I want to hear your war stories. Tell me about crazy buyers who came to try your horse, crazy sellers when you’re looking for a horse…I want to hear the weirdest you got. No need to identify the guilty by name if you prefer not to. I’m doing research for a creative project and truth is always stranger than fiction.
I was selling a 17.2 hand 4 yr old failed racehorse (home bred, home raised, broke and trained and galloped by me, 3 races and no speed but very sweet, quiet, nice mover, very easy to ride, and jumping around at 2’6"). He still had lots of growing to do, and ended up at 18 hands a few years later. I am a small person, but when I was standing next to him, his stifles were at about my eye level because he was still all legs. The horse looked like a spider, all legs. He was known as “Bonesy”.
A fella answered my advert, and arrived to take a look at him. This fella was about 5 feet high, and rather rotund shaped like a barrel with the shortest legs you can imagine. He wanted to see the horse under saddle, so I rode him in our arena, w/t/c and jumped a few little jumps. No problem. I was waiting for the daughter or wife who was interested in English disciplines that the horse was suitable for, who had conformation suitable to ride this horse. But no, he said the horse was for himself. He didn’t want to ride the horse, and I couldn’t really see it happening in a positive manner if it did happen. He said that he would “think about it”, and left.
The phone call came the next day… yes, this fella wanted to purchase the horse for himself to ride down the trail. It was all far too weird, I told him that the horse was sold already. A few weeks later, I sold the horse to a fella who was 6’4", athletic, rode the horse well, did some horse shows and fox hunting with the horse. It was a good match.
I had a buyer show up to take a look at a horse I was toying with selling a couple years ago. The horse likes his butt scratched… well, not so much his butt, but his inner thigh in a rather private place. I didn’t teach him to do this, he taught me how to do what he wants done. He asks, backs into position, picks up his hind leg, and points with his nose. “Tickle, human, right HERE”. I usually comply, because he’s a nice horse, and I like to do things for him. If I don’t comply, or am busy, he comes closer, and will cram me into position, and do it himself using me for the purpose. So yes, it’s something that he does, and that I do, and yes, it’s a bit weird. He’s actually quite polite about it, but it’s important to him. He’s done this for years, he does not kick. Ever. That would be counterproductive for him.
So the potential buyers come to take a look at him. The horse is delighted, here are several new humanoids, any of which could be trained to do what he likes humans to do for him. He demonstrates his “vice”. The potential buyers are shocked, and say, “If a horse did that at our barn, he’d be whipped”.
“Oh”, I say. “Perhaps this is not the horse for you, then”. Sayonara and good riddance.
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I was shopping for a calm, experienced trail horse. All of the following ads stated that the horse was experienced on the trail, well behaved, good for beginner (I’m not a beginner but that’s the type of horse I wanted), rode by themselves, etc.
Paso Fino . When I arrived they explained she had lived in a pasture and might be pregnant (no mention of this in the ad). Wanted me to try her out by sitting on her bareback, and they would lead her around with a halter. I refused, so they reluctantly put on a saddle and bridle. Watched someone else ride her and the poor thing was scared and confused, acted like she really wasn’t broke to ride. Advertised as an experienced, calm trail horse but they admitted they had never ridden her on the trail, just used her with their kids, bareback, and leading her around their property.
Pinto/Gaited advertised as well trained and spent two years with a pro, no bad habits, and experienced trail horse. Watched the owner ride in the round pen and all she did were figure eights. When I got on I found out why, the horse refused to go forward. The only way you could move her was circles or she would back up. Wouldn’t leave the round pen, would just back up. Meanwhile the owner is explaining how well trained she was and how great she was on the trail. Even the owner couldn’t get her off the property. The horse either wouldn’t move or just back up. Owner was angry that I wouldn’t buy her and didn’t even say good-bye, just walked off with the poor horse.
Fox Trotter. Pulled back when tied, owner admitted that she only picked up her feet for the farrier so he never cleaned her feet, couldn’t touch her ears, and when he got on she only reared. All the way up, every time he asked her to move forward. He said to come back in two weeks and he’d have the problem fixed (obviously I didn’t go back). Claimed his young son rode her all the time with no problems.
Another Fox Trotter, on someone’s property on a rural street. Wouldn’t pick up her feet, owner claimed she didn’t pick up feet for strangers, but wouldn’t try picking up the horse’s feet herself. Was told that kids rode her all the time, down the street to the trails and river. Poor horse was terrified of leaving the property, kept trying to go onto other properties, only made it a few houses away, then when they rode her back she wouldn’t go back into the yard because she was afraid of the cars. I honestly don’t think that horse had ever left the property and had no idea where she lived. Owner insisted she was a calm trail horse anyone could ride.
Many lame QH’s. I don’t know why the owners didn’t think I wouldn’t notice.
So many horses listed as great trail horses who have either never been on the trail or the owner admits they’ve only been on one or two times.
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We want to see the sales video on this one! :lol:
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I was selling a yearling Welsh/TB cross. A man called who was interested in the pony for his daughter. He asked if the pony had ever been to any horse shows. I said yes, a breed show where he had been shown in hand.
Buyer: “Did did he jump around a course of fences at the show?”
Me: “No, he’s a yearling.”
“Buyer: “Will he jump around a course of fences at home?”
Me: No, he’s a yearling.”
Buyer: “How high can he jump with a rider on him?”
Me: “He’s a yearling. He’s never had a rider on him.”
Buyer: “Why not?”
Me: “Because he’s a yearling.”
Clearly we had a failure to communicate. 
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Had a 16.1H bay gelding for sale. Super calm and super sweet. Advertised him as such. Lady shows up to try him and exclaims that he is much taller than 16.1H. So we hand her the measuring stick which she refuses to use. She insists he is at least 16.3H probably taller. Next we tack up and we move in to the arena. I put him through his paces and he is perfect. She gets on. Walks a bit and a bit more and a bit more. She trots a few steps and declares he is much taller than 16.1H and is not for her.
Seriously?
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Was the child named Crash Test Dummy. Yikes smh
One of my friends was searching for a horse to replace her last horse (who had passed away.) By the time she was done with her search she said she wanted to pull her hair out. Besides, the usual assortment of the lame, the misrepresented age, height, and training she encountered these specimens: The woman who was selling what appeared to be an average sized horse who did what my friend wanted. She gets to the property and tied to the rail is a pony. She asks to see the horse and the woman says “This is the horse,” and points to the pony. Turns out she thought horses were measured from the tips of their ears to the bottom of the hoof. Um, no. Got offended when this was pointed out as wrong and huffed off with poor pony.
The Mexican man who had a very nice horse for sale - my friend found out he did not speak English so she brought a translator with her. (She speaks Spanish but didn’t feel her skills were up to horse-trading.) When the seller found out the horse was not going to go to the male translator he went into his house and refused to come out, instead sending his daughter out to explain that he wasn’t selling his horse to a woman and certainly not a woman who was not a Mexican woman. Why? Because he felt (my friend was told) that she would spoil him and treat him like a pet and she - as a white woman - did not understand “their” ways. Door slammed in friend’s face. She said that one just blew her mind.
Friend finally finds a adorable Paint. Goes to check horse out and he is well-trained, lovely personality and does everything my friend wanted and more. She offers to pay full asking price for him and the owner suddenly morphs into a raging Parelli-ite and begins interrogating my friend as to whether horse would remain in Parelli training, etc etc and then after my friend manages to sidestep these issues announces that horse will not be sold to anyone other than a Parelli home. Friend offers well above asking price and is still refused. Finally she said she got irritated and said “So if the person knew nothing and was a horrible match, if they said they did Parelli they could have him?” Yes. SHe just threw up her hands and said she left.
She finally found her perfect horse. She had tried a couple horses offered by another seller and they just were not a good fit. Despite this, she and the seller had a good chat and became friendly. She kept in touch with my friend and a few months later hooked her up with someone who had the perfect horse.
The level of cray out there (both buyers and sellers) is amazing.
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Not a buyer but someone who answered an ad to part board my daughter’s eventer. We talked, she said she was a strong intermediate rider and had extensive dressage training. Not interested in jumping but she sounded reasonably knowledgeable.
When she came to try mare, she was obviously terrified, did not know how to groom or tack up. She was a really wonky mounter, didn’t know how to hold reins etc etc… After leading her around the arena (mare was a kind soul used to giving pony rides) I gave her the name of a couple of local places where she could get lessons. She was very grateful. I know that it is not unusual for people to overstate their ability and experience, but seriously?
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A friend included the phrase “A horse the whole family can ride” in her ad. A whole family did indeed show up. While Grandpa regaled my friend with past triumphs (“I sure taught that horse a lesson”), Mom unpacked the picnic basket. The plan was to spend a nice day in the country, riding the horse all they wanted.
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@NancyM I almost bought your ScratchMeHere horse’s brother! 
Searching for a horse for DH he could Event (lower level) I went to see a horse advertised as Older Gelding.
When I called & told owner what we were looking for she agreed horse could do what we wanted.
So I go out to see him 1st & she takes me to where horse is pastured.
Seems nice, and she shows me how he likes to be scratched same as you describe - leg lifted for all the world like a male dog :lol:
Return visit w/DH to test-ride & horse looks off to me.
DH gets off after short WTC & says horse feels stiff to him.
Owner then produces an arsenal of meds horse requires daily & when I ask if all of that keeps him sound enough to jump, she appears horrified & tells me he cannot jump.
So who was I talking to before I ever came out to look at this horse?
Friend selling a young horse had a woman bring her “trainer” along.
Quotes because “trainer” got on first & was so loose in the tack friend feared she’d come off. At the walk.
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I had an OTTB gelding for sale many years ago that I had picked up at a slaughter auction. He ended up being a wonderful little hunter, supberb jump with a super quiet way of going and basically bombproof. Listed him for sale after about a year as a safe, easy hunter (not exceptionally flashy, but great for local shows). Person from a long way away contacts, wants to purchase sight-unseen. Okay NBD. Person sends about 3000 questions by email, asks for about 500 different photos, and I already had at least ten videos of horse up for viewing. Then, person can’t get a shipper within a reasonable time frame, so decides to make the trip themselves and thus get a test ride on horse.
Shows up. Rides horse. Horse is absolutely perfect, never puts a foot wrong. Person is a jumper looking to get into hunters, rides quiet little hunter like a hot fiery jumper - all in his face, buries him at half the fences. Dude never gets upset. Person finishes ride, says wants to talk to trainer. Person and trainer sit outside with their truck and trailer for something like three hours discussing. Person passes saying one of horse’s feet “wants to be clubby.” Um what. Horse is not clubbed footed, not even a little bit. Person emails me next day asking for several hundreds of dollars reimbursement for her travelling expenses and time, because I supposedly misrepresented the horse.
Keep dreaming person.
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Apparently I was the crazy seller once. Several weeks before I was relocating myself and my three mares to Tennessee, one of the other boarders approached me about the mare in my profile picture and asked if she was for sale. She’s a super-cute OTTB with a pony head, and while she was still green at the time, she was so easy to ride that I had let her be used as a lesson horse for a 12-y-o.
She wasn’t for sale, so I tossed out a ridiculous price that I was sure would make this woman and her daughter run for the hills. Nope. They wanted to try her, so I saddled up my push-button pony and took her into the arena. Within 30 seconds, she had dumped me for the first time ever and was bucking and farting and galloping around like a maniac. Mom and daughter had magically disappeared after I had removed my face from the sand! 
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Had an out of state buyer contact me about my horse. Had a nice conversation on the phone with her, sent her video, pictures, etc, seemed like it might be a good match. Got an email later stating “I am a psychic and I predict this horse will become lame in 6 months so I am passing…” I was happy I dodged a bullet with this one and this story is a keeper! What do you say to someone like that? ummmm, thanks?!
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Had an OTTB 16.3 gelding I was selling. Had a potential buyer from out of state interested. I told him the good and the bad and was very honest. He decided to come look. He was an event rider, but the real person wanting the horse was his teenaged daughter. But he came alone since she was in school. He watched us ride, and then he rode. He was an odd man. But it was an odd horse, too. 
But he hemmed and hawed, and told us that the horse is exactly as advertised, and he didn’t trust us. He wanted to find the “lie”. Um, what? And he could not make up his mind. We went back in the house after a while because he wanted to phone his daughter. He sat in the yard for a good hour or so. Finally, he wanted to ride the horse OFF the property. We don’t have anywhere nearby to take the horse. He rode the horse in our arena, in our grass field, etc. Finally, as a compromise we said we would take him to the vet’s office for him so he could get a health certificate. And then he asked the vet if we could ride him in his back field. My vet was accommodating and we tacked him up and let him ride. Luckily, he bought the horse. But man, what a pain! And it took basically the whole day (missing work, etc.) for this horse. And it was not a high-dollar sale.
I’ve had so many folks over state their experience. I advertised a WB mare I had as a great flat, dressage, trail horse. VERY strong jumper, so not for beginner/intermediate jumper riders. The first two folks that came out where with young girls who were advanced riders. The first, didn’t know how to steer. Um, why on earth would you bring a child out to jump a horse who couldn’t steer? We had her get off. The next was a little better, but I wouldn’t let her jump. She was just not a good fit.
Another (man, there are many stories out there!) where a woman and her two daughters came to see a QH I had for sale. This horse was really easy to handle and ride. Well, as luck would have it, when I pulled him out of the pasture that day in front of them, he sort of scooted out of the paddock and danced on the line for a moment. Totally not this horse, but it happened. These folks came from out of state, too. We bought him in and he was fine, back to normal. They sat aside from us and chatted in French (which I don’t speak) the whole time, except when talking to me or answering a question. So I showed how good he was and was getting ready to tack up and get on for them, and the mother said something like, well, my daughter said she didn’t bond with the horse, so we’re just going to go. I was perplexed. Daughter didn’t even pet the horse. Seriously, he was an angel once he scooted from the gate. But I guess they were just horrified about that. haa.
Buying horses is a lot of fun, too. One I went to see with a friend who was looking. Ad said 17.1 hh TB. We got there and there was a horse tied to the post in a run-down ratty farm yard. This was the horse. She was maybe 15.1 hh. It was a teenaged girl who was selling and she was a western rider. I don’t remember details of why she was selling or why she had this horse. But the horse was not shod, had chipped up feet and was completely lame because of it. I politely told her that if she get some shoes on and advertised honestly, she would probably get a better outcome. I politely asked if she was familiar with how to measure a horse. She admitted she was not. I explained and tried to show her. I suggested she change her ad. Needless to say friend declined this horse. The next week I saw the updated ad. 17.1 hh TB. haa. She wouldn’t change it.
Sigh.
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Drove out of state a few hours to see a horse advertised as 15 hands and broke for trails. Got there and there’s a 13 hand pony. The seller insisted the horse was 15 hands so DH pulled out his level and tape measure and bingo 13 hands. We got in the truck and left. There’s a day in my life I’ll never get back.
Numerous lame, out of shape, misrepresented horses who in the pictures on the advert shows them in their prime, sound, jumping around xc.
The one that sticks in my mind the most is the one we nicknamed “Ditzi Darla.” We had a nice appy mare for sale and she responded and set up an appointment to come see her. After calling several times saying she was going to be late, she ended up not showing until 11:00 pm. We had gone to bed and the doorbell rings. There she is on our front step with her 4 year old son in tow wanting to see the horse. I felt sorry for the son and offered to let them spend the night. They fell into bed and they were up and out of the house the next morning. They did look at the horse and went on a little ride and she wanted to buy the horse but she needed to cash a money order. We were like, huh? We asked her if she was able to support a horse and that the purchase price is the cheapest part. She hemmed and hawed and finally left. Then she proceeded to blast us on some bulletin board that we were pissed because she wouldn’t buy our horse. I asked if she happened to mention that she showed up at 11:00 at night.
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I had a real deal doing, been there done that, bomb proof small Quarter horse mare that my daughters learned on/won English and Western. She won 1st at State in Trail - she did precision work flawlessly a step at a time. But it was time for them to bump up their skill levels.
This family shows up with a 10-12 yr old daughter that I’m sure was a make a wish kid, she didn’t look healthy, had no body strength. Nobody knew how to move around a horse from the ground, they knew nothing. The mare would have been perfect for her. But then they start telling me that they found a property with a few acres and a barn - and, this is it, and - they are thinking that they could have a few boarders this way. My eyes are rolling around the back of my head. I can imagine what could move in and take over, and them with no horsekeeping knowledge about health care, farrier, feed, handling or anything else. And especially clueless about some horse people personality types.
I quickly advised them of a suitable stable in their area that they should go lease a horse and take lessons for awhile before they went any further.
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When I was a teenager, about 15 years old we had a local trainer trailer a horse that was supposedly a 12 year old show seasoned QH that was a fantastic youth horse. They lived near my trainer’s barn, about 10 minutes away at most.
The horse arrived very sweaty. So sweaty that either the horse had refused to get on trailer for hours and seriously stressed or had been worked before arriving.
They lunge the horse for a really long time. They ride him and I ride him and all goes well. We ask about a trial. They say they can’t do a trial because I can’t the him unsupervised to which my trainer says, it’s a youth horse and she’s an extremely quiet rider?
Then we are told if we want to do a PPE we have to give a deposit…of half the purchase price. Like $6500 just to do a PPE.
Of course my trainer is like ummm yeah we are passing.
Later we heard the horse had a horrible temperament at shows and was a pro ride off property. And then a few years later the barn burned down. Insurance fraud was suspected! Horrible if true.
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That is…that is…just bananas.
What did your friend do?
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Makes you wonder how many other people they pulled that on without actually purchasing a horse. Wow - the nerve of some people.
NJRider - if she was so psychic why did she even bother calling you? I mean, couldn’t she tell just from the picture? oy
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A woman called me about half-leasing my horse. Since she said she’d done Young Riders (eventing), I thought, “Oh, goody! She’s a better rider than I am, & this’ll be good for everybody!”
She could barely clamber aboard, & flat-out couldn’t get the horse to walk away from the gate.
Turns out someone who’d done well at Young Riders had given a talk to her 4-H club. When she was nine.
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