How Bad IS The Market Really ATM?

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LittleSoph

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I have my lovely little cob for sale (in sig) and have had no interest whatsoever. He's been advertised for about a week now.

Just wondered, in people's own experiences, how bad is the market at the moment? Are people buying? What is and isn't selling?

Just wanted to ask to see if it's bad all round at the minute, or if it's something I'm doing wrong.

Thanks all.
 
I think it depends entirely what you're selling.

Only speaking from experience this year, 15-16hh, mid-market easy-doing all-rounders are selling strongest. Bigger TB-types are sticking.

I wouldn't say it's bad all round (certainly not around here), but going into winter isn't helping.

The little cob in your sig looks a nice sort, surprised you've had no interest tbh. Maybe try pony club / rc websites? Best of luck :)
 
Can't speak for the UK, but here it is a buyers market all the way, suits me just fine, I'm buying at the moment, not selling, but am only interested in weanlings.

I think it depends what people are looking for, if they want a certain stamp of horse, and they want it now, then they'll go looking for one, regardless of what time of year it is.

Give your advert time, get it in as many places as you can, and make sure you have a really eye grabbing photo. If you are in a hurry to sell, be realistic and price him at the least you'll take for him and see if that makes a difference (if you add 'Price is firm' then you won't get hagglers)

I picked up two colts for $400 (the pair) the other day, less than half what they were advertised for, and am going to look at 3 reg QH weanlings in a moment, all under $400 each, "Offer me $900 for the lot and you can have them" is what I've been told.
 
Hi there!

I agree with the above. The alrounders are doing well...as are the cobs, I'm suprised you haven't had a response, he's lovely!

I picked my boy up for a fraction of the advertised price just recently, he's a young 17.3hh TB, nobody wants them! Going into winter people are getting desperate to sell. The buyers are now in a position to be very fussy.

Where is your advert? horsehunter horsemart and equineadverts get alot of hits. There's preloved as well

Kay
 
I'm actually on the other end, I am looking for a nice cob type to loan with view to buying just after xmas but i cant seem to find anything thats what I'm after.

where have you advertised?
do the old way and stick posters up in tack shops but make sure they stand out from the rest.

Good luck with the sale though.
 
Nope we've had nothing either! Big lad's had some interest but been too much of a serious competition horse for everyone who's seen him so far but had not one enquiry about the fab little PC schoolmistress we've got for peanuts atm too! [Probably why, bu there you go!]

Buyers market.
 
I wouldn't say its bad at all, I just think it depends on what you're selling and how much you're selling it for! Generally I get the feeling people expect horses to be cheaper in winter, but I disagree, a quality horse should be the same price whatever time of the year.
He's lovely though, why are you selling him if you don't mind me asking?
 
Interesting, thanks for the replies.
I'm in no rush whatsoever to sell. He's with me until the perfect person for him comes along.

He's advertised on equine adverts, horsemart, coloured contacts, stabletalk, horsegossip, coloured show ponies and the show ring, lol... so quite a few places but most of them are free and don't get all that many hits.
Am just putting an A4 ad together to print out and take around the tack shops and also about to go through the wanted ads on different sites.

I am surprised that I've had no interest to be honest, if nothing else he's eye catching enough. Perhaps I have been too honest, lol, because he is super but I have tried to list his faults (he is green and easily bored with too much schooling) as well as his good points.

Selling him for a few reasons but mainly because I want to show at a higher level than he is really capable of. I'm planning to buy myself a weanling/yearling colt and start it from scratch.

He's priced at £3500 ONO. Maybe on the high side for the way the market is?
He's been started by professionals and has had further pro schooling. Been showing, qual. PUK, Equifest, etc. although I'd prefer if he went to an allround home rather than a showing home tbh. as he prefers variety. His ad is at http://www.horsemart.co.uk/ads_viewbyref.php?ref=HM034O1G6

And theres a vid of him at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ybvEkAnoZw which I've emailed to a few people.

Any ideas where I'm going wrong. Much appreciated. Hope it's ok to put this here admin... could really do with the advice. Thank you.
 
yeah it is a buyers market but they are out there!

i bought my mare within 2? days of the seller putting her ad up - she was priced sensibly and exactly what i want so snapped her hand off and paid full asking!....

preloved is a great place to sell :) (i bought mine on horsemart though)
 
After seeing a few tack shop boards... They are all full... All of the same horses that were there 2/3/4 months ago. So I would say the market is moving ratehr slowly :( Majority of them seem to be Warmblood/TB/Irish drafty types. Most of the cobby types have been move from "for sale" to " long term loan" as they weren't selling quick enough.
 
I think he looks fab :)

Looking at your ad, I'd suggest:

- 2nd para - take out negatives (when you bought him & why you're selling), or at least leave til later in the ad - start with the positives and really sell them!

- I'd also take out the 'not naughty', 'not a plod' etc - highlight what he is, rather than what he's not

- Highlight he jumps, flashy mover, success showing etc rather than mentioning gets bored schooling - maybe just stick with 'flatwork coming along well'

- I'd also not mention his one blue eye, I know it's a love-or-hate thing (as a recent thread proved!) but it avoids putting someone who might otherwise love him off.

Also, given his size, maybe really focus on the fun stuff that a teen might be likely to want to do with him - RC/PC etc.

Just my thoughts though! I like him a lot, best of luck :)
 
If he jumps, get some photos and videos of him jumping with a rider on board (borrow someone if you don't jump). If you want him to go to an all-rounder type home then they will want to see how he jumps, plus a good jumping photo really draws the eye to an advert.
 
I like the fact you've been really honest in his ad, would encourage me to go and see him, but I see where everyones coming from saying highlight his best bits! Shame you're so far away as after reading the ad he sounds perfect for someone I know!
He's a handsome chappie and I hope you find him a great home :)
 
I'm surprised you've had no interest. Just keep at it, people are out there. I agree that TBs are not selling, unless they are very, very cheaply priced.

Also I think horses that can do a job (ie hunting, or are attractive to riders who want to compete over winter) are likely to go quicker too. I would say that lesser competitive / pleasure riders may be more likely to wait until spring to buy?
 
Sessle said:
I like the fact you've been really honest in his ad, would encourage me to go and see him, but I see where everyones coming from saying highlight his best bits!
Click to expand...

I agree with that too. I think your description is very honest, and its clear that you don't want the horse being sold to a novice home, but he is a genuinely lovely, safe chap.

There are so many, identical almost monotonous, too perfectly written adverts, which to me are quite a turn off. No horse is that perfect!
 
I sold my horse within 3 days of advertising him - he was 16.2 ISH and had evented to 1* - lots and lots of interest for him - I had to ring people to say that he was sold!

He went to someone wanting to do riding club stuff!!

But I used a very eye catching photo - if you go to horsequest eventers novice he is the one jumping a corner about twice over :o

you need to make sure your ad stands out - and put him on Hq and donedeal.ie - ghats were most of the calls were from :)
 
I like the way you are trying to be honest in your ad but it is quite wordy. I would try to simplify and keep it positive.

I work in advertising and we NEVER say this 'product has this which is fabulous... but does this which is an unfortunate side effect' so don't do it with your horse! Work out who your target market is and sell him!!
 
I sold my cob in 6 days from advertsing to delivered including a vetting! I could have sold him about 20 times so there are lots of buyers out there. Mine was nothing special to look at certainly not compared to yours. He was not suitable for a total novice but he was safe which I emphasised in the advert. I would cut the advert down, focus on the safe and the alrounder potential. Mine didn't like schooling either and was rusty with it but then 90% of those who called wanted something safe to hack on and do local riding club so it didn't matter. I would just put the positives along with something like not suitable for total novice due to age. You can sift through people when they phone and take it from there. Try Horsehunter and Preloved they are the places where alot of the interest for mine came from and are 99p and free so worth a go! Best of luck looks like a really nice horse!
 
Different part of the country but one advertised on Coloured Contacts for similar money, younger than yours and a little taller but very, very nice went through the ring unsold at Kirkby Stephen--was bid to 2400. Behaved impeccably in a very busy situation.
 
I would definitely re-word this part of the advert:

"Bought early 2009 from producers. Been shown once of twice, qualifying for Equifest, PUK, CHAPS Winter Champs on 1st ever ridden outing in Jan 2010, as 4yo. Lack of ring experience only due to my lack of time.However, I want to show at a higher level & feel he would be better suited as fab allrounder for a family. "

This doesn't ring true to me, as you are saying he hasn't been shown more due to lack of time on your part, yet you also say you want to show at a higher level. People then will wonder how you will have the time to show at a higher level, and then question whether you are not entirely truthful about the reason for sale.

Perhaps just better to put something like "Only been shown a couple of times, qualifying for Equifest, PUK, CHAPS Winter Champs on 1st ever ridden outing in Jan 2010" and then skip the rest of it and just give your reason for selling when people phone up.
 
Get him on a better website, and as only_me said, get a good eyecatching and smart photo. It is the good photos in the right place which are selling ;)
 
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