I had another potential leaser come to try the Porsche. We were scheduled to meet on Tuesday - but she caught me by surprise on Monday evening, and wanted to know everything then and there, so we talked for at least 90minutes - and I showed her all the tack/routine/etc., and she met Porsche and was super enthusiastic. We met back up on the scheduled Tuesday for the test-ride. The gal was a capable rider (my saddle wasn't working for her - but she was reluctant to ride in her saddle which was a decent fit - still a bit puzzled on that one)
Porsche has felt amazing my last few rides, super forward and bendy and listening, and she was an absolute saint for this gal - seriously on best behaviour. But as the test ride continued, this gal began to drop comments that kinda raised some red flags: that Porsche was moving too much through her ribcage at the trot (what does that even mean??) that Porsche wasn't "self-loading" into her bridle, that she didn't like how she was standing, that she was taking off steps in the pasture (everything looked normal to my eyes) and I kinda wondered "why so much negativity?"..
But by the end of the ride, the truth came out that this gal really wasn't interested in a lease, since the fancy Donnerhall or Deniro or some such big-name-bred horse she really wanted to lease wouldn't be available until August, and would I be willing to let her take lessons on Porsche for free....
I gotta admit, part of me was super offended at the undertone that my horse wasn't good enough for her, fine enough to use as a schoolie, but certainly not good enough to pay anything for, and that this attitude changed literally overnight. Porsche is never going to move like a warmblood, but she also has never been portrayed as anything other than what she actually is: an OTTB with three clean gaits: who knows her basics and a bit of lateral work: who is happy to go forward and have a job.
The other part of me thought: lessons are always good - but this girl would be riding in the middle of the day, and most likely I would not be able to even watch said lessons with my work schedule.
So, what would you do? My gut is saying run away....
Go with your gut. Sounds like a free loader!
ReplyDeleteListen to your gut :) that's my vote! The girl sounds kind of rude... no one needs that in their life!
ReplyDeleteGo with your gut. This girl sounds like a person who would blame the horse for everything that went wrong and I would worry about how she would treat Porsche. She deserves better than that. 'Self-loading into the bridle' indeed! Maybe shhhh woudl like a self-driving car or self-loading dishwasher (actually I would love that). Gah.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't do it. This girl is taking advantage of you. Probably also there ISN'T some fancy horse waiting in the wings. She's just looking for something for nothing.
ReplyDeleteListen to your gut. It sometimes knows best, even when you're not sure.
ReplyDeleteurgh that's frustrating - i hate it when ppl try to talk negatively about something they want so they can work a deal to their own advantage. seems pretty simple from your end tho: you're offering the horse for a reasonable price. the prospective rider can agree to your terms or move on. good luck :(
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for the encouragement to go with my instincts (and that it did sound as fishy as it felt).
ReplyDeleteRun!
ReplyDeleteRun! There is someone else out there who will love your pony to bits.
ReplyDelete