Part Exchanging Horses?

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LansdownK310

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Has anyone ever part exchanged their horse with a dealer?

I decided a few weeks ago to sell my horse as he is too much for me, I’ve been trying for 6 months, we’ve made lots of progress but after rearing with me on a busy main road for no reason other than excitement, I realise I can’t give him the amount of work or stimulation he needs. He’s also picked up on my anxiety so our ridden relationship has broken down.

I’ve had others ride him and he’s been very naughty for them as well. He only goes well for one girl on my yard – no one else will get on him , in fact he goes really sweetly for her and is never naughty.

I have him advertised but no interest, I’ve had one phone call and viewing, they loved him but text me late last night only a few hours after arranging the second viewing saying they felt they couldn’t progress due to a sarcoid which I’ve had treated with Liverpool Cream. So I’m stuck with a horse I don’t want to ride, I’m paying someone else to ride him and have run out of options…

So I’m thinking my only option is to try and p/x him. Any indication of what I’m likely to get or experiences would be appreciated.

Coffee and bacon sarnie for those that have got this far :)
 
You'll probably have to pay a lot of money on top to get something half-decent. He doesn't sound like a horse a dealer would be able to easily move on and he might end up in sale after sale. Have you considered selling him extremely cheaply? You might be able to find him a longer term home and when you're buying with cash and no part-ex, you've got much more bargaining power and a horse you might have bought when tradiing your boy in, would cost you a lot less in the long run
 
He's been advertised at 1500 with not a sniff of interest, what price should I be looking at, lots of views of my ad but no calls? He is 5yrs old 7/8 TB x ID just started jumping and really enjoys it, good to hack on own and in company when he's being worked. Lovely to handle with no vices etc... 100% sound, only a very minute splint on hind leg. Good feet and fine to shoe etc.
 
Sorry, but rearing is a vice! The splint is does not help, hind leg splint is unusual. Sarcoids too!
Could you pay the girl to ride him every day while you do ALL the chores, I mean like saddling up, helping with jumps etc in the arena, in a few weeks he may be a more sale-able horse.
Advertise as not novice ride, currently schooled over coloured fences, priced to sell, leave it at that, you want people phone up and then you can be honest with them, ask them to come and see him with no pressure to buy. Do not negotiate on price over the phone, you may tell them "I want £1250 and no less", or you can say "about £1500" ... sometimes you may not want to sell to them, so the second option is better.
Explain you are a novice and have bought a horse that is too much for you. Do not allow 13 year olds with a lifetimes experience to come without their parents.
If you sell him too cheap he will end up in France [you know what I mean]
 
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LansdownK310 said:
Has anyone ever part exchanged their horse with a dealer?

I decided a few weeks ago to sell my horse as he is too much for me, I’ve been trying for 6 months, we’ve made lots of progress but after rearing with me on a busy main road for no reason other than excitement, I realise I can’t give him the amount of work or stimulation he needs. He’s also picked up on my anxiety so our ridden relationship has broken down.

I’ve had others ride him and he’s been very naughty for them as well. He only goes well for one girl on my yard – no one else will get on him
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If he rears, has a sarcoid and is naughty for most people who ride him to the point where they refuse to get on him, then he's a pretty big problem. Some people won't touch a horse with sarcoids, some draw the line at rearing. You have to ask yourself who would put up with him? How much would they pay for him. I'm sure not many people would be able to cope with him, and those who could will be experienced enough to know that quirky horses are cheap in the current economic climate :( Sorry but that's how I see it
 
Sorry yes I meant no stable vices.

It's a pretty sad situation... i'm already paying the girl that rides him and doing the chores to bring the price down. She says nothing wrong with him in terms of his ridden behaviour - he just needs the work.
 
I know of a similar horse who ended up being sold for £400, sometimes your better to cut your losses and drop the price considerably for someone more experienced to take a risk on them to maybe buy to bring on and sell on again?just make it clear in your add he is a project for someone.

Also to add the horse that sold for that amount had no health issues??

Good luck x
 
I have recently had my first experience with a dealer and it has been fantastic!! I also had trouble selling a horse that didnt have any problems and was looking for a less sporty model for my oh to ride. We have ended up with the most fantastic horse and the dealers gave us a good deal on the one we chopped in.
 
If you have to drop from £1500 to £500 then so be it, I just would not advertise him at that price, what you are looking for is someone who will take him and keep him, but they all say that!
I don't think many people would take him on loan.
You could take him to the sales with a reserve above meat value [auctioneer will advise], fees and costs will probably make this uneconomic but you will probably get rid of him, be wary of someone coming to you after the sale and asking for a deal, you still need to pay the auctioneer!
 
I've had lots of enquiries about loaning but this isnt a viable option...

He's down to £500 and i'm waiting by the phone :( It's so upsetting but I've given him every benefit and chance and been more patient than most with lots of help as well (i'm no novice), he's such a lovely person on the ground.
 
Whether you consider yourself a novice or not, you should say that is the reason you are selling, I am trying to help you here.
I have been in a yard with over sixty riders and only two of them could ride and school my pony without specific instructions.

Even if they had ridden for years, I classify the others as novices.

I have let beginners on him as he is perfectly mannered when I am walking in front of him.

I have had one advanced rider on him [my freelance instructor] and he goes great for her, she is a super rider and instructor.
 
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There will be someone out ther that would love to own your horse and will get the best out of him. Different people get on with different horses. You need to advertise your horse on one of the main sites such as projecthorse, horsequest, horsemart etc. Someone is bound to want him.
 
Just wondering where you have advertised him. I know project horse is a great site for advertising the more challenging equine.

Also, my horse is a permanent loan and is a rearer like your boy. When I took her on she had been out of work for about four years as her 'owner' found her too challenging to cope with in terms of riding. She decided to loan out rather than sell my horse to stop her from being passed around and also from the meat man. I know you say that loaning isn't an option for you but there are people out there (like me) who will take a challenging horse on under these circumstances. As I know my horse's owner doesn't want her back I am thinking of buying her for a token ammount. So perhaps loan with a view to buy might be an option?
 
MrsD123 - sorry I didnt mean to come across rude in anyway.

He's on the most well known site... has had lots of hits.

Yes there will be someone perfect for him - girl on my yard who has been riding him gets on really well, but there arent too many riders like her around that have space for him - believe me i've asked around.
 
LansdownK310 said:
MrsD123 - sorry I didnt mean to come across rude in anyway.
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No, I understand that you are not being rude, I just want you to understand that you need a good solid reason for selling it.
I would classify you as a novice based on my definition of a good rider being someone who can get on any horse, ride it, assess it and school it, an advanced rider would be someone who can do all that, bring the horse on, and compete it in competitions
Any one else is a novice as far as I'm concerned, and you need to tell the people who want your horse that the main reason it is for sale is that you can't ride it because you are a novice, but that it is not a particularly difficult horse.
 
I sold a horse for 400 i'd paid 2200 for, she was a loon and could only go to someone capable of sorting her out, i just cut my losses.
I honestly think u'd be lucky to get 500 in the current climate, mentally and physically sound TB's of that age rarely fetch 1500. A dealer would trade her in for 3-400, so its an option but you'd have to find a lot more money for new one x
 
I had a horse like this a long time ago (did exactly the same - reared on the roads, I lost all confidence and really he was too green for me) who fortunately for me was on loan. He went back to his owners and sold to a lovely home who did lots with him - PC, showing you name it. So he's not necessarily a lost cause but perhaps just needs the right rider.

Couple of ideas - maybe try changing his advert, obviously I don't know what you've put in it but a good bit of rewording can work wonders in terms of getting people to phone up! Highlight all his good points and explain that he is green and needs experienced rider to bring on. Re the part ex, why not ask for recommendations for local dealers and give a few a call and ask their opinion on price/part ex, you have nothing to lose by asking them.

Hope that helps a bit...don't envy your situation it must be very disheartening :(
 
LansdownK310 said:
MrsD123 - sorry I didnt mean to come across rude in anyway.

He's on the most well known site... has had lots of hits.

Yes there will be someone perfect for him - girl on my yard who has been riding him gets on really well, but there arent too many riders like her around that have space for him - believe me i've asked around.
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can you gift him to her?
 
I think you might just need to be patient and wait for the right person to come along. If he operates OK for the one rider at your yard who "gets him", he'll operate OK for someone else out there, they may just not be looking at the moment. Its frustrating when you have made your mind up that a horse isn't right for you and needs to move on, but it can take time, especially when the horse has some issues. I think he'd be reasonably priced at around a grand, especially if you tell people over the phone that you just want to find the right home for him so you'd be willing to negotiate.
 
bakedbean said:
If you have reduced him to £500 and he's a WB or a TB, thats virtually "Meat-money".
Can you not just "bite the bullet" and let the Girl on the yard "take him on" so to speak , so he has a decent crack of redeeming himself?

I'm all for getting shot of nutcases (pts) but he doesnt really sound a lost cause, although with his "baggage" he isnt a brilliant prospect, is he?
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I don't think that's meat money. Last I heard, it was 50p a kilo, so if he's a weighty one at say 500kgs, he'd fetch £250 so someone wanting to sell him to an abbatoir would have to cover their expenses and still make a profit
 
Well, it appears that the price was just too much. I've lost money on him but I knew it was a bit of a gamble when I bought him and perhaps paid a little over the odds.

I did try and convince my friend to have him but she has 3 in work herself.

He's now sold subject to vetting and off to a lovely home fingers crossed. Thanks to everyone for all your advice and support.

I've been looking for a new one and tried lots already. I've learnt lots from my experience with my horse and even though he hasnt given me an easy ride - I dont really regret it for one minute.

I hope he's happy in his new home :)
 
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