I really need to sell my horse and am failing miserably

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toomanyhorses26

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I have had my little project mare up for sale for four weeks now and have had two phone calls and I need to have sold her like yesterday :D

I think she is up for a appropriate price and have checked my advert with a couple of riding instructors etc that I know and they agree that I am at the lower end of what she is worth. Do I just wait or bite the bullet and drop the price even further - I am reluctant to do as a) I need to clear a credit card and b) she is a sensitive soul and I would be concerned for her future(rightly or wrongly) if the price went too low as I feel it opens her up to people who might not be suitable. She is currently on horsemart,a couple of freebie site and in my two local feed shops. Any help would be fab as all this is making my head hurt now :(
 
I think its bad timing. i know someone who has a project horse they purchased to sell again, i think they are going to be stuck with it for the winter. But there is no telling some people.
The only advice i can give is word of mouth or up your game in the advertising market, make her sound like the best thing since sliced bread but not misleading.
 
I am considering putting her on more sites etc but dont feel she is the calibre of horsequest etc yet . Another year and she will be amazing :) she was on her way to the meat man when I purchased back in march and last week competed at her first show and came away with two rosettes :) Maybe I have put people off by saying she is sensitive but take this point out of the advert and she begins to sound like a first horse etc which in my mind she probably isnt just yet
 
I haven't seen the advert but 'sensitive' would put me off and I am experienced! Try "would suit experienced rider" instead.
 
Good point - will go and re word it . She isnt some complete idiot but just prefers a quieter style of riding I guess where as my other horse is much more of a therwell kick type ride :D
 
As an experianced rider you should be able to adapt your style to what the horse needs - it would make sense to change the wording get people to see her and then you can suss out if they are right for her or not
 
Bottom line?

She is only worth what someone is willing to pay for her. Unless your ad is very poorly worded then she must be overpriced for the current market.
 
Thanks for sending me the link.

I think you would get more interest if you uploaded a few photos onto the sale site.
The photo you link to is not the best, she is squinting at the camera and it makes her look a little sly. It also is not the greatest shot for showing her conformation at it's best as her quarters are angled at you and it make her look a slightly strange shape.
I'd recommend uploading one conf. shot (shot square on level ground, preferably with no tack) and a couple of ridden shots, one on the flat one over fences if possible.

Is she good in traffic? If so mention it in the ad. I think the ad could do with tidying up a little so it reads easier. For instance "Has started to jump and is showing a good but green jump" might read better if worded "Recently started jumping and showing potential"

I think she is at the top end of her price range in the current climate, but reducing her price could look a little suspect to potential purchasers, perhaps you could include her tack and rugs in the current price to encourage more interest.

Also advertising with only a mobile number can be off putting for potential purchasers too.
 
I need to get myself on a proper computer to be honest as am currently only on the internet on my phone which is making uploading pictures interesting to say the least :) I dont have a landline so cant do anything about the phone number im afraid.

If she is truely overpriced then I will drop my price - it wasnt some price I have just picked out of thin air :D i asked people I respect and who both buy and sell horses themselves and they gave me a figure of between £2-2.5 k so figured go for the lower end. I am getting to the point where I want to see her in a permanent home and be happy so if that means my situation not being as easy then so be it - I think alot of this little mare and have no doubt she will be a fun horse for someone to have. The saddle that has the potential to go with her is basically brand new - had been ridden in twice before I purchased it and saddler has valued it at £500.

I would only take her to market as a last option I have to be honest (whether this is a right or wrong opinion I dont know )

Thanks for all the help as it has given me some food for thought and some pointers in the right direction hopefully :)
 
Haven't seen the advert but what about re-wording it along the lines of needing a sensitive rider? (edit as required as I don't know how old the horse is)
'She needs a sensitive, experienced rider that knows how to train a young horse by providing subtle assistance.'
 
I'm supposed to be putting my pony on loan and Im failing miserably at that - mainly coz everytime I write the advert she gets all cuddly! :rolleyes: :D
 
I know what you mean, I have had 2 phonecalls for our boy, made a video as requested by one of the people and haven't heard back at all. Have him advertised on Horsedeals and PC website.
He is not a project horse but a small comp horse with a good record, not sure what the answer is.
 
Can you PM a link? some feedback from various folks maybe helpful, sometimes it's just how people word things that put people off from picking the phone up and enquiring, when all it takes is a phone call to explain things better and get a people down for a viewing.
 
Unfortually I have to agree with the person who said she's only worth what someone will pay
Unfortually I've just sold my friesian youngster who is fully fps registered , good confo and really good bloodlines who a couple of years ago would of got over 2000
This year I've only got 1500
Pee'd off is not the word
But I can't keep another 4 horses another winter
So Unfortually I've had to take it
 
Hi,
from the buyers perspective I have to agree that "sensitive" could mean "explosive" to some. How about "responsive" or "gentle natured"----those kind of words still suggest the need for a quieter rider, but are posistive. Same with "not a novice ride"---sends me running for the hills and not the phone, but, could just mean he/she wouldn't take kindly to being pulled about.
As someone trying to buy I have become perhaps too wary of ads and am constantly reading between the lines (rightly or wrongly) So perhaps rephrase or leave it out and wait for the phone call to explain as someone has already said. Afterall "Bums on seats sell cars", and is much the same for horses.
 
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