Games Trainers Play: The Florida Horse Saga

[Phaxxton]

The sort of horse you describe can be found just about ANYWHERE. None of this adds up. I’d be extremely cautious about this. No way on earth I’d EVER agree to any of this. Buyer comes to see the horse - the horse doesn’t go to see the buyer.

You’re not talking about a big, private-treaty type horse worth tens of thousands here. Even then the thought would be ridiculous. This has GOT to be a scam.

If they were really serious, they would not be bending over backwards to get their way. They’d already have come to see the horse.

Chances are 99.9% they are trying to take advantage of your friend. Are there really NO local buyers who are interested?

[eclipse]

So basically, they want your friend to trailer her horse down to save them money on commercial rates for what amounts to a cheap lease horse for them to use for a month!!! nonononononononono friggin way would I allow my horse to be used for this scam! And then, to add insult on top of insult, they cheap out even more by saying that she can’t even stay in a hotel but in their house…who’s to say that it’s even their house, and a nice SAFE one at that? This whole thing stinks!! methinks at the end of the whole thing, she’ll have (at the very least) a used, tired and hopefully not broke horse that she STILL owns and now owes a very LARGE show bill on!

I currently have my mare for sale, and let me tell you, if people want to try her, they can bloody well come & try her at the barn she’s at…plus no going on “loans”. And, when I start to look for a new horse, I fully expect to go to wherever it is the horse I am interested in to try & NO trial periods either!

[Alagirl]

BUT THE BEACHHOUSE!!!1!!111!!1ELEVEN

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[texang73]

[quote=donkeyman;2801878]
Did you all see they get a ONE month trial…unbelievable…quote]

Ridiculous! I rode my new horse 2x in two days, and that was it…

Those people are asking WAY too much… IT all sounds too fishy for me.

Good luck to you and your friend.

[Gray_Horse_H_J]

Oh my, this thread just keeps going and going…

[Alagirl]

@Gray Horse H/J;2804603

Oh my, this thread just keeps going and going…

As the barn turns…it’s a soap, man!

[system]

Yup - and moves about as quickly as a soap.

So, any more news from the (soon to be poorer) college student as to her travel plans?

[Rebe]

OK, so I have an even more frightening End Of The World scenario -

First, everyone on COTH agrees. That’s pretty darn scary all by itself.

Second, the owner goes ahead and does what she wants regardless of the unanimous advice. A bit scary, but really just sad.

But here’s the truly terrifying, stomach-flipping, brown pants part: what if it works out for the best!!! :eek:

What if the horse sells, the new buyers are fantastic, they have a mansion on the beach and the original owner gets a fabulous mini-vacation?

Ooooo, I see the asteroid approaching the earth now, as Krakatoa rumbles, a category 5 hurricane forms in every ocean, earthquakes rumble and tornadoes spin…

[ThreeFigs]

Rebe, don’t go there! One person holding out the slim chance this might be legit to this college kid – that’s all she needs to take the bait.

Oh, well, if she does do it, we can all tune in for the next episode of “As the Barn Turns”. It will be a three-Kleenex weeper.

[EqLuvr]

@eponacowgirl;2802118

I think my friend is mostly thinking about the since her trainer sold her the horse, the trainers daughter (FL trainer) will obviously like the horse and buy it.

Ugh, of course, the mom made $$$ the first time, now the daughter can make $$$ the second time. Betcha that mom is getting a kickback on this one, too.

I wonder how much mom originally paid for the horse?

I think these women are playing the OP’s friend for all its worth.

Why go through such an orchestrated scenario for a one-month trial? Because trainer wants to get horse on property, then she has all the control.

People have to make their own mistakes.

They sound like your typical dirtbag trainers. Run far away and keep running.

[Event4Life]

Just the fact that everyone agrees(seriously, has this EVER happened?) shows that something is not right. I had a month long trial with my first pony, but my BO knew his seller personally and it was a weird situation(looking back on it, if I’d done that now things would have happened very differently). Anyway, all that aside - I still wouldn’t do it. As a college student can your friend really take time off to go gallivanting to Florida? I am a college student myself and I know theres no way in hell that would happen. My parents would never allow it and it wouldn’t fly with my profs either. I don’t understand why the sellers want to spend that much money having the horse trailered, paying for potential vet fees, etc, when they could just FLY TO KY. Remember, a lot can happen in a month.

[horse-loverz]

I know I am going to kick myself for asking buuuuuutt… did she do it??? or is she really going to do it???

[JustJump]

There are obviously plenty of horses going to FL to be sold at any given point in time. This traffic picks up as the winter circuits get underway…

But, to add to the unanimous reality check here:

There is a REASON that it’s expensive to buy a horse in FL during the circuits.

Actually, there are several:

1. The risks
2. The risks
3. The commissions
4. The commissions
5. The risks
6. The commissions

Typically, horses are shipped down to sale barns (there are a few good ones–several will take the horse on the “cuff,” picking up all expenses once the horse arrives (buyer typically pays the freight down).

The prospective trainer is obviously NOT one of these barns.

If your friend considers doing this (I agree, it could be that she’s overdue for an adventure) she should first multiply her price exponentially.

$30K minimum.

She should get lease money every time the horse is shown by a client of the trainer’s. She should not see a bill for ANYTHING if the trainer shows it.

If there actually is a potential buyer, they need to pick up the shipping tab. Ship commercially.

The present owner should get enough out of the deal to pay for her own plane ticket, and then some.

A buck a mile, both ways (should cover ordinary expenses, fuel, motel, etc.)

Whoever quoted this rate is at least 15 years behind the times. TWO bucks both ways will now BARELY cover the gas in a two horse trailer. I haven’t heard about anyone charging enough to make trips like this worthwhile–IME, people are just shipping commercial with full loads and leaving the trailer in the driveway.

[Weatherford]

beach house, huh? in Florida horse country, eh? Last I saw, there only beaches in the Ocala and Wellington areas are on the lakes or canals, and you really have to watch out for the alligators…

If they can afford beachfront in Palm Beach or Jacksonville, well, they can certainly afford the plane ticket(s)!! :rolleyes:

[Huntertwo]

It sounds like the OP’s friend already has her mind made up. To GO!:no:

[Reynard_Ridge]

@Rebe;2805312

But here’s the truly terrifying, stomach-flipping, brown pants part: what if it works out for the best!!! :eek:

What if the horse sells, the new buyers are fantastic, they have a mansion on the beach and the original owner gets a fabulous mini-vacation?.

I had the same thought. :lol: I posted somewhere along the line that I thought this was a fishy deal and seller should move on. :yes: But it sounds like the seller is going to go through with it. And I am just optimistic enough to think that maybe, just maybe it will work out?

I would certainly appreciate it if the OP would keep us in the loop. I’ll be thrilled if it all works out and the OPs friend sells the horse and gets a nice beach vacation. Surprised, yes, very surprised, but happy for her. :yes:

[eponacowgirl]

Ooooookay…

I spent the weekend with my friend on my mini-vacation and OMG is she ever-so-nice and patient. I would have told the buyer to F-off a LONG time ago, but she stuck with them and I think they have a deal worked out.

First the buyer called (on Friday evening) and said they’d taken out insurance and shipper would be coming to pick up horse on Monday, they’d like to keep him until January 15 so daughter could show him and see how they do. And, oh, we DID agree on a price that is 3000 less than your asking price, right?

She called back and said “No, I’m asking X, and there is NO WAY I can have this horse ready to ship on MONDAY. And NO, you cannot keep the horse for a month and half, ride it, show it, see how it places and then decide.”

Trainer calls “What do you mean you want X for the horse, you told me X-$3000 and you owe me a commission, BTW.” Friend tells trainer “No, price I gave you was what I had to have when YOU were selling the horse and anything you added on was yours. Thank you, deal is off.”

Buyer calls back “Please, please, PLEASE let us try to work something out.” Friend tells buyer that she’ll take X-$1500, good middle of ground, is what she wanted for the horse originally. Buyer says “We’ll pay that if you pay for half of shipping.” Friend laughs and says “No way, deal is off.” Friend contacts classmate who’s parents are professional haulers and gets quoted shipping that is nearly half. Friend calls buyer and says “I found a shipper who is nearly half, here’s the number, do what you’d like with it.”

Buyer calls back, horse will ship Nov 29 with cheaper shipper, insurance policy is in place (with proof!), friend will have check in hand for horse before he ships, trial period is two weeks with guidelines about use in place (no excessive jumping etc.), horse ships back at buyers expense if he doesn’t work out. I’m still worried about the return shipping, but friend seems unconcerned.

I think I’ve done all I can do about warnings and flashing red lights. Everything seems to be in place verbally and hopefully it will all go swimmingly.

I was so furious with buyer I nearly snatched the phone and told him exactly where he could go a few times, but she kept with the “he seems so nice!!” thing, so… I guess we’ll see, right?

It’s still all a little fishy to me, and theres still some hemming and hawing over finders fees and commissions for the trainer. (At this point I think myself and COTH deserves the commission more than shady trainer lady.) I’m fixin’ to start a thread about commissions here in a second, they baffle me anyway, so…

I guess we should all just keep our fingers crossed and bomb shelters well stocked?

[MHM]

@eponacowgirl;2814961

I guess we should all just keep our fingers crossed and bomb shelters well stocked?

Sometimes that’s all you can do! :lol:

Good luck!

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=findeight;2789930]
BULLS**T.

The only time this is ever done is with trainer as a disclosed agent setting up with another trainer/agent representing the buyer to assure the horse is kept in acceptable conditions and both parties are known to one another.
The wannabe buyer PAYS for the transportation. BOTH WAYS if it comes back.
The wannbe buyer LEASES the horse and PAYS a lease fee.
The wannbe buyer PAYS for insurance.
All involved parties SIGN a contract. In ADVANCE.

This one’s easy, just say NO.[/QUOTE]

Huge DITTO

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=eponacowgirl;2814961]
Ooooookay…

I spent the weekend with my friend on my mini-vacation and OMG is she ever-so-nice and patient. I would have told the buyer to F-off a LONG time ago, but she stuck with them and I think they have a deal worked out.

First the buyer called (on Friday evening) and said they’d taken out insurance and shipper would be coming to pick up horse on Monday, they’d like to keep him until January 15 so daughter could show him and see how they do. And, oh, we DID agree on a price that is 3000 less than your asking price, right?

She called back and said “No, I’m asking X, and there is NO WAY I can have this horse ready to ship on MONDAY. And NO, you cannot keep the horse for a month and half, ride it, show it, see how it places and then decide.”

Trainer calls “What do you mean you want X for the horse, you told me X-$3000 and you owe me a commission, BTW.” Friend tells trainer “No, price I gave you was what I had to have when YOU were selling the horse and anything you added on was yours. Thank you, deal is off.”

Buyer calls back “Please, please, PLEASE let us try to work something out.” Friend tells buyer that she’ll take X-$1500, good middle of ground, is what she wanted for the horse originally. Buyer says “We’ll pay that if you pay for half of shipping.” Friend laughs and says “No way, deal is off.” Friend contacts classmate who’s parents are professional haulers and gets quoted shipping that is nearly half. Friend calls buyer and says “I found a shipper who is nearly half, here’s the number, do what you’d like with it.”

Buyer calls back, horse will ship Nov 29 with cheaper shipper, insurance policy is in place (with proof!), friend will have check in hand for horse before he ships, trial period is two weeks with guidelines about use in place (no excessive jumping etc.), horse ships back at buyers expense if he doesn’t work out. I’m still worried about the return shipping, but friend seems unconcerned.

I think I’ve done all I can do about warnings and flashing red lights. Everything seems to be in place verbally and hopefully it will all go swimmingly.

I was so furious with buyer I nearly snatched the phone and told him exactly where he could go a few times, but she kept with the “he seems so nice!!” thing, so… I guess we’ll see, right?

It’s still all a little fishy to me, and theres still some hemming and hawing over finders fees and commissions for the trainer. (At this point I think myself and COTH deserves the commission more than shady trainer lady.) I’m fixin’ to start a thread about commissions here in a second, they baffle me anyway, so…

I guess we should all just keep our fingers crossed and bomb shelters well stocked?[/QUOTE]

There is NO WAY I ould agree to this. They should fly up from Florida if they want to try the horse.

Re “check in hand” – make sure that check CLEARS before letting the horse leave the property. As I said, I think this is all a bad idea. And it is not like there are not horses for sale in Florida, if they are so travel-averse.