advice needed on selling a horse - and a bit of a rant!

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Vix1978

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I've currently got a horse in to school on and sell on behalf of an owner and he is proving a tricky one. I could really do with some advice on what I should do next.

Bit of history:
Horse went out on loan with a view to buy at the back end of last year. To cut a long story short, he cam back just before christmas with a bucket load of issues - head shy, frightened of jumping, very sensitive in the mouth etc etc
He was then sent to a yard on sales livery where they did the grand sum of f'all with him for 4 months
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Anyway, he came to me in May, and has been going from strength to strength on the flat. He is now training at home at elem level, and we are starting to restore his confidence in jumping again (v. small cross poles and grids).
The problem is is that when people come to try him and become unbalanced in the seat, it frightens him and his answer is to scoot off. I have been really open with the viewers he has had - saying that he needs a balanced seat, light hands and he is fine. Yes he can throw in the odd spook and evasion but what horse can't! Yet still I seem to get people wanting to come and see him and when they get on him it is evident they are not balanced. He has already deposited 3 people who have come to see him. I've tried desensitising him, getting my girls to ride him aswell and they don't have an issue with him either.
What I need is someone experienced to come and see him who wants to concentrate on the flat, or has the time patience and expertise to continue to restore his confidence in jumping. The price the owner is selling him for does reflect these quirks - and with an experienced rider, he is ready to go out and be successful prelim/novice dressage - I just can't find the right buyer!! He is currently advertised on Horsemart, Horsequest, Horse Deals, Project horses - where else could I try????

Any advice gratefully received
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Now for the rant - someone came to see him last Sunday, wanted him and left a deposit. Sitting down yesterday with the owner, horse all ready to go and I call the purchasers as they are running late. It then transpires that they have changed their minds! "We sent you an e-mail" they said (never received). Surely the courteous thing to do would to have been to have a conversation with the owner. I was furious and really upset for the owner. It was hard enough for her anyway selling the horse, but to be messed around like this is unforgiveable
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Hang in there! It doesn't sound like an unsellable horse at all, many youngsters get worried by an unsteady seat and do scoot off a bit, so perhaps someone used to young horses would be suitable? I think there are timewasters all over the place and people often overestimate their own abilities which does not make it easy to match horse and rider.

Hope you kept the deposit!
 
It is a sad reality that few people admit their real riding skill level. If all they have ridden are school horses, a "real" horse will be a different matter altogether.

Stick with it, I am sure you will find the right home in the end.

regards where to advertise him, why not H&H. If I was looking for a horse, it is the first place I look, I always think places like HorseQuest are the cheaper end of the market.
 
As has been said by others, the horse is a sensitive chap & needs an understanding & competent rider. You say you've adjusted the price because of his little quirks. Unfortunately when you do that you will also attract numpties who see the opportunity of owning a horse with considerably more ability than they have themselves at a price within their budget. It appears those types have been coming to view & try so far.

You are doing all the right things, it may take a little longer to sell this horse than others because he needs to be matched with a competent rider who is understanding......& those riders are not too abundant, but hopefully you'll come across one. Good Luck
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Thanks TZ. I think you've hit the nail on the head about the numpty jockies. I've half been tempted to increase the price to stop them from coming and then being open to negotiation if the right person appears. However, ?I thikn it might be a risky strategy as I need to get people through the door in the first place!
 
Indeed, I was going to say the same as Toby in that a "good price" sometimes attracts the bargain hunters.......

Horses with quirks that are talented, still can command a good price and hopefully attract an experienced competition rider.

Good luck and hang on in there!!
 

*Bex takes an awful lot of deep breaths before composing reply*

Perhaps make it more blantantly clear in the ad that he is not a novice ride? I think sometimes people just read what they want to read?

I really, really hope it all works out well in the end for both horse and owner.
 
when I sold my pony I had the same problem. She was a quirky fizzy little mare who needed a quiet rider with soft hands and an independant seat. With that in place she would work soft and round and go very sweetly. Without it, she had a tendancy to get a bit strong and fast, especially in the canter, and the more you pulled the more she would lean.

TBH most of this I learnt about her whilst trying to sell her - I didn't have a problem with her at all personally, even when XCing she was strong but controllable. But several people tried her - including 'the experienced rider who came with the buyer - and she took off with them. I ended up 'trialing' her in a kimberwick just to keep the numpties safe... if they proved they could actually ride, I would get her snaffle bridle out.

there are a lot of riders who ride off the hand and aren't very stable these days I think. Stick with it, have you thought of approaching working students etc who are on a tight budget but usually resonable riders with lots and lots of on-site support? something like yours would have been a dream to me when I was a working pupil
 
From other peoples experience, simply putting on your ad "Not novice ride" doesn't work too well either!! It is half the reason ex-racehorses have such a bad reputation is they are often cheap and bought by inexperienced numpties. By the same token you don't want to price an experienced rider with an older family, looking for a hobby project out either. Selling is much harder than buying!!
My friend has been looking for a horse and I think she has been a time waster much to my embaressment. Her opinion in her own riding is not supported by the questions and comments she makes. I have tried tactfully pointing out little things in the hope she will do the math herself but to no avail, luckerly for all you sellers she has A) got a long distance boyfriend to visit at weekends and B) realised that the horse of her dreams is going to be between 12-15 years rather than the expensive, badly schooled 6yr old on her share horses yard!

I wish you all the luck in the world, it is like many things it takes time. Hopefully as the market improves or the horse does you will find a home and price match.
 
I think unless you get someone to look at him who is used to riding lots of different horses you're going to have the same problem. Riders who are generally balanced with light hands etc on one horse can be a little tense when riding a different horse, as they all go slightly differently. If someone is nervous (even if only very slightly) it will impair their ability to be balanced and light.

Selling a horse with quirks can be very difficult, as unless someone is specifically looking for this type of horse and there are no others like it on the market in the same price band, there is so much competition. So unless the horse is perfect (or the seller lies! - not suggesting that!) there are so many more to choose from. Many of the people who came to view the horse may well have been fine after riding him a few times, but because their nerves kick in on the initial viewing they don't get the chance to relax.

I hope you find a suitable home for the horse, anyway. Good luck
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