Being to honest honest in adverts...

jhoward

jhoward

Demon exorcist...
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ok so where would you all draw line? would you rather read the bear truth or wait to hear it until you called?

what type of wording would make you think no and go to the next ad?

or as a buyer would you rather see a well written advert that covered the good and the bad so you didnt waste a call and time?
 
When I bought my most recent horse the advert clearly stated that he was blind in one eye. It gave me time to consider having a horse blind in one eye before I went to see him. I think if I had turned up and then found out I wouldn't have made the decision to buy him there and then as I would want to think about it first. I could then have missed out on a FANTASTIC horse. And he is SO SO SO fantastic.

So for me up front is better so I can consider it before seeing the horse.

Kerry
 
I've just sold my horse (she went today) to the perfect new home with an ideal owner. I was absolutely and totally honest in the ad and when they phoned up, as was the buyer with me. Therefore even before she tried the horse I was confident in a good match.
Not being completely upfront will waste both parties time!
 
Sorry, but "bear truth" made me giggle. I immediately pictured an ad for a grizzly bear - "somewhat fierce but a gentleman at heart..."

I think there are ways to word things that make it clear that a horse isn't perfect without saying, "Bites, kicks, bolts and hates kids."

Needs some work on ground manners.
Requires experienced rider.
Not suitable for children.


My mare was advertised openly as very green so I knew what to expect when I saw her. I personally have never looked for a perfect horse but I do want to know from the ad whether I might be willing to work with whatever limitations it has.
 
baymareb said:
Sorry, but "bear truth" made me giggle. I immediately pictured an ad for a grizzly bear - "somewhat fierce but a gentleman at heart..."

I think there are ways to word things that make it clear that a horse isn't perfect without saying, "Bites, kicks, bolts and hates kids."

Needs some work on ground manners.
Requires experienced rider.
Not suitable for children.


My mare was advertised openly as very green so I knew what to expect when I saw her. I personally have never looked for a perfect horse but I do want to know from the ad whether I might be willing to work with whatever limitations it has.
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but isnt that skirting around the issue? many diffent ways to describe a what coud be a problem horse, and again wouldnt that be mis leading???

bear.. umm my speeling can be pants I tried several ways... soooo how is it spelt? LOL bere.. nope dont ook right.. darn i prefure the big briwn grizzly job! :D
 
I think if the horse has one particular issue, like the one that was blind in one eye, it's better to be upfront and honest about it.

However, if it's a horse that's a bit quirky or difficult to handle I think I'd be tempted to play up the strengths and be a bit vague about the weaknesses (needs experienced rider etc). I think if you are too honest it might be totally offputting and people wouldn't even phone.

And also, it can be difficult to explain a quirky horse within the limitations of an advert. Take my horse for instance - he's a complete tit to clip. Not dangerous, and doesn't need sedating or anything, but you certainly couldn't describe him as 100% or good!
 
I like people to be honest in adverts but I agree, there's no need to say the horse bolts, naps, rears etc. in the advert. If you say a horse requires an experienced/confident rider then if someone rings they can be given much more detailed information about why the horse needs an experienced rider and then they can make the decision about trying the horse. You can't give enough information about a problem in an advert to help someone decide if they are prepared to try the horse.
 
Being 100% honest when advertising a horse is vital. If important elements that are not so desirable about the horse are not stated in an advert (If it bucks out of excitement, isn't great to hack out alone or hates the farrier etc) and someone comes along, tries it out once and buys it, it could be a potential disaster in the making for both horse and rider. We all know there are phrases that mean a horse is not perfect and will need experience to get over and handle these imperfections so its important that they are stated when writing an advert.

Most horse owners will care about what sort of home their animal is going off to so should want to be totally honest when writing an advert. If the buyer ends up with a horse they are not happy with and have an accident because of it, would you really want that on your conscience? They could be a single mother, carer, be totally reliant on their job for a wage into their household etc. Additionally, most horse owners would want their animal to stay in their new home for a significant period of time and settle, not be past from pillar to post and end up a possibly unscrupulous home with possible mistreatment all because you were too afraid to be honest in the animals advert. I know the final situation I stated is dramatic but it could happen.

Honest is, in my opinion, always the best policy :).
 
I think the lines we were all talking along were more keep the details in the advert minimal and talk to the callers before they come to view, rather than not telling people about problems.

Less about being honest when selling and more about what you say in the actual printed ad.

Especially in the likes of H&H you don't get a lot of space to say much (unless you pay a lot!)
 
I've always tried to be honest when speaking to callers. I certainly highlight good selling points in the advertisement, in order to get the phone calls, but I want my horses to go to the right homes, so being less than honest wouldn't be fair to anyone. Having said that, I once explained to a prospective buyer that the horse did XYZ, and they said, no problem, they'd love to see him. They duly came at the arranged time, and when the horse obliged, and did exactly XYZ, they didn't even bother to ride him, as they didn't like XYZ! But then, who's time was really wasted? But then, the woman did feel his legs with woolly gloves on!!!!
 
schneeko said:
I like people to be honest in adverts but I agree, there's no need to say the horse bolts, naps, rears etc. in the advert. If you say a horse requires an experienced/confident rider then if someone rings they can be given much more detailed information about why the horse needs an experienced rider and then they can make the decision about trying the horse. You can't give enough information about a problem in an advert to help someone decide if they are prepared to try the horse.
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Yes, this is what I was trying to say. I don't think it's necessarily misleading - people who are likely to buy a horse advertised for an experienced rider are likely to understand that may mean he has problems or issues and will call to clarify just what they are.

My horse will buck, rear and nap at times but if I just put that in an advert, it would be misleading because the reason she does it is because she is young and green (and a mare and a TB :rolleyes: ). I would be more likely to put something like, "Still young and relatively green, needs more training. Experienced riders only."
 
I think you should tell the truth but there are ways to go about it you don't put off people who are potentially right for the horse.

When I went to see my horse I was told he was a green baby who because of that was not a novice ride and that he could be spooky when fresh.
I tried him, they made me try him up a path he hadn't been before and he span round 4 times, however I found him easy to ride through it so I went ahead.

He's actually a great horse, very genuine and safe. Yes he's young and can prat around but nothing more than your average youngster. They could have said 'he whips round and bucks' which he has done but if they had said that it would have put me off. I would have thought he was a problem horse with issues and I would have said NO. The real case is he is just young! He will buck maybe once? That's it, nothing ever nasty to make you fall off. He's amazing in traffic, will canter behind, in front whereever. He doesn't get excited after galloping, you can take him anywhere, do anything, jump anything and he's easy.

So my point is.. Yes be honest to aim the advert at the right person but don't be too honest as every horse will have a spook or occassional buck ect. You don't want people to think there are issues where there isn't but at the same time if there are any major quirks that are an issue prospective purchasers need to know.
 
I can see the points on re-phrasing things but I think this is misleading??

let me put it in a different way..

I have a business buying /selling and sales livery. Now without sounding snooty but I run my yard on my own, this meens 7 horses in my care. and another 8 ponies/horses 5 pigs 11 sheep and a dog that I tend to make sure all have water/rugs on/off are where they are ment to be etc so a fair amount of work. Im at the yard 8 until anything until 10 at night I then go home, do advertising, reply to mail, catch up on phone calls etc. so I actully dont dont have time to waste a buyers call on a horse ive skirted around its issues.

Currently i have a mare in, she is a grump on the ground mainly trust issues but she would kick you in head (front end is ok lol) so I advertised very honestley saying she was a grump on the ground but once knew you would come for a fuss and bum scratch and that to ride she was really good but did need a confident rider to hack alone. nothing drastic just spooky and not always wanting to go forward. shes a proven hunter loves her jumping and doesnt hot up. but Im now feeling i was to honest.

BUT again.. Im not sure i see the point in being any thing but honest as I dont want to waste somebody elses time and I dont have time to spend an hour on the fone to then mention about the ground manners and somebody go well ok will call you back bla bla bla. im feeling a bit damed if I do damned if I dont!

I also as a trader ahve to think abot the legal side of things.. even if somebody came to view her and got kicked id be in a very bad place!
 
jhoward said:
I can see the points on re-phrasing things but I think this is misleading??

let me put it in a different way..

I have a business buying /selling and sales livery. Now without sounding snooty but I run my yard on my own, this meens 7 horses in my care. and another 8 ponies/horses 5 pigs 11 sheep and a dog that I tend to make sure all have water/rugs on/off are where they are ment to be etc so a fair amount of work. Im at the yard 8 until anything until 10 at night I then go home, do advertising, reply to mail, catch up on phone calls etc. so I actully dont dont have time to waste a buyers call on a horse ive skirted around its issues.

Currently i have a mare in, she is a grump on the ground mainly trust issues but she would kick you in head (front end is ok lol) so I advertised very honestley saying she was a grump on the ground but once knew you would come for a fuss and bum scratch and that to ride she was really good but did need a confident rider to hack alone. nothing drastic just spooky and not always wanting to go forward. shes a proven hunter loves her jumping and doesnt hot up. but Im now feeling i was to honest.

BUT again.. Im not sure i see the point in being any thing but honest as I dont want to waste somebody elses time and I dont have time to spend an hour on the fone to then mention about the ground manners and somebody go well ok will call you back bla bla bla. im feeling a bit damed if I do damned if I dont!

I also as a trader ahve to think abot the legal side of things.. even if somebody came to view her and got kicked id be in a very bad place!
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I see what your saying but I very much doubt you advertised the horse by saying "Will kick you in the head" It takes like 5 minutes on the phone to explain that she is grumpy and lacks trust and will give you much more interest in a potentially lovely horse.
 
schneeko said:
I see what your saying but I very much doubt you advertised the horse by saying "Will kick you in the head" It takes like 5 minutes on the phone to explain that she is grumpy and lacks trust and will give you much more interest in a potentially lovely horse.
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no lol, i said can be a grump on the ground but once knows you is very sweet ridden wise id said al the good bits and that she was a little spooky alone and needed a confident person to tell her to go on.

I think her issues lie with shes proberely been beaten in the past, you just need to be firm but kind to her.. she turned her butt on me in the stable once and got a bucket lobbed at her quarters and has never done it again. Not dangrous to somebody confident or experianced but giver her an inch and she would take pot shots! ...
 
Tell every little truth then?

That is what must be so hard about being a dealer, people can and will interpret your words however they want, no matter what you say. There will always be genuine people who are sensible and treat what you say with common sense and then there are those who will try and take you to court and make a massive fuss, trying to find a loop hole in what you wrote in the ad.

All you can do I guess is try and match a horse to a rider as best you can. I think my horse is really easy and gorgeous, I don't care about the odd spin.. I want a competition horse not a donkey. Another person on the other hand may think he is awful. Horses for courses :)
 
yes very much so FW, id rather wait another month for the right person for the horse. horse is on sales livery but on commission only so not like owner is paying livery.

I know that id rather read a very honest ad but then thats me. I guess a huge thing im trying to avoid is ever getting a reputation for being misleading/dishonest. but in due course it would Appear im to honest grrr grrr grrr!
 
firewell said:
Sorry my 'tell every truth then' came across as shirty. I didn't mean it that way :)
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its ok im not the sensitive type, didnt think it was shirty atall. all opinions are welcomed. My business is also very much about what the buyer wants and how they see things.. so getting it right is very important to me.
 
As far as I am concerned, the advert is there to encourage suitable people to call, and it is when the person rings that is the time to go into specifics.

So I think its fine in the ad to say something like "not novice ride" or "can be strong" or "needs confident rider" - but I think if you put that the horse bucks then people than think bronco when you mean fly buck, but if you go out of your way to explain every little thing the ad can get too wordy and sound a bit faffy.

I do think you need to be honest but I also don't think there is a need to make a meal out of every fault. Every single horse I have ever ridden has had the odd spook or buck - even the ones I'd call a novice ride.
 
If too much was put in the actual advert about it's vices, I would suspect/presume that it was still worse than the advert suggests, so I would rather hear about it across the phone, as I would probably dismiss the advert, and not even ring up.

I think this is how alot of people would view it too. Pesimistic much?
 
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