Has ANYONE managed to sell a horse recently????

Someone just sold one to me.
I think if you arent getting *any* calls, its a problem with the correlation between the price and the description/picture. There are some massive bargains out there at the moment.
I went to view one at what I thought was a relatively fair price and took some time to think about it as there were a couple of things I wasn't 100% on. Whilst I was thinking I viewed another 2, similar/better quality (in person and on paper), going for around half the price. And honestly, that was the thing that ultimately decided me against the first one; not that I thought the price wasn't "reasonable", but that I knew I could pay so much less for similar quality, and that the gulf between the first asking price and the bargains I was looking at was so big that I would have been embarassed to make an offer for the first horse at the price of the others. The situation might improve going into summer, but at the moment even if you think you are offering a fair or bargain price, if there are similar horses (or horses that will read similar in the advert) going for 30%/£1,000 less then you are overpriced for the market and unlikely to attract viewers.
 
FabioandFreddy said:
I'm having the opposite problem and can't find anything suitable to buy! After something between 16-17hh. Only requisite is they are sane, uncomplicated ride to hack, school and low level jumping. Basically step up from happy hacker. Not after a world beater or competition horse. Doesn't seem to be much out there at the moment. :(
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I've sold 2 of those in the past month - well, admittedly one was only 15.2. Both were youngsters - not long backed - but vey sane and sensible. And I have 2 people lined up to view another in the next week. And a few more nearly ready to go. BUT, I've turned away half-a-dozen people who think they should be able to buy nice young horses for £2,000 - I'm not a horse buyers' charity and I can't afford to sell horses at a loss!

I should add that I don't advertise - most of mine sell through word of mouth!
 
My friend finally sold her 14hh NF last weekend, so don't despair! She'd been on the market for almost a year and she finally let her go for just over half the original asking price, but she was going to such a good home she was willing to come right down.
 
Yes, without even advertising and over a simple FB post and phone call. No debate on price and lovely home and fingers crossed happy all round.

Sods law. When you have to sell but don't want to, they sell with ease.
 
Seems like alot of people are having the same problem. I do agree about not getting any calls means something is not right. Originally his price was IMO high but she's dropped it right down. I think part of the problem is she bred him and wishes he didn't have to go. It is probably making a difference to the whole process :(

I would LOVE to have him but he is on DIY and, with the final year of vet school and hospital rotations, there is no way I could look after him. Plus, my mum is very kindly looking after Zoom and my 7mo colt so as soon as I am in a position to have a horse, they will come home.

I feel like an idiot not taking him as he is pretty much my perfect horse but I think it's the responsible thing to do. He needs to go to someone and build a relationship and go on to great things (which I'm sure he will as he's awesome :D)
 
I'm also on the other side of the problem as am looking for the perfect field mate for our gelding but also something that is a bombproof hack. 15-16.2 ish. Keep seeing lots of bargains miles and mile away but nothing near home :(
Because I am seeing them at low prices elsewhere it makes me not want to consider paying more.
Keep hoping that I find the perfect horse whose current owner is looking for the best home possible rather than needing a fortune for them.
 
MontyandZoom said:
Seems like alot of people are having the same problem. I do agree about not getting any calls means something is not right. Originally his price was IMO high but she's dropped it right down. I think part of the problem is she bred him and wishes he didn't have to go. It is probably making a difference to the whole process :(

I would LOVE to have him but he is on DIY and, with the final year of vet school and hospital rotations, there is no way I could look after him. Plus, my mum is very kindly looking after Zoom and my 7mo colt so as soon as I am in a position to have a horse, they will come home.

I feel like an idiot not taking him as he is pretty much my perfect horse but I think it's the responsible thing to do. He needs to go to someone and build a relationship and go on to great things (which I'm sure he will as he's awesome :D)
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Just take him on - life is too short to regret things you did not do - you will always wonder about him ..... :)
 
Mines been for sale for 2 weeks. No calls though a couple of swap offers but for horses that don't fit the description I put and one even had an undiagnosed breathing issue. Starting to think my advert is a problem :( If anyone would proof read it I'd be grateful
 
I know a couple of people looking at the moment and also a couple of others selling and struggling but that is because they are all asking too much in the current climate compared to other horses of the same or better standard. Those who are looking have seen what good bargains are out there and aren't willing to stretch the budget when they don't need to.

I have however seen signs that things are on the slight up again and I expect that will continue after the cold snap and people start to look forwards to the spring, here's hoping at least!

I must say your horse looks absolutely gorgeous and I'd snap him up if he would fit in my little horse box!
 
My boss has just sold one who is a good 17.1hh (more like 18hh) to a 6ft3 lady who is not straightforward. I am buying one at the moment. I think as others have said a good advert photo/videos and realistically priced in the current market is key! Same with loaning, people dont want to invest in keeping a horse going through winter, would rather take one on in spring!
 
I've been looking to buy over Winter (well, since Spring!) but haven't found anything decent. Plus the weather has been awful so some days I haven't been able to try a horse as the school is frozen or flooded!

I'm waiting til Spring when I expect there will be more advertised and hopefully more of a choice as at the moment I'm finding myself compromising on what I'm looking for!
 
I'm trying to buy too with no luck!

Was very very interested in a youngster & over 3 weeks was still incapable of sending a confo shot just the odd head shot saying the weather was too bad! She pulled the ad & stopped replying!!!

Went to view a horse last weekend, 5hr round trip, I knew it had been out of work for a month but the girl was blatently petrified of it, wouldnt even sit on it & couldnt even get it to lunge properly it was rearing, kicking out & tanking off plus the added fact he looked like a hat rack - nothing like the photos she sent at all so were obviously old!

What is the point in advertising your horse if you dont want to answer questions, send additional photos (I would have had a 6hr round drive to do) or just lie about the horse & his capabilities wasting peoples time!
 
My OH always says its easy to buy a bad horse, not so easy to sell one.

Not aimed at yours OP, he looks lovely.

Those who have been looking for going on a year...do you really think your idea of perfection exists? I mean I always find it hard when people have been looking for months and have tried umpteen horses and not one was right. Do you think you are setting your standards unrealisitically? Or within a restrictive budget?

How many people have looked for a year or more?
 
I've just sold a competition horse.

Got way less than I would have liked, but I took into account the savings I'd be making not keeping him longer.

Such a weight off my mind!
 
I've been looking for a steady 13.2hh for eighteen months now. All I've had is sellers who lie, sellers who contact you and then disappear, oh, and sellers who change their mind after your child has tried the pony out. "Oh, we decided not to sell, we can get another year out of it" Grr! Not so much private sellers - this is dealers too! I've got a menagerie of equines, nothing rideable, and a girl who is desperate to get back to pony club :(
 
I have just sold my 18hh HW most unexpectedly, I had been trying to sell all summer with no luck, then a couple phoned up having seen him on a website that I had forgotten he was on, surprised as the advert was dated july 12, came down from oop north and loved him, I am very sad because I have had him since a foal and done everything with him but he just grew too big.
 
I do think the ad and the price need to be right in the current market. I sold my 13h pc pony quite easily. Advertised her at the beginning of September and she went on loan with view to buy end of September. They paid in installments and as of last week have full ownership. I think you need to be realistic in the current climate and price accordingly but not so you are giving the animal away. Also if you can be flexible regarding trial/loan paying in installments I think that helps. Obviously it helped that she is a cracking childs pony and there don't seem to be many out there without quirks!
 
We sold 3 recently, two horses one pony. We found that we had to reduce the price on 2 of them and pitch them to the right market.

The horse was a proven show horse and dressage horse, 9 year old, good breeding, competition horse, not one for a novice. Eventually sold him for £9k to a competition home. We had him advertised for £15K originally.

The pony was a proven M&M again went to a competition home for £6k, originally advertised for £8k. This one went via a friend of a friend the others we sold via www.horseradar.co.uk

The one that had about 50 calls in a single day was a 16.3 Irish Sports Horse, all rounder, safe as houses, nice looking, sold for £6500. A lot of the callers were actually really upset he'd been sold as they kept saying "It's so hard to find a nice allrounder"

The allrounder by far had the most interest and did not have to move on the price at all. The more competition horse/pony was more difficult as people didn't seem to want to spen the money of say 3-4 years ago.

So I think it does boil down to price and being realistic at the end of the day.
 
I am struggling to sell two very exciting youngsters, both bred to showjump. One 4yo and one 3yo. I am useless at advertising though so more my fault than the current market.
 
I am very lucky I have just sold my beautiful LW cob rising 2 year old.I had 9 phonecalls for him and the 2nd people to view have bought him,he past his vetting with flying colours and hes going to a lovely home,but I did have to think about what price to advertise him for,I worked out how much i was prepared to except against how much a month he was costing me.
 
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