How do you sell a horse in a market that's flooded???

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runaway

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As the title really! What horses are selling (if any!) and what sort of price?

Yes I'm selling one but things are going no where and what money has been spent getting her going is on the brink of being chucked down the drain as we can't spend anymore on her and so she's destined to be a field ornament - I can't describe my utter and complete disappointment, frustration and sadness at it all. For the horse more than us.

We could keep her in a field but don't really want to as it would be such a waste and we have 5 horses between us (OH & me)!!!! Any suggestions?
 
Could you consider loaning out with a view to buy? Having recently had to return a horse to a dealer and speaking to many others who have been conned during the purchase process, some of us would be more comfortable trying the goods first and therefore also the horse then ends up in a suitable long term home and everyone is happy?
 
I really don't think the market is flooded, I've been looking for something suitable for months now!!!

Where have you advertised so far?

Can you post a link to the ad and maybe we can critique it for you.

I would say, make sure you have several really excellent photos. If the photos are rubbish a lot of people will skip right past. Make sure you have a decent description that includes all the crucial information and "sells" your horse. Register an email address as well as a phone number so that people can easily send you a "is it still available?" email, make sure you reply to them all. Make sure you have an answerphone/voicemail and that you return all calls.

If you are looking to sell something with issues/problems consider less traditional and more targetted adverts.

If you still aren't getting any interest maybe you have got the price wrong. A low price can be as off putting as a high one.
 
Sorry, not much help, but just wanted to say you are not alone - I *literally* cannot give my lovely little horse away, campanion/light hack only!
 
if you would be kind enough to supply me with the winning lotto numbers (need not even be all of them - just so I get more than a tenner) I'll take it! I'm currently trying to talk myself out of 'if I budget properly Im sure I could have a loan horse' but its not working... :S and I hate being stuck at a rural uni and having nowt to do with horses whatsoever :/ *harumph*

on a more serious note - I'm no help at all I'm afraid but I second katt, advert critique?
 
Couple of suggestions- I would take out the reference to her being out of work for so long, the reference to a professional rider and the lunging over jumps bit.

It makes her sound like a loon! You can tell people that she has been out of work for some time when they call you, saying that she is ridden by a pro makes it sound like anyone else is likely to be bucked off.

When will she be ridden over jumps? Is it likely that your professional will do it soon? I would be inclined to get that done asap just so that you can say that she jumps.

You can phrase it better by saying that she is still green and needs bringing on, or not suitable for novices or something and then explain on the phone. Nice looking mare though and the price is a big bargain, maybe a little too cheap?

How about-

Gorgeous TB x Clydesdale mare, 8yo 16.1hh. Excellent to hack out alone/company, lovely temperament and calm to handle. Would suit experienced rider to hack, riding club or show. £2500 ono
 
blimey shes a bargain, I wouldnt go as low as £1500, shes worth at least 2-2.5 k, beautiful and done nothing wrong other than circumstances!

if I were allowed another I would be on that phone!
 
I'd second what Farrierlover has said. Get her going over jumps with a rider asap - and replace the schooling pic with someone riding her as in that one she has her ears right back and doesn't look too happy jumping.

I'd also get a close up shot of her with no tack on and perhaps one of her hacking out.

I think she looks lovely tho and if i had the money ....
 
Ditto whats been said above I looked at the advert and thought she sounded loony a week or so ago. Especially the lunging over jumps. She looks a really nice sort you should have loads of people if you change the ad!
 
I have every sympathy with you we are trying to sell our little ex-racer we have put alot of money and time into her and having to sell her really cheap,but i now considering a loan :(
 
runaway said:
http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/item-details.aspx?ProductCode=17-3-10-927767&CategoryId=840

Have changed the price a couple of times! Had 2 calls and it's been up for 2 weeks.

I imagine this will get removed as it is probably seen as advertising! But any feed back most welcome.

Thanks for looking and commenting.
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I actually looked at this ad and discounted it.

I think you need to say something about why she has been out of work for so long. It sounds suss to have an 8 year old that is greener than many 5 year olds on the market. I also think that you will most likely struggle to shift her until she has done a bit more. I think you need her slightly more established and certainly jumping a bit under saddle to sell her.

If you could get her jumping under saddle and out to a few baby shows in the next month or so then you could definitely sell her for more and make waiting worth your while.

At the moment she is too old and has done a bit too much to appeal to people wanting a real project or youngster but too much of a risk for the likes of me. She is not going to be ready to do much with this summer so she has to be viewed as a project for competing next year.

Get some smart photos of her popping round a minimus all plaited up - it will add a lot to your advert.

Sweet looking little mare though.
 
runaway said:
http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/item-details.aspx?ProductCode=17-3-10-927767&CategoryId=840

Have changed the price a couple of times! Had 2 calls and it's been up for 2 weeks.

I imagine this will get removed as it is probably seen as advertising! But any feed back most welcome.

Thanks for looking and commenting.
Click to expand...

Argh! Just typed a response to this and got a 404 error!!!! :mad:

And now it has come up...... :mad: :mad: :mad:

Anyway at the price you are advertising her at now you could try project horses...... I know she isn't a problem horse but people that look on there are prepared to spend longer working on their horse whereas on other sites people are looking for something ready made.
 
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Thank you everyone for your suggestions and help. Unfortunately the money pot has run dry so we are going to have to totally rethink what we do with her. The low price was put on as A) we hoped for a quick sale, considering what she was bought for and cost of schooling livery she's quite an expensive horse now! We don't want to waste the work that's been done and B) we appreicate that she's not a made horse and needs patient, steady work to achieve the results that we believe she is capable of.

I will try changing the ad as it's still active and try project horses. If we didn't have so many horses and hundreds of sheep I'd probably have the time to do something with her but it's just not going to happen with us :o(

(Isn't hindsight a beautiful thing! Human's make such a mess sometimes and it's the poor horses that end up with the rough deal. Sigh.)
 
greymare said:
Could you consider loaning out with a view to buy? Having recently had to return a horse to a dealer and speaking to many others who have been conned during the purchase process, some of us would be more comfortable trying the goods first and therefore also the horse then ends up in a suitable long term home and everyone is happy?
Click to expand...

It's a bit the same for the horse owner though isn't it - the loanee may con the loaner! Would consider loaning but think that would take just as long to find the right person as it is finding the right owner. Also may end up with having her returned if loanee's circumstances change.
 
I'm still curious to know why she was out of work for so long and why she is so green at 8, I think it is very likely to make a difference to buyers.
 
She is stunning, I too would have been on the phone mega quick if it had been this time last year! Fany is now installed and I can't afford another. :(

If I were you I'd get her hacking out alone and sell her as a weight carrying hack, which is what Fany is, we spent months looking for one like her, plenty of WB(got one!) and TBs for RC etc but few bombproof hacks.

May I also say that Lincolnshire is a place a lot of people associate with dealers, have you made it quite clear that she is a private sale? Before everyone jumps on me, a) I nearly bought a horse from a dealer in Lincolnshire, it sold before I could get there! b) I love Lincolnshire, want to retire to that area, and c) both my last two horses came from dealers, so no probs buying from them, just some people do.

Hope she sells, she is a stunner!
 
runaway said:
Things aren't getting any better!

Had a few calls from local ads but people not suitable - wanting quiet hack after riding accident or for mature hubby!

So trying dealer. sigh.
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I'm surprised she looks lovely.

Have you tried advertising on horsemart? I know alot of people mainly look on there when searching for horses myself included.
 
The neckstrap puts me off when the rider in the pics looks competant, makes me think she can put a big buck in!
 
See your point foxy1 but that's what the rider uses on youngsters, suppose it's a case of self preservation as youngsters can be unpredictable :o.

I've now gone to the extent of offering her for loan as are now desperate to move her from the yard as run out of money/not going to recoup anything near what she's cost :(
 
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