Hi everybody
New to the forum but thought I would rant for your amusement.
I have been out of the horsey world for approximately 2 years for various life reasons. But in my time I would have considered myself an experienced horsey bod. I'm now in a position to purchase a horse having moved job and area. How exciting I thought, horse shopping! How wrong I was...
I am looking for a nice all rounder to do a bit of everything with including hunt. 16hh upwards. Must be happy hacking out alone and be good in traffic. I have a budget of 7.5k and would hope that might include some tack. So not too much to ask I thought.
I have had to omit some bits of information below to protect the guilty.
Horse 1. Bay gelding. 8k, so out of my budget but owner stated home more important than price so a bit of room to negotiate. Called woman, this horse is the love of her life. She's devastated to sell him but she's got family problems so it's not fair on the horse that she has no time blah blah blah. Not overly convinced on the story but will give her benefit of the doubt. Horse hasn't ever competed, but has been well schooled and temperament to die for. I agree to a viewing but can't get to her for a week due to work and the fact she's miles away. Then every day I get a text message saying she's had somebody else interested but she likes me so she's put them off, she's booked somebody else in after me so I'll need to make a decision quickly. Naturally the alarm bells are ringing, but I decide to go anyway. I've booked the afternoon off work. I rock up and clearly the photos she's used in the advert are old. Because the horse is obese. He's not fit at all and it's hard to decide what to do. He's not straight, Theres no stepping through in the canter, he chronically stiff and not quite as well schooled as I was lead to believe. I liked him anyway and said that subject to vetting, I'd like to put an offer in. But not at 8k for reasons just stated. She point blank refused to negotiate on price. She'd paid 8k for him 6 years ago and she wanted her money back. So I walked away from that one. She then sent me a snidey email saying that she'd had loads of offers for him. I notice his adverts still up though....
Horse 2.
Short and sweet. Decked the person demonstrating it to me in spectacular style. They still were trying to convince me as i made a very swift exit literally hobbling after me as I reversed down their driveway.
Horse 3. Dealers yard. I'd called this yard on the advice of a friend of a friend of a friend had purchased a horse years ago from them and it was amazing. You know how it goes. Stated very clearly that although I am rusty, I'm not a bad rider and quite experienced. The woman I spoke to said they had the perfect gelding for me. 15.2 all rounder. A bit smaller than I wanted, but ok. I turned up and the it's not a mm over 14.1hh. Disappointing but I've travelled there now so I might as well look. The poor groom went white when I told her my level of experience. She got on it and started desperately trying to haul it into an outline. The pony had clearly never worked in an outline in its life so naturally took exception at being asked to do something that a) it had never done and b) being asked to do something by being jabbed in the mouth every stride. I asked the girl to stop in the end as quite frankly it was painful for everybody there.
Horse 4. Nice horse, large mare. Bit greener than I wanted but it's not far away so I'll go and have a look. I run my hand down her near fore, it's clearly done a tendon at some stage. I query this. I'm met by an awkward silence and side glances between the owner and the yard owner showing it to me. Right...
They tack the mare up. Saddle doesn't fit to start with. But they carry on. Again the owner is harping on about how wonderful the mare is, so easy and bombproof. Just as she says this the mare shoots off in canter. I quite liked her even though she's very green, she's not well muscled and has atrophy probably from the ill fitting saddle. The asking price is 6k and again won't be negotiated.
Horse 5 I'm yet to see. Trying to arrange a viewing through an owner that can't be bothered to email me back as in her words she just wants rid of it and it's up to the pro rider that currently has it to sort things out. The rider clearly isnt too bothered about selling it As everytime I try to arrange a viewing she's busy.
Am I asking too much? I am honest people when I call about what I am looking for.
Am I so far off the market pulse? I feel like giving up horses and taking up knitting.