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Post by sleepyhead on Mar 16, 2010 21:42:29 GMT
:(Having had a very well schooled TB for sale it has been a real eye-opener to me to see how many prospective buyers are totally unrealistic about their riding ability. It seems that many seem to confuse what they would like to be able to do with what they are actually capable of. We have a well schooled,responsive, sensitive horse who is a pleasure to ride and an absolute angel but unfortunately(despite asking the obvious questions re ability expectations etc) has been subjected to the worst display of "horsemanship" I have ever witnessed. The number of years riding has no bearing on ability as anyone can have ridden a trekking pony for 30yrs but that does not mean they are able to ride a dressage horse - they do not seem to realise they are pushing buttons they do not reallise are there to be pushed!! Please, please, please be realistic and do not "big yourself up" as the truth will always out and accidents can be avoided.
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Post by traffik on Mar 17, 2010 17:25:12 GMT
you need to inquire as to what level of competition pot. buyers are aiming for, an idea of where they compete should give you info, save both parties wasting time. goodluck!!
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Post by sleepyhead on Mar 17, 2010 20:13:27 GMT
I'm afraid that's my point. I did ask all the right questions re ability, expectations etc and it sounded as if it would be a perfect match but obviously this person was either totally deluded as to their ability or was hoping that by buying a well schooled horse he would do the work for her and all she had to do was sit as a passenger and look pretty! She could talk the talk but couldn't walk the walk let alone the trot, canter or any other pace!
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Post by audra on Mar 18, 2010 20:17:24 GMT
oh tell me about it.. i had this lady to come and ride my lovely honest little mare.. told me she was good at riding and my mare sounded perfect.. WELL.. she hadnt jumped in over 3years.. ONLY told me this after she took my mare over a jump and screamed in doing so!! my mare was foot perfect for her.. but i told her to get some more experience under her belt before buying an experienced horse.. crazy people out there !! good luck xxx
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Post by rosefinch on Mar 18, 2010 23:25:33 GMT
suppose people think its like riding a bike and as each horse is different it can de difficult to click straight off. I have ridden all my life but not for the last year as i had to retire my mare and have been looking for a replacement to no avail.
I have hopefully found the perfect horse and am going to view and try it at the weekend but now i feel aprehensive after reading your post.
i havent ridden properly for ages apart from jumping on my daughters naughty pony!!!! i know i am rusty and have told the owner this. My retired mare was very difficult to ride and people only realised this once they had tried to ride her. She did make it look easy but it wasnt. Obviously riding a certain horse for the last ten years has probably given me bad habits and hang ups.
Perhaps your horse is tricky to ride but as you are used to her you arent aware of how it takes a little while to get used to her and which buttons to push. Horses always ride better for their owners? Or do people generally lie about their ability.
Trust me i am no top dressage rider although would love to be. Hope you find a lovely home with competent rider for your tb
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Post by sleepyhead on Mar 19, 2010 9:50:17 GMT
Oh sorry Rosefinch I didn't mean to make anyone feel apprehensive and you seem aware of your ability have made the owner aware of your insecurities which is what I was meaning by be realilstic. Our horse isn't tricky to ride if ridden properly, he has been at working livery and ridden by a variety of riders and no-one has ever had a problem with him but he does not appreciate being kicked in the ribs or having the reins used as handlebars! I would have every confidence in him with any rider with educated hands and half decent balance, wouldn't need to be a dressage rider. He's off the market for the time being as I can't stand the stress of selling him so he may just be taking early retirement - don't suppose he'll mind though! Good look with your viewing, fingers crossed you find your perfect partner.
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Post by audra on Mar 19, 2010 11:42:13 GMT
sorry rosefinch... go and try it and don't feel apprehensive, i agree with sleepyhead that your aware of your ability and not bigging yourself up. your being honest. and that's good, just tell the owners the truth about yourself and you will be fine... good luck and hope your find your new horse.. xxx
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Post by rosefinch on Mar 19, 2010 12:46:50 GMT
oh lord sleepyhead would not be happy with anybody kicking any of my ponies/horses in ribs and using reins for handlebars dont think i am quite that bad. will let u know how i get on. good luck to you to hope you find a suitable home for your tb.
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Post by pennypoo on Mar 20, 2010 14:29:34 GMT
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! had a lady come to look ay my horse for sale, gave me all crap over the phone on how she was a riding instructor!!! hmmmm great i thought someone who will take him on and do something with him rather than go on and be wasted!!! she came with an EXPERIENCED FRIEND!!! who rode him and jumped him OKAY she then got on and walked round trotted a 20metre circle, that was it got off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOBBED SMACKED ME couldnt believe it WOULDNT YOU THINK A RIDING INSTRUCTOR WOULD PUT HIM THO HIS PACES? WELL........ why do people waste your time? ? may i add horse was, as always an angel!!!!!
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Post by lexy on Mar 20, 2010 21:07:33 GMT
sleepyhead - understand what you mean, and sure it can quite often be absolutely true! However it is also possible sometimes for an experienced rider to just not quite talk the same "language" as a horse, depending on how it is trained and also just chemistry between horse & rider. But depends on how bad they are I guess !! Lol I remember when I went to try my horse, the lady was pleasantly surprised that I seemed to know what I was doing and in particular impressed when I was trying out his medium trot (or rather lengthening stride anyway, as he hadnt properly learnt this yet then) and said it was best she had ever seen him move! Mind you, I was really enjoying riding him and didnt want to get off and knew I had to have him ...... Buying a horse can be a bit like dating ... sometimes everything looks great on paper but the spark is just not there. Other times you meet someone and know you just cant be without them and it all fits into place. Lexy
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Post by sleepyhead on Mar 20, 2010 21:49:18 GMT
sleepyhead - understand what you mean, and sure it can quite often be absolutely true! However it is also possible sometimes for an experienced rider to just not quite talk the same "language" as a horse, depending on how it is trained and also just chemistry between horse & rider. But depends on how bad they are I guess !! Lol Lexy I am aware of that Lexy, I have been breaking, schooling, competing and selling horses for over 30years. That is why it is important to be honest about your ability, and experience, it is difficult enough to get the perfect match so why do people say they are better than they are? I don't mind if someone is nervous or inexperienced everyone is different but as I said in my original post be realistic, with horses truth will out! I also give an absolutely accurate description of a horse I am selling, including the good and not so good bits and I just expect the same from a purchaser. It is in everyone's interest - especially the horse's
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 21, 2010 11:03:36 GMT
I was rather the other way round - when ringing up after a PC event horse for Lexy (above) years ago, one of my standard questions was "is it suitable for a middle-aged, wimpish mother with a bad back to keep fit for daughter at boarding school?". And thank you to anyone who said the horse wasn't for us, it saved both buyer and seller time and effort!
I might add, now she does her own horse buying and the one above is an absolute gem!
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Post by lexy on Mar 22, 2010 15:53:42 GMT
Hmmm, think you might have missed my point. I was trying to say that in some cases people might have been completely honest with their level of experience but just not get on with that particular horse and/or just work in a very different way to how that horse has been trained.
Horses are not push button, and the same rider would often look a much worse or better rider depending on which horse you put them on.
I know I have got on some horses to ride them (either trying out to buy, or friends horses) and just felt like couldnt ride it at all ! Despite also having many years of experience breaking, schooling and competing horses myself too in most disciplines at various times.
Lexy
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Post by sleepyhead on Mar 22, 2010 16:18:18 GMT
I appreciate what you are saying Lexy but it is obvious within minutes whether someone is an experienced rider and just not "clicking" with a horse or whether they would not be able to ride one side of ANY schooled horse! In fact it is often evident before they have even moved off. I'm not speaking about just get a good tune out of a horse immediately I know obviously that takes time but the basics like using reins to steady oneself in rising trot? ??
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Post by lexy on Mar 22, 2010 18:23:26 GMT
I did say in some cases ...... of course there are those when it is completely obvious that person cant ride at all I am sure!
I guess it is a risk you just have to take when selling horse though, there are only so many questions you can ask and even then no guarantee you will get truthful answers. Some people are probably just out for a free sunday afternoon pony ride !!!
Lexy
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Post by sleepyhead on Mar 22, 2010 20:27:59 GMT
I did say in some cases ...... of course there are those when it is completely obvious that person cant ride at all I am sure! Which was my original point! You're right about the daytrippers out for a free ride,unfortunately
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