Buying and Selling Horses

I finally got Buddy's web site put together and have listed him on two horse classified sites. The phone has started ringing. And I'm looking for a horse for Lily.

Which are the best horse classified sites? Where should I be listing him?

I thought to link to his site here, but I've got my phone numbers and all that other personal info. on the site and I'm trying to maintain some kind of privacy with this blog. If you're interested in an 11-year-old Apx. QH/TB gelding that does English and Western and is the sweetest horse you've ever seen, leave me a comment and I'll contact you and send you the info. and web site link.

I don't really want to sell Buddy. That's like selling your dog. And Lily is even worse about selling him. A teenager at the little show we went to last weekend found out Buddy was for sale and was dying to buy him. Lily didn't think she was good enough for Buddy and I almost had to lock my daughter in the trailer because you just can't say those kinds of things to a prospective buyer. Or to a stranger. Or really, to anybody. (She was only saying them to me about the girl but I was afraid she would be overheard.)

The teenager rode him and the funniest thing happened. When she asked Buddy to trot, he started limping. He'd just done three jumping classes and several flat classes. He wasn't anywhere close to lame. I stood there in wonderment. Lily said, "See? He doesn't like her either. He's faking so they won't like him."

After about eight lame steps he returned to normal, but Lily is convinced (and I'm wondering myself) if this wasn't a protest. Fortunately, the girl's father already has four horses and though the girl's instructor and the girl loved Buddy, we haven't heard a thing.

Then somebody else who'd seen him at the show asked us to bring him to their farm for a woman I know slightly to try. So that's what I did last Sunday. Lily rode Buddy first so that the woman, who has had several bad experiences with her own horse in the past year and has lost confidence, could see that Buddy is a fun, reasonable guy. Lily then took him out in the field and jumped a bunch of log jumps. Buddy was a saint.

Then the woman, whom I'll call Rebecca, got on Buddy. They did great. I could tell that something was bothering Rebecca, though. She wasn't in love. I told her she could take Buddy on a trail ride with her friends, which she did. Buddy wanted to get in the front but she had no trouble keeping him back. He didn't have a problem when other horses rode his rear-end. He didn't mind the cows. He tried to tippy toe around the water but he was still okay. And he didn't have any problems with odd objects or the activities of people on nearby property.

Rebecca and her friends reported that Buddy had been great and that they really liked him. BUT....

When Rebecca and I were away from everyone she confided in me. "You know I've had my horse, "Wifebeater" (name is made up), for many years. I don't think I'm ready to get another horse," she said. "Even if I'm afraid to ride Wifebeater."

She is a really kind and sensitive woman who takes excellent care of her horses. I wish she would buy Buddy. He would have a great forever home. And he would treat her better than Wifebeater has.

"I can't imagine going into the pasture to catch another horse while Wifebeater looked on," she continued. "It would break my heart to see his face."

My heart was beginning to break. I wanted her to buy Buddy.

"I really haven't resolved my issues with Wifebeater," she said. "I had a horse communicator out to help." She made it plain that she didn't really believe in horse communicators, but still, she had paid one to come out.

"The horse communicator talked to Wifebeater. It didn't help with the problems we've been having. But Wifebeater did say it was all right if I got another horse -- so long as it wasn't another male horse," she said.

So Buiddy was perfect but the wrong gender to suit her old horse? I wish I had thought to say, "What do you care what Wifebeater thinks? He's treated you terribly. You deserve a nice horse who'll be nice to you." But I didn't think to say anything because my thinking apparatus had frozen up.

Comments

[Horseypants]

Maybe you should go have a chat with Wifebeater yourself. He sounds like the kind of horse that would play ball.

It will be interesting to see how this process goes for you all, considering the current news info (even in horsey media) about our down-in-the-dumps economy.

[Molly]

Gosh. I wasn't paying attention and then look what direction you guys took.
I'm really happy Lily is on-board with this great decision.
We can only hope Rebecca wakes up to the facts of horse ownership. I have a friend up in NC who has had a wifebeater of her own for 14 years! Pasture ornament. She now has a handsome 20 year old horse that she can't possibly give away and can't afford anymore.

[A Bay Horse]

I like equine.com and dreamhorse.com. They seem to get the most viewers. So I don't bother with too many other sites anymore.

Maybe you could send out your own "communicator" incognito to have a talk with "Wifebeater". ;)

[Anwyn]

Maybe you dodged a bullet? Maybe that is her, um, "horse communicator" way of saying she thinks Wifebeater is too much of an alpha male and would actually attack Buddy. Disclaimer: Big ol' horsey ignoramus talking here.

[greyhorsematters]

If you're going to make a decision based on what an animal communicator spouts off maybe you shouldn't be allowed to have more horses. What a load of nonsense.

Anyway Buddy looks like a wonderful horse and he obviously loves your daughter, I'm sure he's trying to put the brakes on any sale that separates them. I hope he finds a good loving forever home. You might want to contact that communicator and take her with you to the sales prospects and see what he thinks of each person interested in him.

[Strawberry Lane]

It would appear Buddy is ahead of this sales idea with the limping and all. I really get all distressed when it comes to selling horses or when anyone else sells a horse.

With you, Lilly and Buddy, I'm certain there will be the perfect home for him ... other than where he is. Oh, there I go, again. Sorry.

Sending best vibs your way.

[risingrainbow]

I hope you find the perfect home for Buddy. And the perfect new horse for Lily.

My mind would freeze up over a horse communicator too. How do some people figure out those angles??