[QUOTE=chunky munky;7775817]
suggest the first ride in a quiet place. Then you take it to the show to see it in a competition environment. I think you have it backwards.[/QUOTE]
I may have it backwards, but it’s my only option. My schedule allows me to go next weekend. The horse will be at a show next weekend. I can postpone the trial, but this is a pretty nice horse and I’m afraid she’ll sell quickly.
[QUOTE=DMK;7775807]
WEF and HITS would shut down if people couldn’t try out sales horses during the show day! 
The only thing I can add is if the horse has been tried by more than few people and showed in a few divisions, he may be tired and that can change his ride. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse, but you have to consider that and trust the seller as to what he is like when he first gets to the grounds (or trust that your agent/their agent have your best interests at heart). And if he has been showed/tried a lot, it may also impact the PPE so you need to consider that a tired/sore horse may still be the RIGHT horse.[/QUOTE]
I am a little worried about her being tired! But I do think the owner/trainer are representing the horse honestly and are more concerned about it being a good match than a quick sale.
When there is a serious buyer, and there is a situation to try the horse that may be advantageous to my sale I think a seller would do almost anything to accommodate unless it is a big money class it is competing in at the show. That being said, if it has a big record as a seller I would be less likely to jump through the hoops.
It doesn’t have to be a big money class for the owner to want a potential buyer to wait. The owner may (and often does) have other people watching the horse go. Either other potential buyers or trainers. The owner will want the horse to perform at its best at a show.
Not only that, but as mentioned previously, if the horse is champion at that show, the price may go up.
I don’t know about other places, I’ve never been to WEF, but in my area it’s quite common for sellers to offer trials at a show. After the horse’s last class.
[QUOTE=gumshoe;7775949]
It doesn’t have to be a big money class for the owner to want a potential buyer to wait. The owner may (and often does) have other people watching the horse go. Either other potential buyers or trainers. The owner will want the horse to perform at its best at a show.
Not only that, but as mentioned previously, if the horse is champion at that show, the price may go up.
I don’t know about other places, I’ve never been to WEF, but in my area it’s quite common for sellers to offer trials at a show. After the horse’s last class.[/QUOTE]
This horse won’t be in any money classes, but I’d like to wait until after the last class just the same 
I will be very surprised if the mare wins her division…she’s more of a kind, steady hunter as opposed to a fancy one. Her USEF record is not the best, but right now I’m looking for the horse that will safely carry me around a 3’0" hunter course. I’ll worry about winning on a super fancy hunter later
Realise that you are riding a performance horse. Most of these horses actually live for the show (like mine) the ones which are bred for and trained for these performances. If she has a performance brain and that’s what you like, realize that this horse is going to have his or her difficulties at home. Often, they get upset at days off, they thrive on activity, they are their best at the show. At home, they can be difficult to handle, difficult to manage in their feed, their very environment.
If you know this and have no problem with their quirks at home, then buy her and snap her up quick at the show. If you are really invested in her behaviour at home, you will probably miss out on her, because you probably won’t get a chance to try her again at home.
If it seems like this horse will be available to you to ride again after the show, and that is important to you, go for it, but be prepared for a different horse.
Decide how diverse you are and how you can manage a performance animal vs. a homestyle animal. They have very different brains, and it seems to me you are about to embark in riding and evaluating a performance horse. Not everybody can deal with them. For example, I have been squirelled out of several barns with my hrose. He needs certain feed, when he is competative, and certain handling. Its not for everyone, in the day-to-day.
I would encourage you to be careful and conservative so that you don’t get ripped off or hurt in this venture.
Do you have a trainer going with you to help you find a packer for the adults? Are you moving up or down to the adults? If you are looking for something to move up on, you will most definitely want your trainer’s help to know if this is a suitable horse for you to do the adults on. You’ll want an expert eye in your corner to watch the horse go. Note who is showing the horse. Is it the kid that just won the Maclays that weekend? A great catch rider can make a difficult horse look easy. If the trainer likes it, they should then ride it, and then and only then if they think it is safe and suitable for you should you get on.
If all that goes well, then maybe take it on trial. But I wouldn’t buy it at the show and take it home unless of course you have money to burn. I know that this plan is much fun but neither is wasting your money or breaking a bone. Good luck and hope it’s a fun show. If it is a big show and you have your trainer with you it should be possible to try a bunch of horses over the weekend.
We recently tried a pony at a large show and ended up taking him home… I did notice a couple things worth mentioning.
Definitely spend as much time at the show as you can, watching the horse warm up and show. If you can, get there in the AM and ask or watch how they prep him, but stay out of the way.
You are generally not going to be the priority, showing is the priority. So you may have to wait until the end of the day and/or you may not be able to try him on a day you want as he may be being rested. We found that scheduling was the toughest thing because the trainer had several people showing. Only time we could try the pony was at the end of the day, just before they closed all the rings. We were lucky to get 15 mins of trying time in and jumped a few jumps in the schooling area.
Try to get on the horse more than once. If they let you ride it on a day they show it, then also ask to try it on a day it’s not showing, will show you the difference between “prepped” and somewhat tired and hopefully not.
Agree with the other folks, be ready to move quickly!
[QUOTE=chunky munky;7775825]
Smart sellers do not allow trials on the show ground at WEF. Having lived there for many years, it is simply a bad idea. Most people have farms off the property. Much better for your first ride unless you are a very experienced and perhaps highly decorated rider. I have watched many a sale go south on a nice horse due to riders nerves and craziness in the schooling areas. Use all the privacy you can get.
A good seller will not let you try the horse when he has done multiple divisions and is tired. If they do, that is very unfortunate for the horse as well as you.[/QUOTE]
Actually, I was speaking of the seller showing the horse in its divisions, not letting potential buyers show the horse. And yeah, you and I lived there and stood at the in gate together many a time, so we know the area. If you have a farm, that’s great, but not everyone is there with a farm (although certainly a great many more people than when we were there!)
[QUOTE=Ambitious Kate;7775984]
Realise that you are riding a performance horse. Most of these horses actually live for the show (like mine) the ones which are bred for and trained for these performances. If she has a performance brain and that’s what you like, realize that this horse is going to have his or her difficulties at home. Often, they get upset at days off, they thrive on activity, they are their best at the show. At home, they can be difficult to handle, difficult to manage in their feed, their very environment.
If you know this and have no problem with their quirks at home, then buy her and snap her up quick at the show. If you are really invested in her behaviour at home, you will probably miss out on her, because you probably won’t get a chance to try her again at home.
If it seems like this horse will be available to you to ride again after the show, and that is important to you, go for it, but be prepared for a different horse.
Decide how diverse you are and how you can manage a performance animal vs. a homestyle animal. They have very different brains, and it seems to me you are about to embark in riding and evaluating a performance horse. Not everybody can deal with them. For example, I have been squirelled out of several barns with my hrose. He needs certain feed, when he is competative, and certain handling. Its not for everyone, in the day-to-day.[/QUOTE]
I agree with this. I have a mare who is an doll at shows. At home, fire-breathing-dragon. One leasor said they wished they could just set up a tent for her at home.
She finally found a perfect match at a VERY busy barn. It is hustle and bustle and tons of people in and out. She thrives on it,is a doll there and they love her.
She definitely has 2 very different personalities, depneding on if she is showing and in active training or chilling at home, getting hacked once in a while.
[QUOTE=CHT;7775665]
Are you sure it is allowed by the show? Around here I don’t know that it would be: riders at the show have to have signed releases and the required memberships to be allowed to ride on the show grounds.[/QUOTE]
It’s a bit different in the a States and pretty common, especially since trying one at a show within a few hours drive beats seeing it again at home when home is anywhere from a full days drive each way to 6 states and a plane ride away. I asked in the office once and was told, at least at that facility, owners signature covered that horse outside of actually showing. But OP can ask in the office.
For OP, be sure you are clear about any commission requirements with trainers finding and presenting you horses. It’s usually well worth the money turning up horses you would otherwise miss as many if the better ones are word of mouth only. DO NOT get on anything, including those 2 other horses from your sellers trainer, unless you speak up and make sure everybody is on the same page.
Think it would be best if OP gets a hotel room and can see the horse(s) over at least 2 days. That way if there is a scheduling snafu or the show runs later then expected you aren’t looking at a long drive home with nothing accomplished. Also see any horse you like more around the stalls or in the schooling rings.
[QUOTE=findeight;7776331]
It’s a bit different in the a States and pretty common, especially since trying one at a show within a few hours drive beats seeing it again at home when home is anywhere from a full days drive each way to 6 states and a plane ride away. I asked in the office once and was told, at least at that facility, owners signature covered that horse outside of actually showing. But OP can ask in the office.
For OP, be sure you are clear about any commission requirements with trainers finding and presenting you horses. It’s usually well worth the money turning up horses you would otherwise miss as many if the better ones are word of mouth only. DO NOT get on anything, including those 2 other horses from your sellers trainer, unless you speak up and make sure everybody is on the same page.
Think it would be best if OP gets a hotel room and can see the horse(s) over at least 2 days. That way if there is a scheduling snafu or the show runs later then expected you aren’t looking at a long drive home with nothing accomplished. Also see any horse you like more around the stalls or in the schooling rings.[/QUOTE]
I think I am going to get a hotel room and stay for the weekend.
For those who were wondering, I am moving up to adult amateurs. Also, I would much, much rather have quirks at home than quirks at shows. I would pick a horse that is a saint at shows but a dragon at home over the opposite any day.
I meant their trainer, the one showing you the horses at the show, not your trainer who is not going to be with you anyway.
I got friends who went and tried horses at WEF and found a bill for a one day lease and a lesson in the mail at the end of the month on one of them (ended up having to send a cease and desist letter via certified mail to get them to stop badgering her for it). They didn’t even like that one.
Another gal who, on her own, went and tried several from the same trainers barn. Made an offer on one and that trainer wanted 10% commission from her…she walked on it. Too bad, nice horse but, really, never ever assume you are safe from the world of undisclosed charges or that everybody selling or acting as sellers agent showing you sale horses is ethical and has your best interest at heart.
[QUOTE=findeight;7776819]
I meant their trainer, the one showing you the horses at the show, not your trainer who is not going to be with you anyway.
I got friends who went and tried horses at WEF and found a bill for a one day lease and a lesson in the mail at the end of the month on one of them (ended up having to send a cease and desist letter via certified mail to get them to stop badgering her for it). They didn’t even like that one.
Another gal who, on her own, went and tried several from the same trainers barn. Made an offer on one and that trainer wanted 10% commission from her…she walked on it. Too bad, nice horse but, really, never ever assume you are safe from the world of undisclosed charges or that everybody selling or acting as sellers agent showing you sale horses is ethical and has your best interest at heart.[/QUOTE]
Oh, ok.
Wow, that is a horror story. I can sort of understand charging for a lesson if it was a BNT that spent quite a bit of time with potential seller, but a one day lease? And none of it was disclosed beforehand? :eek:
I would think that the commission is included in the price of the horse, but I will verify before I get on anything.
You, as buyer, have your own deal with your own agent or DIY.
Seller is supposed to be the only one paying sellers agent. Buyer does not owe sellers agent ( trainer) anything but they’ll try to if they think they can.
Commission is charged on the $ amount of the sale, it’s not really included in the price, that’s an excuse fir overpricing, t’s tacked on to whatever the negotiated final price is.
About that lease/lesson charge? That trainer was charging owner 100 a day in day care, something like 50-75 daily schooling/training fee every time it came out of the stall depending on who rode it and was acting as sellers agent presenting the horse in anticipation of a 15% commission on an 85k horse.
Friend was serious, qualified buyer and knew all this. Somewhat gobsmacked to get a 100 lease fee and 75 lesson fee on top of the 200 he billed owner for that day (not to mention the nice commission check coming soon)…and, believe it or not, the 75 for a lesson/evaluation from HER OWN trainer.:eek:
Practice saying “What is this going to cost me” before getting on any horse at a horse show.
Oh, and ALWAYS WRITE A SEPARATE CHECK FOR THE COMMISSION. Write purchase check to OWNER. Not their agent. Or use EFT the same way.
[QUOTE=chunky munky;7775825]
Smart sellers do not allow trials on the show ground at WEF. Having lived there for many years, it is simply a bad idea. Most people have farms off the property. Much better for your first ride unless you are a very experienced and perhaps highly decorated rider. I have watched many a sale go south on a nice horse due to riders nerves and craziness in the schooling areas. Use all the privacy you can get.
A good seller will not let you try the horse when he has done multiple divisions and is tired. If they do, that is very unfortunate for the horse as well as you.[/QUOTE]
Um… it’s been a while ago now, but I bought my last horse after trying him on the WEF show grounds. And he was for sale by some well-known trainers. We found a ring that was more out of the way (more jumps, fewer people). I’ve also been the one riding a horse to show to a prospective buyer or riding the horse on behalf of a prospective buyer at big AA shows out in the regular schooling areas. In my experience, it happens all the time, and the sellers I’ve dealt with have all been smart/horse sales savvy people!
Things have a really funny way of working themselves out.
Everyone, meet my new mare, Ella!
Congrats! She’s a cutie!
Yay! I just read this whole post cover to cover and I am so glad by the time I got to the end you updated with a happy ending! What a cute mare!!
[QUOTE=achcosuva;7779683]
Yay! I just read this whole post cover to cover and I am so glad by the time I got to the end you updated with a happy ending! What a cute mare!![/QUOTE]
Thanks! She is great. Such a fun, steady ride, but also really athletic!
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