Advert - what am I doing wrong?

Perissa

Perissa

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2003
Messages
1,976
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
I have never sold a horse in my life before and have had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life recently and that is to sell my miniature stallion. I've advertised him on three websites and all replies I have had apart from one have been right numpties, or someone trying to get a cheap pony.

I didn't state a price and in all honestly I still haven't decided on a price because home really is more important than price and I'm certainly not even talking 4 figures!

Any suggestions on how to improve the advert or where best to advertise him?

40" IMHPS and AHS registered, 5 year old, chocolate buckskin with spotted influence stallion of arab type.

Duel registered with the International Miniature Horse and Pony Society and the Arab Horse Society.

Sire Limelights Zanzibar - Falabella (spotted)
Dam Mystery at Darkhorse - Caspian / Arab

Morris is for sale through absolutely no fault of his own.

Boy can this pony move! He has an elevated, eye catching floating trot.

He is sweet natured and easy to do with only the occasional nibble. Good to catch, load, teeth, feet and general handling. Lunges well.

Respects electric fencing!

Has been assessed by an AHS panel judge as worthy of being kept as a stallion and would cross well with stockier mares to add refinement.

Won one and only time shown under a miniature panel judge.

Good home my first priority and much more important than money.
 
On Arabian Lines, the NFED and Horsedeals.

The dilemma is that the perfect home may not have any money to buy him. Asking a good price is not a guarantee of a good home. I would not have been able to buy him if Sharon had not let me pay for him in installments.

I am quite prepared to geld him and give him away TO THE RIGHT HOME. I thought I would try as a stallion first as he really is quite an unusual chap. In all my years of judging I have never seen a pony quite like him. I asked a very well respected AHS panel judge to give me an honest appraisal on him, I have her permission to say her name - Ronnie Booth. I wanted to know if I was being barn blind as he belongs to me and she agreed that he is worthy on being a stallion. We both agreed that he would make a CRACKING driving pony.

I showed him in an open coloured and spotted class which just happened to be judged by a Miniature panel judge and he won, she was impressed with his movement.

So if he can go to home and be used PROPERLY then I can't ask for more.
 
Have you included a picture of him? You could preen and primp him so that he looked like he was going to a show, if he looked professionally turned out it may put some of the eejits off and someone suitable may just fall in love with his picture.

I got a huge response from advertising on horsequest but that was for a horsebox.
 
I have included these three pics in one advert, just the trotting one in another and just text in the other.

I have had another spam enquiry this morning

MoTrotting1.jpg


104_1311A.jpg


104_1302A.jpg
 
I think it's the kind of sale that would attract people who hadn't really thought about it. Many people think a miniature would be a great companion, lawn-mower, or really cute to have around and don't stop to think about their reasons for buying a horse or whether this horse fits them. He sounds like an amazing chap for the right crowd, i.e. someone knowledgeable about showing. I would include a price and perhaps indicate that sale conditions would be negotiable to a good home, if you would be prepared to lower the price, or allow installments, etc.
 
I think it might be a bit naive to give him away, no matter how much you check the home nothing will stop them selling him on if they want - same with selling any horse, put him on loan instead perhaps?
 
I'm having similar problems selling my daughters 13.2hh pony - don't know what it is just now but there seems to be millions of time wasters with nothing better to do! Would definitely think up a price though and perhaps add that it's negotiable to the right home.
 
I would have thought that he would sell to people who show minis rather than those who show arabs - is there a miniature horse society website or anything that you could advertise him on? I would also try to include a conformation shot rather than the second of your three pics, which doesn't really add information.
 
You could email some mini studs with his pics and details and tell them he's very, very cheap to a good home. If he's worth taking a chance on then someone may get back to you
 
I included that one for two reasons really, you can see how he is spotting out and you can also see that he does not have a short neck which is a common problem with mini's. The trotting pic makes his neck look short as his head is tilted to the inside.

I was on my own when I took the pics so couldn't get a conformation pic, but you are right. I have a couple of him side on grazing but didn't use them as he looks a little pot bellied due to his winter coat hanging on to his tummy.

Would this one be better?

104B1400A.jpg


He's still drying after a bath in the pic!
 
If I ended up giving him away it would only be as a gelding as I really do not want to encourage indiscriminate breeding and will include a clause that he can not be sold. In effect I would be loaning him because he would have to come back to me anyway.

I would want references as well.
 
Have you got a link to any pro pictures of him showing - or any that you took when he was all primped up ready to show?

Like the spots coming through!
 
In that case why not try advertising him for loan, possibly with a view to buy at a later date? That way you could draw up a contract that will cover all the bits and bobs you would worry about and you wouldn't have to think about a price for now. If someone special came along you could sign him over or sell him for a nominal amount.
 
I think you should try advertising on IMHPS and MHCGB. I would give him a bath ( ha dont mean to say he needs one!!! ) and take some photos of him stood as if he's showing. Have you a show halter or one you could borrow off sharon for the photos?? Personally i think you need to hit the miniature people, and if it was me looking for another i would like to see what they may look like when prepared. They can look so much different when they have the showing head on!!

I sold my trailer off IMHPS after 2 hours because it was adapted for minis... You just need to target the right people!!

p.s. are you taking him next week???

edited to add... If you think he would make a good driving pony put it in the ad!!
grin.gif
 
I know nothing at all about miniatures...but here goes!
I think you have a few problems in selling him - firstly, most people looking for minis want them as companions/lawnmowers/pets and obviously a stallion is unsuitable. Secondly, a lot of people feel very awkward where price is not included on the advert (at least as a guide). I'd probably avoid such horses, because the owners may be complete nutters asking for huge amounts of money.
Thirdly, for a stallion, your target market - mini breeders is, I would imagine, quite small. Are there any specialist magazines/society websites/mini shows you could advertise
him at? Are there any studs you could contact who might be interested in having him on loan - a stud would at least manage him properly (one would hope).
Sorry, I don't know much about minis....as I said
grin.gif

S
grin.gif
 
I need to set up a photo shoot! I was on my own when I took those pics hence none of him stood up. I'll ask friend to come over as my none horsey hubby won't be much help!

Not sure about next week. As you know I'm into arabs and I'll be at the Wales and West show all day on the Saturday so it depends on how I feel - how burnt - I am if I take Mo on Sunday. I would love Sharon to see him now though as he's changed so much since I've had him. I hope to at least pop in for a chat if nothing else.
 
Exactly S - hence my wanting to to find the right home for him.

One email asked me if he was suitable to be RIDDEN!!!!! OK I suppose he could be ridden by a VERY small child but hey who in their right mind would put such a small child on a stallion!!!!! Words fail!!!! He is very good natured and not at all nasty BUT he is a stallion and with that goes a certain amount of sharpness, especially when he sees the ladies. Most mini's ( Sally will conform this I'm sure!!) have NO IDEA that they are little people. Mo thinks he's 16hh.

Sadly people treat them like they are a cutesy toy and before you know it you have a monster on your hands.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


[/ QUOTE ] "Most mini's ( Sally will conform this I'm sure!!) have NO IDEA that they are little people."




Ha LOL!!!! try telling Inky he's only 30"!!!!!!
grin.gif
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I view them as 'condensed evil' myself, along with Shelties.
S
grin.gif
 
One other problem you may be having it that he doesnt look like a mini as in his height , he looks to be 12hh in the trotting pic , perhaps have you holding him stood up properly ?

Again I dont know much about mini's but dont you show them clipped out ? Perhaps would it be worth clipping him out if you where going to advertise him as a show mini ?

Hes very cute though
wink.gif


Good luck x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top