Okay, so what questions do you ask when selling a horse?

[MrsMozart]

My earlier post about questions to ask when buying a horse made me wonder what one asks when selling a horse

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So, any thoughts?

 

[sea_view]

Are you meaning what you would ask a buyer?

 

[MrsMozart]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you meaning what you would ask a buyer?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I think so

And thinking about it, how would one prepare a horse that is about to be viewed? Does one leave it in the field so's the prospective people can see him/her caught?

Hm. I'm in a contemplative mood this evening

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[clairefeekerry1]

suppose i'd want to know about the type of prospective home and ability of prospective owner

 

[HollyB66]

When we went to see our 'new girl' she was out in the field when we arrived. The seller just went into her field and called her and she came walking over to her.

I think it was at that point our hearts melted

We've never had to chase her around a muddy field, she enjoys being out with her field mates but loves to come in for a fuss, food and a ride.

I think by the time we finished getting to know the sellers they knew our life history - they were lovely people - and we think they were happy for us to be the buyers. Inspite of our lack of experience and riding ability - they knew we had a good 'support system' to get us through the 'sticky times' - not that we've really had any.

 

[sea_view]

For a first viewing I have mine in and groomed to be tacked up and ridden, I would leave in a field for second viewing for catch, groom, tacking up etc.

I would want to know what experience they had, what they intended to do with the horse, where it would be kept, if there was company - basically questions that were relevant to the particular animal if that makes sense

 

[Cobbysmum]

I think you need to ask about experience and if they haven't much but are capable, what support they will have, i.e. livery yard, instructor, capable friend. My biggest fear is that the horse or pony won't be treated confidently and result in it doing something they have never done while with you. My big cob loves to take the mickey out of people he doesn't know but wouldn't dream of doing it with me.

 

[Dubsie]

Trying to think back to what we were asked...we had a fair bit of a grilling both from the owner beforehand on the phone and on the day of viewing from the instructor who had broken/trained the pony as to what daughter had been riding, what level she was at, what she was hoping to do. We also got asked where he'd be kept, how much land/grass/what facilities we had, whether he'd have company etc. - we had a choice of No1 LGW and field companion, or a pony from a friend of a friend - we chose the latter and they were delighted as they knew the home, so didn't really ask much in the way of questions other than had we a vet/farrier/help sorted as required - and could we keep in touch, which I think many people who care for a pony they're selling would love to do, but perhaps don't always ask or remember to ask? The first pony's owners also wanted to keep in touch too.

 

[vickybrennan]

I have a lot of recent experience of this - but with only one horse!!! Because I put a stunning picture of him in the advert and he is coloured - I got dozens and dozens of enquiries. 99% were time wasters just wanting to be nosey or come and look/ride with no intention of buying.

Sooo - I got to asking all callers ...

- Full name and contact details including area (I had calls from 400miles away - so they weren't likely to come and buy him) and I lost some of them at this point because they wouldn't tell me

- What experience of bringing on young horses - he was a green 4 yr old as described in the advert - but still they called!
- If the answer to the last question was OK then did they have someone they could hack out with or help they could call on if necessary.
- What did they want the horse to do (he is not a top dressage prospect or a 3 day eventer type)

I wasn't interested in whether they were to keep him in or out, in company or on his own, at home or livery, riding english/western etc etc he was already accustomed to all these variations anyway

As time went by I got better at spotting the people who were serious - there were 2 of them from around 50 enquiries!!