How long are horses taking to sell at the moment?

[Shinx]

I know it's like asking how long is a piece of string. I have my lovely TB gelding on sales livery at the moment, going on three months now. He's had a lot of viewings but no offers have been made. I don't have the time to sell him myself but am spending a small fortune on sales livery and will soon be lucky to scrape my money back when he sells.

I'm not sure what to do, leave him there and keep hoping or bring him back home and wait until the market is better? I will really struggle to do the day to day care for two horses (hence the reason for selling in the first place). He's a good looking, well schooled, quiet lad, I really thought he'd sell quickly. Any advice welcome.

 

[Barton Bounty]

@Amye something for you?

 

[Bobthecob15]

What has been the feedback from the viewings? Why haven’t they wanted him?

Have you reduced the price? It gets to a point where you are paying so much on sales livery plus commission it’s sometimes cheaper to reduce their price to get them sold.

I’d be asking why he’s not had any offers, surely they have an opinion on it?

We’ve just put our pony on sales livery, she’s had one viewing and 2 more tomorrow…she is quirky though so expect it might take a while to find the right home but I’d certainly be expecting her to go in the next month or so…or she’ll be significantly reduced as sales livery isn’t cheap!

 

[Shinx]

What has been the feedback from the viewings? Why haven’t they wanted him?

Have you reduced the price? It gets to a point where you are paying so much on sales livery plus commission it’s sometimes cheaper to reduce their price to get them sold.

I’d be asking why he’s not had any offers, surely they have an opinion on it?

We’ve just put our pony on sales livery, she’s had one viewing and 2 more tomorrow…she is quirky though so expect it might take a while to find the right home but I’d certainly be expecting her to go in the next month or so…or she’ll be significantly reduced as sales livery isn’t cheap!

I haven't asked for feedback from the viewers, not sure why I didn't think to do that! I just assumed that they didn't click, like when I'm horse shopping. A horse can be perfectly suitable but you just don't feel that frisson of "I need that horse"? But I will definitely ask, thank you.

No, we haven't lowered the price but perhaps we should. Because he's a TB he's not selling for loads anyway, and I wanted to keep him out of the low-end market for his own good, but sadly I guess I need to decide whether I need him sold or not.

I hope your pony sells quickly!

 

[Wishfilly]

If he's had lots of viewings but no offers made, I wonder if he is not showing himself very well at viewings? Is he generally sensitive- what is he like for new people to ride? Has anyone come back for a second viewing etc?

I do wonder if he's priced a little bit too high? I do think prices have come down a bit, and locally I see people selling TBs pretty cheaply. I wonder if it would be worth dropping the price a little bit and making it clear you are open to offers?

Do you trust the place where he is on sales livery?

The market might improve a little bit in spring/summer, but the prices of everything are continuing to go up, unfortunately, so I'm not necessarily sure there will be a better time to sell?

 

[expanding_horizon]

Sometimes places are in no rush to sell as they are benefiting from the sales livery. Are they getting a % of sales? Or just a sales livery fee.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Sometimes places are in no rush to sell as they are benefiting from the sales livery. Are they getting a % of sales? Or just a sales livery fee.

Yes this is true!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I haven't asked for feedback from the viewers, not sure why I didn't think to do that! I just assumed that they didn't click, like when I'm horse shopping. A horse can be perfectly suitable but you just don't feel that frisson of "I need that horse"? But I will definitely ask, thank you.

No, we haven't lowered the price but perhaps we should. Because he's a TB he's not selling for loads anyway, and I wanted to keep him out of the low-end market for his own good, but sadly I guess I need to decide whether I need him sold or not.

I hope your pony sells quickly!

I have sent you a pm

 

[Bobthecob15]

I haven't asked for feedback from the viewers, not sure why I didn't think to do that! I just assumed that they didn't click, like when I'm horse shopping. A horse can be perfectly suitable but you just don't feel that frisson of "I need that horse"? But I will definitely ask, thank you.

No, we haven't lowered the price but perhaps we should. Because he's a TB he's not selling for loads anyway, and I wanted to keep him out of the low-end market for his own good, but sadly I guess I need to decide whether I need him sold or not.

I hope your pony sells quickly!

Definitely ask! Sometimes it’s who you are marketing the horse to as well, for example competition home vs happy hacker. Your sales livery should be giving you feedback, I’d chase each time and ask.

Does your advert need re-wording? Perhaps it needs a refresh? Also consider how they are advertising on your behalf…can they post new adverts on new sites? Horsequest etc

The other consideration is who are their customers and would your horse be better at a different yard with more traffic so to speak?

 

[ihatework]

Bad time of year
TBs often get looked over, esp if ex racers
Does his CV match his price tag?
Is he being marketed to the right buyer?
Does he give a nice trial ride?
Is your sales livery actually making an effort?

I’m happy to run my eyes over the advert if it’s helpful

 

[Shinx]

Thanks everyone, lots to think about. I really like the woman who runs the sales livery but I do feel she's not necessarily going above and beyond (but then I don't know a lot about selling horses!).

Probably yes to new price and new adverts. I've asked a friend who sells horses and she says the market is dire at the moment as well, so lots working against us.

 

[Shinx]

Is anyone familiar with good sales livery yards for TBs in the SE? If so could you please PM me any recommendations, I would really appreciate it!

 

[SO1]

I think it is not a good time of year to sell unless it is pony club ponies because it is half term and people are looking for ponies in time for the Easter holidays. The weather is not great and it so wet. You do need feedback from the sales livery, if you are getting viewings but no offers then the ad may not match what the viewers are seeing what they get there.

 

[ycbm]

I had a friend with a horse on sales livery. The buyer who bought the horse told her that it had been a devil of a job to get the dealer to show her the horse, she was trying to sell all her own and not even let her see him. She liked his unusual colouring and insisted on knowing whether he was for sale and trying him when the dealer was forced to admit that he was.

Not all dealers charging sales livery actually want the horse to sell! Are you sure he's actually been viewed? We're you there for any of the "lots of viewings"?
.

 

[nutjob]

I'm looking for a horse atm. The market is definitely much quieter than during covid when it was difficult to buy a decent horse at all, unless you were prepared to buy unseen and just send ££££'s to a total stranger and take pot luck. I'm not seeing much in the way of bargains but horses are still for sale after a few weeks and sellers prepared to send videos etc before viewing, there's less urgency. If your horse has genuinely had lots of viewings and no offers it seems odd. I would get a friend to set up a viewing and see how it goes and feed back to you. You never know what's going on.

A few years back I was selling a house and used an on line agent. The fees were paid up front but I got no enquires and the house was competitively priced. I asked relatives with a different surname to mine to make an enquiry and the company was simply not passing them on to me, they'd got their money.

 

[Shinx]

Nutjob, that's horrendous, I'm so sorry that happened to you! Ycbm I find that story horrifying too. It's very worrying what people will do for money. She came highly recommended from people I know personally so I think she does have many successful sales, but perhaps she isn't the right person to sell my particular horse. Or the market just blows/we've priced him too high

It's hard to know when to cut your losses!

 

[Bobthecob15]

Thanks everyone, lots to think about. I really like the woman who runs the sales livery but I do feel she's not necessarily going above and beyond (but then I don't know a lot about selling horses!).

Probably yes to new price and new adverts. I've asked a friend who sells horses and she says the market is dire at the moment as well, so lots working against us.

It’s like selling a house, the estate agent should give you feedback from each viewing and advise on what you need to pitch at re price, market etc… I don’t see it’s any different for sales livery. Ask her what she thinks he should be selling for? Thats how it’s always worked at the sales liveries I’ve come into contact with anyway x

 

[maya2008]

I would have a browse on the selling sites (not Facebook) and see if his prices matches that of others.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I'm looking for a horse atm. The market is definitely much quieter than during covid when it was difficult to buy a decent horse at all, unless you were prepared to buy unseen and just send ££££'s to a total stranger and take pot luck. I'm not seeing much in the way of bargains but horses are still for sale after a few weeks and sellers prepared to send videos etc before viewing, there's less urgency. If your horse has genuinely had lots of viewings and no offers it seems odd. I would get a friend to set up a viewing and see how it goes and feed back to you. You never know what's going on.

A few years back I was selling a house and used an on line agent. The fees were paid up front but I got no enquires and the house was competitively priced. I asked relatives with a different surname to mine to make an enquiry and the company was simply not passing them on to me, they'd got their money.

We found similar when we used an online agent to sell our house, we’d never do it again. Had one viewing in weeks. Put it on with a regular agent and sold it within a week, it makes a huge difference!

Fingers crossed you get some movement soon, I think people are starting to look now thinking about the spring so hopefully yours will go soon x

 

[sollimum]

I have been trying to buy and they are selling quickly. I do think that seems a very long time - how is the yard marketing your horse? Have they given you no feed back at all, it all seems a bit strange to me. I have trawled every site and ad for weeks now and have a good idea of what horses are priced at and most have sold promptly. I would have a good think and chat with the yard about why he hasn't sold. Good luck x

 

[Widgeon]

She came highly recommended from people I know personally so I think she does have many successful sales, but perhaps she isn't the right person to sell my particular horse.

I do think that some dealers get a name for selling certain "types", so perhaps she just isn't the first place that potential buyers for a TB would look?

 

[Glitter's fun]

If you are sure the livery is being honest about how many viewings he is getting, he must sound good & the price is in the right ballpark for what he looks to be on paper but then he disappoints in person. You need more feedback why that is.
Can the livery provide you with contact details for the viewers?

 

[marmalade76]

I do think things have slowed down considerably. There's someone I know locally who took up dealing/sales livery a couple of years ago and she was doing a roaring trade just through her Facebook page. Right now her horses are hanging around and she's just posted that they're now going on Wickr (however you spell it!)

The ground is as soggy as hell and hay is expensive, I would try again in the spring.