My concerns if they do not know the seller then rely only on videos or photos one best see the horse.
I know this horse didn’t injure the trainer, but the injury could mean one of two things:
- The trainer is like, “oh shit, I’m breakable and middle-aged and going to need surgery,” meaning this horse is quirky but okay enough for an AA to bring along, as long as the AA has knowledge and confidence the previous AA lacked. The trainer may want to thin out her stable of more difficult projects as a result of the injury, too.
OR
- The horse has some pretty serious quirks that will require major work. The seller is pretty desperate to move the horse along because of her upcoming surgery. The buyers she turned down were ridiculously unsuitable and you’re her first somewhat suitable “nibble.”
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I saw your original post on another thread but didn’t reply to it there, but I’ll say something here and maybe that will elicit other responses.
I don’t think it’s creepy to make an approach to a previous owner or the breeder if you are a serious potential buyer. My caveats would be that you should be fairly neutral in your approach and not ask, for instance, “the current owner/seller says that horse has shown to First level (or whatever)–what’s wrong with the horse that it hasn’t progressed farther?”
I’m not saying you (or anyone on the forum) would do that, just that it’s easy to develop a kind of laser focus when you’re investigating a potential purchase that makes you ask very specific questions that might be off-putting and/or come off as hostile or weird.
If, after one email, the person doesn’t get back to you, I’d let it go. Multiple approaches to someone who is not responding could be read as creepy and stalker-ish.
JMHO.
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I would reach out to HJ AA previous owner and just ask about the horse in general terms. What harm is there in asking? You have no way of knowing if current seller’s description of the HJ AA owner’s experience with the horse is accurate or not.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Ask someone if they can provide info - they say no.
Don’t ask - end up with a dangerous or lame horse and waste thousands of dollars.
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I would not contact the HJ AA previous owner. There is no way to validate anything she might say, good or bad. Not everyone will admit that a horse was too much for them, or that they created problems and don’t have the training chops, and whatever happened with her sounds like it was years ago so I’m not sure I’d find it relevant to today.
That said, I would just go see the horse. If you aren’t confident in your ability to evaluate whether horse is a “problem” or not, take a pro along who is. If you like the horse enough at that point, vet it.
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I have reached out to a previous owner because I wanted to get a horse’s baseline x-rays. The story was long and complicated by the fact that the most recent owner of the horse had been a 15 year old girl who had run away from home . . . Anyhow, I found the horse’s vet and he put me in touch with the breeder, who was very helpful. Not everyone might be so accommodating but she was glad the horse was going to a good home.
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Zowie, Xanthoria. This is such a good analysis. Great tips for evaluating just about any big-purchase situation.
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So, I actually messaged HJ AA (messaged OP) aanndd the story tracks. Perhaps they are all working together to pull off the Biggest Fast One Ever but it sounds like a horse who might struggle with inconsistencies and become frustrated when expectations are raised/changed. HJ AA did reveal that horse was too green for her without being prompted. Said she was sent to BNT jumper trainer (who I’ve never been that impressed with…) who told her horse would need more training than she wanted to invest to be suitable for her. Still advise an in person visit and a vetting (which sounds like it will happen), but don’t think anyone is being purposefully dishonest.
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Hunh. A BNT who turned down a project horse, and the income that comes with it?
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Im sure you have looked but have you tried searching instagram OP with the horses show name as hashtag?
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This is my trick. I’m a little too good at horse research 
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Eh, this doesn’t bother me. BNT is a European broker. HJ AA decided she didn’t want to wait a year to ride her horse and wanted it sold.
I expect ammie owner got sticker shock at the cost of training.
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I actually did this too all that comes up is a childrens clothing company
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Maybe Baby Gap isn’t the horse for you after all.
Snort.
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haha that’s what sucks when the horse has a generic type or common name.
My one horse is “Not Just A Girl” and now Shania Twain named her Documentary that, so that clogged up my hashtag hahaha I’m more than fine with sharing with Shania though…let’s go girls…
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I figured based on your post you had those sleuhting skills lol
I don’t see anything " sketchy" about the horse. I see multiple owners who either lacked the time or the skills to train her right or let her become a problem under their handling.
You saw videos of the horse being ridden and it raised no concerns. You talked to a couple of the previous owners and got some positive feedback. It seems that newest owner is being honest about why they are selling. Horse is advertised as very, very green so no surprises there.
You will never know, honestly, until you go and see/ ride( or see her ridden) in person.
As far as selling as a broodmare , it takes more than just bloodlines alone to make a mare breeding worthy ( it sure should).
Go in person. Horse shopping is always a gamble but you won’t find one if you don’t try. She sounds like she is worth a look in person.
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It is somewhat common for sellers of a sketchy horse to say people have asked/wanted to buy, but they are waiting for just the right fit. And gosh darn it, they get all the warm and fuzzies with you and have decided you are the chosen one.
OP, I am concerned that you have built up this narrative on the mare that explains some obvious gaps. If she is such a gem that just ended up for a time with a mismatched rider, why isn’t she more expensive? Nobody seems to be willing to ride her currently. And I don’t trust any seller that won’t get on or have someone ready and willing to show mare to potential buyers.
Something just seems off to me. I bought a younger mare almost 20 years ago and talked to breeder and the person who bought her from the breeder and started her and then sold her to the person I was dealing with. They all talked about how lovely she was. She turned out to be a freaking time bomb with a buck that could launch you into the next county. It is sad but true that people varnish the truth. A lot. Sometimes.
Sheilah
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