Is it me, or is Facebook flooded by horse/pony ads that don’t seem to be selling?

maya2008

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I don’t remember this many ads everywhere this time last year. Lots of livery yard spaces too. People cutting down/giving up due to cost of living?
 

meleeka

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I only commented on this the other day to OH. Our local big livery yard is advertising spaces. For the last 20-odd years they’ve had a waiting list, which often gets closed when there are too many on it. I worry that as a commercial enterprise, it will close if the income drops too much (owner isn’t remotely horsey).
 

NeverSurrender

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Yes I've noticed this too - primarily about youngstock in my particular case, but I have friends selling yearlings at very very low, reasonable prices for what they are and they just aren't shifting at all.
 

Lexi 123

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Yeah it’s the same in Ireland 🇮🇪 riding horses are taking ages to sell and re advertise prices reduced and young stock isn’t selling at all by the looks of it so Irish breeders are going to be screwed as people aren’t taking the risk of buying a foal or yearling and 2 /3 years olds . I don’t know what it’s like in the uk but Ireland cost of living is still very high. So people can’t afford there horses anymore and old horses aren’t being replaced .
 

maya2008

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It’s not even that people are going to see and not finding the horse/pony suitable - ad after ad getting no comments at all (decent ads with nice looking ponies) then reappearing absolutely everywhere for weeks and weeks and weeks.
 
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The Xmas Furry

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With livery, I've seen a goodly amount of local decent yards actually advertising spaces, but equally a good number of people looking for a field to rent, or grass or DIY livery that 'must be cheap'.

The yards advertising mostly appear to be part or full only tho. I know of 1 large local yard that informed their DIY liveries in July/August that they would no longer be offering DIY but given 2 months notice that from 1st Oct they would be part livery only. That's a 40+ box yard and only the front yard of 10 boxes was already part livery.

The last 2 weeks I've had notes left and people popping into my yard asking about livery in the immediate area.

Tightening belt time for many.....
 

Gloi

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You are right, I've seen many nice animals both youngsters and riding horses. My YO has some lovely foals to sell
Another thing is that people with old ponies are having them pts rather than pay to keep them through the winter .
 
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dougpeg

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Will be interesting to see how things pan out. Over the last couple of years I've seen a significant decrease in yards offering DIY livery. Probably due to yards needing to cover rising costs. I think there is going to be people looking to move back to DIY this winter. I have two and couldn't afford fully livery prices for both.
 

SO1

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I have seen a lot of wanted adds for ponies too. I expect a mismatch people not willing to pay what people are asking. I think more people are using Facebook to advertise rather than more traditional routes such as horsequest, horsemart.

I have a lot of friends who have lost veterans over the last 18 months and most are getting new equines I am the only person who has got a new ridden pony my other friends have got unbacked because they were priced out of the market for backed.

Certainly ridden new forests are appear to be in demand lots of people with wanted ads on Facebook and the ponies commanding a decent price though Bert was advertised at first for 10k and then reduced to 8.5k which is what I paid for him and he is 5.


I don’t remember this many ads everywhere this time last year. Lots of livery yard spaces too. People cutting down/giving up due to cost of living?
 

Peglo

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I’ve also thought there’s been a lot of horses for sale. So many TB’s. Quite a few in their late teens and then lots of 4/5 year olds. I can’t help wondering where all these horses are going to go as they all seem quirky or need experienced riders. What a shame if costs are forcing people to give up.
 

Sossigpoker

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I've noticed that livery spaces don't seem to get filled , I see yards continuing to advertise spaces that normally would go word of mouth.
 

AdorableAlice

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Probably just mirroring what’s happening with dogs and puppy prices. For the same reasons.
The puppy industry and gone through the floor at long last. Breeders are disposing of the bigger breeds and going to toy breeds.

All shelters are full with dumped dogs and the dog wardens are flat out 24/7.
 

gallopingby

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It depends on the horse. There are a lot of lower quality horses about that people will struggle to sell if they‘re aware of good conformation / type / schooling etc equally there aren’t many large breed mountain & moorland ponies around that are nicely schooled, true to type etc because there haven’t been as many bred over the past ten plus years and people who have them tend to keep them forever.
 

Btomkins

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I have advertised my lovely little 2 year old cob numerous times over the last few months and haven’t had any interest at all.

He’s a pretty colour, good conformation and has been to some inhand shows and is a fab little guy all round who’s been raised well, but not so much as an enquiry! And I know I’ve put great photos and a good write up.

Must be his current age and size.

Haven’t even listed a price so it can’t be that putting people off - he’s very reasonable.

I, on the other hand, have just bought a 6 month filly who will arrive in a few weeks. Oops. So there are buyers out there, but less that the previous few years I think.
 

ycbm

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Two is a very difficult age to sell. Not a total blank slate baby, not old enough to work.

Haven’t even listed a price so it can’t be that putting people off - he’s very reasonable


This is very off putting. A lot of people, me included, think no price given means the horse will not be worth what's going to be asked and/or that the price will depend on what the seller thinks the buyer can afford. I never ring about ads with no price and I'm far from alone on that.
 

Btomkins

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Two is a very difficult age to sell. Not a total blank slate baby, not old enough to work.




This is very off putting. A lot of people, me included, think no price given means the horse will not be worth what's going to be asked and/or that the price will depend on what the seller thinks the buyer can afford. I never ring about ads with no price and I'm far from alone on that.

The no price is for Facebook only - standard on there so no different from anyone else.

Yes I agree on the age, plus he’s likely to make 13.2/3hh so a limited market as I think he’d suit a petite adult. I’m in no rush to sell him, he’s no trouble and very sweet so will now wait until he’s older and lightly backed I think.
 

SO1

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No price will put some people off. I know facebook ads though can't put prices on.

I have advertised my lovely little 2 year old cob numerous times over the last few months and haven’t had any interest at all.

He’s a pretty colour, good conformation and has been to some inhand shows and is a fab little guy all round who’s been raised well, but not so much as an enoquiry! And I know I’ve put great photos and a good write up.

Must be his current age and size.

Haven’t even listed a price so it can’t be that putting people off - he’s very reasonable.

I, on the other hand, have just bought a 6 month filly who will arrive in a few weeks. Oops. So there are buyers out there, but less that the previous few years I think.
 

Muddy unicorn

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Horses seem to be flying out of some of the bigger dealing yards round here - and they’re not cheap horses either. The places I’m thinking of have a very good reputation and no shortage of would-be buyers 🤷‍♀️
 

exracehorse

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Will be interesting to see how things pan out. Over the last couple of years I've seen a significant decrease in yards offering DIY livery. Probably due to yards needing to cover rising costs. I think there is going to be people looking to move back to DIY this winter. I have two and couldn't afford fully livery prices for both.
Yes. Friends are looking to go diy. As 800 pounds a month min is a lot. On the selling point. Another friend just sold her daughter’s pony club pony for 8k.
 

Widgeon

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Secondhand quality tack/rugs aren't selling either. Previously decent stuff would sell immediately but that's not happening either.

That is definitely true - I was talking to a saddle fitter the other day and she said that second hand saddles just aren't shifting and it's very much a buyers' market, whereas three months ago she wouldn't have said that.
 

Widgeon

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A lot of people, me included, think no price given means the horse will not be worth what's going to be asked and/or that the price will depend on what the seller thinks the buyer can afford. I never ring about ads with no price and I'm far from alone on that.

I wouldn't even have thought about it that deeply - I'd just assume that if there's no price, it'll be way out of my very average budget and there's no point wasting my (and the seller's) time with a phone call. Completely agree that it's very off putting!
 

Caol Ila

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I wouldn't even have thought about it that deeply - I'd just assume that if there's no price, it'll be way out of my very average budget and there's no point wasting my (and the seller's) time with a phone call. Completely agree that it's very off putting!

That's my view as well. If I have to ask, I can't afford.

There are ways around FB's rules. Just be creative, people.
 

FAYEFUDGE

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I don’t remember this many ads everywhere this time last year. Lots of livery yard spaces too. People cutting down/giving up due to cost of living?
Yes, based NI and looking for a horse and have noticed several horses for sale that have been advertised for months. Prices appear to have been reduced a few times too.
 

gallopingby

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Yes, based NI and looking for a horse and have noticed several horses for sale that have been advertised for months. Prices appear to have been reduced a few times too.
Sometimes horses remain advertised because they are in slightly difficult places geographically and people only want to travel 30 mins or so to view, completely bonkers but unless you phone up or go and view you won’t know.
 
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