Advice on horse price please

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Marigold4

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So I'm thinking of selling a 15 hh connemara grey mare and need some help thinking of a suitable price. She's just turned 7, good breeding lines (Templebready Fear Bui). I bought her to fill in a gap of a year until youngster was backed. Youngster now started and that's going well.

She is brilliant to hack out alone, has done 10 dressage tests (mix of Prelim and Novice). Won her first with 80 (over-generous judge!) but usually high 60s. If only I could remember the test, they would be higher! Won a couple of Novice showing classes. Show jumps 70s but no competition experience for SJ.

Very nice nature - a good egg! Really obliging and kind but also independent and doesn't fuss if left alone. No health issues or sarcoids.

Negatives - can be strong on fast rides but Kimblewick bit sorts this. Old fashioned square type of connie not the sporty type so maybe not as sellable?

So ... I only want her to go to a smallish adult rider and a private home, not a big livery yard. Can I say that in the ad or what wording should I use? I'm not interested in making a turn on her but want a fair price for a good home. Any thoughts anyone?
 
I can’t help with price;
but you can say “best suited to small adult rider” for example.
i don’t think you can dictate to someone they can’t keep the horse at livery but I suppose you could do a “home check” if you really felt you should. However, you could possibly put off otherwise suitable buyers.
 
You can say that in the advert, but you maybe excluding a lot of suitable owners if you do, imho. And, may put other people off.
As she is over height and hacks well, Assuming she is green booked, in the current market I would price her At £6000. Or £5000 if you want a quicker sale. Connie market is very buoyant atm, and factor in her height and hacking safely, you will likely sell her quite quickly.
 
I would think a traditional type with those bloodlines would be very saleable. I don't think you should try to specify where the pony is kept. Either you get a good vibe off a potential buyer or not. People move around a lot so where you sell to may change in 6 months.

I keep my horses at home and if an advert stated that pony must go to a quiet private home rather than a busy livery yard, I would assume that the pony reacts badly in busy environments and I wouldn't even call. My assumption would make me think the pony would ba a problem at shows.

I also wouldn't discount children. Some can be much better riders than adults. I'd be more inclined to say ideal mother/daughter share or similar. Ad staying pony wasn't suitable for children would make me think he was unsafe.
 
mini barnes said:
I can’t help with price;
but you can say “best suited to small adult rider” for example.
i don’t think you can dictate to someone they can’t keep the horse at livery but I suppose you could do a “home check” if you really felt you should. However, you could possibly put off otherwise suitable buyers.
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I have had one or two that I knew would not be happy in a big livery yard so when people phoned it was a question I asked and if they described a yard that sounded unsuitable I just told them he was only going to a private home or very small yard, if they took offence it was not a problem as I usually had plenty of interest and was always interested in the home being offered not just whether they had the cash, I have often stopped viewings if the buyers were not right in my mind, have refused offers for the same reason, it may mean you wait a little longer but if you want the right home you can afford to be choosy.

That said circumstances do change so the private family may end up in livery or having to sell at some point, you can only try to do your best and then move on.
I would price a bit higher than you want and keep some wriggle room for the ideal buyer, start at £6.5k and see who comes along.
 
Thanks for advice everyone. That's really useful about price and wording for advert. The only reason I don't want a livery yard is that I don't want her to go somewhere where they put them in for the winter with no turn out or a measly hour per day. She's no problem being stabled, no vices etc but just not fair on her. She's such a cheerful obliging little horse, I would hate that to change.
 
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Marigold4 said:
Thanks for advice everyone. That's really useful about price and wording for advert. The only reason I don't want a livery yard is that I don't want her to go somewhere where they put them in for the winter with no turn out or a measly hour per day. She's no problem being stabled, no vices etc but just not fair on her. She's such a cheerful obliging little horse, I would hate that to change.
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I'm on a reasonably large livery yard (20+ horses) and we can be out 24/7/ 365 if we wish - it is up to us as owners to manage it. So I don't think you can judge what the setup is just by the size, as I've heard much smaller livery yards restricting the turnout a lot more (few hours each day in summer and sometimes non in winter)
 
Marigold4 said:
Thanks for advice everyone. That's really useful about price and wording for advert. The only reason I don't want a livery yard is that I don't want her to go somewhere where they put them in for the winter with no turn out or a measly hour per day. She's no problem being stabled, no vices etc but just not fair on her. She's such a cheerful obliging little horse, I would hate that to change.
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I think that is fair enough and I have similar feelings about them being in all winter, it seems to be accepted as the norm when it should not be, I almost interview potential buyers and have also been on the receiving end of similar when buying, you can still be polite but ask important questions that you think relevant and do not be pushed into allowing viewings if they do not sound suitable, you are not selling a product you are selling an animal you obviously care about, that does tend to come across as it is meant if the people are genuine.
 
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be positive said:
I think that is fair enough and I have similar feelings about them being in all winter, it seems to be accepted as the norm when it should not be, I almost interview potential buyers and have also been on the receiving end of similar when buying, you can still be polite but ask important questions that you think relevant and do not be pushed into allowing viewings if they do not sound suitable, you are not selling a product you are selling an animal you obviously care about, that does tend to come across as it is meant if the people are genuine.
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It's difficult, isn't it, when some people think it's Ok to shut them in for weeks. Perhaps I could say she is used to 24/7 turnout with a shelter except for depths of winter when she is in at night and that is what she prefers, then ask people to phone and vet them to see if they can offer this? If I can't find her a great home, I'll keep her - just don't really have time to ride two and I don't want her to feel neglected now I'm riding the other. I expect I will be viewed as a "time waster" seller!
 
spacefaer said:
If you say she's out all the time, buyers will assume she has a problem with being stabled.....
I wouldn't put anything on the advert, it's something you can discuss with potential buyers once you know they are serious.

Just describe her honestly, without waffling, and then see who contacts you.
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OK, perhaps I'm trying to say too much too early. Just stick to basic facts and then vet potential buyers. I have sold before but by word of mouth and she went to first viewer within a week so haven't had to do the advert thing before. Daunting!
 
spacefaer said:
If you say she's out all the time, buyers will assume she has a problem with being stabled.....
I wouldn't put anything on the advert, it's something you can discuss with potential buyers once you know they are serious.

Just describe her honestly, without waffling, and then see who contacts you.
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You are overthinking it, as said here you may lose the ideal home because they think she will not be stabled, keep the ad simple and let her sell herself, I am always happy to take a look and advise if you are struggling to word it.
 
Marigold4 said:
OK, perhaps I'm trying to say too much too early. Just stick to basic facts and then vet potential buyers. I have sold before but by word of mouth and she went to first viewer within a week so haven't had to do the advert thing before. Daunting!
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The way the market is at the minute, you will probably sell her within week as well!
 
She is a lovely type but those photos are not right for an ad, jumping really needs to be side on and ideally nearer take off than landing, usually easiest to video then take stills, the same really with the flat photo you see more of the rider than the pony and although it would not put me off calling the first question would be have you any more photos/ videos so I could see her side on.
 
Whereabouts are you based Marigold as this may factor in her price?
She sounds & looks a really nice type - yes definitely get side photos of confirmation & videos - loading & catching too.
Pricing is always so difficult to get right.
People looking to compete & pony clubbers tend to expect to pay far more in my experience.
Connies do seem to be very sought after at the moment.
Will be selling ours soon - totally opposite to your girl but was going to price him a lot lower just because finding the right person will be particularly tricky.
 
be positive said:
She is a lovely type but those photos are not right for an ad, jumping really needs to be side on and ideally nearer take off than landing, usually easiest to video then take stills, the same really with the flat photo you see more of the rider than the pony and although it would not put me off calling the first question would be have you any more photos/ videos so I could see her side on.
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Oh drat! I have loads of her jumping from in front. None from the side. Back to the drawing board :(
 
bubsqueaks said:
Whereabouts are you based Marigold as this may factor in her price?
She sounds & looks a really nice type - yes definitely get side photos of confirmation & videos - loading & catching too.
Pricing is always so difficult to get right.
People looking to compete & pony clubbers tend to expect to pay far more in my experience.
Connies do seem to be very sought after at the moment.
Will be selling ours soon - totally opposite to your girl but was going to price him a lot lower just because finding the right person will be particularly tricky.
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Good idea about extra videos for loading and catching. She is brilliant at both so easy to do.
 
Marigold4 said:
Oh drat! I have loads of her jumping from in front. None from the side. Back to the drawing board :(
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It is not the end of the world, maybe get a side on flat work or one jumping where she is going up rather than down as it looks tidier than being stretched out in mid air.
 
Look at Irish Sport Equine (or any other for dealers/ companies that sell horses) for ideas on their videos. They have like 7 minute videos of the horses being tacked up, loaded, bathed, ridden on the flat, jumped, hacked out. Might be able to get an idea on pictures as well but video is always a winner.
 
A good, side on conformation picture always helps too. Make sure you can see all 4 of her legs but that she is stood relatively straight, or do one from both sides. I always get put off by adverts that have purely ridden photos for some reason, I like to be able to see the horse ridden and stood up so I get a good idea of how they are put together. Videos are always a bonus too!
 
bubsqueaks said:
Whereabouts are you based Marigold as this may factor in her price?
She sounds & looks a really nice type - yes definitely get side photos of confirmation & videos - loading & catching too.
Pricing is always so difficult to get right.
People looking to compete & pony clubbers tend to expect to pay far more in my experience.
Connies do seem to be very sought after at the moment.
Will be selling ours soon - totally opposite to your girl but was going to price him a lot lower just because finding the right person will be particularly tricky.
Click to expand...
I'm south central so hopefully accessible to many?
 
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