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Location: midwest mama | I bought a horse sight unseen from someone based on the fact that she has several siblings that are winning barrel horses and I liked her looks/bloodlines. When she got here it didn't take me long to figure out I just don't like her. Not only do I not like her ground/barn manners, but I don't like her feel when I ride her. She is broke nice but just doesn't have the feel I'm looking for and she's not my style. She will definitely appeal to someone else though.
Anyone else have a horse they bought sight unseen that they ended up not liking?
How long did it take you to figure out that you didn't like them and put them up for sale?
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 Just a Yankee
Posts: 1239
Location: Some where I haven't left yet | Yes, Bought off of pictures, reputation, vet check etc. Got him off the trailer, and thought... Can No ONE measure a horse correctly. Little ugly potlicker, in the pictures he was big and beautiful..... I took one look at him and promptly got rid of him. Litterally gave him away. |
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Veteran
Posts: 220
| Yep. He showed up in the middle of the night and the minute we swung a leg over him the next afternoon, he bucked. He has the worse personality and is literally a jerk. Was sold as a gentle get along with anyone horse blah blah blah. Did all the homework on him. Seller of course said he never did that with us and didn't offer a thing to make it right. Just pretty much said sorry about your luck. Probably going to have to literally give him away because Im to honest and will tell people why I hate him.
Edited by Firemanswife 2018-09-20 10:27 AM
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 Scooters Savior
Location: "Si Fi" Ville | Yes.... 2. I gave them away and never looked back. Bye Felicia! |
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 Peecans
| OldSchoolCowgirl - 2018-09-19 7:46 PM
I bought a horse sight unseen from someone based on the fact that she has several siblings that are winning barrel horses and I liked her looks/bloodlines. When she got here it didn't take me long to figure out I just don't like her. Not only do I not like her ground/barn manners, but I don't like her feel when I ride her. She is broke nice but just doesn't have the feel I'm looking for and she's not my style. She will definitely appeal to someone else though.
Anyone else have a horse they bought sight unseen that they ended up not liking?
How long did it take you to figure out that you didn't like them and put them up for sale?
I think most people will say they hate them because they are awful horses and not as described AKA broncs ext...so they are a lose money hard sell deal.
From your description this horse does not sound like that, just not your style and that's OK. Nobody will discount him because he's just not your style, if you really don't like him put him for sale. He sounds nice enough and family credentials to sell for you.
I typically know right away if things won't work out put them for up for sale. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | Yes. It's just the risk you take when buying sight unseen. I've had one very much like you described. I just didn't love him, I knew immediately, but gave it a solid try for 4-ish months. Thought more work on his ground manners and more time under saddle he would develop a better feel. Every day I did not enjoy riding him, so I sold him and was easily able to get my money back out of him. |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | Huge risk. My friend did this. Animal was a dedicated cribber. Bad deal.
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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1849
| Yes three times lol. I’m not doing it again lol
First was the horse was a jerk and ill mannered on the ground. Not like the owners/breeder described at all imo.
Second was a yearling that was not as described on personality or manners at all.
Third was a “broke” horse that ended up finding out he was a abused bucker and I gave him to a rodeo contractor.
So never again am I buying sight unseen unless it’s from a friend I trust or has a return policy lol!! Or if it’s a weaning then maybe. Maybe. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 108
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Oh yes bought a horse from a big FB trader, horse had more holes than watering can, lost a bunch of money but I sure learned a lesson. Wont do it again. |
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Location: midwest mama | BamaCanChaser - 2018-09-20 1:37 PM
Yes. It's just the risk you take when buying sight unseen. I've had one very much like you described. I just didn't love him, I knew immediately, but gave it a solid try for 4-ish months. Thought more work on his ground manners and more time under saddle he would develop a better feel. Every day I did not enjoy riding him, so I sold him and was easily able to get my money back out of him.
Yes. This horse is not BAD at all - and I keep thinking that if I put the time into her I will like her more. I don't mind doing the work but I don't think my end product will be something I love. As one person said they kept hoping the feel would change but it did not. I think that is the case here too. Too bad because she does have some great qualities. |
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  Champ
Posts: 19623
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | You all realize there is ALWAYS a certain amount of training you will have to do on any horse. If you buy one that doesn't have the ground manners you want, train him/her!
I would never buy a horse that's already riding without riding them. But again. There's always going to be a certain amount of training to get to a common understanding of how you want him/her to behave and respond.
If personality or representation of soundness, training or ability was misrepresented, that's a different story. Horses are like a box of chocolates; you never know until you meet them and ride them if they will mesh with you or you with them. |
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 Sorry I don't have any advice
Posts: 1975
Location: Sunnyland Florida |
I'm a slow learner and did this twice, both horses were not what was represented, both were sold as quickly as I could get them off of my property (one took a year!). These were not cheap prospects - major flush of good money. Sold one for $4K less than I paid the next day, then the other took a year to sell and had a $2,500 loss on him. I will never do it again.
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 Loves to compete
Posts: 5760
Location: Oakdale, CA | well Ive done it 4 times and all were awesome........not cheap horses..................actually its just finding someone you trust....................... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Idaho | I did. The horse looked pretty and rode well in the pictures and video's, but when he got pulled off the trailer he looked like crap. Under weight, under muscled, dull coat etc. I wanted to send him back, but me and my sentimental heart I couldn't bare to throw him back on the trailer looking like he did because he obviously had not been taken care of for a long time.
Spent a good chunk of change fixing him up, getting him fed, treated and maintained for ulcers, he had 3 different size shoes on his feet, got his teeth floated, looked like a different horse. Good horse, well trained. He was purchased as a 2D horse but was blown up, so I gave him a year off to do other things. Amazing trail horse, totally bomb proof. He was an @$$ though, he just had little emotion. I couldn't ever click with him. He was just there to do his job and nothing else. I didn't necessarily hate him but I didn't like him either.
2 years in and I finally sold him. Sold him as a trail horse. Last I heard he has been passed around 4 times and is now running barrels, despite being blown up. They got him rigged up with some strong bits and head gear because there are "days he does great and others he's just really bad".. despite I could ride him bridle less one a walk/trot/lope with just leg cues and rode him in a transition bit for colts. So sad really. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I didn't buy my gelding sight unseen but it definitely took me months to connect with him. He was a completely different style than I was used too. I had to adjust my riding habits and my style to fit him but I'm really glad I did. He's a booger but he's taught me a lot.
If you truly have no other qualms than riding style but would like something you don't have to "figure out" I'd say sell her. I had time to adjust everything (months) and some people do have time but If you don't have time there's no shame in reselling :) She sounds like an easy sell.  |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I bought one sight unseen that I hated. Put him up for sale, and traded sight unseen for a yearling that I love and still own 7 years later. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Yep - now mine couldn't have been more misrepresented. Bought him because he had a pedigree I was fond of. Listed as started, saddled, round penned, ready to get on colt. Drove from MN to OK and got there to find a 14.1 hand little brat. I took him home because I had traveled all that way and I thought I would see what happened. He ended up not tying, not loading, couldn't saddle him, he wouldn't even walk into a barn and was basically "wild." Plus he was RUDE and so entitled, he clearly called the shots with his old owner.
Now, like you ... I debated on working him and seeing what happened but deep down I knew that he would never be my forever horse. I would never feel comfortable riding him and we got off to just a horrible start. So I sold him. However, I did work with him. I got him saddling, tying, trailering, lunging, etc and actually made a few hundred bucks in the month and a half I had him. I do believe the horse will have LOADS of talent but for the right person. I wanted to see him in good hands and don't regret taking him home but it was a really rough first month. Lots of blood, sweat and tears but he actually has a chance now. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| IRunOnFaith - 2018-09-25 12:13 PM
I didn't buy my gelding sight unseen but it definitely took me months to connect with him. He was a completely different style than I was used too. I had to adjust my riding habits and my style to fit him but I'm really glad I did. He's a booger but he's taught me a lot.
If you truly have no other qualms than riding style but would like something you don't have to "figure out" I'd say sell her. I had time to adjust everything (months) and some people do have time but If you don't have time there's no shame in reselling :) She sounds like an easy sell.
I did the same, bought a 4 year old and really had to adjust my riding style and improve my riding overall. Finally got it together after two years and we're clocking in the top ~50 out of 200+ horses. BOY it was hard and still is but I've learned a ton. I completely agree - if you have the time to take and try and get with her, then do it. I feel something can always be learned whether you like the horse or not. If you don't, then no big loss.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 865
| Yes yes yes!!! Been had too many times by
crooked horse sellers. Buyers beware. Do your due diligence or the risk you take is a bad horse
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 Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | I have. One time and I wont do it again. We didn't click at all. I gave it some time thinking things would get better but they never did. Luckily, I had a friend who clicked with her really well and I sold her to my friend. They are still a great pair. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Ctrygirl14 - 2018-09-29 12:23 PM I have. One time and I wont do it again. We didn't click at all. I gave it some time thinking things would get better but they never did. Luckily, I had a friend who clicked with her really well and I sold her to my friend. They are still a great pair.
Hey lady nice seeing you on here, just wanted to say HELLO  |
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Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | Southtxponygirl - 2018-09-29 2:58 PM
Ctrygirl14 - 2018-09-29 12:23 PM I have. One time and I wont do it again. We didn't click at all. I gave it some time thinking things would get better but they never did. Luckily, I had a friend who clicked with her really well and I sold her to my friend. They are still a great pair.
Hey lady nice seeing you on here, just wanted to say HELLO
Hi there!! It's been a long time. Say hi to little Sterling for me! I bet she's not so little anymore. |
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Boot Detective
Posts: 1900
| Yes and I will never buy another horse without riding it and trying it again.....and vetting it. I got burned on 2 different horses that came from the east coast area. It turns out, neither of them was sound and had major problems so it wasn't simply a matter of the horse and rider not clicking. |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24954
Location: WYOMING |  Yep. Most of the time Ive been lucky buying sight unseen... but there was this one time.... |
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 Veteran
Posts: 124
| I bought an Amish broke pony sight unseen that was said to be broke to ride and drive by kids. I stuck my daughter on her, and she immediately bucked her off. Tried it again a different day....same thing. Sent her to the neighbor's for their 8th grader to ride, and she turned into a saddle bronc. So now she's just a cart pony, and I bought a different pony for the kids to ride that's actually safe. If the Amish didn't treat them so poorly, I probably would have taken her back. |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| Bought a 3yr old Dash Ta Fame daughter for good money. She was supposed to have been at the trainers for 60 days but when she showed up she was a bag of bones and was never at the trainers....Ive had her 2 yrs and can finally get her to take a hay cube outta my hand.....people can be really sick when it comes to making a buck.... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 964
Location: Alberta, Canada | I bought a mare a couple years back sight unseen. First and last experience doing this... I'd do it again with babies but never again with an aged horse.
She was awful. Our personalities did not mesh and the way she had been brought up is not the way I expect my horses to act. She had learned that she ran the show and being held accountable brought out aggression. I can honestly say before this horse I've never hated a horse. I hated this one. And she knew it.
I stuck it out on her until I felt she was broke enough and safe enough to pay her way and then I sold her.. I bought her in Oct 2016 and sold her in January of this year. I spent the first year convincing myself she was worth working with and that things would get better. The last month I was over it and knew she needed to go. I had spent a year getting her broke and she was nice... when she wanted to be. When she didn't, look out.
She went within a week of being listed and found her match in her new girl. They adore each other and have done very well together this year, much better than she ever would have done with me. |
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Anyone Buy A Horse Sight Unseen That They Hate?