ester
Not slacking multitasking
So they are going to make you wait until the day they actually exchange contracts then?! We all know how well property buying and selling goes with regards to that 
Would you walk away .....
- Thread starter Dougal9
- Start date
Cortez
Tough but Fair
Good lord! There are thousands of horses out there, don't let them mess you around like this, go and look at others - who knows, you may find one you like better than poor old Dougal.
Tyssandi
Veteran
We have already covered this in private Message and OP knows how I know of her and the horse and exactly which yard he is at and Who is buying the RS and when.
This is private and confidential unless OP chooses to say.
OP hope it goes well with the viewing this horse and by the same card I hope the Riding School sees sense and stops all this strange ignoring behaviour and come out and talk to you face to face.
claracanter
Well-Known Member
I think you have to walk away- you might wait all that time for the sale to fall through
SO1
Well-Known Member
I just think that not being able to talk to the seller and the change in price and arrangements just does not sit well, it sounds like they are taking advantage of you. You sound like you have been a good RS customer, Dougal has served them well, the RS is closing soon, so why not let him go to a good home with a sensible agreement rather than all this messing around already his price has gone up £500 and I expect they will want to use him as much as possible before you get him and they may not be considering his welfare as they won't be concerned about his long term soundness as he won't be with them that much longer anyway.
I think your best bet now would be to tell them what you are willing to do and that as they keep changing their mind re price and when you can have him, you have had enough and this is your offer which is to get him vetted the first working day after the last day they use him and if he passes the vetting you will buy him for price x. If this is not going to work for them then you will be looking for another horse. I know it will be tough as I expect you may feel you will be rescuing Dougal to provide him with a better life but at the same time it is not right that these people take advantage of your good nature.
I think your best bet now would be to tell them what you are willing to do and that as they keep changing their mind re price and when you can have him, you have had enough and this is your offer which is to get him vetted the first working day after the last day they use him and if he passes the vetting you will buy him for price x. If this is not going to work for them then you will be looking for another horse. I know it will be tough as I expect you may feel you will be rescuing Dougal to provide him with a better life but at the same time it is not right that these people take advantage of your good nature.
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
Op
We had a livery here who was loaning the horse and the owner eventually could not afford it so offered first refusal to the Lonee. The owner knew how much this old guy loved this old horse and asked £1800. Way over priced for a 17 year old Tb, all of us and the trainer said * go to her with the cash in hand and say* "Here (T) Here is £ 1000 cash for (J) this is my only offer take it or leave it.!"
She took it.....
What I am saying is find away of going to her or them face to face and say (either cash in hand) Or a written offer and hand it to them and say this is my one and only offer for Dougal subject to vetting (or not). Call their bluff
We had a livery here who was loaning the horse and the owner eventually could not afford it so offered first refusal to the Lonee. The owner knew how much this old guy loved this old horse and asked £1800. Way over priced for a 17 year old Tb, all of us and the trainer said * go to her with the cash in hand and say* "Here (T) Here is £ 1000 cash for (J) this is my only offer take it or leave it.!"
She took it.....
What I am saying is find away of going to her or them face to face and say (either cash in hand) Or a written offer and hand it to them and say this is my one and only offer for Dougal subject to vetting (or not). Call their bluff
Redders
Well-Known Member
Been following this thread with interest- OP they are making buying dougal far too much hassle for you than it should be. Posting because I thought I knew exactly what I wanted- a dark bay gelding, 9-12, done a bit but not overly fussed. I ended up with an about to turn 5 year old coloured mare. And I LOVE HER! And love her being a mare. Mares are great
Damnation
Well-Known Member
You have already been waiting 4 months?!!!!! And they want you to wait another 4+ Months?
Sod that for a game of toy soilders, I'd be gone! Absolutely unreasonible and ridiculas, tell them to hoof it!
Sod that for a game of toy soilders, I'd be gone! Absolutely unreasonible and ridiculas, tell them to hoof it!
epeters91
Well-Known Member
As much as you love Dougal I feel you need to step away from him. They are completely taking the mic with this sale and to be honest £3000 is too much. If they want £3000 for him then they should be getting him upto date with his vaccinations at their own cost especially seeing as there is so much time to go before you take him on.
You need to stand your ground with them and be firm explaining that if they continue to mess you around then you will be forced to pull out. The yard that you're planning on moving too surely won't hold him a stable forever and are you currently paying to reserve a stable? I understand how hard it is to turn away from a horse you've bonded with but you can't let them take advantage of your feelings for him.
I really hope things get sorted for you wishing you all the best xxx
You need to stand your ground with them and be firm explaining that if they continue to mess you around then you will be forced to pull out. The yard that you're planning on moving too surely won't hold him a stable forever and are you currently paying to reserve a stable? I understand how hard it is to turn away from a horse you've bonded with but you can't let them take advantage of your feelings for him.
I really hope things get sorted for you wishing you all the best xxx
Smogul
Well-Known Member
Sorry, but 2 hours a day or even 1 hour a day every day is far more work than most private livery horses do. Realistically, how long and how hard will Dougal be exercised when you are solely responsible for him? There will be days you haven't time to ride, days when you don't feel like riding, he will come in with a shoe missing and you can't get the farrier for 3 days and so on. You might find under this new regime he has a lot more spark than you are comfortable with. I would echo the advice that you look for a horse which is already doing the sort of workload you will give it.
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
Agree. If you want him, speak to the owner say you are interested in him at 2.5k and want him vetted asap, sale subject to satisfactory vetting. If they start increasing price or making it awkward id walk away.
But it depends how much you want him. If you're willing to be messed about for a few months, thats fine.
Personally id not be happy you have to use a 3rd party to communicate with the seller, very unprofessional and warning bells ring when they are increasing prices and saying you cant physically have him until the end of march! Either she wants to sell or not. Sounds like she's playing on your emotional attachment.
QUOTE=C1airey;13149668]So, the yard are in a tight spot and *HAVE* to sell.
You are desperate to buy one of their horses.
They've hiked the price up and are generally making it difficult for you to buy said horse.
Someone who apparently knows you and the horse is posting on here pushing the emotional angle and urging you not to waste all the lessons you have had on this horse by walking away from the sale.
OP, you are being played like a violin!
ETA: We don't all buy our lesson horses - it is NOT a waste of those lessons if you buy a different horse.[/QUOTE]
But it depends how much you want him. If you're willing to be messed about for a few months, thats fine.
Personally id not be happy you have to use a 3rd party to communicate with the seller, very unprofessional and warning bells ring when they are increasing prices and saying you cant physically have him until the end of march! Either she wants to sell or not. Sounds like she's playing on your emotional attachment.
QUOTE=C1airey;13149668]So, the yard are in a tight spot and *HAVE* to sell.
You are desperate to buy one of their horses.
They've hiked the price up and are generally making it difficult for you to buy said horse.
Someone who apparently knows you and the horse is posting on here pushing the emotional angle and urging you not to waste all the lessons you have had on this horse by walking away from the sale.
OP, you are being played like a violin!
ETA: We don't all buy our lesson horses - it is NOT a waste of those lessons if you buy a different horse.[/QUOTE]
PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
OP - you asked a simple question - should you walk away - and my answer is a resounding yes.
I know you love this horse. And I know you will worry about him if you don't buy him. However, there are so many red flags/issues here that I think there are simply too many risks:
1) The inability to talk to his owner and the inaccessibility of the YO - I'm sorry, but these are massive red flags. They are not being up front and honest with you at all and that makes me deeply suspicious about what else they might be keeping from you about this horse.
2) The ridiculous (and very nebulous/vague) waiting period - they want to keep him until the bitter end so they can extract even more money out of him . . . this certainly speaks to his good nature and suitability as a "schoolie" but it also shouts "money-grubbing shysters" and that also makes me wary about what they might be hiding as well as question whether they have his (or your) best interests at heart (they don't).
3) His job - schoolies are wonderful - they are worth their weight in gold - in a riding school. Sadly, not all of them make the transition to a quieter life without some issues. For some, the reduction in work perks them up to the point where their new owners actually can't ride or handle them . . . for others, the reduction in work means they fall apart. There are exceptions, some schoolies thrive and flourish post riding school life, but they're not for everyone. They can be quite institutionalized, often won't hack alone/in front, may be quite defensive due to having been handled "in a hurry" and for more novice-y owners and handlers, they can be a challenge.
4) His age - he's not ancient - and if he'd been private homes all his working life, I would say go for it - schoolies work much, much harder than your average privately owned horse or pony . . . and the kind of work isn't conducive to long term soundness either. Looking after/compensating for wobby beginners (nothing wrong with that - we all have to start somewhere), spending lots of time going in circles, not necessarily getting adequate warm up (and cool down) time - all these things take a significant toll on a horse's body, joints, ligaments and tendons. Add to that not necessarily being ridden "properly" for much of the time (riding properly puts the horse's musculo-skeletal structure and development first, not the rider's - an impossibility with a riding school horse teaching beginners and novices to ride), and you've got a horse with high mileage who has a high probability of having joint/body issues.
Your obvious love for this horse leaps off the screen - but I don't think you should buy him - and not buying him, and loving another horse, doesn't mean you will love him any less - nor does it negate all the wonderful times you have had with him - those are wonderful memories - cherish them - but buy something else. You will love another horse - I promise.
P
I know you love this horse. And I know you will worry about him if you don't buy him. However, there are so many red flags/issues here that I think there are simply too many risks:
1) The inability to talk to his owner and the inaccessibility of the YO - I'm sorry, but these are massive red flags. They are not being up front and honest with you at all and that makes me deeply suspicious about what else they might be keeping from you about this horse.
2) The ridiculous (and very nebulous/vague) waiting period - they want to keep him until the bitter end so they can extract even more money out of him . . . this certainly speaks to his good nature and suitability as a "schoolie" but it also shouts "money-grubbing shysters" and that also makes me wary about what they might be hiding as well as question whether they have his (or your) best interests at heart (they don't).
3) His job - schoolies are wonderful - they are worth their weight in gold - in a riding school. Sadly, not all of them make the transition to a quieter life without some issues. For some, the reduction in work perks them up to the point where their new owners actually can't ride or handle them . . . for others, the reduction in work means they fall apart. There are exceptions, some schoolies thrive and flourish post riding school life, but they're not for everyone. They can be quite institutionalized, often won't hack alone/in front, may be quite defensive due to having been handled "in a hurry" and for more novice-y owners and handlers, they can be a challenge.
4) His age - he's not ancient - and if he'd been private homes all his working life, I would say go for it - schoolies work much, much harder than your average privately owned horse or pony . . . and the kind of work isn't conducive to long term soundness either. Looking after/compensating for wobby beginners (nothing wrong with that - we all have to start somewhere), spending lots of time going in circles, not necessarily getting adequate warm up (and cool down) time - all these things take a significant toll on a horse's body, joints, ligaments and tendons. Add to that not necessarily being ridden "properly" for much of the time (riding properly puts the horse's musculo-skeletal structure and development first, not the rider's - an impossibility with a riding school horse teaching beginners and novices to ride), and you've got a horse with high mileage who has a high probability of having joint/body issues.
Your obvious love for this horse leaps off the screen - but I don't think you should buy him - and not buying him, and loving another horse, doesn't mean you will love him any less - nor does it negate all the wonderful times you have had with him - those are wonderful memories - cherish them - but buy something else. You will love another horse - I promise
.P
Orca
Well-Known Member
Have you been to see the other horse yet, OP? I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of him!
Dougal9
Well-Known Member
Decided not to go - I need a definitive answer from the RS before I can move on to another horse. However RS are now not responding to my calls either which is highly unusual as I was trying to book a lesson, so potentially lucked out all round. Guess you never know who is on a forum ...... !!
horse-lover
Member
Please, please go and see the other horse!
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
You could be waiting a long time......in which a number of suitable horses will have been sold......they are messing you around, definitely walk.
Dougal9
Well-Known Member
Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread - but I need some time out now.
EQUIDAE
Well-Known Member
Why have you cancelled? Please go and see the other horse, you have nothing to lose.
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EQUIDAE
Well-Known Member
Dougal - it is a buyers market as it is winter, come April the prices will pick up and you will a) get less for your money and b) be competing with other buyers for the better horses. Now is the time to buy, not April...
C1airey
Well-Known Member
Oh OP, I'm sorry to hear that you decided against going to see the other horse. To be honest, I think the healthiest thing for you to do now might be to find a different riding school, where you can just concentrate on your riding without having possibilities dangled in front of you and whipped away, or your heartstrings tugged.
Now that Dougal has given you your confidence, go and ride a few different horses and then ask an instructor or someone you trust to help you find a new horse.
*hugs*
Now that Dougal has given you your confidence, go and ride a few different horses and then ask an instructor or someone you trust to help you find a new horse.
*hugs*
JFTDWS
Well-Known Member
I actually cannot imagine why you haven't walked away yet. Their conduct is astounding, and no horse is worth that.
9tails
Well-Known Member
Not even Dougal?!
FWIW I totally agree. I understand that you set your heart on something and can't see the wood for the trees, but I do believe Dougal isn't the best that can be had for the budget OP has.
FestiveFuzz
Well-Known Member
OP I'm so sorry to hear of the fiasco buying your first horse has become. I know it'll be hard to see the wood for the trees as you're so emotionally invested in this, but honestly buying your first horse or any horse shouldn't be this difficult. You wouldn't walk into Waitrose to buy a pint of milk and have to beg with the manager to purchase it, only to find the price has increased 25% by the time you got to the till...and yes I know buying a horse isn't as simple as buying a pint of milk but it sure as hell shouldn't be this difficult either.
It sounds like they are well and truly taking advantage of your good nature and clear dedication to this horse and giving you the runaround in the process. Someone who wants to sell a horse doesn't avoid taking the buyer's calls and unless they suspect there's an underlying issue or that they may want to pull out of the sale later on down the line I can't see the reasoning for not taking a deposit, particularly as they are making you wait so long to finalise things...surely this would be the obvious way of preventing a buyer thinking sod this and looking elsewhere?
I'm in the process of putting my boy up for sale at the moment. I'm in the fortunate position of not needing to sell him to fund the purchase of another, so am really in no rush to sell. That said, if the right home came along wanting to buy him at asking price I would bend over backwards to accommodate them and any reasonable requests they had during the purchase as I know that it's a buyers market these days and wouldn't want to mess them around in case they lost interest and chose to look elsewhere.
I guess I just find the seller's treatment of you really bizarre, particularly as it sounds like they're on a timescale in terms of when they need to sell by and as others have said, a RS horse wouldn't be many people's first choice, particularly when there are so many others available at that price point without difficult sellers and possible high levels of wear and tear.
Whatever happens I wish you the best of luck in your search x
It sounds like they are well and truly taking advantage of your good nature and clear dedication to this horse and giving you the runaround in the process. Someone who wants to sell a horse doesn't avoid taking the buyer's calls and unless they suspect there's an underlying issue or that they may want to pull out of the sale later on down the line I can't see the reasoning for not taking a deposit, particularly as they are making you wait so long to finalise things...surely this would be the obvious way of preventing a buyer thinking sod this and looking elsewhere?
I'm in the process of putting my boy up for sale at the moment. I'm in the fortunate position of not needing to sell him to fund the purchase of another, so am really in no rush to sell. That said, if the right home came along wanting to buy him at asking price I would bend over backwards to accommodate them and any reasonable requests they had during the purchase as I know that it's a buyers market these days and wouldn't want to mess them around in case they lost interest and chose to look elsewhere.
I guess I just find the seller's treatment of you really bizarre, particularly as it sounds like they're on a timescale in terms of when they need to sell by and as others have said, a RS horse wouldn't be many people's first choice, particularly when there are so many others available at that price point without difficult sellers and possible high levels of wear and tear.
Whatever happens I wish you the best of luck in your search x
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ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Dougal9 can I remind you that in the middle of November you wrote this after having ridden a different horse than Dougal. He isn't your one and only. I think if they never answer the phone to you again, you'll have had a lucky escape.
JFTDWS
Well-Known Member
I strongly suspect especially so. If all the OP has experience of is RS horses, the chances are she doesn't know what a really nice, well schooled horse can feel like, which is a massive shame for any rider I think.
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
I feel very sorry for op. I hope she finds and buys her horse soon, be it tho rs one or another. Also agree re most privately owned horses riding very differently to rs horses.
I feel it would be helpful for op to see a few horses for sale, so maybe its easier to decide if she really wants this rs horse despite the high price and messing about or if another horse can fullfill her dreams.
Good luck op, I hope you can take on board some of the advice on here as you seem nice and its very unfair how you are being treated by the rs
I feel it would be helpful for op to see a few horses for sale, so maybe its easier to decide if she really wants this rs horse despite the high price and messing about or if another horse can fullfill her dreams.
Good luck op, I hope you can take on board some of the advice on here as you seem nice and its very unfair how you are being treated by the rs
zigzag
Well-Known Member
I just looked back at your previous thread, you said you weren't sure about Dougal after not riding him for a while and you rode Lily who you got on well with and had a bit more go about her and not as lazy, I also read that Dougal kicks if he isn't at the back, I would be very wary of a horse that kicked in company, you could be landed with a big vet bill even if he is wearing a red ribbon
Orca
Well-Known Member
I don't believe you have said anything within this thread which could possibly have jeopardised the sale of Dougal.
I'm coming to think that the RS are doing this purely to hang onto you as a RS client until the end, not as a potential purchaser - there is no way on earth a genuine seller would treat a genuine buyer with such abhorrent disregard.
I suppose those of us who have had horses for our lifetimes know that we will, have and have had to love, lose and love again but you have not yet experienced this poignant aspect of horse ownership. I feel for you and I hope you are able to take a step back at some point and take control of this situation. I do think the only surefire way of doing so is to go out and enjoy all of the excitement and happiness a horse purchase should bring, by viewing horses of your choosing and enjoying the moment when one chooses you. There's really nothing like it!
PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
Leo Walker
Well-Known Member
Its not even the vet bill thats the worst bit, its the constant worry of something happening. Its very difficult on a livery yard to make sure that no one comes up behind you, or passes too close etc. I know you love Dougal and think hes the one, but thats because you have ridden him a lot in a controlled situation. You might find you love him a lot less if no one will hack out with you, or if you ca only use the school when no one else is.
I used to teach and worked at a few riding schools, I feel madly in love with a few horses at those yards, but I wouldnt have bought them even if they were for sale