Being too honest when selling!

SNORKEY

SNORKEY

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 December 2008
Messages
1,809
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
So my boy is up for sale, I've had him a long time so I want to be totally honest as I don't want to waste mine or anyone else's time, or him going to the wrong home.
When someone called today they asked what the worse things are he does, so I said he fidgets a bit being tacked up, looks at silly things sometimes but never does anything bad, and he's way too attached to mares if he's turned out with just one or two and no boys, and he can jog a bit on the way home from a hack but hes not strong, Apart from that he's very good.
Does it pay it be totally honest, as he may not even do these things if he goes to someone else, I don't want to turn everyone away!
 
SNORKEY said:
So my boy is up for sale, I've had him a long time so I want to be totally honest as I don't want to waste mine or anyone else's time, or him going to the wrong home.
When someone called today they asked what the worse things are he does, so I said he fidgets a bit being tacked up, looks at silly things sometimes but never does anything bad, and he's way too attached to mares if he's turned out with just one or two and no boys, and he can jog a bit on the way home from a hack but hes not strong, Apart from that he's very good.
Does it pay it be totally honest, as he may not even do these things if he goes to someone else, I don't want to turn everyone away!
Click to expand...

I think you can be too honest as sometimes the good outweighs the bad but tellling things over the phone might be enough to put someone off falling in love with his good side. However if someone said ' I really do not want a horse who fidgets to be tacked up' then of course you should mention it then.
 
Last edited:
You can be too honest.

Next time someone asks you the same question say 'well, he's not a bucker or a rearer, however he will fidget a bit when being tacked up'.
 
Depends - if he's a devil that wants to kill everyone, I'd be 100% honest. Lack of honesty could be deadly.

However, if it's lots of niggly things, I wouldn't bother. (bumps you, a bit of a fidget etc...)
 
It would be lovely if everyone was honest then you could compare descriptions over the phone, the problem you have is that lots of people wouldn't list these kinds of tiny things so the people you are speaking to may well have just got off the phone to someone else who's told them their horse is perfect in every way and 100% bombproof (not something I think really exists! - every horse can have a moment if pushed hard enough!)

Maybe be clear that he doesn't do anything bad and that he's not strong etc.

If someone told me on the phone the horse can buck I'd expect a broncing nightmare - every horse has had the odd over excitied buck but wouldn't expect a seller to mention it unless it was an issue/ regular occurance.
 
SNORKEY said:
1. he fidgets a bit being tacked up
2. looks at silly things sometimes but never does anything bad
3. he's way too attached to mares if he's turned out with just one or two and no boys
4. and he can jog a bit on the way home from a hack but hes not strong
Click to expand...

1. what horse doesnt! girths arent comfortable ;)
2.hes a horse - if someone thinks a horse wont do that then they shouldnt own a horse
3. hes a guy! we forgive them :rolleyes:
4. id love him if this if this is all he does!

be less honest! and if you really want to say these things...let them know when the visit! they can see if it will affect them then! :)
 
I'd rather you be honest, I would want to know what the horse is like and then i could work out if my capabilities/experience could handle these things.

Too many people buy horses that aren't right for them because they don't know all the facts. These horses end up being labeled as naughty etc and sold on.

However the things you have mentioned above wouldn't put me off.
 
I've been honest about my welsh cob, he's done nothing wrong at all but he's had a slow career (through no fault of his own) so far and is green still at rising 7 has done the basics and needs someone who can do a proper job with him and then he'll be lovely but I just don't want to do it any more, my motivation has all but gone and tomorrow never comes. Hopefully the right people will see him for what he will be and the wrong people won't bother. Having said that I won't sell to just anyone, just the right one!
Had a lovely lady enquire about him and she said it was nice to have someone be refreshingly honest about their horse which had made her decide to change her policy and travel to view him, sadly he wasn't for her :( but he will be for someone special :)
 
What Amymay said is (as usual) spot on - be honest but also put it in perspective! Nothing you've said is a big deal, but buyers should appreciate the fact that you have told them.


Spit That Out said:
I'd rather you be honest, I would want to know what the horse is like and then i could work out if my capabilities/experience could handle these things.
Click to expand...


This is true too. I'll probably start looking for another horse towards the end of this year and would like to know before I visited what to expect. For example, if your horse is better out with geldings/proper mixed herd (i.e. not the only boy!) that's definitely something I'd like to know in advance so I can work out whether we've got a field at the yard that could accommodate that.

If someone said 'my horse is perfect', I honestly don't think I'd go and see it unless it was very local, because I wouldn't trust the seller.
 
I'm in the same position. I've just put my pony up for sale and my adverts look rubbish next to all the flashy 'perfect' horses because I've been honest and not over sold her.
 
I ALWAYS include a question on the lines of, "Are there any serious faults I should be aware of?", when I am buying anything for a reasonably large sum of money.

If there IS an issue, and the seller hasn't told me, I suspect I may have a case at law and even if I don't I would be seriously upset about it. But no one would expect to be told about minor issues or faults unless they prevent what is being purchased from being used for it's intended purchase. There's a phrase "Fair wear and tear excepted" which covers s/h machinery sales and probably something similar in the sale of livestock.
 
the people bought my last horse off were completely honest, and i really appreciated it. I trusted them 100% and i knew that they weren't exaggerating the positive stuff either. The stuff they mentioned about him, for example being forward, leaping/rearing at starting boxes, too strong for hunting - i was really grateful they told me, I was confident that didn't bother me, and i was prepared as a result.

i'd always be 100% honest selling, as you would want someone who was capable of the good and bad sides of the horse. Every horse is going to have quirks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top