How honest to be in an ad?!

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L&M

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I have put my son's pony up for sale but as of yet had no response. I have written an honest ad so am not inundated with unsuitable buyers, but am not sure if I have given too much info, therefore putting people off:

'The pony is not a first pony or suitable for a novice as can be fizzy and throw the occasional buck if not in consistent work'.

Do you think I should change is to 'not a novice ride' and then explain the above if I get any calls?

I am aware that the market is pretty dead so appreciate this may also well be the reason.

Any opinions?
 
That shouldn't necessarily put people off. PM me the price if you don't mind? Wondering if you've under/overpriced.
 
Sidney said:
'The pony is not a first pony or suitable for a novice as can be fizzy and throw the occasional buck if not in consistent work'.QUOTE]

I think people always think horses are worse than an advert says, and their imagination gets working- they are probably imagining some absolute nutter who bronc-bucks reading that.
I myself probably wouldnt put anything in the ad, but explain to people when they phone, and you can then tell them EXACTLY what he is like- and you can suss them out a bit too.
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That statement will put off most people, there are plenty of ponies that do not get fizzy and buck, or even if they do it will not be in the ad;)

Change to not suitable as a first pony as he needs to be doing plenty of varied work, or not for a nervous rider as he is is a forward going ride, keeping it more simple.
By putting off both novices and first time buyers you may be losing 75% of the market, it is not about trying to hide things but you do need to get the calls, a first time buyer could be brave and capable you can weed out the nervous ones when they call.

I have been trying to sell a 14.2 that is not for the faint hearted but most calls are for nervous novicey kids and a few questions gets that info quickly so I tell them he will not suit, in the ad he is described as forward going not a first pony, the photo shows him jumping really enthusiastically but I still get unsuitable people calling which I need to because the right one will come, eventually.
 
Just keep the ad simple and to the point.

Any issues such as yours can be discussed when people phone, or even when they view.

Sometimes once you get them to come and see the horse the issues arent such a big deal.

Agreed that you always think a horse is worse than advertised so any slight negative you put in ad will become a massive negative in peoples minds.
 
Paint Me Proud said:
Just keep the ad simple and to the point.

Any issues such as yours can be discussed when people phone, or even when they view.

Sometimes once you get them to come and see the horse the issues arent such a big deal.

Agreed that you always think a horse is worse than advertised so any slight negative you put in ad will become a massive negative in peoples minds.
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After having been horse hunting for some time now, i'd be furious if someone left it until viewing to say something like that. I've had more time wasted this year by dishonest sellers its untrue. If i take the time to call about a horse and there are things left off the advert, i would at least expect to be told about them when i call.

Good luck with the sale. I would maybe put not novice/first pony - that implies need a confident jockey and you can elaborate more on the phone.
 
I would say 'not a novice ride' and then elaborate when they called you. 'The occasional buck' could mean that he bucks when out for a gallop in company or on every occasion that you put a saddle on him lol ;)
 
FabioandFreddy said:
After having been horse hunting for some time now, i'd be furious if someone left it until viewing to say something like that. I've had more time wasted this year by dishonest sellers its untrue. If i take the time to call about a horse and there are things left off the advert, i would at least expect to be told about them when i call.

Good luck with the sale. I would maybe put not novice/first pony - that implies need a confident jockey and you can elaborate more on the phone.
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I agree with this. I think "needs a confident jockey" is appropriate. We are looking for our daughter who is not a novice and neither wants nor needs a plod, yet 'not a novice ride' seems to cover everything from forward ponies which do actually move off the leg through to ponies which buck/rear and are much more of a handful.
 
If this was my pony for sale and it bucked occasionally then I would say in the advert that it bucks occasionally. I would also say it needs a competent rider, but then I don't care to waste my time having people contact me who are not suitable for the pony. I sell quite a lot of horses and I'm truthful in my adverts so as to minimize time wasting for me and the prospective buyers.
 
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