If you ask a parent if they would pay $1000.00 to keep their kid from likely harm, most would say yes. If you ask a parent if they would pay $5000.00 to keep their kids from permanent scarring, they would likely say yes. So why is it I see so many want ads posted by kids for horses under a $1000.00? Or for horses they can train themselves? I loved the want ad for the pony for a 9 year old to train themselves. Because that seems like a good idea....

Of course the kids wants the horse to be old enough to ride, but not too old (apparently 9 is old for a horse when you are a kid). Big enough to feel cool on, and able to jump/barrel race or whatever. What sort of horse do the parents think their child is going to get for this price? You may get someone responding to the ad who just wants to make some kids dream come true...but far more likely is you are going to find someone who is going to read SUCKER all over the ad, who is going to lie about their horse's age and/or soundness and perhaps even drug the horse to make it seem safe to unload their mistake on this hopeful child.

The parents likely don't know enough to know better, and the child sees beauty and potential in every horse...until that horse plows them into the ground time and time again shattering the illusion.

And of course the parents will chalk it up to a learning experience and move on, never thinking to go back to the seller and expose them as the lying cheat they are...because horse people seem to be the "bend over and take it" kind for whatever reason...loath to pursue the liars and the cheats...which in turn just encourages them to put the next hopeful child in danger.

And the horse they bought? It is unlikely it will meet a fair and just end.

Sometimes I feel people should have to have a license to buy a horse. Something that forces them to be aware of the scammers out there, the risks, and what to look for. Advice as to what they should expect to pay and what level of training the horse should have for their child's experience.

Karen