Horses and markets

siennamum

siennamum

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I've been asked to help sell a horse for an owner who isn't very knowledgeable. She needs cash quickly and doesn't really know where to sell him or how to sell him.
She bought him cheap from gypsy types - he's a bay 15.2 m/w trotter bred gelding, 4 years old.
She has had him broked and ridden away - effectively a year ago, so he's pretty much unbroken. But extremely mannerly and bomb proof.

He has had a lovely life for the past months, lovely friends, lovely grass & every care & attention.

I believe though that he's pretty worthless. He is very ordinary and will take lots of work to get to the point where he is worth anything or doing anything. Can't see anyone coming along and buying him privately who wouldn't ship him straight to the sales.

I would never send an animal like this to the sales, but would you? I think if he goes for meat money - then he will likely go for meat. I couldn't bear the thought of that happening so will probably go to lots of time & effort helping her sell privately for a nominal amount. (I have NO time to do this)

What would you do?
 
Personally I wouldn't send him to the sales - but then I would never send anything to the sales.

PM JM07 - she may be able to help - know where to send him.
 
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He's not a cob... Not badly put together, just not particularly attractive. Might try and get some pictures.

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I would be interested- if you can school them a little, do a dressage test and keep them bombproof then they become worth a fair amount of money.
 
Aww bless him, he's only a youngester and most people looking at that age range won't be expecting a well schooled perfect pony they'll be looking for something they can bring on, it sounds as though he's got everything going for him.

I'd advertise him privately if I were you, local tack shops, feed barns as well as online etc
 
If he's honest and genuine then you shouldn't have any problems selling him privately. He's a good height (ie will be suitable for most adults) and build from the sounds of it and looks certainly are not everything (unless you want a show horse!). I tend to fnd the ugly ducklings turn out to be the best sometimes. Plus if he's only 4 he won't even have grown into himself as yet and will still have filling out to do.

People will pay for a nice unspolit horse they can bring on but know that it already has the basic training and good manners. Definitely don't send to a sale!
 
Personally I prefer the unshowy type of horse. As long as they have a kind eye and as you say he is mannerly and bombproof I think there are lots of people out there like me who would be interested in him.

A horse who will be your friend is worth far more I think than looks....but maybe that is me.
 
I know of someone that takes their horses to auction.
They put a rediculously high reserve on them so they don't sell. They then choose a private buyer from all those that are interested. If they don't find the right person they take the horse home.
It has worked for them, but i would not give a view. I sit on the fence on nearly everything.
 
You may be surprised the interest you may have in him. He doesn't have to be a fantastic looker as there will be someone out there who will give him all the affection he could ever want. You say that although he has been backed & turned away he may need some work. That is understandable but the main thing you say is he's got manners & is bomb proof. That quality is sought after by many people. There are so many people that want a nice steady bomb proof hacker & you've got one there.

Ask any dealer, if he could fill his yard with horses that have manners & are genuinely bomb proof he would because he could sell them all day. He may not be the greatest looker but he will be worth a reasonable amount of money...believe me!
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Teenager at my yard bought one described exactly as yours. Came across him by chance and paid £500 for him. everyone was waiting for things to go wrong because he was cheap(compared to their horses). He turned out fine.
 
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