A horse question about...?

Question

okay, i know i'm new at learning about conformation. . .and i know i love horses. . . and i am very aware that i have owned an ugly horse (loved him, he did what i needed, but he wasnt the prettiest horse to look at). . . my question is:

have you ever looked at a horse and been sick? not by how badddd it was put together or how ugly it was,but by what the owners were trying to pass it off as and by how many people bought into what the owners have said???

for example. . . when you post a question about conformation (hey like i have) and you get people who pick the UGLIEST horse just because it had pretty spots and you could ride it (even tho the thought of riding the horse made you sick?)

what's worse someone lying about the horse? or someone buying into the lie? please give me some insite. . . i feel i may be too critical of these horses/owners/buyers. am i the only one who askes: what were they thinking?????

Answer 1

I think every horse is gorgeous. And if not, it isn't their fault people don't know when to stop breeding horses "just because they can!"

It makes me mad to think of all the people who breed their backyard horses to make a few more horses that didn't work in the first place. Never do I find a horse ugly, but more so the owners who thought crossing a QHXClyde with WelshXBelgian was a good idea.

Sigh* People are what disturb the peace of the animals!

Answer 2

oh YES it makes me sick when a person lies about the health of any creature, human and animal alike

I went through SO many seller's trying to buy my first horse and So many of the horses were not even close to what the owner described as in the adds

and that makes me sick

it really makes me sick when the owners are selling to a begginer or CHILD and novice parent and they buyers get taken advantage of!

one example..this little girl came in and wanted to purchase a trail horse from one of my freinds.. her mom was very very VERY nervous about letting her on the horse because it turns out that..last year  or so  they purchased a horse that the seller claimed "KID BROKE! child safe" ya know the whole "babysitter horse" package deal thing... so the mom fell for it and purchased the horse.. they test rode the horse of course, but what the mother didn't know was the horse had been drugged..AND they only rode it in the arena, it was a gorgeous paint gelding..and the little girl wanted a "pretty pony" he was 7 but the owner said he was 12 (he was a grade horse) and of course being new to horses the mother and child willingly beleived

well they brought the horse home..

the girl tacked up just fine.. she got up and that horse bucked her to high heaven and she broke her arm and that horse went crazy.. because he was only green broke..

anyways she came to my freind because she has a barn with horses only broke for begginers and kids.. ya know the push button kind? that don'tdo anything but cuddle and do whatever you say haha she travels all across the US looking for these horses and brings them back to our state and sells them for a cheaper price so these kids can have a SAFE horse

she's well off and doesn't do it to make a profit.. in fact she loses money BUT she does it because she hates seeing little children get hurt... she hates sellers who could even think of selling a dangerous horse to a child... that is sick.. and i don't know how a person could do such a thing

well my freind had a really nice little paint QH with blue eyes he was 16years old and papered, and has a scar so the owners didn't want him since he couldn't show with it or something? i'm not sure anyways his name was ghost and the little girl LOVED him he was so good i even rode him and he will literally slip up underneath you if you leanto far over in the saddle and if you lose your balance he STOPS and WONT move at all

this little girl was only 8 i'm not sure what her name was

but she was very very happy and i felt so bad for her and her mother.. her arm was healed and fine..but just hearing how a person would do such a thingto them made me sick!

also i think what comes first with horses is temperment THEN confirmation.. i mean i personally would have a kind and genlte and loving horse with pigeon toes then a perfetc legged horse that's wild and cranky ya know?

so when i look for a horse it's temperment, confirmation, ability, and then color

OH and hahah i've seen quite a few "UGLY" horses some are just so funny lookin hahah but i mean there are some "uglies" everywhere right? it's even funnier when top breedershave amazingly beautiful and confirmationally "correct" horses and the foal turns out to be ..uh.. ugly lol i've seen that happen a couple times it's funny, but of course. sad the only good thing that foal got was a nice mind and personality

i don't mind ugly horses, as long as they can move without pain, and move comfortably then thats alright with me

i just don't like mean or untrained horses being sold to unkowwing buyers "knowingly"

great question

Answer 3

Don't get me started!  My brother just bought a black APHA gelding for his wife.  It's kinda my fault, because I was goofing around on equine.com and showed her his photo....she squealed, "Oh, the Black Stallion!  I want him!"  and they called a few weeks later and said they wanted me to come look at him with them.  

The first indication something was amiss was when the owner wouldn't ride him.  She advertised him as "greenbroke" and said she had spent $1200 on his training, after rescuing him from a pen full of horses that all had to be put down.  The horse was five years old, absolutely gorgeous, show condition, but very un-trained.  

My brother grew up on a ranch, same as I did, and he knows a well-trained horse when he rides it.  I spent two hours (pregnant and my husband said "no, you're not getting on that horse!) watching my brother being LED around an indoor arena on this horse.  He did ask the lady to finally let go of the reins, and when she gave him the reins, the horse spooked and ran to the rail.  My brother tried to get him to ride out and turn and see what he could do, and the horse was just a big bunch of nerves.

I told my brother and his wife "forget it".  And promised to find them something better in her favorite "Black Stallion" color.  The lady actually convinced them to buy the horse for about three times what it was worth, take it to a trainer.....it was at the trainer's for a week, and he said "this horse is afraid" and sent it back to them.

So now Black Beauty lives on their acreage they had to buy for him, and roams freely as the wind....neither ridden nor handled nor hardly even appreciated.  

I am very upset that my brother didn't take my advice, after he asked for it.  But my wounded pride probably didn't see the damage his pocketbook will, during the course of having this lawn ornament for a few more years before attempting to pass him off to the next unsuspecting buyer.  

All that to say, I hate it when a seller acts all clueless and sweetsy and KNOWS they aren't telling the truth!  This woman knew she was selling them a lemon, a horse she wouldn't ride herself (she shows and trains horses), and one that was clearly more horse than my brother's wife would be able to handle.  I don't have any time for that sort of person.

Answer 4

if you love horses, no horse should be ugly or make you sick!!! i ride a big fat draft horse and i love him hes not the greatest lookin but in my eyes all horses are beautiful! if you dont like your horse give it to me or someone that will appretiate it!!!

Answer 5

I think every horse is beautiful. They have never made me sick, but the owners have by how they treated the horse. What do you think about the horse's owners when you see these pictures? They would be amazing if they had basic care!

Answer 6

I know exaclty what you are talking about. I hate when (especially people selling a horse) are like...

"she has a gorgeous great-great-great grand dad and she has his spots and personality, and like oh-my-gosh she LOVES to trail ride, but sadly we can't ride her anymore because of a "freak" accident"

I seriously hatr ads like that, and of course the horse is as sweet as could be (or drugged up) but the poor thing is like 200 pounds under weight and has like horrindice confrmation xP so what her like great great grand sire was a world champion her parents look like c**p too.

I also hate it when like people who THINK they know what they are talking about want to buy this fugly horse because it has a pretty color...ugh.

Answer 7

Many years ago I boarded at a place run by an old cowboy (by old I mean in his 70s) who did a lot of horse trading.  Every once in awhile someone would buy a horse from him and board it there.  Most of the time he matched them up okay, but one time he took such blatant advantage of the buyers it made me sick.  It was the horse you are describing...pretty colored crooked legged ewe necked banana headed mess.  The people bought the horse for their two teenage daughters to ride...they had zero experience and were so happy and excited, it was hard to watch.  They paid a king's ransom for it.  I listened while he exaggerated and lied about what that horse could do, and that they should show him someday, blah blah blah.

I kept my mouth shut, but it changed my opinion of that old cowboy and I never trusted him after that.

Answer 8

OMG I bought a horse from this lady and she told me she was a hunter show winner and when we bought her and tried to jump her she refused and acted like she had never seen as jump before.

I know what you mean!!!!! We ended up selling the horse because I couldn't jump with her.

Answer 9

in my eyes, every animal is beutiful in its own way, and no animal is ugly. but again, thats my opinion

Answer 10

Horses never make me sick but lying horse sellers make me disgusted. They're either incredibly stupid or they're trying to make a fast buck off the back of whatever horse they're trying to sell. I may be a cynic but I usually suspect the latter choice.

The ugliest horse I ever had was also the best horse I ever had and I'll cherish his memory forever.

Answer 11

People are awful when it comes to selling horses!!! 95% of the time there is something the owner is leaving out. Then some will give shots to make the horse "Right".  People are sick! It is very sad!!! & Then the people tring to sell just the color of the horse & it is the most awful thing ever. Sad.....

Answer 12

Dont cha know, spots and pretty colors beat good conformation anyday. I also wonder why some people buy the horses they do. For example:

I was talking to a lady at a show on Friday that I had known a couple years before but had lost track of. Everyone of her horses at the time had bad conformation and pretty colors. She never paid much for them and I was to young/stupid to know a good horse if I saw one. Anyway, I was talking to her and her 10 year old daughter rode up on a less than spectacular older (15+) paint. Its conformation was nothing to get excited over but he had pretty spots. I kept talking to her and she brought up the horse her daughter was on. Of course, being the proud mother she was, she started telling me about how her daughter was jumping 2'6" on her pony at home but was doing cross rails at the show because the horse she was on was 'stiff'. I asked what she ment and she told me it was the trainers horse and had had lots of really advanced training as a younger horse but had a 4 years of standing in the pasture. The horse had been back in work for a couple months but had had an accident that made his him stiff. Exactly what 'stiff' was I never found out but anyway the story continues. I was like OK whatever, he is quiet and carted her butt around the ring. Then she mentioned that they were looking into buying the horse. I was nosey and asked how much. That trainer of hers was wanted $8,500 for the horse and the woman knew no better than to pay it. She was also going to have to save up and be strapped at home for awhile to get the $5,000 more she needed. I was like OMG! I told her what I paid for my 12 year old bay TB (with good conformation) that could cart her kid around the the cross rail course with ease and then turn around and do a nice 3' course with me. I paid $6000 for him. She was like 'well, he is the trainers horse and had so much training when he was young'. I dropped the subject and got away from her as fast as I could. I felt so bad for her.

At best the horse was worth $3,000. He had:

- bad conformation

- 15+ years

- a stiff something

- 4 years off

- could possibly go above x-rails once the 'stiffness' was sorted out

- bad scars on his legs but not sure of origin

He had recieved good training as a youngster and was a paint. That made him worth $8,500. The only thing I liked about him was that he was dead quiet. I would like to smack that trainer for taking advantage of that woman. She will never get another good word out of me.

Answer 13

my god horses shouldnt make you sick! infact no animal should! you sound like a very shallow person...

Answer 14

i agree... very shallow... i bought an american saddlebred mare last year and she was the most poor horse i think ive ever seen in person, but i saw beauty in her eyes... brought her home fed her and rode her and now we are best friends... and out of seven horses - shes the most beautiful inside and out that we have...

Answer 15

I think lying about a horse is worse than buying into the lie. Buying into the lie is just a lack of knowledge. But when you lie, you have the knowledge. YOU ARE JUST DISHONEST! I hate liars. To the point makes me wish I was born about 130 too late. That way I could deal with liars the way the old time cowboys would. There is nothing wrong with a lack of knowledge as long as you are trying to correct it to become knowledgeable.

And nothing wrong with a ugly horse every now and then. We once had an Appy that was beyond ugly, it was pugfugly. This thing had legs 2 miles long, short neck, a head it didn't have to lower it neck to graze. Pin ears, mean eyes and a true broom tail. It was so ugly that when we went to shows we would tie this horse up on the back side of the trailer so that no one could see this thing. But.

It was the cuttingness some'bi@#$. But we didn't try to hide the fact that he was ugly, we just hid that horse. HAHA

Edit- Hey Shadow! Thats just cuz we are CRAZY!

Answer 16

My old riding instructor always did this to me!He wanted me to buy a horse so bad that he would get sick,or abused horses and try to sell them to me for 2,000 to 4,000 dollars.(just so i would pay him $200 a month for board!!)But what makes me mad is he bought a beautiful fit 3 year old gelding that i fell in love with.He told me he wasnt ridden in a while and i would have to work with him..but he didnt tell me till after i was on that the horse had been sick for awhile and hadnt been ridden in a year!!So of course i got bucked.And all because he was to afraid and greedy to tell me the truth!

Answer 17

i'm in a constant state of nauseousness where i live. so many ugly cross breeds. my town is filled with my vomit.

not physically, but yes i have been unable to even lie to an owner once, to pretend i thought it was pretty