I saw a horse go up for sale
It’s certainly not as it’s described
I wonder why they’ve written it like that?
It’s not as advertised
I know the horse in person
And although he is quite cute
The way that they have written his ad
It truly does not suit.
So many people seem to get a horse
And it’s not acting like they thought
Oh why can’t people just tell the truth
It’s truly not what they bought.
And so it begins the merry go round
Of poorly matched horse and rider
Another horse back on the market
With problems that define her
In the horse world there really are
A bunch of fibs being told
Just so that the current owner
Can list the horse as sold
So many times my job becomes
Visiting a rider and their new mount
It had been sold to them as bombproof
But it bucked and danced about
I am more than happy to assist
Any willing horse and rider
But so many of these matches
Don’t build confidence inside her
The horse may be truly lovely
And should it receive some training
Could easily suit the current owner
Without the need for complaining
The problems it has may be simply fixed
You just need a helping hand
That way you can keep the horse
And look, now it will stand!
When you’re searching for a unicorn
Don’t forget to shop around
Don’t buy the first horse that you see
There are plenty to be found
Make a list of what’s important
The qualities that are a must
You don’t want to end up falling,
Crying, sitting in the dust.
Everyone has a budget
They have to stick right to
But I promise if you save up longer
There are better matches for you.
Be honest with yourself
Why did your current horse not suit?
Is it that you’re overmatched
Or did he give you a boot?
Do you think that by selling
Your current mount with issues
That you can buy another
And never need the tissues?
Sometimes horses make us cry
But they also make us stronger
Maybe you should investigate
And keep him a little longer
Find out what it is that makes him buck
Or push you to the ground
Work out why he’s rearing
Is he untrained or is he unsound?
Are you lacking in your knowledge
Do you know how to keep a horse?
Maybe instead of moving her on
You should go and take a course!
Once you’ve exhausted all the options
And really decide it’s time to sell
Make sure that you portray him accurately
So you don’t suck someone in as well
I get that the market is so tough
You can blame the drought
But you can still be honest in your ad
So your integrity won’t raise a doubt
Don’t be tempted to spout rubbish
Or lay false claims to him
Just so that you can make a sale
To an unsuspecting victim
The horse world is truly connected
You’ll make yourself a name
And when you cannot sell another
It’s yourself that is to blame
So many problems can be solved
By waiting longer to buy your own
You may save a little more money
When patience has been shown
To buy a horse with training
Will cost a whole lot more
But surely that’s better than hurrying
At least you can be sure!
If you rush in to buy a horse
While your budget is so low
The choices are far more limited
Trust me, I would know.
The more you arm yourself with info
The more choices you have, you see
It’s your knowledge that defines you
And your capabilities.
The better you learn your groundwork
The more hours that you ride
The selection of horses that you sit on
The more confidence it will provide
If you go to buy a horse
But have only ridden a few
It may seem a whole lot different
So foreign and so new
I remember back in my early years
I rode one of the police greys
It didn’t steer like my horse at home
I couldn’t make him obey
He cut the corners of the ring
And dropped his inside shoulder
If I’d ridden a lot more horses before the interview
I’m sure I could have been bolder
But instead of being sad I missed the job
Of Mounted Support Hand Rider
I was excited that I learnt a lot
And went home a little brighter.
It wasn’t that the horse was wrong
Or even that I was no good
It simply meant I hadn’t yet learnt
To ride the way I should!
What I learnt that memorable day
Was that horses are not all alike
They all respond to different cues
They’re nothing like a bike!
I realised then I wanted to learn
to ride differently from one to another
Because my horse riding skills
Were definitely not from my mother
So then I tried to ride
As many horses as I could
To learn from each and every one of them
Something different, something good
So even though you can ride well,
Have you ridden just inside the school?
To go and buy one off gumtree
Will it be the exception to the rule?
You may have desires of grandeur
A dream that you will find
A horse that ticks all the boxes
The unicorn as described.
But from home to home you’ll truly see
Some horses are a mess
Are they the perfectly behaved gentleman?
Has the owner something to confess?
Maybe you’ll be lucky
And find some decent peeps
And in this current market
Their good horse is probably cheap!
They may truly love him
Their daughter just outgrown
The genuine reason for sale
He just needs a brand new home
Take someone with you with knowledge
Don’t be in a rush to buy
Make yourself a list of questions
And see how they reply
You need to know first hand
Why the horse is up for sale
Have they had him very long?
When you ask, do they turn pale?
Ask them to show you through the paces
On the lunge then on their back
If they won’t ride the horse themselves
Maybe it’s courage that they lack.
No matter what, don’t get on
Unless they ride him first
Because if you do and then you fall
Your bubble it will burst!
In every moment play it safe
On your life it could depend
But sometimes you’ll get lucky
And find your lifelong friend!
Not every single seller
Sets out to deceive a buyer
But the more horses you take a look at
The odds they will be higher
Ask around your local pony club
Does anyone know this horse?
His reputation may proceed him
And you’ll find out lots of course.
Stalk the local Facebook pages
Is there info you can find?
Do a name search for the owners
Have they anything to hide?
And once you’ve decided you’ve found the one
Who will truly make you smile
Step back for just a moment
Take a minute, take a while.
Weigh up all your options
Have you truly found the one?
Then call yourself a reputable vet
And get a vet check done.
But most of all you need to ask yourself
Are you ready to commit?
Because if you’re not truly honest
You may end up in deep 💩!
So sellers you can make a start
By being truthful in your words
Because if you don’t, you’ll come unstuck
You can be sure someone has heard.
Buyers need to think thoroughly first
With your head before your heart
Make sure that you’re certain
Before with your money you part!
Don’t become part of this merry go round
Of unsuitable horses sold
Simply because you were in a rush to buy
Before you were too old!