post to dealers, because I do know there are good dealers out there, but a lot of them are bad. Like there are bad private sellers too of course!

 

[kp31]

All sounds a bit odd to me. I have been riding all my life, taught by some top international riders, competed upto 140cm and i would never ever get on a horse without seeing it ridden by someone else. It is just ridiculous.

I have bought all of my horses off dealers and never had a problem. But they have always been reputable dealers.

I have heard of far worse stories from people buying privately. One being told the other day someone a friend knows is selling her horse, it is vile in the stable, to the point of it needs a headcollar on permanently, it is the same in the field, it naps, it bucks it rears, it won't go in water, yet she has it advertised as a potential eventer for £3.5k! People were due to see it yesterday and do you think she had shared any of those points with the potential purchasers? Oh no! So please do not tar dealers as being bad people, like most things in life there are good and bad in all.

 

[susie2193]

And yet on another post, you say that you've only been riding 16 years, since you were 7, so therefore you're only 23 years old yourself.

I've been riding for 35 years, and I would never get on a horse without seeing someone else ride it first. Not a case of "been there done it", you have no idea what issues the horse might/might not have.

:

Agree 100%. Not having a go at you but accidents happen, and going to see a horse is high risk, just try to minimise those risks.

 

[Troyseph]

I wasn't trying to cause a massive argument or debate or get jumped on

I was simply stating what happened viewing a horse yesterday, and why would anyone, not just dealers lie about a horse...

Yes I may possibly be foolish in getting on it before seeing it ridden, but seeing as I've heard good stories about these dealers in question I didn't really think there'd be a problem...

Isnt getting on another persons so called problem horse the same in some senses? The owners terrified so asks your help, so you help, well I do anyway.....and try and see how we can overcome the issues...

But then maybe I'm just a fool who Helps other people and not worrying about my own safety....

 

[Rowreach]

First thing that struck was that she was not happy, or very mareish, put her bum to me with her ears back etc,
However my friend asked if I'd ride her first so I agreed, I'll get on anything so off we went...

At which point I would've walked away.

Interesting article in H&H mag last week about a judge saying that the onus is on the potential buyer to assess risk before trying out a horse ....

 

[susie2193]

As well as all this, this particular horse after asked wouldn't be sold with a warranty period like all the rest...

Didn't that immediatly ring alarm bells, a reputable dealer who sells all his horses with a warranty period, expect for this one ?

And can't see why on earth you would ask that question after you had ridden it. I 'd hand the horse back, say not for us thank you, no further conversation needed.

 

[Troyseph]

Didn't that immediatly ring alarm bells, a reputable dealer who sells all his horses with a warranty period, expect for this one ?

Yes, obviously it did, this was only mentioned at the end by the lady, as he has other horses for sale that she would've been possibly interested in, so needed to know how their warranty system worked (and if there was even one at all)

Row reach I know, I would've, but having had mareish mares before that have been saints to ride, however for a novice teen, of course that behaviour would've been unacceptable however you have to remember at the end of the day it was unto the buyers, not me, I just went along to ride for them and give my POV not to tell them what to do, her mother has owned horses before and knows her stuff, but she doesn't ride anymore, not that that's any of my business why or whatever. X

 

[annaellie]

I have to admit to doing the same thing as the OP, when I was younger and was living at home with nHo bills etc I went to look at a horse, I had bought one from them in the past. I was told there is the tack do what you need and let us know how it goes we dont have anyone spare to show him to you. Stupidly I said that was fine, I had been riding years had some good quality trainers and was used to big quirky horses so thought no problems.

I tacked him up and got to the indoor school, were he just bolted off as I knew the yard and knew children and RS clients would be around I tried to keep hold and stop him. As I got near a block of stables he slammed me into the wall and seemed to be leaning hard into me, knocking me over

I went into the office told them what he had done I was told oh we forgot to mention he will bolt inhand but he is fine once mounted Lesson learnt that day, dont try to get on a unkown horse before seeing someone who knows it on first.

I now wouldnt get on a horse without seeing it but I am more aware now due to if I get hurt I can not work, pay my bills or see to my children.

I can see how easily it is to fall into the same trap as the OP.

 

[Troyseph]

And can't see why on earth you would ask that question after you had ridden it. I 'd hand the horse back, say not for us thank you, no further conversation needed.

I didn't ask the question, the potential buyers did. And that is their prerogative, as I said before there were plenty more for sale, because at this point it was actually told to me, that the horse would be turned out and they wanted to go for a second viewing .....

But then after leaving I was told no way were they going back...
So maybe this was just a way of being pleasant and leaving.

 

[AmyMay]

Yes I may possibly be foolish in getting on it before seeing it ridden, but seeing as I've heard good stories about these dealers in question I didn't really think there'd be a problem...

It's not about good reputation / bad reputation - it's about viewing the horse, which is the first step to purchase.

You view it - see it ridden, and if you like what you see - try it.

Isn't getting on another persons so called problem horse the same in some senses? The owners terrified so asks your help, so you help, well I do anyway.....and try and see how we can overcome the issues...

No, you are looking at a horse with the view to purchase, not solve someone's problems.

But then maybe I'm just a fool who helps other people and not worrying about my own safety....

If you really want to help them, you'll do all the viewing from the ground first, discussing the merits or otherwise with the potential purchaser. Then if they like the horse you then get on. And you should absolutely 100% always be concerned about your safety firstly and formostely.

People aren't having a go - just wanting to help you do it right. So that you don't get hurt, and that you assist your friend in making a sound purchase.

I've gone to view horses that pulled out of a stable I've not even seen ridden. And likewise once seen ridden by the seller have not wanted to get on for a variety of reasons.

Remember - it's not all about the ride. It's about observing the horse being handled and ridden. That tells you the first 60% that you need to know.

 

[OWLIE185]

I prefer to arrive for the viewing early, groom and tack up the horse myself and then take it for a nice gentle plod (if it will allow me to do so).

Many years ago I went to look at a horse at a local dealers yard. I arrived at the yard and the dealer went into a field of about 50 horses and brought one out. Found a bridle and saddle and sent me on my way to ride out along a main feeder road to the A1 in rush hour traffic. The horse behaved perfectly even when having to stand still in the middle of the busy road to wait to make a right hand turn back in to the yard.
I asked if I could have the horse vetted and was asked who my vet was. I was then told no way was my vet allowed in their yard so I never purchased the horse. I would suspect that that horse would have been safe for anyone to ride as it had had a number of different riders riding it in the past and that is part of the secret of finding a nice quiet horse that stays quiet under new ownership and surroundings.

 

[Maesfen]

Yes agree with all of this having ridden for dealers..
however saying it is suitable for a novice really is another thing
Every single horse some dealers have are suited for novices
But wait untill the novice is left alone with horse
DISASTER
And agree with schooling problems out of horses and then inexpereinced rider gets on and it remembers exactly what it did before.
Terrible aren't they

Like when a show producer knowingly sold a traffic shy cob which he knew was to be shared between a mother and young daughter for hacking and RC after saying it was perfect in traffic; they were extremely lucky nobody was hurt. That was unforgivably in my eyes. dangerous

We have been caught out too, you'd have thought I'd know better! Bought a mare for daughter in law and me to share. Our only criteria were it had to be perfect in traffic, sensible and quiet to ride out alone and nice to handle for a novice (d-in-l) - which it was, completely during a very long trial at owner's yard. Fast forward and it's the spookiest horse I've almost ever ridden after a career of hunters and pointers let alone breakers in spite of not having any hard feed and only hay! It never learns that the fence that didn't eat her last week and yesterday is not going to eat her today, she still hasn't learnt how to open a gate in spite of having to every time we go out. Good thing is she will go past any traffic you can think of without turning a hair including a main A road; wheelie bins have no terror for her but she will spook at a different type of fence or a stone in the hedge or a cow laying down in a field that was laying down in that field yesterday too but a juggernaut blasting up her bum is fine! We thought she might be better in company but if anything she's worse and sparks up the other one with her spooking which has un-nerved DIL to add to it. I have loved getting back in the saddle but she was totally mis-sold and is certainly not as advertised as a safe, sensible schoolmistress! Past owner/part time dealer doesn't want to know so she will be part-ex'd with another dealer I trust to find us something we can both enjoy because I can honestly say owning her has not been the pleasure it should have been.

 

[Fellewell]

If I put myself in a sellers shoes, if I was going to do this I would do it an hour before the potential buyer turned up. Showing off is exactly that, and most people can tell the difference between a horse that is being shown what he can do, and one that is having a schooling session. 10 minutes of "setting up" will fall apart in less than that amount of time with a rider who isn't experienced wnough to ride the horse in question.(QUOTE)

I see what you're saying but I'm not entirely convinced that it's possible to put a time limit on the crossover point, as it were. Who hasn't seen mums at county shows burning off some fuel behind the lorries on 11hh ponies ?

Yes, lunging for 20 minutes is a neat trick but it won't necessarily mask a cold-backed horse only a rider can do that IMO.

In defence of some dealers. They run tight ships and horses aren't allowed to put a nostril out of line. As soon as these horses become loved and cosseted, the honeymoon period is very quickly over, sadly.