How easy do you find it?

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Tia

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When you are selling horses - do you find it easy or difficult? Have you ever regretted selling any of your horses to a particular person? Do you take the first purchaser or do you wait till the right person comes along? Does it break your heart to sell them or do you just see it as part of life?



For me, it is the decision that is the tough part. Once I have made the decision everything else emotionally is easy. Selling them is quite easy as I generally only sell if I am sure the buyer is right for the horse.

I've never regretted selling to any of my purchasers. To my knowledge they all still have the horses/ponies I sold them.

I will sell to the first person providing I feel they are right for the horse. I tend to weedle out the time-wasters before I even allow anyone to come and look at the horse.

I rarely miss the horses I sell and no it doesn't break my heart to sell them. I always deliver my sold horses so, at any point right up to the moment before the money changes hands, I can back out! I actually get quite a buzz out of finding perfect homes for my youngsters.
 
Do you fancy a trip to the UK and selling May for me???????

I just can't do it, far too attached!
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I regret selling my old mare in a way, She has lovely home now and i can go see her when i want, but it was emotionally very difficult letting go of something i loved so much, it also doesnt help that i have had all the trouble with new horse makes me realise how good she really was. Im one of these people though that treated my horse like my best friend so it was hard seeing her go. But all is looking up now thank god.
 
Ah yes, it is always difficult making the transition from one who seems so perfect to having to get to know the new one. I can understand that.
 
I'm rubbish, i have never actually sold my own horse, should have done years ago but just cant bring myself to do it!!!

I have sold plenty for other people though and not found it too hard. I think i could sell a horse that i knew was easy and well behaved, my horse is a little strange and could easily end up in the wrong place and turn sour and possibly nasty so here he stays
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Selling my first horse was easy (mentally!). I cried when I left her at her new house, but I have never regretted it. It was just one of those things with her. I think mostly, it's because I wanted to sell her that made it easy - if I make the decision, generally it's fine. I am, however, selective of who it is! I don't like to see horses go to people that they shouldn't, for the horses' sake really.

I found selling my last horse extremely difficult, though, as I didn't actually want to sell him. So much so that I had to send him to somebody else to sell on, as I never rode him as well as I could and normally did when people viewed him, and then it came to me not being able to talk to potential buyers through crying too much(soppy, yes.) Subsequently, I wasn't involved in the sale, so then couldn't choose who he went to, so that wasn't an issue at the time for that sale.
 
Utterly wrecking. Have only sold one and it went sadly wrong before turning out unbelievably right. Spent 18 months worried to death, hard timing myself. Put one on loan for twelve months before giving her away. Six years on, she is still much loved and pampered and in far better hands than with me. Couldn't have sold her as she was very quirky and damaged and couldn't cope with competitions. These types have such uncertain futures. The ones we have now are here for good.

Not sure I can judge character well enough to sell again! I will end up very poor........
 
hmmm i think personally, it depends WHY your selling them. If you always intended to sell them after you brought them or bred them then i dont think its as bad as if you outgrow /cant afford a horse fincally ete etc.

I have personally regretted selling only one of mine, only because i heard about what was happening to the pony ( i do however know shes in the right home now)....if i didnt id be none the wiser and at the end of the day i know she is now in the type of home inteded.

We have never gone to take the first purchaser interested-although sometimes it does happen like that, and we dont ask for the highest price, home is more important although we prefer to stick to around the price we put up!!!
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As i said before i see the fact of selling the ponies i've outgrown as part of life, although i had tears and feelings of sadness to start the prospect of a new horse to fill that gap soon cheered me up...now for i think its a bit different as i am not growing out of horses anymore so they do stay around for longer. I was v.cut up about patches-although it was a delayed feeling for me, it wasnt untill 2 wks later i felt upset. And apart from wen i had a sticky patch with N, a few months ago, i havent regretted selling her. i have also decided Nigel isnt going anywhere from me unless something life changing happens and even then i would do my upmost to keep him.
 
Yeah i agree tia, its just going through the hole getting to know the horse process, but i know my mare has got a home for life and they love her to bits just as much as i did, I just hope i feel like that about my new one. As ive had probs with the current one, he is totally not me at all so he is going back and swapping for something more suitable. I dont feel defeated as someone said to me do you not feel defeated by sending him back,

I was like no hes not for me, ive tried and tried and he isnt the type i like and im not wanting to end up seriously hurt. I pay to much money for something i am gettin nothing at all out of.
 
I find selling ok, but since I've stopped 'growing out of' ponies I've known that most of my horses were bought to bring on and sell on, even if that took a few years. I do make sure that the home seems suitable, and wouldn't sell to 'just anyone', although I can think of one occasion where I regretted selling the horse to the person it went to, although he was well looked after.

I show a lot of my horses, so they are sold with muscles in all the right places and schooling well, so it is slightly dissapointing to see them out and about with an upside down neck, plaits on the wrong side etc, but if they're happy, I'm happy. A pony I took to HOYS is hunting regularly with my local pack and it's great to see her and her jockey having fun, despite her looking nothing like when I sold her.
 
I've only ever sold 2, the first is still with the same owner 15 years later and as far as I'm aware so is the other! The second I never intended to sell, but agreed after they had loaned him for a year or so as they clearly loved him lots and I think wanted the security of knowing I couldn't take him back.
 
I know I could never sell Chex (if he was younger obviously, couldn't sell him at thia age if I wanted to!). I would feel like I was betraying him. I don't even like other people handling him, never mind riding. But I've had him almost 9 years and have grown up with him.

I think I could only sell if it was a project, and I knew I was doing the right thing, could never sell because the horse was old, unrideable, or just becuse I wanted a "better" one. They are a pet to me, not a sport/income/business.
 
I've sold three
First one was my childhood pony, and although i miss him, im glad he went because he went to the most perfect loving home and is having the time of his life!
Second one was Golly who i was sort of bullied into selling by my YM at the time and i regret it SO much, he was lovely, perfect and i just adored him but YM kept saying how i make him unhappy and sell him because hes not happy blah blah and at 15 you listen to them
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so yes i regret that emotionally ANd financially
Third was william, the psychotic beast mentioned in post below about dealers, and the only thing i regret about selling him is who i sold him too.

Will never ever sell rock, never.
 
Yes the ones with "different" personalities are always a bit of a worry. These days I tend to only buy ones with non-quirky personalities so whether they stay or whether they go is really not an issue as they are suitable for either situation.
 
I think you are quite right. There's no point in plugging away with one which doesn't suit you, particularly as there will be another which does.....as there will be a perfect owner for the one you have.
 
You know the funny thing is; when I sold my 2 horses in England before moving over here; I had a 12 year old very quirky horse which I bred, so had had him all his life. I thought it would absolutely kill me to sell him....but it wasn't - the perfect purchaser came forward and I never batted an eyelid to see him go.

The other horse - I'd only had him for a couple of years and I found another perfect owner for him and was so happy with what she was planning to do with him.....but.....when I delivered him to her, I was fine until I got back on the motorway. I have no idea what happened but one minute I was driving happily along and the next I was an absolute blubbering wreck.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Do you want to sell May?

[/ QUOTE ]Would like something a bit more straight forward, she's too sharp for me when it comes to jumping. But we are now trying to concentrate on the dressage an see how we go!
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Yes totally agree with you. Although I generally sell the horses I buy, I could never ever in a million years or for a million dollars sell Cloud.....not even to the right home.
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You know, you have hit a cord with me here. I sold one of my childhood ponies at about 16 years old - and about 2 weeks afterwards I felt so sad
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. And always really did but because I had no idea where she went to. As a child you don't really have much control over where they go or what they do; maybe that's why as an adult I vet, vet and vet the new home and owners.
 
when the one i have at the moment sells definatly wont regret it, when i sold my old pony years ago wished i hadnt as i never really grew much and he would still be able to carry me now, and i can honestly say he was the best thing i have ever ridden
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could never sell hector as no one would have him
 
Well, in this business you don't keep horses forever, it isn't feasible.

Coco, no regrets selling him, was a bit sad when he went, but he is in a perfect home. he wasn't happy being used in the school, he was a jumping show pony, so best thing for him to go to a home where they could do what he was bred for.

Regret selling Holly, I wasn't there when she went because I was too upset. Felt like we let her down really, gave up on her. Don't know where she is, what she is used for. Like to think she is a nice show pony or brood mare.

Was gutted when I sold Bess, she was the most perfect cob, but tendon probs no good for us. Was nice to deliver her and see her new home. Hope she is still doing well.

Don't enjoy parting company with them, except one.
Before I was owner, they got a new cob 15.1 ish moody bolshy git. Too strong and idiotic. Always hated him!
I sold him almost immediately (unfortunately to a dealer in disguise) but I do know he is now a working hunter type and a changed horse. No tears to see him go, I was practically clapping!
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Interesting ... we should be selling our 14.2 now, but I am finding it almost impossible.

She has been with us for four years and been absolutely wonderful in every respect. My daughter is still OK on her size-wise, and because horses and ponies jump in the same classes here except at the very, very top level that has not been an issue prompting a sale. However, daughter will (hopefully) finish school in June, and has plans for gap year and uni.

With eyes on her future, my daughter is for selling the pony go "to the right person". However, it runs against my nature to let go an animal who has been such a happy part of our household for so long. I worry a lot about where she might end up, when she is old or perhaps suffers an injury. If we were looking at buying another horse, in a larger or faster model, that would probably force the issue. But we're not, and I now find myself in the ridiculous position of contemplating keeping her (she's on full livery) and going through a succession of loans, but I do know that this might not be in her best interests either.
 
I find it hard to sell some. It depends how long Ive had them and how strong a bond I get with them. If Ive bought them KNOWING Im going to re-sell them then I dont let myself get too attached. But obviously some horses Ive had for many years so it is hearbraking selling those.

I dont usually regret selling them, but as time goes on and I find out things then yes sometimes I do. Like I sold a gorgeous pony about 4 years ago - I mean, the prettiest sweetest little pony in the world. I thought Id sold him to the perfect home yet found out later that somebody else had bought him (they called me) and said he'd been left in a bit of a mess - the girl had lost interest so his feet desperately needed doing, his saddle hadnt fitted for some time etc. Was hearbroken! Luckily he has ended up in a wonderful home now.

Another pony I sold I dont regret selling. Although I do find it very hard to see him with his new owners. I find myself being really horrid, thinking "why hasnt he got a rug on??" or "I wouldnt that, he hates that" etc.!
 
I need to sell my daughter's 12'2 welsh sec b soon as she has nearly outgrown him and we have already bought the next one, I worry about this as he hates to be alone and is very attached to my horse. he is a little quirky too and whilst I was happy for my daughter to learn as she went along, not all parents want this for their child. He is pretty but would be wasted as a show pony on a lead rein as he jumps well but can nap if she doesn't concentrate, I need someone who will carry on where we leave off or he will be naughty and could end up being sold on too often. Perhaps I should put him out on loan?
I didn't have this problem with her first (happy hacker) we knew it was time for something more challenging.
 
I'm like you; when I've found the right buyer it's not a problem (get a bit sniffy when I say goodbye, but nothing major) I do regret selling one mare though; not because I think now she will be mis-treated but because the owner tried very hard to cheat me (a friend of a friend's) and now I wish I'd GIVEN her away to someone else who really would've deserved her.
But that's just me bearing a bit of a grudge!!
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Extremely difficult as I have only ever sold a horse if I think it could have a better life with someone else i.e. I am not giving it enough attention or we are not a great combination etc. I always seek the best possible long term home I can which doesn't always go to plan as you cannot guarantee someone you sell a horse to will keep it forever. My last horse was the most difficult decision as he was very happy with me and the only reason I sold him was because my other one was getting a tad more attention and I was getting bored of the one I decided to sell. I was lucky enough to find the perfect new home and I am in regular contact with the lady who has him now and he is her World and is getting the very best care and attention.
 
never sold one and fingers crossed never will. I get far too emotionally attached. I've had horses on loan and been devastated when they've had to go back to the owner!
 
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