Am I asking too little??? Or are horses just not selling??

cundlegreen

cundlegreen

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I can't believe it. I've advertised two TB mares that I bred from this year- both foals got First Premium at the Futurity- theyve been weaned and are 4 and 6 years old. and ready to go back under saddle. I've been realistic ( I thought) and put them at £1,000 each. Not a single call or email!!!!! I'm beginning to think that they are too cheap and people think theres a catch, or are buyers snobby about price, and think if its expensive it must be good!!!???
 
Perhaps because if they're empty now they will have to keep over winter now before covering; perhaps because TB fillies are going for peanuts too; perhaps because of their breeding.
It could be the snobby attitude of course in which case they are sorry sad people without a lot of knowledge as a lot of good horses have been bargains if they would only go to see them. Hope that phone gets ringing soon.
 
Where did you advertise them? Are they backed as well? I guess the market for broodmare isn't great at the mo, with some breeders leaving theirs empty because they can't sell youngstock, so they probably wouldn't acquire new mares.
 
I sold mine to the first person to view him after only advertising him on a forum to the first person to see him hes going in 2 weeks afte rsummer champs. I havent seen much movement on websites though as ive been looking for something else. Apart from when you see something special by the time i got round to calling they had been sold that happened twice
 
i've had mine advertised in H&H, horsequest and a local ad paper and i've had 1 phone call from somebody wanting to loan and that's it. I think some horses are selling but ones that would've been cheap before all the recession rubarb are basically worthless unfortunately.

Thats not to say your horses are worthless at all but in the current market people don't want to pay very much for any horse
 
There are quite a few TBs up for sale atm for under £1000 which arent selling, mostly ex racers but its a tricky market atm for sellers. Im aware of several TBs having been practically given away due to a flood of them about. Dont know if that helps you
 
It is very unusual to not have one call or email. Where have you advertised them? If you post the text of your advert here then maybe we can look at that for you - it may be that the way you have worded the advert is putting people off.
You could also try putting them on 'project horses' website people often look on there for inexpensive horses that need some work. Also I would say it is worth pushing them now as soon people will be thinking about winter and there will be less buyers out there. Good luck.
 
They are advertised on Adhorse and Horsemart and have been on H&H. I agree with chestnut mare, I may be best to get them going under saddle again. They were both in training before, so just need bringing back. They've proved themselves as broodmares and could come back to that later, but I think they should be out doing a job. heres the links to my ads, http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/4_yrs_7_mths_15_3_hh_chestnut_thoroughbred_suffolk/57247
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/6_yrs_4_mths_15_3_hh_bay_thoroughbred_suffolk/57246
I've tried to be as honest as possible, hate wasting peoples time, as its happened to me often enough!
 
I'm going to stick my neck out here and say this: by putting 'at this price for one month only' you make yourself sound like a completely dodgy dealer! It's just not what I expect to see on a horse ad, and IMO the tone of the ads is set by this and means I read negative things into anything else which is not overtly positive.

Were both horses backed before you bred from them? Do you have pics of that?

The problem is that any buyer who doesn't want to breed is taking a real risk as they are in the field unfit and presumably can't be tried under saddle, and anyone wanting to breed can buy something in foal for that price or not a lot more.
 
Hi
Just looked at your ad, and the first thing that outs me off is the "For one month only!" remark at the beginning. Had I not known you were on here, I wouldn't have continued reading and moved onto the next ad. It comes across a bit to "dealer" type ad, and that can put alot of people off.
I'm loving the bay mare, and the pic of her moving is a good one. The pic of chestnut mare is not that great, and really you need a similar pic to the bay mare, where she is moving more.
The fact you are honest is great (as not many people are!) and I'm sure they will sell soon!! I would buy one (probably the bay) if I didn't have my heart set on the horse in my siggy!!!
 
I hope you don't mind but I have had a go at re-vamping your adverts. If you have more info about their previous ridden work that would be helpful. I also think the pics of the chestnut could be better and the moving one of the bay is best (maybe try for similar with the chestnut if she moves well). I find it is better to have fewer good pics than more average ones.
Also I have just advertised my horse in Horse and Hound and had a really good response - not loads of people but all serious, appropriate buyers. It only costs £20 for a horse under £3000 and that gets you 2 weeks on the web and one in the magazine.
Suggested advert wording below:
Georgieanna Best. 4 yr old TB mare, unraced. Reg Weatherbys and SHB(GB).
Good looking mare, with lovely loose paces. A very kind and friendly mare who is good to catch, load, trim and box. Excellent potential either under saddle (will need re-backing as foal just weaned) or as a dam of Sports horses. Lives in or out. Has bred a cracking colt foal this year by my Champion Welsh Secton D stallion. The foal is also for sale and has just achieved First Premium at the BEF Futurity.
Mare and foal are both are regrettably for sale to approved homes as I have to reduce numbers. Videos of Georgie can be seen on Youtube under "cundlegreen"

MISS KATIE. 6 yr old TB, unraced. Very pretty mare with straight, daisycutting action. True Hack/Riding Horse type with a lovely temprament. Would do well at showing (will need re-backing as foal just weaned) - 7th first time out at the Suffolk County, in a very strong Hack class. Good to handle in all ways, excellent in any traffic and is a very good doer who will live in or out. She is very laid back and easy going. She has had a stunning colt foal by my Champion Welsh D stallion. The foal is also for sale and has just achieved First Premium at the BEF Futurity.
Mare and foal are both are regrettably for sale to approved homes as I have to reduce numbers. Videos of Katie can be seen on Youtube under "cundlegreen"

Good luck
 
Thanks Impy and you others!! The "for one month only" bit I wasn't sure was the way to go, but I would prefer that they went now rather than me having to get them back under saddle, especially as I'm quite heavy now for small TBs. I have ten here, and two more on the way, ( the price of having your own stallion and not wanting to part with any!) and I'm pretty much on the go just managing the grazing, especially as we are SOOO dry and I'm constantly doing water runs to outlying fields. I think that they will be worth much more under saddle, but had expected that somebody would like a project at a very reasonable price, so that they would be ready to compete next year. Obviously I was wrong there!. As to pics of movement, they are both on Youtube seen trotting up so you'd think that would give people an idea. I've had some serious timewasters over the phone cooing over how beautiful they both are, and one woman spent an hour on my phone bill telling me that as she had the same name as georgie, she just HAD to buy her!! Needless to say she never rang back or bothered to come and look. I'm not prepared to sell to a dealing yard as they couldn't care less and will just do a rough job and sell them on again quickly. (Sorry if I'm maligning any dealers!!)
 
I don't think there is anything wrong with the price you are asking. Hopefully with updated wording you will get more sensible levels of interest.
 
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