Potential Buyer Coming to Test Ride Horse -- Short Warm Up Unacceptable? TW: kinda gross wound description?

[TinFoilHat]

Hi all - I am selling my horse and a potential buyer is interested in coming to meet and ride him later this week. Long story short, I have an open wound on my inner thigh that is probably going to require me to get a skin graft since it’s not really “closing.” Obviously this is not ideal for nor is it probably advised to ride in this condition. That said, my BO will be at Tryon all week/weekend, damn near my whole network is busy and the rider I had lined up just cancelled (literally minutes ago).

My question is, if I’m only able to get on and do a few moments of light riding (aka way less than what I’ve advertised him to do), aside from not being ideal, could this be a deal breaker to the visiting potential buyer? I’ve posted in a couple of local groups to see if I can’t find someone who’s free and is willing to catch ride, but I’m trying to prepare for worst case scenario, which would involve me wrapping the spot the best I can and then doing what I can. I’d obviously give the buyer a heads up and give them the option to reschedule if they’d like, and luckily they are only driving <15 min to come to my barn.

tldr would it be a dealbreaker if the seller of the horse you’re coming to look at could only do the bare minimum under saddle, prior to you hopping on?

[jvanrens]

@TinFoilHat

I’d obviously give the buyer a heads up and give them the option to reschedule if they’d like, and luckily they are only driving <15 min to come to my barn.

Maybe go with this. Explain the situation to them. Sounds like getting on the horse is not a good thing for you to be doing, so letting the potential buyer know sooner instead of later would be the route I would go for.

[TinFoilHat]

She’s aware that I needed to coordinate with a rider because of an (unrelated to horses) injury, but that was when original rider agreed and they’ve now bailed; rider was the back ups back up to the back up.

[Night_Flight]

Do they need someone to get on first? Obviously it’s ideal for them to watch the horse go first, and for you to ensure the horse is properly warmed up, but presumably they have already seen video of the horse. If they are bringing their own pro, could that pro get on first, or simply have the potential buyer do the whole ride?

I’ve been in plenty of situations where the potential buyer gets right on from the get go, but those were also either pros or experienced enough riders not to be nervous about getting on without watching the horse behave first.

[jvanrens]

Okay, so let them know there’s a problem with finding a rider anyway. Stuff happens. I know they likely have to organize with their trainer, but letting them know sooner instead of later will leave more time to reorganize. I’d be really annoyed if it was last minute. I’d prefer a heads up.

[luvmyhackney]

I’d ask them to reschedule. Selling a horse isn’t worth injuring yourself worse over. If they don’t want to reschedule, could you have the trainer hop on first?

[widge]

Is longing the horse instead of riding him an option?

[Bogie]

I would just explain your situation and let them choose.

Personally, I like to see a horse ridden before I get on it. However, I bought a horse two weeks ago and based on what I’d seen of her, I got on and rode her (accompanied by the owner) out in a state park without giving it a second thought. So, it depends on what the buyer feels comfortable with doing.

Will the buyer be bringing her trainer? That person could ride the horse first.

[Fiesta01]

@widge

Is longing the horse instead of riding him an option?

I agree. That would let her see the horse move first. If she’s hesitant, you could then lunge her for a few minutes on the horse?

[Paint_Party]

I would also explain the situation to the buyer and allow them to decide. I certainly wouldn’t encourage you to possibly further injure yourself by riding. (And I hope you heal soon!).

However, I recently bought a new horse and while I was horse shopping, there were several times when I went to try a horse (these were finished reiners and ranch riding horses) and the trainer or assistant pretty much tacked up the horse, handed me the reins and said, “Here ya’ go.”

[trubandloki]

@Bogie

I would just explain your situation and let them choose.

This. Totally this.

Explain what is going on, ask if they want to come anyway or reschedule at a different time.
They might have a rider that is willing to get on so they can see how it does before the buyer gets on.

[Paint_Party]

@trubandloki

They might have a rider that is willing to get on so they can see how it does before the buyer gets on.

That’s a great point! Once presented with the circumstances, the buyer might have someone they can bring along to hop on first so they can see the horse under saddle.

[CBoylen]

Let them decide if you can show them enough by telling them in advance, but as a professional, neither I nor my clients get on a horse that we don’t see ridden first that day. It’s non negotiable in my book. You’d be shocked at the stories you hear, after serious accidents of course, where people put the buyer’s professional at known risk.

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Yup, exactly.

Though in your case it might be fine for you to get on and show that the horse isn’t looking to kill anyone. That might be enough comfort to the buyer to then allow the pro on. Best to tell them the situation and let them tell you what they are comfortable with!

[VodkaRedbullx2]

Explain your situation and let them know you can hop on to show the horse is safe and let them choose. Sometimes buyers don’t want someone on first.

[findeight]

Do not risk your health and safety, thats silly. Simply say you are sorry but tell your buyer and/or their trainer you have an open wound on your leg and your rider has bailed on you. Don’t over apologize here, not your fault. Let them see if they can come up with something.

Buyers/agents like honest sellers even if it’s not what they wanted to hear. Likely they will be willing to work with you. If not? Likely they aren’t the best match for your sale horse.

[mmeqcenter]

I came here to say - I’ve only ever done a quick 5-10 minutes before the interested buyer gets on?? Why would that be a problem? You only need to be on long enough to show them the horse is sound and safe enough for them to get on, AKA not going to rocket launch them. I’m not going to have a horse go for hours in one ride just because there’s someone looking at them to buy. A normal ride time gets divided up between myself and the buyer, the ride doesn’t get extended.
Assuming you have videos that show what you say the horse can do/does, that is plenty enough proof. The point of a buyer’s trial ride isn’t to see more proof from someone else, it’s for the buyer to experience it themselves.

But also all of this:

@findeight

Do not risk your health and safety, thats silly. Simply say you are sorry but tell your buyer and/or their trainer you have an open wound on your leg and your rider has bailed on you. Don’t over apologize here, not your fault. Let them see if they can come up with something.

Buyers/agents like honest sellers even if it’s not what they wanted to hear. Likely they will be willing to work with you. If not? Likely they aren’t the best match for your sale horse.

[findeight]

@TinFoilHat

I have an open wound on my inner thigh

Ummmm….I don’t think it worth risking infection or damaging the edges of the tissue. Plus thats gonna hurt.

[poltroon]

I would just explain the situation in advance and communicate with the buyer. If you have videos that will help and you might longe the horse to let them watch it first.

I drove a long way to see a horse and the seller only told me when I arrived that she wouldn’t ride first because she was pregnant. I had seen videos and she longed for me and just reading the whole situation it seemed safe so I did get on (and it was, but not the horse for me). That wasn’t a nice surprise, but with the overbearing spouse there it seemed clear to me that it wasn’t that she thought the horse was dangerous.

Communicate, keep yourself safe, it’s all good.

[Willesdon]

If they are keen to buy your horse, waiting a couple of days until a new rider is found shouldn’t be a deal breaker, especially if they are fairly local to you. Horses aren’t cars or pizzas.