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Post by Bluesilkie on Jul 28, 2015 20:44:51 GMT
What are your thoughts on letting a pony go on trial when it's for sale? I'm selling a childs pony at the moment and have offered for it to be tried as often as required at my place but alot of folk are wanting to take her away on trial which I'm not happy about but at the same time I can understand it as it's for a child. I did let her go on lwvtb last year for 4 months but when it came to the time of paying they decided she wasn't right for them (even though they sung her praises everytime I contacted them), I do feel they just used her to gain confidence for the child as days after mine came back they posted on facebook pics of a new pony they'd bought for a third of her price. People have said not to let her go on trial as many of the buyers are over 4 hours away and someone suggested taking a deposit but how much do I ask and what if they ruin the pony? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by thelwell on Jul 28, 2015 21:29:13 GMT
I would give any trial at home whilst the pony is on the market and possibly at a show if you were to take the pony yourself. All I have heard and experienced with trials are not good for one reason or another. A pony rarely goes to a new home and acts as though it has lived there all its life immediately. Different people, riders and routine. However how much you stress your routine and what to feed etc. They think they know better. Stick to your guns and you hopefully won't get irate parents on the phone constantly or end up having to bring the pony home ruined. As long as you are honest with the pony's good and bad points you won't go far wrong.
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Post by pipandwill on Jul 28, 2015 22:33:57 GMT
I have mixed views re trials, I would rather let them them try the pony in every possible situation, ie, open fields, at a show, etc where we can supervise... We have allowed some to go on trial, but tbh, all bar one have been disasters, where they have took the pony home for a week, jumped them everyday, and worked them hard every single day but then made silly excuses as to why they cant buy them, send them back looking not very well and you would be suprised how quickly ponies can pick up bad habits, and your hard work can be ruined. And said person has basically had a free pony for a week. That being said, if you are a good judge of character, unlike me! And have a good contract drawn up for the trial, what they can and cant do/feed etc, then trials are worth while... Bit of a tricky subject really! But I would be very careful who you allow trials to
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Post by Philippa on Jul 29, 2015 5:55:46 GMT
I let a pony go on trial for 3 weeks, they wouldn't have purchased him otherwise, that said they rang me up and said they couldn't afford him, I let them keep him on loan anyway for the next 2 years. I did bring him home eventually, they treat him very well and looked after him like a king so I had no room for concern but I needed to sell eventually.
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Post by sjw87 on Jul 29, 2015 8:36:32 GMT
Call me cynical but I'd be very wary at this time of year. 1 month trial over the summer holidays and then if the pony comes back, they've had a free pony for the summer and you've lost the best time of year to sell.
Maybe consider a 'money back guarantee' instead? Even one where the amount refunded decreases the longer they keep the pony. That way you're guaranteed that they have got the money and are in a better position to only offer partial refund if they did send the pony back ruined or keep it for the entire trial period, sing it's praises but then send it back. Far too often, people agree a price, take it on trial and then do like Philippa's buyer did and suddenly can't afford the agreed price.
Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
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Post by Bluesilkie on Jul 29, 2015 17:18:15 GMT
Thanks everyone
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