Anyone got any ideas? Sorry it's a long one!

[sophs_c]

I am in a bit of a pickle regarding selling my horse. I bought him last year and he evented at PN all season being fairly successful. I decided to sell him in September as i'm on a gap year and wanted to go travelling, I advertised him for 8500 and found the perfect home for him, he was tried at Pontispool in Sept, next day deposit in the bank and vetting arranged for a few days after. But to my total shock he failed the vet due to tendon damage. He passed everything else including the flexion tests but was deemed to be a high risk purchase for affiliated eventing. He had showed no signs of lameness and seemed fine in himself, the prospective buyers understandably didn't go through with the sale. Had my vet out the next day and had him ultrasound scanned, he found that he had a minor strain to his superficial flexor tendon.

He has had 4 months off and has been in work since the middle of January, hacking out in walk and trot to strengthen the tendon, I had him scanned again and the vet found that it was healing well. I'm now building the work up to doing gentle canters and short basic schooling sessions once a week, all of which he seems to be coping with.

My dilemma now is that I need to sell him before I go to uni in September, after talking to the vet he doesn't think its advisable to sell him to an eventing home but he should be able to cope with low level unaffiliated/riding club activities. I think its best for him to go to a home preferably with a mature rider who wants to do dressage, hacking, maybe some low level jumping and generally just have a nice horse and most importantly look after him and not ask too much of him.

I have no idea how to advertise him! Do i say on the advert that he has had a tendon injury and isn't up to high risk activities such as eventing, or do i just advertise him as a riding club/hack horse?

What kind of money is acceptable to ask for him?
He has previously jumped up to 1.10, double clear PN with dressage in 30's. He is an easy, uncomplicated ride, bold to jump with nice paces. He Is an absolute saint to have around, never causes a fuss, can leave in the lorry by himself all day. 100% in every way, no vices. Never bucks or rears, don't think he's ever had a bad thought. He is a forward going sensitive ride so wouldn't suit a beginner but maybe an older person with experience wanting to get back in the saddle (he doesn't require much leg so is good for those with creaky joints!)

He's going to need a bit longer before he's in full work and ready to start competing again, i'm not sure whether to keep hold of him for a bit longer and prove that he can actually go out and compete or whether to sell him as he is. I'm struggling to find the time and the money to keep him going, but I don't want to find I sell him and the new owners start jumping him and he injures himself again.

So I'm in a bit of a predicament as to how to advertise him.. I want to be honest with buyers but I don't want to put them off straight away, he really is a fab horse and would give someone a lot of enjoyment.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions or has been in a similar situation then I would really appreciate it, it's such a complicated situation to be in!!

Thanks in advance
Sophie

 

[teddyt]

I would give it another month then advertise him as an easy hack and RC/PC allrounder. State in the advert that he has previously done more but due to injury you would prefer him to go to a less demanding home.

As for price thats a hard one. genuine hacks that are easy and can do a bit of local competing are worth several thousand but his injury is obviously a negative point. If the injury really is minor and healing fine then thats obviously better. Price would also depend on what stage of work and healing he is at when you advertise him.

 

[Kat]

I'd be honest but don't under sell him. Say that he has evented to the level that he has, but that due to an injury (which he has recovered from) he is not suitable for eventing anymore. Say he would be suitable for all RC/PC activities with care although jumping and galloping needs to be limited. But he would make an excellent BD horse and is a good hack.

I wouldn't try to aim him too specifically or you will limit your market. He might suit a teenager that is mad keen on dressage and only wants to jump occasionally and marketing him at older riders would miss them. Think about whether he might be suitable to show too.

Be honest that he is ready to start bringing back to fitness and competition but uni comitments mean that you have to sell him now without a competition record for this year.

A good RC horse can fetch £5k quite easily, you probably won't get that for him as he has an injury that limits his jumping but if his dressage is good then you might get near that if you market him more down that angle. Could you get him out doing some BD on a ticket before you sell?