measles
Well-Known Member
I am so frustrated by recent events and wondered what people thought..
We have a lovely, sweet, easy to handle 14.2hh 15yo gelding who is nearly JA, has done eventing pony trials (placed in all his starts this year), PC, would affiliate with British Dressage etc. He can kick out behind if held too much showjumping and this is one of the first things I'd tell anyone. We advertised him on the PC website and horsequest but, by chance, a local family heard he was for sale and came to see him. He was to be for an 11yo who, when she rode him, looked on the small side but the pony went perfectly for her.
The family asked if they could bring their instructor to see him and I was happy for that as we want him to go to the right home. Instructor liked him and saw him go perfectly in a snaffle in a big open field, hack out etc etc but family asked if they could try him away from home at the instructors. I took him there and all was well although it was clear that the child would need to have support from the instructor to understand how to work him correctly on the flat. But then, that's what experienced ponies are for, we thought.
A week later the family asked if they could try him again (4th time) in the presence of another adviser and this time mum rode him and once again he was as good as gold. They called that evening to say they would buy him and that mum would share the ride on him but they couldn't take him for a week. A week passed during which I told all of the other interested families he was sold.
They duly picked him up and, 36 hours later, I received a phone call to say that he had windsucked once on a leadrope and they didn't want him anymore. To say you could knock me over with a feather is an understatement - I know the pony's full history and he has never, ever windsucked, not least on a leadrope? I asked to see what he had done and said, completely shocked, that of course if he was windsucking I would take him back. They weren't even prepared to keep him a day to see if he did anything further.
So, we took him back that night and, guess what, he hasn't windsucked because he simply doesn't do that. I do know that I could have refused to take him back without a vet cert but I didn't want the poor pony to be stuck with a family who had suddenly decided they didn't want him...
So now I have an event pony who everyone who was interested thinks is sold and if I call anyone back up they'll think he failed the vet (he wasn't vetted). Why oh why do people mess around like this? I gave the family every chance to try him (4 times) at home and away, even to the point that they came and spent lots of time getting to know him before committing to buy him. What did they want or expect if they turned down a sound, kind, experienced pony who will FEI for under £5,000?
I just don't know what to do now and as so anxious about advertising again and the pony (and I) being messed around.
We have a lovely, sweet, easy to handle 14.2hh 15yo gelding who is nearly JA, has done eventing pony trials (placed in all his starts this year), PC, would affiliate with British Dressage etc. He can kick out behind if held too much showjumping and this is one of the first things I'd tell anyone. We advertised him on the PC website and horsequest but, by chance, a local family heard he was for sale and came to see him. He was to be for an 11yo who, when she rode him, looked on the small side but the pony went perfectly for her.
The family asked if they could bring their instructor to see him and I was happy for that as we want him to go to the right home. Instructor liked him and saw him go perfectly in a snaffle in a big open field, hack out etc etc but family asked if they could try him away from home at the instructors. I took him there and all was well although it was clear that the child would need to have support from the instructor to understand how to work him correctly on the flat. But then, that's what experienced ponies are for, we thought.
A week later the family asked if they could try him again (4th time) in the presence of another adviser and this time mum rode him and once again he was as good as gold. They called that evening to say they would buy him and that mum would share the ride on him but they couldn't take him for a week. A week passed during which I told all of the other interested families he was sold.
They duly picked him up and, 36 hours later, I received a phone call to say that he had windsucked once on a leadrope and they didn't want him anymore. To say you could knock me over with a feather is an understatement - I know the pony's full history and he has never, ever windsucked, not least on a leadrope? I asked to see what he had done and said, completely shocked, that of course if he was windsucking I would take him back. They weren't even prepared to keep him a day to see if he did anything further.
So, we took him back that night and, guess what, he hasn't windsucked because he simply doesn't do that. I do know that I could have refused to take him back without a vet cert but I didn't want the poor pony to be stuck with a family who had suddenly decided they didn't want him...
So now I have an event pony who everyone who was interested thinks is sold and if I call anyone back up they'll think he failed the vet (he wasn't vetted). Why oh why do people mess around like this? I gave the family every chance to try him (4 times) at home and away, even to the point that they came and spent lots of time getting to know him before committing to buy him. What did they want or expect if they turned down a sound, kind, experienced pony who will FEI for under £5,000?
I just don't know what to do now and as so anxious about advertising again and the pony (and I) being messed around.
