Why do sellers lie & whats the biggest lie you've ever been told when buying?

*GroovyGallop*

*GroovyGallop*

Member
Aug 12, 2006
1,087
10
38
Derbyshire
Hi All! Happy Monday x

I'm currently searching for a pony for sale, loan WVTB. I'm not in a hurry to find anything and I'm really taking my time as I know exactly what I want. I've looked at 4 so far in total and none have been suitable.

I'm not ashamed to admit when I was much much younger, I rushed into buying ponies and made bad decisions with the type of horses that I went for. So this time I am really filtering through and trying things out 3,4,5 times before committing fully.

During my search, It's actually reminded me how much people lie when selling their horses! I just don't get it, never have, I've sold ponies In the past, and I don't understand how people can sleep at night knowing that they are lying and ultimately putting someone's life at risk.

This weekend, I tried a 'First pony, confidence giver, well schooled, 100% bombproof' pony who took off with me in canter and was the most unschooled horse I'd ever sat on, it was my second time trying her, first time was a hack - however I insisted on having a lesson on her in a school for my second visit. I'm just glad that I can ride, as if that'd have been a 5 year beginner child riding (as the pony was advertised as suitable for beginner or experienced) , the conversation I had with the seller afterwards would've gone a lot differently.

The seller wasn't there when it happened, so when I messaged her after to tell her - she didn't even reply!! Speaks volumes to me, it obviously didn't come as a surprise to her that the pony did that. Luckily, I was able to walk away from this and laugh it off - 'Onto the next!' I'm just grateful nothing more sinister happened. It does make me wonder - how far will people actually go with their lies.

I thought I'd start this thread just out of interest to see what kind of lies you have been told when buying? Did any of you buy the horse and get it home and find out later? Or did it come out during trial of the horse? Any humorous stories would be great, it is Monday after all:p
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Token funny bitch and Huggy
Well first of all, good luck! It's a minefield, isn't it? I've bought two in my lifetime, and have to say, I don't think I was lied to. Ramsey I got as a rising 4 year old, and was my first. The girl I bought him from was lovely, but he walked backwards the entire time I rode him - bought him anyway, and he gave me nearly 27 years of fun. Hogan had been a field ornament for 2years, no saddle so I couldnt ride him, but I fell for him. Again, the owner was lovely and pretty honest, but he did do some little bucks and mini rears for a few months. Wouldn't swap him for the world though - bolshiness and all! Did know a girl, very experienced rider, who bought a horse from a reputable local yard - he'd obviously been drugged - when she got him home he was a complete demon - really dangerous. She'd paid 3k for him and took them to court, and lost. A friend (male) took him on, and he's still mental, but this guy loves him, and it doesn't bother him. Vets checked him, and he's sound, no physical issues - just a demon seed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers
Sometimes they out and out lie because they just want rid of a horse, reasons like that are why it's so important to see the owner ride before you get on - if they won't the just don't go there! You have to remember there's a reason why they are selling.

Then there's perception. It always cracks me up when you see adverts saying things like "great jump" alongside a photo with it almost falling over 2', or well schooled with it looking like a giraffe and clearly not going forward. The chances are that the owner believes the ad though, they simply don't know what a good jumper or well schooled horse is. As for phrases like novice ride or first pony, well they're so subjective. There's no set definition of novice, let alone what's suitable for them, and as for phrases like fu ride - well what one person considers fun may easily have another a shaking wreck and a third bored to tears. It's a minefield.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Huggy and Jessey
I think some of the time at least, it isn't outright lies. When looking for a horse for my ex sharer, friends told me they were thinking of selling one of theirs. Sharer was a very soft, capable rider but nervous, though had 5 years out of riding school under her belt, she had most recently been riding my anglo arab who was also soft and looked after her. Friends horse was said to be great, novice or experienced, a good safe, steady ride, been there, done that type. The moment I got on him I knew he would scare the bejesus out of the sharer, he didn't do anything wrong, but was wooden and had to be 'held onto' even in walk and he wasn't soft to the leg or hand. Now this horse is superb with novices, my friends use him for first rides for ex-servicemen who have lost limbs or have severe physical disabilities, and he goes everywhere and anywhere and is ridden by the owner/friend who has lost both legs at the knee but he just wasn't suitable for the type of novice my sharer was, one with prior experience on well schooled, soft horses. That horse was as described, but it wasn't what we expected from the description, I hadn't asked the right questions really and perspective is a funny old beast. It makes me think of this meme, both are right but their perspective is different.
perspective.jpg
ETA not saying your experience was like this, just I've found many are :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Feawen, carthorse, Trewsers and 3 others
I tried a pony that was meant to be bombproof and wasn’t green . The horse turned out to be a barley broken pony that spooked at everything I got off that horse very quickly.
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
Reactions: Huggy
I was once riding in an arena and someone else was taking photos for a 'for sale' ad for the horse they were riding. It took at least 10 attempts to get the horse over the jump at all as it kept refusing and tanking off. They finally got a decent picture and the ad made out that the horse was a complete saint and would excel as a show jumper. The lied because they wanted as much cash as possible for the horse and simply didn't care where it went.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Huggy
I think I've been lucky: whenever I've looked for a horse I've found the seller, including dealers, conversible and, as far as I could tell, honest. Ziggy's seller even tried to put me off buying him because she didn't think a novice like me would handle a project like him.

When I was horse shopping with ladywiththebaby from here a few years ago we saw a few I was less sure about, though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Huggy
Jane&Ziggy said:
I think I've been lucky: whenever I've looked for a horse I've found the seller, including dealers, conversible and, as far as I could tell, honest. Ziggy's seller even tried to put me off buying him because she didn't think a novice like me would handle a project like him.

When I was horse shopping with ladywiththebaby from here a few years ago we saw a few I was less sure about, though.
Click to expand...

Do you keep in touch with her? She was the one with Tango if I remember correctly and then she bought a second? I used to enjoy reading her posts.
 
Mary Poppins said:
Do you keep in touch with her? She was the one with Tango if I remember correctly and then she bought a second? I used to enjoy reading her posts.
Click to expand...

I'd love to know how ladywiththebaby is getting on, if anyone is in touch and it wouldn't be intrusive. I don't know her personally but I did know the second pony she bought a little bit. I rode him when he was briefly on working livery - he was such a nice person and I was delighted that he found a good home.
 
We looked at and tried a first horse for my daughter some years back. She was 14 and a good sympathetic rider who could cope with some naughtiness ok but we wanted safe.
went to view a 15.2 gelding who sounded ideal. He was greener than expected but that wasn’t a problem as my daughter liked dressage and schooling. Got him home and on day 2 he broncod her off, she sat the first bit bet he carried on, seriously for no reason she was coming off.
The sellers took him back to be fair but I later found out he was well known for sudden violent bucking episodes.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Feawen
Actually what I have taken on they were honest.
'have they seen traffic' reply 'only when he jumped out' - potential jumper. ;)
At the viewing he came out the stable at fifty miles an hour, dragging the woman who couldn't hold him. He buggered off across the field and then I said 'let's test the good to catch'
Eventually I come back and she says 'so you won't be wanting him then'
I did.

_20191015_160015.JPG
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: Huggy, Feawen and Jane&Ziggy
To write something more relevant to the thread title – I had some ups and downs with horse-shopping, but I don’t think any of the sellers outright lied to me this time around.

I had one experience where the horse was a handful to hack out – I’d been told he was mostly rather idle if anything though he could have a lively moment, but the hack was one hour-long moment! Turns out the horse was normally hacked by their work rider. Who is not only an excellent rider, very fit, rides for hours each day, but is also well over six feet tall and almost as broad across the shoulders. He said, I am sure quite truthfully, that the horse had never given him much trouble…

A matter of interpretation, as Carthorse said. The sellers are friends of my instructor and I’m absolutely sure they weren’t trying to palm me off with something unsuitable, but we had different perspectives.

More than 20 years ago when my parents were looking for our first family horse, we had one vetted who seemed perfect. Our vet had a funny feeling in his bones and asked if we would care to have the bloods he’d taken analysed right away, rather than keeping them “just in case” for a few months as is conventional. His funny feeling was spot on; the horse was on bute.

Levi’s former owner, by contrast, has done as much as she could possibly do to make sure we are a good match and to prepare him for changing homes. She imports PREs from Spain now and then, breeds a few as well, gets to know them all, keeps some for herself and her family, and some might be for sale if the right person comes along.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Trewsers and Jessey
Mary Poppins said:
Do you keep in touch with her? She was the one with Tango if I remember correctly and then she bought a second? I used to enjoy reading her posts.
Click to expand...
Feawen said:
I'd love to know how ladywiththebaby is getting on, if anyone is in touch and it wouldn't be intrusive. I don't know her personally but I did know the second pony she bought a little bit. I rode him when he was briefly on working livery - he was such a nice person and I was delighted that he found a good home.
Click to expand...
She's an active member of the Facebook New Rider group which you're welcome to join I'm sure. She and her kids are all still riding and doing fine!
 
  • Like
Reactions: lauren123, newforest and Feawen
newforest said:
Actually what I have taken on they were honest.
'have they seen traffic' reply 'only when he jumped out' - potential jumper. ;)
At the viewing he came out the stable at fifty miles an hour, dragging the woman who couldn't hold him. He buggered off across the field and then I said 'let's test the good to catch'
Eventually I come back and she says 'so you won't be wanting him then'
I did.

View attachment 100280
Click to expand...
OMG @newforest what a little athlete he was
 
Jane&Ziggy said:
She's an active member of the Facebook New Rider group which you're welcome to join I'm sure. She and her kids are all still riding and doing fine!
Click to expand...
I never realised there was a FB group! What's it called ? :) I remember her and issues she had with him tripping after she bought him. I'd love to see if any other older members on there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lauren123
joosie said:
See I've heard about a NR group before but never been able to find it. Always wondered if it was just because I'm not cool enough for an invite! Even searching the name directly I can't find it!
Click to expand...

Same! I don't really go on FB anyway, other than to check on events and suchlike, but I thought I'd have a search for it and I can't find it. I'm definitely not cool enough, but I'm sure you are!
 
newrider.com
Top Bottom