Getting someone to sell your horse for you (long, sorry)

J

JULESMGARNER

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 January 2008
Messages
85
Location
Lincolnshire
Visit site
I am currently agonising over whether to sell my horse or not. He is pretty much perfect in every way except he is not really happy hacking out alone. He will go alone, in fact I ride him alone much of the time as there's never anyone to ride with at the time I want to ride but it can be hard work, keeping my leg on much of the time, coaxing him past things, he looks at pretty much everything, never ever nasty, wouldn't dream of bolting or rearing etc, it just becomes a bit tiresome. I've had him for nearly 2 years and have tried many things but I just think he's not very brave on his own. He's a novice ride in company.
I really want a horse that is 150% happy and confident to hack out in his own so I can go exploring the countryside etc

I think my main worry and the reason for my endless dithering is the whole daunting process of selling itself. All the phone calls, emails, the joyriders and timewasters, me and my OH run our own business which can be very busy so I can't for instance arrange a viewing, get my horse all tarted up only for the people to simply not turn up (as happened repeatedly to my friend when she sold her mare). I also think I would find the whole thing a bit emotional and worry about having to ride and "show off" my horse to his best advantage when I'm feeling so jittery and upset, which will undoubtedly transfer to him.

So I am thinking about him going to a yard where someone experienced could deal with the whole process. Question is, where do I find a decent, kind and reputable yard where they are very keen to match horse with right rider etc? I know this will cost me but my main concern is to find the right home for my boy.

The downside with him going to a yard is that he probably won't be there very long (3 weeks?) before going up for sale and I worry about him being unsettled and not himself when people come to see him. He's quite a sensitive horse and it took him a while to settle when I got him but I can't afford to pay full sales livery for say 2 months whilst he settles in. It also means he'll have to move yards twice and I wouldn't want a new owner to think they'd bought a nightmare horse which isn't the case, it's just that he's stressy cos he's moved twice in a short space of time.

Sorry so long but couldn't make it any shorter. Advice please as this is giving me sleepless nights
confused.gif
 
Can you find someone who'll sell him for you from your yard? Offer them say 10% of the sales price? Do you have any friends who you think would be able to do this?
 
I'm in Stamford, Lincs. Good thinking, yes there may be someone I could ask (a local instructor who's also v experienced, brings on youngsters etc) to help me sell him from my yard. Just thought I also might ask said instructor to hack him out for me to see how he goes for her, he's a horse that takes his confidence from his rider and sometimes when he prats about I'm not as confident on him as I'd like to be, he's a full up 16.2hh MW, a big powerful horse. I might be labelling him as a horse that doesn't like hacking alone when really the problem is me. With a v confident rider he may be fine. I think I have to find this out first ...
 
I'm sorry that you have come to a sad decision like this - you obviously love your horse very much but I'm afraid that if you want him to go to the best home possible - you need to do this yourself - yes you will get timewasters and idiots not turning up but thats how it goes - I think because you care so much for him you should maybe try and sell him yourself first as how ever good that yards are that sell him on your behalf are - they have one thing on their mind and thats sell as quickly as possible to get the highset profit and the stable free for the next customer, I dont dispute that they are some great yards about though, also by selling him yourself you will be able to dictate to where he ends up and I'm sure you would like to know :-) Yards that sell on in my area normally charge 100 per week for sales livery with a 10% cut of the sale price.

Good luck and I hope he finds a nice home and you get the horse of your dreams xx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top