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| We consigned a horse at a sale several months ago. He was 3 years old, very eye catching, and did his job well. His write up was very discriptive...stated his age and how long he had been in training for the dicipline he was demonstrated in. A man came the day before the sale and watched him in the demo for hours. Never approached us, never asked us questions..nothing. Several others did and we were happy to answer anything they wanted to know. Sale day comes..our horse does well and two bidders battle it out for him. We get back to the stall and a nice man (same one who came for the demo) approaches us with his 3 grandkids who are probably 7, 5 and 3 years old. He told us he was the purchaser and that he had bought the horse for his grandkids to learn on. ......I was dying inside. We had been totally honest about this horse but it was obvious these kids didnt know much. He wanted to put the kids on him right then.. my husband reiterated that he was green and although he had a very gentle disposition he just didnt feel comfortable putting children on him..not on his watch anyway! We told the folks everything we knew about him, answered all questions and then parted ways. Fast forward to a couple months ago the man called wanting to know if we had anything to trade because this horse was "too green" for them. Facepalm! My husband feels bad that the horse is not a match but these people overloaded their kids. Moral of the story...green horses and green kids normally dont go together...dont be that person.
Edited by scwebster 2018-01-10 8:43 AM
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | My mom sold a mare to a family for the kids Christmas gift. She was suitable for anyone. Fast forward a whole YEAR...they called to ask what kind of bit to buy for her, they were going to ride her for the first time. Mama was like....ummmm........  |
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Location: IL | scwebster - 2018-01-09 4:01 PM We consigned a horse at a sale several months ago. He was 3 years old, very eye catching, and did his job well. His write up was very discriptive...stated his age and how long he had been in training for the dicipline he was demonstrated in. A man came the day before the sale and watched him in the demo for hours. Never approached us, never asked us questions..nothing. Several others did and we were happy to answer anything they wanted to know. Sale day comes..our horse does well and two bidders battle it out for him. We get back to the stall and a nice man approaches us with his 3 grandkids who are probably 7, 5 and 3 years old. He told us he was the purchaser and that he had bought the horse for his grandkids to learn on. ......I was dying inside. We had been totally honest about this horse but it was obvious these kids didnt know much. He wanted to put the kids on him right then.. my husband reiterated that he was green and although he had a very gentle disposition he just didnt feel comfortable putting children on him..not on his watch anyway! We told the folks everything we knew about him, answered all questions and then parted ways. Fast forward to a couple months ago the man called wanting to know if we had anything to trade because this horse was "too green" for them. Facepalm! My husband feels bad that the horse is not a match but these people overloaded their kids. Moral of the story...green horses and green kids normally dont go together...dont be that person.
You didn't trade anything for the horse did you? I would not have, people need to learn about horses and what broke is before they buy them. Common sense....I feel bad for the horse  |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I would just nicely tell him you do not have anything to trade, but suggest he look at selling the gelding and look for a horse more suited for his grandkids......aka.....one leg in the grave kinda horse lol |
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| I have started a lot of horses for folks, ranging from first time horse owners to ranching types, etc. I put 30-45 days on and then have the owners come out and watch me ride the horse (if they haven't been involved throughout the process), so I can show them exactly what their horse knows, and then have them ride the horse so they feel comfortable as well. Many of those horses go on to be great ranching and rodeo horses, but I have definitely had a few where as soon as the horse got home, they were never ridden again, or ridden so sparingly that they have sent the horse back for me to "tune them up".
It is absolutely frustrating when you pour your heart and soul into a horse, get them advertised and they go home to someone that cannot or will not do them justice, or they sell to someone who doesn't understand what they have.
The key thing to try and remember is that you've done the best you can, laid out all the information available, and if they decided they needed that particular horse at that particular moment, and especially if it was an auction situation, then that decision is all on them. |
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Expert
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| merdth6 - 2018-01-09 4:30 PM
scwebster - 2018-01-09 4:01 PM We consigned a horse at a sale several months ago. He was 3 years old, very eye catching, and did his job well. His write up was very discriptive...stated his age and how long he had been in training for the dicipline he was demonstrated in. A man came the day before the sale and watched him in the demo for hours. Never approached us, never asked us questions..nothing. Several others did and we were happy to answer anything they wanted to know. Sale day comes..our horse does well and two bidders battle it out for him. We get back to the stall and a nice man approaches us with his 3 grandkids who are probably 7, 5 and 3 years old. He told us he was the purchaser and that he had bought the horse for his grandkids to learn on. ......I was dying inside. We had been totally honest about this horse but it was obvious these kids didnt know much. He wanted to put the kids on him right then.. my husband reiterated that he was green and although he had a very gentle disposition he just didnt feel comfortable putting children on him..not on his watch anyway! We told the folks everything we knew about him, answered all questions and then parted ways. Fast forward to a couple months ago the man called wanting to know if we had anything to trade because this horse was "too green" for them. Facepalm! My husband feels bad that the horse is not a match but these people overloaded their kids. Moral of the story...green horses and green kids normally dont go together...dont be that person.
You didn't trade anything for the horse did you? I would not have, people need to learn about horses and what broke is before they buy them. Common sense....I feel bad for the horse
We didnt. We told him everything we have now is greener than the one he purchased. I told my husband not to feel bad. We did our part. They didn’t. |
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Expert
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| hoofs_in_motion - 2018-01-09 5:01 PM
I would just nicely tell him you do not have anything to trade, but suggest he look at selling the gelding and look for a horse more suited for his grandkids......aka.....one leg in the grave kinda horse lol
Exactly!! |
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| madredepeanut - 2018-01-09 5:12 PM
I have started a lot of horses for folks, ranging from first time horse owners to ranching types, etc. I put 30-45 days on and then have the owners come out and watch me ride the horse (if they haven't been involved throughout the process), so I can show them exactly what their horse knows, and then have them ride the horse so they feel comfortable as well. Many of those horses go on to be great ranching and rodeo horses, but I have definitely had a few where as soon as the horse got home, they were never ridden again, or ridden so sparingly that they have sent the horse back for me to "tune them up".
It is absolutely frustrating when you pour your heart and soul into a horse, get them advertised and they go home to someone that cannot or will not do them justice, or they sell to someone who doesn't understand what they have.
The key thing to try and remember is that you've done the best you can, laid out all the information available, and if they decided they needed that particular horse at that particular moment, and especially if it was an auction situation, then that decision is all on them.
Thank you for that. I was just dumbfounded. They spent a substantial amount ...and to not know anymore than they did. I’ve heard of that happening but it’s never happened to us. I don’t think they got him to do what he had been in our training program for. They bought him cause he was pretty and I guess they could afford it. Like you said, we did the best we could. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | Been there, done that! Selling at auction and even selling direct off the farm. I have even done and said everything to except flat out refuse to sell the horse because I knew it was not going to work out. People hear what they want to hear, they get a dream in their head, IDK what the heck but they just will not listen or comprehend what you are trying to tell them. It's business, I do feel bad and frustrated for the horse but if I did everything I could to make sure the sell went well, then that is all I can do. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
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| scwebster - 2018-01-09 5:49 PM madredepeanut - 2018-01-09 5:12 PM I have started a lot of horses for folks, ranging from first time horse owners to ranching types, etc. I put 30-45 days on and then have the owners come out and watch me ride the horse (if they haven't been involved throughout the process), so I can show them exactly what their horse knows, and then have them ride the horse so they feel comfortable as well. Many of those horses go on to be great ranching and rodeo horses, but I have definitely had a few where as soon as the horse got home, they were never ridden again, or ridden so sparingly that they have sent the horse back for me to "tune them up". It is absolutely frustrating when you pour your heart and soul into a horse, get them advertised and they go home to someone that cannot or will not do them justice, or they sell to someone who doesn't understand what they have. The key thing to try and remember is that you've done the best you can, laid out all the information available, and if they decided they needed that particular horse at that particular moment, and especially if it was an auction situation, then that decision is all on them. Thank you for that. I was just dumbfounded. They spent a substantial amount ...and to not know anymore than they did. I’ve heard of that happening but it’s never happened to us. I don’t think they got him to do what he had been in our training program for. They bought him cause he was pretty and I guess they could afford it. Like you said, we did the best we could.
Exactly, you did not withhold why info. You can’t control other people. |
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| scwebster - 2018-01-09 3:49 PM
madredepeanut - 2018-01-09 5:12 PM
I have started a lot of horses for folks, ranging from first time horse owners to ranching types, etc. I put 30-45 days on and then have the owners come out and watch me ride the horse (if they haven't been involved throughout the process), so I can show them exactly what their horse knows, and then have them ride the horse so they feel comfortable as well. Many of those horses go on to be great ranching and rodeo horses, but I have definitely had a few where as soon as the horse got home, they were never ridden again, or ridden so sparingly that they have sent the horse back for me to "tune them up".
It is absolutely frustrating when you pour your heart and soul into a horse, get them advertised and they go home to someone that cannot or will not do them justice, or they sell to someone who doesn't understand what they have.
The key thing to try and remember is that you've done the best you can, laid out all the information available, and if they decided they needed that particular horse at that particular moment, and especially if it was an auction situation, then that decision is all on them.
Thank you for that. I was just dumbfounded. They spent a substantial amount ...and to not know anymore than they did. I’ve heard of that happening but it’s never happened to us. I don’t think they got him to do what he had been in our training program for. They bought him cause he was pretty and I guess they could afford it. Like you said, we did the best we could.
When I was in college, I had tried out a roping and goat tying gelding that was going to be selling at an auction, and he was a great fit for what I needed at the time. The owners didn't believe he would go for much, so I thought he would be easy to snag. However, a family with grandkids decided they needed him more than I did, and paid triple what I would have for him, because the grandkids thought he was pretty. The owner was flabbergasted, because this was a pro level team roping and college level goat tying horse, and he was never advertised as a kids' horse, but that's where he ended up going. I'm not sure how that all turned out.
That's one of the bummers with selling a horse at an auction, you can get a lot more money than you expect, but you can't always predict where they end up. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| 1/2 of me wishes that horses at auctions simply sold on descriptions. Just for the fact that dumb people buy on PRETTY and not on logic.
And yes, I realize that conformation, body type, etc., go into buying a horse...that's why I said 1/2 of me.
A couple of friends of mine went to the local monthly horse auction. Bought a pretty paint mare out of the loose pen. (Insert Eyeroll to begin with) Somehow they managed to miss she was larger than the other horses. She was 1/2 draft!! She was huge! She was sweet enough and could be ridden under saddle, but jeeze... They sold her pretty quick. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| A lady I used to work with was in the market for a horse for her kids. I told her get something around 14-16 years old. She told me she didn't want something ready for the glue factory! She ended up buying a 2 year old stallion. He was halter broke and that was about it. I told her-- sex change ASAP. She didn't want to get him cut because it might hurt his feelings and it would hold it against her. I still laugh about that one. |
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 The One
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Location: South Georgia | That is unfortunate. I'd feel bad for the horse. I get too attached, I suppose. I'm no good at selling. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
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| horsegirl - 2018-01-10 7:44 AM That is unfortunate. I'd feel bad for the horse. I get too attached, I suppose. I'm no good at selling.
Same here, the last one I sold was several
years ago. Advertised as 3/4D, $3500, 17, my girls doing high school rodeo, not ever going to be fast enough, great experienced kid horse, etc. Same story we all have who have sold, people ignore the add. I got so many calls wanting to try him as a high school rodeo horse-I would not even let them come see him. My husband asked if I was ever going to show him to anyone, lol. The only family I did let come try him was the perfect home and they still have him today. |
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| streakysox - 2018-01-10 7:43 AM A lady I used to work with was in the market for a horse for her kids. I told her get something around 14-16 years old. She told me she didn't want something ready for the glue factory! She ended up buying a 2 year old stallion. He was halter broke and that was about it. I told her-- sex change ASAP. She didn't want to get him cut because it might hurt his feelings and it would hold it against her. I still laugh about that one.
Good greif! I had a similar thing happen to me. Some folks that live close to us called us and asked us what they needed to look for in a horse or pony for their kid. She ignored our advice and bought a 2 year old stud pony. She calls me a few weeks later asking if we did training for ponies....I just told her she was better off selling him and putting the money toward a suitable kid pony or horse rather than spending a lot in training for this one. |
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Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | scwebster - 2018-01-10 8:49 AM
streakysox - 2018-01-10 7:43 AM A lady I used to work with was in the market for a horse for her kids. I told her get something around 14-16 years old. She told me she didn't want something ready for the glue factory! She ended up buying a 2 year old stallion. He was halter broke and that was about it. I told her-- sex change ASAP. She didn't want to get him cut because it might hurt his feelings and it would hold it against her. I still laugh about that one.
Good greif! I had a similar thing happen to me. Some folks that live close to us called us and asked us what they needed to look for in a horse or pony for their kid. She ignored our advice and bought a 2 year old stud pony. She calls me a few weeks later asking if we did training for ponies....I just told her she was better off selling him and putting the money toward a suitable kid pony or horse rather than spending a lot in training for this one.
Bless your heart!! I have a similar story!! I had a very nice, quiet gelding that belonged to some people you know wel (They used to own the Double R arena!) This horse was totally blown up in the box, but was a puppy to do anything else. I showed him to our neighbor who was just really starting to ride because I knew he would be safe to learn on, I priced him at 4500. He was a good looking sucker! They came and rode him and loved him, but felt I had him priced too high. Soo- off they went, TO CRAIGSLIST! They bought horse,saddle, bridle EVERYTHING for $850. Heck of a deal, right?!? Perhaps, until two weeks later when the son of a gun ran off with her and fell on a blacktop road. It broke her arm in two places and she had to have pins put in. They came back wanting my horse and he had already sold. So now they have an idiot they can’t ride and a vet bill that cost way more than my little broke pony! This is why I hate selling horses! Everyone wants a unicorn that poops glitter.... for $500!
I’m sorry that happened to y’all, but it sounds like you did everything right. Some people have to learn lessons the hard way. |
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 Dog Rescue Hero
Posts: 1660
Location: Oklahoma City OK | Being in the horse selling business is so difficult! I swear I'll never have to sell another one. Many years ago, a lady from a very long distance away called about a green and somewhat quirky horse we had for sale. After talking to her multiple times, we ascertained that she was greener than the horse and it wouldn't be a good fit but we had a couple others she might be interested in. She drove the very long distance the next day, showed up in flip flops, insisted on trying the very green horse we had advertised as such, wallered all over his back getting on him (he impressed me with his patience!) and absolutely was incapable of doing anything with this horse. She still wanted to buy him and we told her no - lost a sale but kept our conscience. A few years later I sold one that deserved a good home, thought I sold him to one, and found out he was sold again and again and grossly misrepresented by the last seller and lost track of him. I'll always feel bad about him. Wish I had kept him. |
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Location: The best kept secret in TX | Exact same thing happened to me when I was buying and selling pretty heavily!! Had a paint mare that I took to an auction and had several come by and ask about her. She was sterile. 9 years old but VERY green. Had large feet and an even larger attitude. I had many many hours of wet saddle blankets in her and it just wasn't going to work out for she and I to be partners. I was honest as I could possibly be to everyone who ask about her before hand and a man with an 8 year old girl bought her. He was wearing a three piece suit on a saturday... They were both VERY scared of her and had me load her into the trailer for them... I gave them my number in case they had any questions... I saw the mare at the sale the next sale week. The guy said she kept jumping their BACK YARD FENCE and running down the road.... Ummmmm....  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | If the horse has the personality that one day he might make a kids horse. Could you offer a suggestion for a trainer in their area to send him and the kids to for lessons? I know its not your problem now but might help them and the horse out both if you know of anyone that could help them out.
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Expert
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| Ashley Lynn - 2018-01-10 9:03 AM scwebster - 2018-01-10 8:49 AM streakysox - 2018-01-10 7:43 AM A lady I used to work with was in the market for a horse for her kids. I told her get something around 14-16 years old. She told me she didn't want something ready for the glue factory! She ended up buying a 2 year old stallion. He was halter broke and that was about it. I told her-- sex change ASAP. She didn't want to get him cut because it might hurt his feelings and it would hold it against her. I still laugh about that one. Good greif! I had a similar thing happen to me. Some folks that live close to us called us and asked us what they needed to look for in a horse or pony for their kid. She ignored our advice and bought a 2 year old stud pony. She calls me a few weeks later asking if we did training for ponies....I just told her she was better off selling him and putting the money toward a suitable kid pony or horse rather than spending a lot in training for this one. Bless your heart!! I have a similar story!! I had a very nice, quiet gelding that belonged to some people you know wel (They used to own the Double R arena! ) This horse was totally blown up in the box, but was a puppy to do anything else. I showed him to our neighbor who was just really starting to ride because I knew he would be safe to learn on, I priced him at 4500. He was a good looking sucker! They came and rode him and loved him, but felt I had him priced too high. Soo- off they went, TO CRAIGSLIST! They bought horse,saddle, bridle EVERYTHING for $850. Heck of a deal, right?!? Perhaps, until two weeks later when the son of a gun ran off with her and fell on a blacktop road. It broke her arm in two places and she had to have pins put in. They came back wanting my horse and he had already sold. So now they have an idiot they can’t ride and a vet bill that cost way more than my little broke pony! This is why I hate selling horses! Everyone wants a unicorn that poops glitter.... for $500! I’m sorry that happened to y’all, but it sounds like you did everything right. Some people have to learn lessons the hard way.
Yes!! I feel your pain. I tell people so often its better to spend a little money the first time and get a good one than to go through several cheaper ones and the headache that comes with it! Not to mention the time wasted! Those people should have purchased your gelding! We had a kid come try a mare I had for sale for $4000. You could heel on her, run barrels..she was bred well...11 years old no vices. They thought they could find a better deal so they went and tried several more and got one for half my price but it didnt know barrels (which was what her goal was). The parents told us later on they should have bought our mare. Lessons learned! Sometimes the hard way! |
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Expert
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| IRunOnFaith - 2018-01-10 9:13 AM Exact same thing happened to me when I was buying and selling pretty heavily!! Had a paint mare that I took to an auction and had several come by and ask about her. She was sterile. 9 years old but VERY green. Had large feet and an even larger attitude. I had many many hours of wet saddle blankets in her and it just wasn't going to work out for she and I to be partners. I was honest as I could possibly be to everyone who ask about her before hand and a man with an 8 year old girl bought her. He was wearing a three piece suit on a saturday... They were both VERY scared of her and had me load her into the trailer for them... I gave them my number in case they had any questions... I saw the mare at the sale the next sale week. The guy said she kept jumping their BACK YARD FENCE and running down the road.... Ummmmm....
Lord have mercy! Some people have more money than sense. |
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| Opposite story!..
We had an older plug of a gelding that we were selling as a kids horse. He would walk jog and lope along all day and if you tipped a hair to one side or the other he would stop and stand there while you got back in the middle. People bring their 5 year old to try him and she rides the horse perfectly at a walk and jog but the horse obviously knows the kid is not ready to go much faster so she cannot get him to lope. But Mom wants a finished barrel horse for her so I tell them several times, well if a finished barrel horse is what you want this ain't him. But he will go slow all day long for them to learn on. Nope we want a faster one and ask if they can put spurs on the child. No ma'am. This is not the horse for you. Thanks for looking!  |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | Well, you could go to a sale and buy a plug and trade them. The colt might be spoiled but young ones can usually be straightened out; then sell him to someone who will do well on him. |
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Regular
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| turnthree - 2018-01-10 2:06 PM
Opposite story!..
We had an older plug of a gelding that we were selling as a kids horse. He would walk jog and lope along all day and if you tipped a hair to one side or the other he would stop and stand there while you got back in the middle. People bring their 5 year old to try him and she rides the horse perfectly at a walk and jog but the horse obviously knows the kid is not ready to go much faster so she cannot get him to lope. But Mom wants a finished barrel horse for her so I tell them several times, well if a finished barrel horse is what you want this ain't him. But he will go slow all day long for them to learn on. Nope we want a faster one and ask if they can put spurs on the child. No ma'am. This is not the horse for you. Thanks for looking!
That's what I've been looking for, for my daughter but without breaking the bank. Those horses are worth their weight in gold. I have a 28 yr old mare but she is not a "kids" beginner horse, a lot of folks don't understand why I don't let my daughter ride her..... |
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Not really ranting but sort of..