Following on fron "Furious" post do Horse Wanted adverts work?

T

Tamski

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 October 2006
Messages
506
Visit site
After having four hours of my time wasted, see other post, do horse wanted ads work?

I've been trawling Horsemast/Horsequest etc and have made numerous phonecalls but not having much luck so is it worth putting an ad on there or just keep plugging on.

Not looking for a worldbeater just a sane sensible older happy hacker/riding club horse. Didn't think it would be this difficult!
 
Be prepared to get a lot of "I know this isn't exactly what you're looking for but..." and writing a lot of polite rejections! You also need to write as explicitly as possible - ask for advice on your wording on here if you want.
I did it and got my perfect horse out of it AND at half my budget! Deffo worth a go - my boy wasn't even advertised so without my wanted add I wouldn't have him!
 
I am looking for the same thing. I placed a wanted ad. I did quite a good response, but I am afraid you will still get people offering you horses that are outside the parameter of your advert. I am afraid I didn't find my ideal horse yet either.
 
I had success with my 'wanted on loan' ad - I did have a few offered that weren't suitable but I did find the perfect horse in the end :D

You might just get one of those people who are thinking of selling up but didn't want to go through the awful process of advertising and fielding calls from potentially unsuitable owners!!
 
Create 'Wanted Adverts' and put in your local tack shops and feed merchants. Also ask local farriers. That way you will find a horse locally where locals know it's true history.
 
Funny, as I've been thinking about putting a Wanted thread on here, as you do see people responding about potential horses for sale/loan. But not sure if it really is a useful thing to do?

I put one on my local hunt website and horsemart and got a couple of responses but not quite what I was after. Horsequest seems to be full of 'wanted for loan' ads atm. I think you'll be better of responding to sale ads rather than getting people to contact you, but no harm in trying both.

Agree it's frustrating when people are time wasters (buying or selling). I can't stand it so always make every effort not to waste people's time, or my own ! Good luck though, there def is something out there for you, it just wasn't to be this time around.
 
Yes, but you might also get many people with horses that don't match your description ringing you up. I put a wanted ad on H&H and Horsequest last year, and had a lot of people ring me, including some very dodgy sounding characters who were quite persistent that I 'come look at the horse', which was a little scary.
 
I've had about 5 wanted ads in different places and asked everyone I know if they know of a first pony,but with no luck yet.I specified age,height ect,as it is for a small child,but so far have only been offered 3 year olds,ponies that are too big,or ponies that need an experienced rider.I've been looking for 2 months now and am beginning to think we'll never find one.

I have had two people say that when my girls need to move up a pony,they'll have one for them though,so in about 5 years,I'll be able to take my pick.
 
I think its worth a try, just dont give your phone number, ask them to email all the details and their phone number. Then you wont be pestered by people trying to sell things you are not interested in.

Local tack shops are a good idea but I think websites depend on your budget and what you want to do with it. The cheaper end often use the free sites but they aren't much good if you are looking for a real quality horse.

When I have sold in the past I have looked at the wanted ads, cant say I ever rung anyone though.
 
I got my dog through a wanted ad, first caller in fact. Had lots of replies, most of them really dodgy though, people wanting rid of problem animals methinks. Never placed a wanted ad for a horse though, luckily found the right horse without it by asking around everyone I knew.

I have replied to wanted ads though and as I have yet to even receive a 'thanks but no thanks' reply I won't waste my time with them in future.

If you know exactly what you must have, what you'd really like and what you could take or leave, then make sure it's clear in your advert.

You'll always get muppets though, whatever you're advertising!

Good luck with it. :)
 
I tried it but took the ad down after 3-4 weeks as I was getting so many responses but none relevant to the criteria that I'd put in the ad

I'm sure there are success stories too though so definitely worth a go but would second not putting a phone number on them, it's fair enough to ask for e-mails first assuming you'd want to see a photo.

I did though respond to every one of them ... part of the reason why i took the ads down, there were so many!! On the plus side there were certainly plenty of responses but I'm guessing it probably works better if you're more open minded than me in what you're looking for ;)
 
After looking for months and travelling 1000's of miles horse hunting I stuck up a wanted ad and found my cob wasn't exactly what I had in mind but wouldn't change him for the world now.

Looking for my daughters pony earlier this year, after viewing LR ponies that even I wouldn't have ridden I stuck up another wanted ad and found the perfect pony two miles away!

Wanted ads do work but guess its the luck of the draw on who contacts you.
 
Tamski said:
After having four hours of my time wasted, see other post, do horse wanted ads work?

I've been trawling Horsemast/Horsequest etc and have made numerous phonecalls but not having much luck so is it worth putting an ad on there or just keep plugging on.

Not looking for a worldbeater just a sane sensible older happy hacker/riding club horse. Didn't think it would be this difficult!
Click to expand...

Yes! I have got the best horses from horse wanted ads. You can often get to see them before they are advertised.
 
Definitely. I found my last mare through a wanted ad.

How well they work depends on how specific you are though - I've seen lots whose criteria are so tight they're very unlikely to find anything suitable. If you can be a bit flexible on age, height, breed and location you're much more likely to get what you want.
 
I think it helps if rather than being too specific about what you want, other than a general idea of size, type and what you want to do with it, you focus on what you can offer the horse.
Genuine owners who haven't advertised because they worry that no one can offer as good a home as theirs will be more likely to reply.
 
I didn't really get what I was looking for in response to the one I posted on a couple of sites. If you are prepared to take on a horse that is perhaps more of a project, or out of work at the moment, then you may have more luck. 'Made/ready to go' horses are much rarer to find, particularly for loans, and are holding a reasonable value for sale.

Hunter/all rounder wanted for loan
15-16hh horse wanted for short (autumn/winter) or long term loan by caring and experienced adult rider. For a variety of activities, depending on the horse, but ideally wanted for hunting, xc, hunter trials, maybe some low level ODEs.
Looking for a safe, straightforward horse but one that is good on the hunt field and bold across country, but with decent brakes.
The horse would have a regular and varied workload, but not be overworked. Would be kept on full livery at a friendly yard in South Herts with daily turnout, good facilities and professional tuition. He/she would get first class care and attention - visit whenever you like, regular updates and photos, references - whatever you need to ensure the horse is getting the kind of treatment you would expect!
May suit someone who is going away to Uni/moving abroad/taking a break from riding or is looking to sell but doesn't want to do that now given the market. Happy to provide further info as needed. Would consider loan with a view to buy for the right horse.

Saying that, I have heard of a lovely sounding horse via this forum, so who knows?!
 
I found they do work with cheap horses/ponies. I got all my "project ponies" through wanted ads - a couple of the people weren't even advertising their horses for sale but they saw my ad and figured they'd give me a call as they had a semi-wild thing on a hillside which they could make a few quid out of! But I've never had any luck with wanted ads when looking for property horses for myself (as in potential competition types etc.). I remember I'd get calls from people offering me total nutcases (one said her horse "bucked, reared and has bolted 3 times but it has so much potential"!).
 
OWLIE185 said:
Create 'Wanted Adverts' and put in your local tack shops and feed merchants. Also ask local farriers. That way you will find a horse locally where locals know it's true history.
Click to expand...

This is a really good idea, one I may well consider. As I do not have the outlay right now for a horse, well the type I am after, I would like a loan with a view to buy, perhaps I will put some adds up locally :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top