Would it be unreasonable if...

Polos

Polos

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I asked the owners of a horse I viewed at the weekend to try the horse in an hired arena at the local equestrian centre?

I went to view a lovley horse at the weekend that was local to us. I went for a short hack down the road-he didn't even bat an eyelid when cars sped past really close, I went for a gallop in the field and I had brakes. I also rode him in the school and did a couple of small jumps and he was really sweet. However, I didn't feel that I got the best feel for him as the school was quite boggy and small and I was trying to avoid the wetter parts ( The owner had warned us on the phone that the school was not the best.) My mum and my instructor (who came with us) suggested that we took him to the local equestrian competetion centre to hire a school and the owner seemed ok with that. the arena we where thinking of hiring is quite large and has a fairly new surface and in one half of the arena there is often a small course so I would also be able to try him over a small course. unfortunatley our new car does not have a towbar and we won't be able to have one fitted in time for the arena hire so the owner says she would take him in her lorry (its only a 15 minute drive away). We are willing to pay diesel costs, the cost of hiring the arena and lights and we would buy her a cup of tea etc.. from the cafe. We are serious about the horse and if I like him in a different arena as much as I liked him at his yard we would probably have him. If it makes any difference he is for loan/poss lwvtb.

If you were selling/loaning a horse would you consider it unreasonable of the potential buyer/loaner wanted to do this? I don't want to seem greedy or selfish to the owner but I just want to make sure the horse is right for me.
 
Not really, if you are a serious buyer then I think its perfectly reasonable. My sister once tried a horse in a very boggy arena was not really possible to do more than walk in it, the guy than said we could try it in the indoor up the road - John Whitaker's indoor :eek: - which we did, but didn't end up buying the horse....

I have hired out local arenas before when selling mine as we don't have one of our own. :)
 
She has offered to take him so she must be happy to do so, I have taken horses to xc courses, shows and PC rallies when selling, if you want the horse to go and like the person it is never a problem, timewasters are hard to spot but if you are genuine it is your time and money, hope it works out and proves to be the right one:)
 
I think its a sensible and reasonable request especially as horse is up for loan, good to make sure you are covering both suited. Its good that you are offering to cover all costs. Probably best if owner is taking responsibility for travelling in case of any incidents.
 
I did the same with Ruby. They didn't have an arena at their yard and our menage had just been built so was too deep. The owner took her 20 minutes up the road to her friends arena. I did offer to pay for arena but the owner was allowed to use it for free. I didn't offer petrol money though. I ended up buying Ruby :)
 
I think it's perfectly ok and shows that you're really interested in the horse, gives them a chance to see how you both get on together in a different environment and also lets you see what he's like in new places.
 
Oh absolutely - I had a buyer a few years back very like yourself - exactly what I wanted for my horse's future. I even put the horse in livery at a competition yard so she could try the horse out in every aspect of SJ?XC etc.

She bought the horse and both seller and buyer were delighted with the deal and we became very good friends although hundreds of miles apart. Oddly enough that little horse is now back with me as a free livery as the owner sadly has fallen on hard times, but my faith in her owner not ever just selling this horse on to anybody was obviously justified.:)

I think you are very lucky to find a seller who is happy to do this - not that many will sadly.
 
Stencilface said:
Not really, if you are a serious buyer then I think its perfectly reasonable. My sister once tried a horse in a very boggy arena was not really possible to do more than walk in it, the guy than said we could try it in the indoor up the road - John Whitaker's indoor :eek: - which we did, but didn't end up buying the horse....

I have hired out local arenas before when selling mine as we don't have one of our own. :)
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Oh wow! well at least you can tell everyone that you have had the experience of riding in John Whitakers arena :)
 
Perfectly reasonable, when I was selling mine a few years ago I took mine to their yard for them to try him.

The one I am currently looking at the owner is bringing to my comp yard so I can have a lesson on him :)
 
Very reasonable in my opinion! I tell anyone that phones for mine, they are welcome to try him at home & also at xc/sj venue if they like. In fact I encourage them to do so as he's a different pony at home!!
 
thanks for the replies everyone :)

I would hate to be considered a timewaster which is why we are doing this for this particular horse as I really liked him the first time I rode him. I saw some others the week before that where not what I was looking for ( there was nothing wrong with the horses and the sellers had been very honest, but I just felt like the horses where too 'much' for what I wanted to do and I thought it would be best if they went to someone who could compete them at the level they had they potential for) and we let the sellers know fairly quickly that they where sadly not quite what we where looking for and we thanked them and wished them luck with selling them.

I hope it goes well in a different arena as I really liked him and he's perfect for what I want to do.
 
Batgirl said:
Perfectly reasonable, when I was selling mine a few years ago I took mine to their yard for them to try him.

The one I am currently looking at the owner is bringing to my comp yard so I can have a lesson on him :)
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we were thinking of asking if it was ok if he came to our yard, but the YO wasn't so keen when we asked permission as he said he didn't want to give other people the thought that he would hire out the arena to anyone, which is fair enough.

Good luck! I hope it goes well for you :)
 
No - not unreasonable at all!

When I got my first pony I had her on a 2 week trial, went and rode/cared for her everyday, even took her two a couple of local competitions. You have to be sure that this is the right horse for you, and every aspect of your potential life together has to be tried as possible.

IMO too many people buy horses too fast - go and try it once, maybe twice at a push, at the owners yard and buy it. Most work out ok but you can never be sure. It could have been doped, it could be a complete nightmare in unfamiliar surroundings, jibbering wreck on the roads, travelling... the list is endless!!

I think what you have asked is perfectly acceptable. A seller not willing to accommodate you would raise questions in my mind. Good luck :D
 
OP

I took someone to try my horse round a course at a local venue.

Kid wanted to jump fox+, my horse is very talented but very difficult. I made sure they knew this and they still wanted to go.

Went very wrong, girl was terrified, my horses decided if shes not going im not going, and there was a few encounters with the floor!

I got on and jump round fine first time.

Works well if it goes well! In my opinion, total waste of time for me and I wouldn't be gushing to do it again!
 
Yep, very reasonable so long as you are seriously interested. I have done this when I have had horses for sale (including hiring XC etc), and nobody has ever offered to pay any hiring or transport costs :(. I have even had people fail to turn up, having travelled my horse for over an hour to a decent XC course, and paid for the hire :mad:. They claimed to have 'forgotten' when I rang :eek:, and I never heard anything back from them. I do not mind if my horse is not what you are after, but please have the courtesy to let me know, especially if I am hiring a different venue for a second viewing! (sorry for the rant :o!).
 
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