***** Farm Stud Auction

[Lynsey88]

Hi,
I have a lovely pony that I sadly REALLY need to sell. Ive had no luck selling privately after spending stupid amounts of money advertising him! I cant find anyone suitable to loan him and to be completely honest I need the money. The though if taking him to an auction kills me but I know hundreds of really nice knowledgeable people that buy from auctions and think might be my only option with a massive livery bill due at the end of the week.
I found ***** farm stud online and it looks quite a nice sale with a warranted section and trial facilities so hopefully attracts the right type of crowd. But the last thing I want to do is take him to some dodgy auction where he going to get into completely the wrong hands, as he's such an honest pony, just green so isn't getting any interest at this time is year.
Has anyone brought or sold horses there? What sort of buyers are there? Anyone recommend I go there or stay well clear?

Thanks

 

[Lynsey88]

O V E R A
Not sure why its not allowing that!

 

[Clodagh]

Heaven knows why not, although in the past there have been somecontentious threads about them, nothing recent that I know of.
I have been there, they are dealers and as with all dealers you need to be aware. The owner was fair with me I must say, I know several horses who came from there and all do the job as described.
BUT the auction will be nothing to do with them directly, as you no doubt realise, they will just be the facilitators.
If you have to sell your pony then there may be no other option, plenty of auction horses go on to good homes. The spring is probably a better time to sell, but if you can't keep him all winter then you don't really have an option.
I would say:
1. Put a reserve on
2. Make him look smart.
3. Get someone to ride him at the auction and show him off to people.

 

[SuperH]

No experience of the place you mention. I know lots of genuine people who have bought horses and ponies from auction though (including several members of my family), most of which have gone on to be kept a long time in the same home. Not all auction buyers are evil, especially if it is a nice pony. Agree with above poster - make him smart and if possible send him in with a photo board of things he has done.

 

[iconique]

I go up there sometimes for the tack and was dissaponted at the prices that were being acheived for the horses I saw going thru as I was collecting my tack at the last auction.
Unfortunately as with every auction you will get a mixed bag of buyers and it won't guarantee a sale, particularly if in the warranted section (I think there's now a min bid?)
The horses usually look clean and tidy and they do make more if shown off, also some sellers pin more info up by the horse and will often be by the horse to answer questions.
Good luck, won't be up there this weekend as have other stuff on.

 

[cundlegreen]

Put a reasonable reserve on him, that should put off the wrong sort of people. I haven't een to that auction, when Cambridge horse sales ran at Lordsbridge, that was very dodgy with horses being "runup" by the auctioneers. I don't know who the auctioneers are for this slae, if its John Dyer, beware!

 

[Lynsey88]

Thanks for your replies.
I think I will take him and put a reserve, he can always come back if its terrible. And if I stay with him to answer questions hopefully I can put the wrong sort of people off! He looks really showy when turned out well so ill try and make him look as good as possible!
I am happy to ride him to show him off but am worried it will be like other sales ive been to where all the dodgey people will just jump on them and rag them around the car park! he's not ready for that :-( Do I have the right to not let certain people ride him?
What sort of reserve do you think is sensible for a 13.2 5 year old reg section c?
Thanks again

 

[Clodagh]

A wild guess of £500? If he is smart and will walk/trot/canter/pop a small jump.

 

[Lynsey88]

Ok thanks everyone.
Ive just looked at the catalogue and there are no horses in it! just tack and horse boxes! which has made me rather worried!
Anyone else got experience of this auction?

 

[1abs]

Ive been (about 2 months ago), are you based in Norfolk? They hold auctions every month so why don't you go along without the pony first to see how you feel?

Like any auction you do get a real mixed bag of people turn up, some genuine, some not.

 

[nix123]

I had eerrm shall we say "dealings" with these people about 8 yrs ago. From what i hear they haven't changed a bit. Wouldn't touch them with yours!

 

[1abs]

I thought they'd changed ownership not long ago? Unless I read wrong from somewhere

 

[nix123]

OOh dont know then, but if mrs CHRIStmas is still there with daughter nagie then no change has been made.

 

[Clodagh]

They will only be thwe auctioneers though I imagine, rather than the people who are selling or buying. Looking at their website it looks as though they only sell homebreds now, so they must have stopped importing horses to sell. Must say though, as before, I know several nice horses locally who came from them.