Need to sell a horse quickly - what are the options???

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Azabache

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Hi all
My friend is moving to Greece at the beginning of April and is starting to realise that time is running out and that she really must make a decision about her horse. Shes loves him to bits, so it has not been easy for her to come to terms with the situation. She considered taking him to Greece, but circumstances don't really allow this option. She also considered loaning him out, but obviously she wouldn't be able to check on him that easily and what would she do if the loan failed. (I'm afraid that my own life is so hectic, that I don't really want to take on the responsibilty of checking up on him and possibly having to look after him whilst finding him a new home). So she is starting to come to the conclusion that selling him is probably the best option.
Selling him though may not be quite so straight forward though, for a number of reasons. Firstly, time is running out, she's going at the end of April. Secondly, he has arthritis in his coffin joint (he not that old though, early teens). It means that she can't jump him really and needs to be careful on hard ground. She still gives him a gallop though on good ground and he can be schooled on a surface. He cannot be hacked out alone, he gets really nappy, although I'm sure a persitent, experienced rider could cure this. Lastly (and I feel awful for saying this about my friend's horse) he is a bit of a thug. He's not nasty and doesn't buck/rear, it's more that he can tank off and would really take the pee in novice hands. In many ways he is a man's horse. He's Catherstone bred, 16'3'' and would probably be classed as a fat MW, so a lot of horse.
So finally my question - apologies for the essay on his background.
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Due to time running out for my friend, what would be the best way to try to sell him? Has anyone sold a horse to a dealer or at auction? How does it work, and what are the pros and cons of selling in these ways? Can anyone recommed a respectable dealer &/or sales - we're in the Midlands. Or do you have any other suggestions on gettong a quick sale? Many thanks and bacon buttie, choccie bar and mug of tea / large glass of wine for getting this far. x
 
If it would me I would price him realistically and go for a private sale, rather than auction or dealer. I appreciate time is running out for your friend - but if the horse goes to a dealer or auction, there is absolutely no say as to who buys him. At least with a private sale your friend can vet the home before he goes.

Maybe try putting him on project horse and a few of the other advertising websites, and just write an honest advert with a realistic price.

Good luck xx
 
I thought of Project Horse too and suggested it to her. A private sale would be preferable so that she could feel happy knowing where he's going. It's the lack of time though that's the issue. Not only in terms of it's not long til April but also she's going to be so busy over the next few weeks going on trips to Greece and getting everything organised. It may sadly mean that she has to end up (as a last resort) going the dealer route.
 
Forgot to say - other option would be a sale livery. Yes this would cost money - but if you know of a reputable yard to do the selling, it could work in your friends and the horse's favour - the horse would be being worked, and it would take a lot of pressure off your friend.
 
Personally, with his problems and the fact because she has dallied, time is running out, I would do the honourable thing for the horse and PTS. You will be extremely lucky to find someone to take him on as he is and he is the sort of character which will very easily be passed on from pillar to post. Would she be happy knowing that is the likely outcome for him, I know I wouldn't? (I know, it's possible to find somewhere eventually but she's given herself a very tight dateline so I think she should be prepared for the inevitable if she wants to have some say what happens to him.
 
I know it sounds harsh but I agree with MFH. Time is running out and if this horse was mine I'd want to be certain he was in a home where he would be well cared for. If he goes to a dealer or auction he could end up anywhere and it could easily be the start of a downward spiral. I think having him PTS is the better option. At least then she would know his last days were happy and that he didn't suffer.
 
Sadly I also agree with MFH and jendie, given the circumstances plus the arthritis and not being in the first flush of youth as it were, if it were me I would prefer to know that he was 'safe'.
 
Gosh MFH I gasped when I read your response, although I absolutely hear what you are saying. He is not going to be easy to sell, because of all of his issues and I do agree that there is a danger of him being passed from pillar to post. I gasped though because whilst he's a thug, he's not dangerous (I think my own horse would be classed as much more of a danger than he). Also the arthritis isn't preventing him from being ridden.
My only worry bead with Project horses is the type of people that it may attract (I really don't want to offend anyone who goes looking there, I have been on there myself a few times) With him though, even if you fixed his schooling issues, you're not going to make any money on him, so he's not a project horse as such. I'm concerned too that people may buy him because he's cheap but aren't experienced enough to cope with him.
I did consider having him myself, but putting lack of time and money aside, I'm only a shorty, so he's too big for me really and if I'm honest he wouldn't be what I would buy as a second horse. Gosh that sounds awful, but sadly it's true.
I'm not sure really what the answer is, hence my post.
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Anyone you sell him to may decide they know better and either jump him or sell him to someone to jump. And if he's a thug he is highly probable to be moved on UNLESS he is doing a decent job for someone. If he's a schoolmaster dressage horse he'll be in demand regardless of his age and attitude.
Personally I think an auction is a sad thought as there is no way he'll get a bid if you're honest, other than those that will ignore what you say, bute him up and sell him on for profit.
I'd be tempted to advertise him now, screen all interested parties carefully, and be prepared to have him PTS if a perfect home doesn't arrive. There are people capable and looking for this type but they may not all be honest.
Sad decision.
 
I think you have A LOT of misconceptions about PH.

Numptys come in all shapes and sizes and aren't contained to being those with little money or those browsing PH!

I bought my aggressive gelding from PH - I do not intend to sell him and he has a home for life - if your friend can bear to give some time to the process then its far better than just trotting him off to a dealers/sales. If she cannot find a suitable home for him on there and or on horsemart etc - put him to sleep.

My conscience would be clean if I had a good home on PH or he was PTS - it wouldn't be if for sake of ease I put him in a sale or dealers.
 
Kitsune, your absolutely right about numpties being all around, sometimes more so with money! Money certainly does not equal ability. I struggled with how to phrase my concerns about PH and hope I have not offended people.
 
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Gosh MFH I gasped when I read your response, although I absolutely hear what you are saying. He is not going to be easy to sell, because of all of his issues and I do agree that there is a danger of him being passed from pillar to post. I gasped though because whilst he's a thug, he's not dangerous (I think my own horse would be classed as much more of a danger than he). Also the arthritis isn't preventing him from being ridden.


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It's because of his issues that I said what I did. There's no getting away from it, he has issues that many people wouldn't want to take on, it's not as if he's a youngster with a lot of things in his favour. If the owner had all the time in the world, she might find someone for him but with her time spoken for she's going to be pushed and I just think she should be prepared for that.
I don't think you're bad at all for not taking him on, you're being realistic, I hope your friend can be if it's necessary but I hope it won't be.
 
Hes well bred, maybe he could be sold as a dressage horse?

For the right price someone would buy him, He sounds like hes good to school and hack in company. Lots of horses are nappy and a bit bulshy on the ground but with some experienced handling/riding are totally fine.

I would write an advert like this:-

16.3hh MW gelding by Catherston... X yrs old
Competed in X/Y/Z (im sure he has competed at some point?). Nice paces and works well in the school, would make excellent dressage horse/show hunter but is not suitable for a jumping home. Good to hack in company and box/clip/shoe/catch.
A big, quality lad so NOT suitable for anyone novice or nervous but will not buck/rear or do anything dangerous.

Price £1,500ono

When people ring up you can explain about the coffin joint so thats the reason he cant jump and about the nappyness out hacking and that those are the reasons hes cheap.

If you cant find anyone with an advert within a couple of weeks then sales livery sounds the best.

Im sure he will be useful for someone, good luck to your friend
 
Couldn't agree more with the PTS option I'm afraid. If your friend were to contact the BHS welfare dept they would tell her the same. If she loves her horse as much as you say she does & she can no longer control & guarantee a safe future for him then it's the right thing to do.
 
I would not pay £1500 for a horse with a known injury and middle aged. You'd be lucky if you got £1000 from me for that - there are so many sound horses he'd have to be pretty special for me to even consider spending over £1000 for him.

I bought my sound 12YO for £1200 who is an allrounder.
 
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PTS

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I cant believe this could be a viable option at the moment. Hes sound and not dangerous!

My friends horse has artheritis and yet she is sound and gets placed in Medium BD! A lot of horses live an active life with artheritis, its best to work them anyway. Also ALOT of dressage horses wont hack alone and are not exactly your friendly cob next door to handle!

Give the lad a chance.. I agree if there is NO other option and the right people arent ringing up or sales livery cannot sell him then PTS but there may be the right person out there.

If someone had pts my little TB ex racehorse because he naps and had a mild tendon injury when he was 2yr old I wouldnt have the charming, genuine little gem I have now.
 
The point is she has very limited time to rehome and the horse is middle aged, the odds are slim that this horse will get a good home, faced with an uncertain future and very little time, PTS is the only sensible option.

However one must query why 2 months before someone moves abroad they are only now worrying about what is going to happen with their horse!
 
I don't think PTS is the only option at the moment, but IMO its a better one than sending him to the sales. And pretty soon it may be that there is little choice.
I certainly wouldn't pay 1.5k for a horse that could do so little and isn't really a schoolmaster, I think you'll have a problem putting a pig enough price on him to keep the so called numpties away but attract those who would actually serve him well.
Firewell, a tendon injury can heal and never be a problem, this horse has a condition that may degenerate, and at an unknown rate.
 
I think it would be cruel to the horse if your mate took him to the sales!! If he is a big good looking lad, he will be bought, drugged up and sold on as a show jumper/eventer. He may be lucky to find a nice permanent home at the sales but, come on, how offen does that happen!!

Project horses may work, if the right person is looking! I got my dressage horse from project horses and he cant be jumped because he is too excitable, which i didnt mind because i dont like jumping. And he will have a home for life with me.

I would advertise him very honestly for a month and see what happens, if she doesnt trust anyone that phones for him then i would have him PTS.

I sold a 4 yr old privatly a couple of years ago, that wasnt the easiest horse to get along with, but i was told he was going to a forever home, he is now being sold from dealer to dealer and i now cant find him anywhere! Its heart breaking that i have no idea where he is, what they are doing to him, nothing.

I wish now i had him PTS, i know he was only 4, but he had issues, and i done the wrong thing and trusted the buyer!

Wow that is an essay, sorry!
 
I really don't agree with having horses PTS just like that. Sorry,. I don't. I do think your friend has left it rather late though and this could be an issue.

Would he be able to hunt? I know you say about his coffin joint arthritis but if that's all it is (arthritis) then it's not actually going to do him an awful lot of harm is it? I don't know the full details but a hunt home could suit him.

I would certainly try project horses as people go on there knowing full well the horses will.may have issues, I wouldn't be asking more than £1000 for him though. Certainly I would not advise passing to a dealer or sale (a) a dealer's not going to really want him and (b) sales I think is irresponsible and you don't have as much say in where he's going.

Why is it she cannot get him to Greece? Where abouts is she going and how long for? I think maybe she could look into this option further unless she has and realised it's totally not feasible.
 
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Would he be able to hunt? I know you say about his coffin joint arthritis but if that's all it is (arthritis) then it's not actually going to do him an awful lot of harm is it? I don't know the full details but a hunt home could suit him.


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You are joking?
 
You need to do a poll maybe to find out who on here would buy him and if so for how much?

Sorry, but you wouldn't be able to give him to me, he sounds like trouble & money bless him
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I don't think she would get much more than £500 in an auction or a dealer
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Sorry, but you wouldn't be able to give him to me, he sounds like trouble & money bless him
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I don't think she would get much more than £500 in an auction or a dealer
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Thats about right, & the dealer would then pass him straight to a meat man.

I'm afraid a bit of realism is what's needed here.
 
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Sorry, but you wouldn't be able to give him to me, he sounds like trouble & money bless him
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I don't think she would get much more than £500 in an auction or a dealer
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Thats about right, & the dealer would then pass him straight to a meat man.

I'm afraid a bit of realism is what's needed here.

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or fill him to the brim with bute and sell him as a SJer...
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tis a sad story.
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QR.
These situations are a major bugbear of mine. It never ceases to amaze me how people who profess to love their horses refuse to take responsibility for their long term well being. Instead they will do anything they can to avoid facing up to the reality of the situation.
The true likelihood of this horse ending up in a caring 'forever' home is zero. It naps, it''s unsound unless great care is taken, & with arthritis its only going to get worse. To cap it all it's a thug & not easy to handle. Yeah that's really the sort of horse to suit someone looking for something just to hack out on. Then look at the breeding - probably not the sort to live out 24/7 on a small feed & half a bale of hay a day in the winter either.
 
If i were her i would try and sell him to a hacking/light dressage home that understands his needs (easier said than done) or i would get him PTS. I would never pay that money for a horse with his problems. There are plenty of horses out there for free with not as many hang ups as your friends horse, for example I have recently taken on a very nice anglo arab who was free to a good home,he is 19 now but is def still up to hacking and showing,he never really did much jumping so havn't tried it but wouldn't start doing that anyway at his age now. Apart from being a little stiff when he first comes out the box he is near perfect to what you would want in a horse. He has manners to die for is a forward going ride but totally safe (your nan could ride him!). I think she def needs to forget about the money side of things and focus on just finding him a suitable home and if that fails then she needs to organise the latter option
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