Horse Hunter Forum / HORSES / Horse Banter / ... Buying blind / Latest Posts

RE: ... Buying blind

Miss Peachy — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:10:37 GMT

Thats the thing, some horses you just dont gel with do you. This has happened a good few times to me ... it cant just be me surely? ;)

In the last few years ive ridden quite a few horses for friends & when looking to buy & theres been a few that both I & others would have deemed 'perfect' for me on paper & when watching them on the ground but when i got on them, it just didnt work for a reason i cant explain. Then some horses have not ticked all the boxes & ive ridden them anyway & its just fallen into place ... :thumbs:

This the same for anyone else?

RE: ... Buying blind

Tally Ho — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:37:50 GMT

[quote]

TallyHo (12/03/2010)

I know it's different for me, but i've bought lots of horses unseen. Not a good idea really, but I think it's more important to know the person you're dealing with on the other end. I would buy unseen from a person I know and would certainly buy blind again, but at a price that would warrant taking a chance.

Yeah i would say its different for you TH however i was really interested to get your opinion on this. Do you get many people buying blind? or not really trying them out very much before agreeing to buy?

[/quote]

I don't get a lot of people buying blind. I do get a few who see horses ridden and don't ride them themselves :blink: I hate that, and now that we're on the subject, it hasn't worked out a few times because the horse hasn't been what they expected

RE: ... Buying blind

xoclairexo — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:38:01 GMT

I shall keep you posted Miss P ;)

RE: ... Buying blind

Miss Peachy — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:02:01 GMT

[quote][b]TallyHo (12/03/2010)[/b][hr]I know it's different for me, but i've bought lots of horses unseen. Not a good idea really, but I think it's more important to know the person you're dealing with on the other end. I would buy unseen from a person I know and would certainly buy blind again, but at a price that would warrant taking a chance.[/quote]

Yeah i would say its different for you TH :) however i was really interested to get your opinion on this. Do you get many people buying blind? or not really trying them out very much before agreeing to buy?

[quote][b]Tigs (12/03/2010)[/b][hr] .... It is also very very much easier to say 'I can't afford the extra expense' when you're cutting it fine financially anyway. I used to begrudge an extra £5 cost on anything when I was struggling to pay the household bills, let alone an extra £100+ (I wasn't looking to buy another horse at that time though ;) )[/quote]

I completely understand that people have to think about money & try to save pennies. I for one have never had a lot of funds to spend on horses & doubt i will be able to in he next 5 years. Harley cost me £1500 & Westie £500, but i tried them as much as could & knew they were going to come with quirks & it was going to be a huge gamble & challenge to get them to come good. If i had a decent budget though theres no way i'd be skimping on trying a horse, i'd save until i could cover it & then go looking. I dont know ...

[quote][b]Zychrono (12/03/2010)[/b][hr].I really think that a loan with a view to purchase is probably the only safe way to get the right match! (that's just my thoughts anyway ;))[/quote]

I agree, ideal situation thats definately the best & safest way to get to know whether the horse really is a good match

[quote][b]Jersey Girl (12/03/2010)[/b][hr]I think if you are a nervous novice it is ESSENTIAL to try. How will you know if that specific horse will gain your confidence unless you go and sit on it for youself. Somone can tell you it's suitbale but how will they know unless they feel what you feel?

ETA sorry also meant to say buying blind saves you money at the time but always costs you more in the long run![/quote]

True in my eyes. Someone can try for you but at the end of the day everyone rides differently & horses go differently for different people plus sometimes you just dont 'gel' together. I have experienced that on a few occasions

As much as i'd hate to agree with the last bit JG from what i have seen so far... generally this is the case in one way or the other. Perhaps i will be pleasantly suprised if the latest two work out when they arrive/settle, hmmm, watch this space.

[quote][b]xoclairexo (12/03/2010)[/b][hr] Her owner gave me all the prior owners details and I spoke with them, I got Mo's passport details and even managed to find the person who originally bought her over from belgium :w00t: I scruitinised video taken of her and loads and loads of photos and all that remained to do when she arrived was sit on her ;) I don't expect everything to be rosy but so far so good and she continues to surprise me everyday in a good way :thumbs:[/quote]

I hope things go to plan & it works out so that not viewing her in the initial stages wouldnt have made a difference etc. Let us know in 6 months time & give us your thoughts on your buy? i'd be very intrigued to know how she compares when settled etc :)

RE: ... Buying blind

xoclairexo — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:51:31 GMT

[quote][b]Widge85 (12/03/2010)[/b][hr]I think it depends on the situation. If you are a novice, nervous, looking for something really particular or spending a lot of money then it's just plain idiotic. You wouldn't buy a car from a photo.quote]

I would normally tend to agree with that BUT a friend of mine was a new rider and wanted a horse, she had money to spend and went to a person to source her horse for her. She had an extensive list of what she did and didn't want in a horse and she ended up buying a horse from the person in question, the horse was perfect for her and what she wanted and has done his job so well she has now gone back to the same person who has just sourced her her first competition horse and she is due to arrive on Friday :D

I think you are right in saying you wouldn't buy a car from a photo, but you may be more inclined to buy the car if you had a reputable mechanic go along and test drive it for you before hand :hehe: I think in all cases, viewed/not viewed the old saying buyer beware comes into it and if something doesn't seem right walk away :thumbs:

RE: ... Buying blind

White Winter Widge — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:42:54 GMT

I think it depends on the situation. If you are a novice, nervous, looking for something really particular or spending a lot of money then it's just plain idiotic. You wouldn't buy a car from a photo.

But....

When I went to see Charlie he hadn't been ridden for 9months. So riding him would have been pointless anyway as he may have exploded or been a plod purely due to the fact he hadn't been exercised. I did however spend time handling him and just getting to know him. It was a one time viewing though and he came a week later.

When we went to see Jack both of us rode in the school and hacked him, asked a million questions spent about 4hours with his owner at their house and then decided we would have him. He had to be the right sort as OH is obviously less experienced than me and I didnt want OH losing confidence. I keep in very close contact with his owner too.

On a whole though I do think its silly, especially when people then complain the horse isnt suitable!!

RE: ... Buying blind

xoclairexo — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:16:33 GMT

well you know my opinion on buying blind as I have just done it for the third time :D

first time I got it totally wrong :rolleyes: I am the first to admit I was stupid for believing the dealer and I was wrong to allow them to talk me into buying Ellie, however I will say if I had gone to view her I probably would have bought her as her personality traits only emerged as she grew more confident in her surroundings and was worked less, I think if I had been a mad keen competitive rider and worked her hard on a daily basis and was on a busy yard I don't think I would have had half the problems I did but I did learn from the experience ;)

Freya was my babe and my 2nd bought unseen buy although I approached this one differently. JV kindly viewed her and tried her for me and gave me a good picture of what freya was like as a person. ;)I had my ups and downs with that mare but I wouldn't change a thing and just wish she were still here today, it took her a good 12 months to settle in properly and I was warned of this before I bought her but our bond at the end of it was something I will never forget :heart:

Now I have Mo, I spent over a week researching this mare before agreeing to buy her! I quizzed her owners, I spoke with her vet practice and insurance company, I spoke with the instructor that taught Mo and her owner every week for the last year, I found an old HM member that was on the same yard they went to for lessons and quizzed her about the horse (thanks again for your help sam! :P) Her owner gave me all the prior owners details and I spoke with them, I got Mo's passport details and even managed to find the person who originally bought her over from belgium :w00t: I scruitinised video taken of her and loads and loads of photos and all that remained to do when she arrived was sit on her ;) I don't expect everything to be rosy but so far so good and she continues to surprise me everyday in a good way :thumbs:

I actually did want to go and view Mo but the costs were horrific! Flights alone were £300 then train fare and somewhere to stay/food etc would have taken the costs up to £450+ :w00t: add to that the cost of the 5 stage vetting which was £260 plus her travel costs home and I would have paid out her value again ;) I settled for a money back guarentee from her owner should mo turn out to be anything but described which was good enough for me :P

RE: ... Buying blind

Jersey Girl — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:52:31 GMT

I think if you are a nervous novice it is ESSENTIAL to try. How will you know if that specific horse will gain your confidence unless you go and sit on it for youself. Somone can tell you it's suitbale but how will they know unless they feel what you feel?

I went over and tried both horses and I have bought and both realistically were unsuitable even on both occasssions I ticked all the right boxes for having done right thing. Ie trial in different situations vetting knoweledgeable friends.

But I have dealt with/dealing with the issues that have arisen and love every minute of it (ok that's a fib but you know what I mean). And I haven't been too proud to ask for help in the areas I cannot resolve alone (i have an instructor once a week as well as a lovely yard of supportive people).

I was just thinking earlier I cant remeber the last time I genuinely turned to Jelly thinking about or doing something with Bob which is fantastic really as the mere thought of hacking a few weeks ago made me litearlly freeze in my tracks and the tummy churn.

But because I tried him I knew he was a nice little horse and even though not entirely suitable we are achieving what I want to together :)

Oppss sorry finished yapping now :P

ETA sorry also meant to say buying blind saves you money at the time but always costs you more in the long run!

RE: ... Buying blind

Zychrono — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:38:15 GMT

When it comes to novicey riders I think there is a bigger problem anyway; how do you know what you want in a horse if you've never had a horse before?! That was certainly my problem. Mt friend recommended Chester to me for my first horse. She has seen me ride & knew what I was capable of & on the surface you would probably think we were a good match.

But he was almost too safe! I love Morgan for her unpredictability - it keeps me on my toes & suits me much better. I couldn't have known that without owning a horse that wasn't the right match for me first. Even if you're lucky enough to get a trial for a couple of weeks it still isn't enough to truely know what you're buying.

I really think that a loan with a view to purchase is probably the only safe way to get the right match! (that's just my thoughts anyway ;))

RE: ... Buying blind

Tigs — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:06:25 GMT

I personally wouldn't - but then I know what I want from a horse, I don't have unlimited funds, and I know my own limitations when it comes to horses.

Unfortunately, the true novice is much more easily swayed as they probably don't really understand what the potential problems are.

It is also very very much easier to say 'I can't afford the extra expense' when you're cutting it fine financially anyway. I used to begrudge an extra £5 cost on anything when I was struggling to pay the household bills, let alone an extra £100+ (I wasn't looking to buy another horse at that time though ;) )

RE: ... Buying blind

davina11 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:24:28 GMT

even tho i buy most of mine at sales, i can still try em etc, however i brought blue unseen, however i knew his breeding and for a unseen buy my god was he worth it, his an beautiful allround package i wouldn't swap for the world :D!

RE: ... Buying blind

Tally Ho — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:19:53 GMT

I know it's different for me, but i've bought lots of horses unseen. Not a good idea really, but I think it's more important to know the person you're dealing with on the other end. Not very long ago, I bought 2 horses unseen of someone who said she'd had them for years, turned out one of them she'd bought the very same day for a nominal amount as it was lame and being sold as a companion. If I had viewed it first, I would have known it was very unsound. It turned out that the seller picked on me because I was the dealer farthest away and she wanted me to buy from photographs.

I would buy unseen from a person I know and would certainly buy blind again, but at a price that would warrant taking a chance.

I think if a private buyer goes down the chancy route, they should make sure they have some form of a warranty to fall back on ;)

... Buying blind

Miss Peachy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:41:47 GMT

... Buying blind

What are people's opinions on it?

I personally just dont get it & its becoming a real niggle of mine at the moment. I dont get how you can expect to get a suitable horse & good personality match for yourself when you dont try it before hand or try it properly in a variety of situations...

To put it into context for you, I am seeing more & more people around me & known to me buying blind & then either having problems & complaining about them, sometimes under horsing themselves but more so & increasingly dangerously in my eyes over horsing themselves. It always seems to be simple glaringly obvious things that would have been realised if they had tried the animal. Ok being in Jersey to try a horse on the mainland is prob going to cost you £150-£300 but still ...

Obviously the situation varies slightly if your the type of person or in the situation where you can be a bit open as to what the animals really like as you are in a position to sell it on etc & that you are just looking for a good stamp of a horse & will cope with the rest etc. That you are buy a proven show animal etc, or if you have enough money not to really worry :)

But for me, its novicey type or unconfident riders that seem to being doing this & the type where money IS an issue & they want a decent horse on decent budget. To me it seems illogical that you shouldnt be able to spare a bit of money in order to travel to try a horse if they are seemingly that right for you? I just dont get it. Im so quietly sick of people complaining & most of the time blaming the horse when really they should be kicking themselves i think.

My question is, do you think you can ever truely & safey buy blind in that situation? Would you ever risk it? What do you think ..

[NB: Above is no relation to any forum members :D]