Please help me with foal ad - must be doing something wrong!

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zoeshiloh

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www.stowmarketanddistrictridingclub.com
I had two foals this year; a coloured colt that has never left the field (although well handled) that sold within 24hrs of being advertised, and a chestnut filly that has won almost £300 in prizmoney and a haul of rosettes and trophies at county shows, but hasn't had more than a handful of enquiries.

She won the hunter foal class at Suffolk county, and was 2nd in the sporthorse class. She then won both the hunter foal and sporthorse foal classes at Kent county, and went on to stand overall hunter foal champion. She moves beautifully, is well bred and many people have commented on how stunning she is. Several people have said "if the economic climate was different we would be biting your arm off".

She will make about 16.2hh (at four months old was too big for a 4'9" rug) and is a real hunter sort - lots of bone and stocky without looking too big. It is breaking my heart to sell her as she is easily the best foal I have ever bred. She moves beautifully, has the most laid back and gentle nature, and would easily win loads in hand over the next few years. If things were different (ie we weren't in the middle of a big move) I would keep her.

She is fully registered, chipped and passported, leads and loads like a dream. Ties up, used to being washed and groomed, even had cippers on around her (she hasn't been clipped at all but used to the noise). She isn't phased by anything. I am going to put another ad in H&H, and would just like some help wording/writing it as it seems I must be doing something wrong - I know foals that have done nothing which are selling more than I am asking for her Considering it has cost me almost £3000 to get her where she is now, I am only asking £2500 for her. I would rather keep her and struggle than sell her for less than that.

Anyway, here is a picture of her earlier this year (I have permission from photographer to use image). Any suggestions would be welcome.

DSCF1586.jpg
 
Thank you - I love her to bits, and it will break my heart to sell her - I already have a 2010 season mapped out for her, and am really excited about her prospects, some big names think she is lovely (but they aren't looking for foals
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) I've had one well known in-hander say they would be very interested if I still have her as a 2yo. To be honest I think she will go far in the showring (and any sphere after that), but we are undgoing such a big move at the moment I should really sell her as I just don't have the time to give her.

She's been advertised in horsedeals, horse and hound and horsequest. I've had a few calls, but people either offer silly money (ie £1500) or are complete timewasters.
 
The only thing I can think of as to why she hasn't sold is she is/will be a chestnut mare! some people would be put off, coloured's are really popular & chestnuts aren't
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Not me though - I have a ginger one!
 
I have to agree with it being the chestnut filly thing too. Her half sister (now a yearling) was also a chestnut filly and as a foal we had interest, but again people offering far less than our asking price. However, as a yearling she has sold for far more than I asked for her as a foal, and that was despite hardly getting her out to any shows. The half sister has just sold for more than twice what I am asking for this little lady, and IMO this little girl has more prospects than the latter.
 
I must say, chestnut mare crossed my mind but to be honest, from talking to people, i dont think it seems to bother people anymore, or maybe its just those who are more recent to the horsey world that havent heard of the reputation! but i know you wouldnt want to sell to a newbie so to speak!

Have you thought about, putting the price up, then taking an offer of approx £2500? Maybe people only are making lower offers due to they think it is the thing to do in a credit crunch?

I had a friend who in the '90s tried to sell her pony, she advertised him for £950, no interest, put it up to £1500, lots of interest, ended up taking an offer and saying they could also have the tack. Not sure if it was just the fact the parents didnt think they could get a decent safe pony for under £1k or what?


What is the actual wording of the advert you are using???

[PLEASE NOTE H&H - i am asking for this so we can see if we can help - so please dont class that the OP is advertising!!!]
 
I saw your advert shortly after you'd posted about how well she'd done this season.
My first thought was...
...Why so cheap for all this success? Must have something wrong.....Avoid.

Not that I'm in the market for a youngster, but that price would put me off. Hate to say it, but some things are cheap for a reason. If there's no reason, dont make it cheap.
 
She has been advertised in H&H and this post is to get wording right for another ad in H&H - am I allowed to link to her current ad on Horsequest? It's about half way down on "show foals" page - here is wording;

To make approximate 16hh, chestnut filly born 8th April 2009

Beautiful filly, lots of presence and character, very affectionate

Fantastic conformation, superb movement, shown at county level with numerous wins

Judges always full of compliments, and tipped as a future superstar

I would love to keep this filly, but we are moving soon so need to downsize in preparation

Would love to show or help show next year for new owner, as this filly really has what it takes to be a strong cuddy contender

She has already won over £200 in prize money at just 3 months old! The dam has won the Hunter broodmare title at the Suffolk show for two years running, and stood overall reserve champion hunter in 2009

The half sister to this foal also had many wins at county level last year, and ended the year by winning a big class at the National Foal Show

(her wins are also listed on the other side of the advert, and there are two pictures)
 
I would have said that £4k is more suitable for her, that reflects the quality & the success. You can always drop from there, but at 2.5K, it's already at the bottom end.

Think wine. £3 bottles -yuk. £10 -oh they MUST be good.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I saw your advert shortly after you'd posted about how well she'd done this season.
My first thought was...
...Why so cheap for all this success? Must have something wrong.....Avoid.

Not that I'm in the market for a youngster, but that price would put me off. Hate to say it, but some things are cheap for a reason. If there's no reason, dont make it cheap.

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely no reason for being "cheap" (happily open to vet etc) just didn't want to overprice her, knowing what the economic climate is like.

What sort of price would people recommend? I'm going to try and get a nice picture tonight with her shiny trophy that just got sent through (engraved
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) from Kent Ag Soceity.
 
Anything over £6K is overpricing.

Somewhere in between I would say. If you're desperate for money then say, "price reflects ovedraft, not horse".
 
Why have you not stated the actual breeding details - you don't say what the names of the stallions are etc. I would not answer a foal advert unless I knew it was WB, TB, ISH ID, whatever, I would also be impressed by the name of the stallion she is by ?

These are details that people want to know these days.
 
Got the same problem, I've got two colt foals advertised with horsequest and Adhorse. They've both been awarded first Premium with the BEF , I'm asking £2,000 each for them due to the economic climate, and not a phone call!!! I'm beginning to think theres a snob element here, in that the more you pay, the better it must be! Due to having to downsize, I've entered both of mine for the festival of the Horse sale at Malvern next week. At least I'll get people looking at them and appreciating how nice they are!
 
Honestly, I don't think the photo really does her justice. I think the one of her standing up is far better - you can see her conformation and she looks cute. The photo of her trotting makes her look a bit stuffy and almost downhill, plus she has her ears back - it just isn't very flattering. I would suggest using the conformation pic, and then maybe trying to get a good one of her in a free trot where she is really stepping out.

I would also put some more information about her sire/dam, and what direction you think she has potential in - the ad is a bit vague. It obviously highlights her showing achievements, but I think you need to stress the sporthorse angle a bit more.
 
Just another thought. You said at the beginning of this thread that you think she should make 16.2hh but in your advert you say she should make 16hh. Maybe people are worried that if she dosen't quite make 16hh she will be too small?
 
Thank everyone - yes guessed at 16hh when put advert online, but now guessing (and vet guessing too) will be 16.2hh minimum and probably bigger.

I will get some more pics tonight of her stood up - she has matured a bit now too (that pic taken at just under 3 months).
 
tbh, i haven't looked at the ad on Horsequest but the picture on this thread isn't that flattering.
also no mention of what you think she would excel at when she is older- which disipline?

i bought have bought foals for varying amounts from £1500-2250;
one is Intro eventing as a 5yro after winning numerous showing classes and championships as a youngster.

one was sold as a 4yro to do top level county showing after being placed 1st or 2nd at every show as a youngster.

the 3yro is shaping up to be a beautiful stamp of an eventer with professional riders scrambling to ride him next season.

all of the above are very well bred and directly related to Advanced/ 4**** eventers, Cuddy show horses etc etc.

so not sure yours is that underpriced, particularly as we are now heading into autumn/winter.
perhaps keep her till next spring and add another £1k to her price then?
 
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