open day for sale of riding school horses- would you go??

charlie76

charlie76

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we are in the throws of cutting right back on a school horses and ponies and currently have about ten for sale. Was thinking of having a sale open day.. do you think people would go for this or would be put off by the fact they are school horses( albeit quality ones!). If so, where would you think to advertise and is there any rules/regulations on it?
I was thinking that they can be tried hacking, schooling, jumping, lead rein, seen on the lunge etc.
 
how old are they? im sure there would be some people, for first ponies etc, definitely worth a try :) i nearly bought a riding school pony when i was like 9 but he was very young only about 6. good luck x

oh also where are you? also may be worth charging an admission so you dont get joy riders
 
I dont think that people would be put off by the fact they are school horses, most school horses are generally well behaved. I bought a horse off a school, she was just turned 5 when I got her and she was a star... she would hack quietly, jump and did a cracking dressage test, she was placed every time out :)
 
Personally I wouldn't like the idea of the horses being lunged, ridden, jumped on and off all day.
Instead why not make up a flyer/catalogue of who can do what etc, and then a time they can come and see that horse in the school, being jumped etc.
The serious buyers can then make arrangements to come back and try the horse on a different day when there is less going on and you can give the buyer your full attention.
 
It sounds fun but I think it would have to be quite structured. I.e. have people come in time slots (booked)...Otherwise you won't be able to keep your eye on all of the people riding and answer all the questions. Also you might get several people at once wanting to buy the same pony, which could be awkward. - you could have it that people put in their offers afterwards, at a certain time...so that everyone has a chance to ride various ponies etc. Don't know if that makes sense!

It sounds a bit like having an open day when you sell a house. If I was in the market for a pony for a child I would certainly have a nosey.
 
We have about 30 altogether so would show all of them in the morning at then people could book slots of trying them, maybe it would be better over 2 days.
We would like to sell between 10 and 15 of them.
 
It's a good idea I think! But agree with the timeslots so that you could watch the rider and answer all the questions.

If you have enough staff could you assign one staff member to a Horse? to help things run smoothly.

I'm looking for a nice steady Horse myself and your not to far away from me (About an hour and half) and its something that would interest me to come and pop along.
 
I expect you will get a lot of lookers and tryer's but not a lot of bidders.

Your post on here maybe a good enough advert to sell some of them . . . wink wink !!
 
Well I think it's a great idea. We bought one of ours at the closing down of a riding school everything went to auction. We had been given a name to ring so OH could go and try what would be suitable and we paid quite a bit for him but he has been worth his weight in gold. Put a big notice up in the riding school alot of them may want to buy. Any local horse papers (east midlands we have Equestrian Life) Admag for your area local paper etc.

Good luck I would defo buy a riding school horse for a first horse (as long as people don't think your getting rid of (bad ones)!!:eek: if you know what I mean.:p
 
the way i think i would do it would be something like this:

the week before, people could arrange to come and try them out - maybe in groups so they would have a maybe 15min go pretty much similar to a group lesson but without instruction but obviously staff there to see whats going on. In order to do this - they would have to pay a minimal fee - such as £3 or £5 or something - mainly to stop joyriders!
i would then hold a 'sale' day whereby the horses are presented by the staff only, pop a jump etc. and then people submit sealed bids/tenders - when the horses are displayed, there is a price guide so you dont get cheeky offers etc.
at the end of the day, the manager opens the offers and can then decide which to actually sell (ie, you wouldnt maybe want to sell all the ponies but a good mixture) plus you can accept the best price - or if you think the top bid isnt the best person for the pony/horse, go down to the next one.
If the bids are subject to vetting etc, if someone ends up pulling, you would also have all of the details of the others intersted in that horse/pony.

i think thats what i would try and do if i had a large number of horses to sell, and only wanted to sell some of them etc.
 
hi,
You could also up date your website with details of horses beforehand? When i was looking i checked your website as i have competed at your place in the past (and loved it) but was put off by a general request to ring in. Maybe even brief details may get some interest?
Good luck!
 
Could you maybe write an advert and post on each stable door, buyers can look at the descriptions and also be able to make a fuss of the Horse/Pony over the door to see if they like them. Then if they would like to try some of them you could provide time slots on a first come basis.

As someone else suggested, put on your website as well, so people from outside the area can have a look and decide wether they would like to make the journey down to see the Horse.
 
Sounds like a great idea an agree it needs to be structured. Might be a good idea to speak on the phone about what each person is looking for to best match them up, and to help weed out people wanting to ride for free!
 
I'd definitley buy a riding school horse/pony- especially the better quality ones. The fact that they'd been in a riding school wouldn't put me off at all. I'm in agreement with several others on here though, i'd advertise the open day and get the staff to put each horse through it's paces first, then book slots after the event (afternoon if time, or next day) so potential buyers could come and try the horse themselves and ask questions (also giving you time to really 'sell' the horse) You can also see the potential buyers riding then, and get an idea of whether the horse and rider would suit each other, minimising the chance that the new owner comes to you 2 weeks later saying the horse isn't right for them.
Have you already put posters/notices up around the riding school? If it's anything like my old riding school used to be i bet a lot of the clients would want to buy their favourite if they were for sale. Descriptions and photos on the website would also be a good idea- advertise the fact that some are for sale and you may sell enough without having to organize an open day.
 
Oh gosh what a shame, a lady at our yard is about to buy a potentially very unsuitable horse (young mare - very novice/nervous rider) and something ex riding school would have been IDEAL for her. Let ,me know if you update your website with details in case I can steer her towards it - have you much over 15hh for sale? A nice 12 year old gelding would suit her down to the ground!
We have a great youngster at ours - belonging again to relatively novice owner but he spent 6 months as a 4 year old in a RS, did him the world of good as he is now very forgiving of all sorts of different riders!
 
I think it is a fab idea, and agree with the idea of timed slots of each horse being put through their paces by one of the staff, then potential owners could book a time to come ride/try said horse
I would also ask a nominal gate fee
I am not looking to buy, but if you need any help in any way even if it is making the tea as refeshments are always needed and will make a bit more money for the riding school
 
miss_bird said:
I think it is a fab idea, and agree with the idea of timed slots of each horse being put through their paces by one of the staff, then potential owners could book a time to come ride/try said horse
I would also ask a nominal gate fee
I am not looking to buy, but if you need any help in any way even if it is making the tea as refeshments are always needed and will make a bit more money for the riding school
Click to expand...

yeah, keep us updated, i would be happy to come and help out if needed, im not too far away i dont think :)
 
Hello! I helped a friend close theirs down and just put a riding school closure ad on horsemart. We sold the lot in about 2 weeks. Just a thought though have you informed existing clients that school horses are to be sold off? We advertise all of ours in house first as clients often like to have first dibs. Also got any weight carrier hunter types you want to sell for sensible money? We need another for our school! (ideally a big horse who has hunted as part of their job is hireling work)
 
What about a general open day, a catalogue with the horses important info, and then say at 2 o'clock, have "Star" shown, jumped and ridden by your rider, and then at 3 o clock, have another horse ridden, Etc? Then those that want to try them, can book to have a time? :)
 
If I was looking I definately would! I would like the fact that they are school horses, as with all of the health and safety stuff, no riding school in their right mind would put a customer on a horse that was nasty :) So I would be reassured that they were safe!
 
There was a riding school closing down near Swindon a few years ago and they auctioned ponies off on the day. I went,vaguely looking for a pony for my son, it heaving and all the ponies made unbelievable prices, a lot more than I was prepared to pay. I think a lot of them were bought by regulars as I think the riding school carried on as a livery yard as it is now.
 
When the school I ran closed its doors due to owner retirement, we sold most of the horses that weren't going to be retired either to or through customers. Quite a few people bought their favourites and ex-clients who had moved on to ownership inquired for friends, their children etc. We also put the word out to other schools and instructors in the area.

A "try out/viewing day" would be a good idea but, like North Americans, I don't find people here to be big "auction bidders" so don't be too surprised or feel that it's not been worth it if you don't close deals on the day.
 
I'd certainly have a look, In fact where in Berks are you?
I'm possibly after a 15-16.3hh hack quiet and safe to accompany my daughter and youngster
 
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