Why do horse owners lie when selling?

[marsayy]

OK I'm looking for a new horse and have been very disappointed with some owners telling me rubbish, or making me promises that when I get there I realise there is no way the horse was suitable for me.
Now a lot off adverts say no time wasters but what happens when they waste your time!! I made an eight hour round trip to see a horse that the woman was so sure he was the right horse for me, as soon as I got out the car her opinion had reversed and she said I was not right for him. Basically she had either sold him before I got there or thought I was too heavy.

When I phone up about a horse I tell the owner my weight, my riding level, what I want from the horses and what sort of home I'm offering. I then ask what the horse likes, dislikes for example "heavy hands", and try to match as close as possible to my riding ability. I am a nervous rider so no use viewing a highly strung or nervous animal. I got on one horse who was supposed to be a school master and an easy ride and got off the other side which was kind off funny as soon as I got on he tried to bolt, he couldn't walk on a lead rein without walking over you and was basically ridden in such a way that bolting was his favorite hobby. There was no way he was suitable for me and the owner was not happy as I had wasted her time. I reminded her that I told her I was nervous over the phone so did she really think I could handle him and really she had wasted my time!!

Has anyone got any advice on anything I could do differently to get a better match before driving a long way?

[bramblesmum]

I think you've just been unlucky, sometimes a horse will play up for a stranger and the owner wont know, its a lot of the reason I sell mine before backing as I can be assured of their temperament on the ground. It is a buyers market at the moment just keep looking your perfect horse is out there

[wills]

Thats a shame and must be very frustrating especially after such a long journey. Whare are you, maybe pop a few details on here, someone here might no of something or be able to keep an ear open for you. Chin up he/she is awaiting somewhare for you.

[wabuska]

Buying really is a nightmare, but there are honest, straightforward sellers out there. A lot of leg work to find them sadly.

[KimT]

I know exactly what you mean. I went to see a horse for loan (which was agreed by telephone). It was a 2 1/2 hour journey for me and after riding her (horse had way more issues than the owner admitted), the owner then said that she would only sell her for £1500. No loans.

Eekk!! What are you after and where abouts are you. We may be able to help.

[Deleted]

Sadly I think some people stop seeing the horse and start seeing the pound signs once they've decided to sell.

I went with a friend to see a horse who was described as forward but safe. I rode up up the road past the turning to her field and she napped about all over the road and when I refused to let her nap towards her field she started threatening to rear up. The owner really seemed to think forward going meant rearing and napping. Needless to say we made a speedy exit.

[jen1]

however by the same token, and im not making any implications, my normally fab school master who is ridden by teenagers, and novice people can smell nerves a mile off, so i could sing his praises, at how well behaved he is is, only to revert to a jelly with really really nervous people,ive seen it first hand, had i not i wouldn't have believed it, maybe the owners are not reading the nervous bit to the conversation, it boils down to how effective you are , your looking for a dope on a rope i assume, if not ask with that assumption, dopes can still be well schooled so to speak

[madmare1]

befroe I got Inaya, I went to see a 'safe' 16.2hh sports horse mare....I told the owner I had a knackered knee, and needed something that responded to leg pressure....now, I'm not being big headed, but I like to think I am a pretty effective rider, I can get most horses to work for me....

This mare however, jeez!!! I cannot mount from the floor, except on the odd occasion I am feeling athletic and I've had my painkillers (lol) so any horse of mine is taught to stand for the mounting block....she wouldn't, despite owners assurances that 'oh she always stands for me' I didn't quite believe her! Anyway, I got on, and walked and trotted round the field (no arena) then I said can we go for a short hack...so off we went....and she stopped dead and started napping and threatening to go up....owner then says 'oh she always does that, and we just let her stand tilll she gets her head together' thought it was funny!

we got back to the yard, and I said that she was a nice type, she would be too much for me....hmmm and I end up with 6yo unbroken arab..ah well...

There are honest sellers, you just got to find them! Good luck in your search. I willPM you a friend of mine who does have some nice ones for sale at not much money..more wants to find good homes than get a silly price!

Emma xx

[Amanda Seater]

I do think it is such a shame - we are finding the same thing in our search for a yard/farm /house!!
teh fuel bill is incredible and the ammount of driving is tiring and everytime we go a distance it often runs into 2 days so someoen has to look after the animals..

I do have a Freisian " well schooled dope on a rope" here for loan BUT he does need to have equine company at all times in the field as he is blind in one eye. hacks out alone ok though. you would get teh odd spook at a bird flying out of a hedge.

I do wish you luck. it seems that buying anything is a right royal pain in the derierre.

[marsayy]

Thanks guys, I am situated in the Highlands between Grantown on Spey and Huntly. I have a field companion and stable/barn. I only want to happy hack on that elusive non spooky forward going horse. I am moving up from my dope on a rope so still nervous at times but fairly competent. I ride western so will change the horse over. I find that style suits me much better.

I'm sure I'll get one eventually, just soooo difficult, its a mind field out there!! ;D

[steve]

Always ask for a video of horse being ridden before setting off looking! Most mobiles have cameras now so no excuse really! And I always ask to see the horse caught, groomed, tacked up and ridden before I decide if I'm going to get on it!! I have been horse hunting a few times with friends and end up as the crash test dummy!! But unless I've seen the horse walk, trot and canter without drama then I don't get on.

One friend was looking for a bomb-proof family hack, suitable to escort her two young daughters. Drove from Surrey to somewhere in Essex and the horse was tied up in a stable, and it looked like a wild stallion. I then asked to see him ridden and told my friend that although I would be happy to get on it (reluctantly!) he looked fiery but not dangerous but I said he was never going to be suitable as he was very spooky and flighty and was tanking round the school like a freight train!!

Nowt strange as folk!!

[Lulu]

Why not ask the Highland trekking centre if you can loan one of their ponies over the winter ? We used to get ponies on loan over the winter from there and they were always fun to ride, and pretty level headed.. just a thought ? Mind you, this is going back about 20yrs, so they may not loan out anymore ? They may have one or two to sell though, worth a try ?

[Deleted]

I agree with Steve, if I go to view a horse I want to see the owner ride it first, if they're not prepared to get on it neither am I!

I do know someone who bought a young horse advertised as 'ready to go out and compete'. My friend went to see the horse, liked her, bought her. Friend brought her home and found the horse was in no way ready to compete, she couldn't even walk along the long side of the school without falling over her own legs and frequently freaked out and tried to dump her rider. The seller came out to see what the problem was... hey presto, horse rides like a dream. Seller leaves, horse turns back into unbalanced green baby. The guy had, in total innocence, trained and brought the horse up to be HIS horse and no one else's.

[caroline23]

have you tried safecobs? or hacking horses.com? there is also featherbeds that do horses that are good for hacking but can step up a gear if you want

[Olivia]

I have to say on the other hand, its very hard selling them! Like michellep's story, I had a pony that I thought was very saleable. He was a little nervous on the ground but he stood to be tacked up, mounted, had secured the basic flatwork and jumped anything. I had one person who couldnt stop him galloping round the outside, one who couldnt stop him from reversing, and one who couldnt get him to jump. Others just said he was too green. Now I'd competed this pony a bit and on every outing had atleast one person ask if he was for sale. I'd jumped him up to 1.30, he'd never once stopped at a fence, as he was beautifully resposive on the flat - but only to me it seemed! It turns out I use my seat a lot more than I realise and seeing as Id has this pony from very green, he'd learnt my seat aids for reversing and stopping and bless him was very confused by other people!
However eventually a very lovely confident girl came, she absolutely clicked with him, and is having a ball with him now.
I almost find it easier buying horses from completely dodgy people because then you know exactly which bits of their stories to believe - none of it!