Am i missing something?

[hotair]

Morning all,

As some of you on here will know i have advertised my horse for part loan, i have had a really good number of replies to my ads (unfortunatly no one suitable so far ) but ive noticed that a number of people will reply to the ad, then when i respond to them they dont get back to me. At first when i was recieving a response i was replying that yes he was still available and could they tell me abit more about their background and experience with horses, some people were replying giving lots of information but again a decent number where then not replying at all, so i thought that as much as i wasnt meaning to be i was maybe coming across a touch condesending so since then i have stopped asking that question in my first reply and have just been saying thanks for the interest and yes he is still available, but still alot of people arent replying to that.

I am a bit confused really as i cant understand why you would look through ads reply to one then when the owner replys to you not answer again. I check my emails at regular intervals so im not replying days and weeks later its a few hours max. Im just wondering if im missing something or if anyone has any suggestions as to the best way to reply as ive tried a few and am always polite and friendly so im a little stuck!!

Any help greatly appreciated

 

[eggs]

Not a lot of help really but there are some strange people out there....

Are you speaking to people on the phone or is it all being done by text or email? You might get a better response by actually speaking to people

 

[Embo]

Are you speaking to people on the phone or is it all being done by text or email? You might get a better response by actually speaking to people

I don't mind initial contact by text or email, but I insist on a phonecall before any meeting is arranged. It's much more convenient if both parties work full time or have commitments which prevent them making/receiving calls.

Some people are time-wasters by nature. It's not just with horses for loan, people do it with items for sale, or people available for services. They like the idea of something, but no real intention of following through after initial contact.

Just be grateful they are giving up after the first text/email - much worse if they arrange to meet you then don't turn up! As sad as it is, just got to grit your teeth and move on.

Good luck with the search!

 

[hotair]

Ive included both my email address and telephone number in my ads so people have the chance to contact in there preferred way, im just finding it a bit confusing that people would take the time to reply to an ad for no reason! I could understand 1 or 2 being just timewasters or finding another horse so not replying but this has been more than that hence the confusion

 

[hotair]

I don't mind initial contact by text or email, but I insist on a phonecall before any meeting is arranged. It's much more convenient if both parties work full time or have commitments which prevent them making/receiving calls.

Some people are time-wasters by nature. It's not just with horses for loan, people do it with items for sale, or people available for services. They like the idea of something, but no real intention of following through after initial contact.

Just be grateful they are giving up after the first text/email - much worse if they arrange to meet you then don't turn up! As sad as it is, just got to grit your teeth and move on.

Good luck with the search!

I have spoken to a few by phone but decided they didnt sound right for my horse i just find the whole time wasting thing rather odd! haha Guess ill just have to get used to it being acceptable tosome folk!!

Thanks hopefully find someone good soon

 

[9tails]

They're dreamers. They read your ad, reply asking if horse is still available then don't respond to your email and therefore keep the door open in their mind that they *could* part loan your horse if they wanted to. If they respond with their experience you'd write them off.

 

[PaddyMonty]

On the flip side the owners can be just as bad.
I'm now looking for a share horse again.
Found one that seemed to fit the bill. Contacted owner via email, gave her my phone number. She replied that she was away for weekend but would ring me when back on sunday. That's was a week ago. Nothing!
Such is life.

 

[hotair]

On the flip side the owners can be just as bad.
I'm now looking for a share horse again.
Found one that seemed to fit the bill. Contacted owner via email, gave her my phone number. She replied that she was away for weekend but would ring me when back on sunday. That's was a week ago. Nothing!
Such is life.

I can imagine that it is just as bad from the other point of view in some cases but i do make sure i reply to every person that contacts me as i know how frustrating i find it when people dont. I suppose it seems its just one of those things, i just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions as to the best way to reply to people with out putting anyone off

 

[misskk88]

I think sometimes people tend to be browsing ads and are chancers- they email to find out more yet probably have little interest in fully commiting to loaning/sharing, so it is just an idea floating around in their head and does not become much more! When you request more information (whether that is by email/text/voicemail, the hassle to respond is obviously bigger than their desire to loan/share!

There ARE good sharers and loaners out there, and yes you will have to turn people away on your gut feeling before even meeting them. There will be some you meet and like, but your horse doesn't and vice versa, and some who just fall into the 'not a hope in hell' category.

Whenever I had responses to my ad, I would always say thanks for asking, yes horse is still available etc- I would have no concerns with asking what they are really looking for/or what their experience is, if they haven't already explained a bit about themselves when first contacting me. It opens up the channels of communication by encouraging a response, whether it is one you want to go with, or one you end up saying no to.

Yes owners can be just as bad, and I find it rude when people just do not bother to respond (a simple thanks but no thanks is better than zilch!), but I am sure you are doing enough to respond to them, and to keep things polite and open!

It took me around 3 months to find a loan home. I realise that is a fairly short time and I was extremely lucky, but I just knew they were people I wanted to speak with in more detail after an initial email. After various chats, exchanges of photos and videos of them riding etc, they met my horse. They just seemed to understand her and she liked them too, which was the most important thing. There were lots however that I politely responded to, but essentially turned them down as they were a mismatch i.e 'is your horse ok for a novice to learn to canter', when ad states horse is not a novice ride due to big paces- particularly canter! There were also lots that never bothered replying to me. Or those which I had a bit of conversation with before realising they were not quite right.

You will find someone, just bare with it!

 

[Annagain]

One thing that I found worked for me was to say something like,
"This sharing thing is new to me so i'm not sure how to go about it. (I think this puts you on a level footing as them and doesn't intimidate them as this is new to you too - but just for the sharing, not the riding /care etc so you still have authority in that sense) Do you want to tell me about yourself or would you rather me tell you about (horse)? Every single person who I said this to responded. Most told me about themselves and were dreamers as others have said. Every single one who asked to know more about the horse (I was very detailed and said he needs this sort of rider etc and they all then came back telling me why they thought they'd suit him) I would have been happy with. I just chose the one I liked best in the end and whose routine would best fit with ours. She stayed 6 years until she moved to a different country! I realise it sounds like there were loads, it was only 3 I had to choose from.

When I had to replace her I tried again and only found one I was happy with, but a nearly year on we're all doing good.

 

[hotair]

thanks i think ill try something along those lines the next time i just wasnt sure if to some people i was coming across a bit full on and nightmare owner immidiatly diving in asking for info straight away and i dont want to put potentially good sharers off!

 

[9tails]

thanks i think ill try something along those lines the next time i just wasnt sure if to some people i was coming across a bit full on and nightmare owner immidiatly diving in asking for info straight away and i dont want to put potentially good sharers off!

Why wouldn't good sharers want to share their knowledge? Just be yourself because otherwise you'll be constantly checking your actions. What is for you won't go by you.