Please help why havent I even had one call.

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scally

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I am at present trying to sell a friends horse, as she cannot afford her and cant pay me livery either anymore, I cannot afford to subsidise someone elses horse as have far too many of my own at present.

She is a 16.1 Irish x Warmblood mare 12 years old, she is a lovely allrounder, but has only been used for hacking recently. Having taken her in the school, she has been well schooled in her past but needs reminding. I have priced her at £1500 as I do realise someone needs to put a little work in on the flat, but I have not had one call, is she to expensive, or are people really not looking, sold a 16.1 heavyweight cob a couple of weeks ago for the same people and I had over 50 calls for her, but not one on this lovely lady.
 
TBH my 1st impression is that she's too cheap and people think there's something wrong with her. There are a lot of horses of her age/height etc on the market so you have to make her stand out as being worth a phone call (or even a look!)

does she jump?
does she have a verifiable history?
has she competed?
is she vice free and good in traffic etc etc?

where are you? location can be a big factor.

there's a huge demand for cobs so that's not really a good comparison of the market.
 
Sounds like people will think she's very cheap so where's the catch.

How have you worded the advert? What are you advertising her as - RC all rounder? Does she hack alone and in company? Any competition results/experience? Jumps? What are your photos like?
 
She sounds lovely to me. I would come and view if I was looking. Some people are selling horses cheaper at the moment. Why nobody has called ........... i dont know.
 
Price her at a bit more (and put "ono") see if that generates more calls - if you put her for £2k to £2500 you may get calls and viewings plus if you are willing to take less, a purchaser may then feel they've got a real 'deal' when they barter you down! hehe
 
Thank you for your responses.

This is her ad

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/12_yrs_3_mths_16_1_hh_bay_irish_x_cambridgeshire/54524

This is really the only nice picture I have of her, my camera is useless and moving shots end up blurred. I have tried to price her fairly, she does not have a catch she is good in traffic, hacks alone or in company, I would say that she is not a total novice ride, but as long as you can stay on at walk trot and canter she is fine. She has previously competed RC level been placed SJ, adores XC, great working hunter but she will never be a superstar she is a genuine fun horse. She has previously hunted, but I have no proof of that and cannot guarantee her behaviour so have not mentioned it. She is however a bit of a plain jane.

I have throught about her price, but I think it is about fair for her, as unless someone just wants to hack they do need to put a month in on getting her schooling back and we are now heading slowley into winter. Her owner is also flexible on her price as we really would just like a nice home for her.
 
I think it would help to see a ridden picture, even if she isn't in a perfect outline, at least it shows she is rideable and not dangerous. If you could get one jumping it should generate some interest. Can you get someone to take them for you?
 
I think she looks and sounds great. I'd say she is priced to cheap and if you put anther £1000 on her with ono you will prob get more calls. Also ridden pics would help.
 
I think she looks sweet - I've just sold a 14.2hh 13yo Welsh who is quirky to say the least for more than her though!

If she's done XC, SJ, DR then I would put that but just stress that she's a fun RC type horse, not serious competition prospect. Maybe make a comment that she's priced to sell and home is more important than price? Say that there isn't a catch and make more of what a nice girl she is. Good to handle, clip, box, farrier?

I also wouldn't call her a plain jane on here and then describe her as "stunning" in the ad...
 
or you could just give her to me? haha
smirk.gif
 
heading slowly into winter?? It's August!

OK - trying to be constructive here.....

If you aks what you will accept, people will automatically bid - so asking £1500 means they see the price as £1000-£1200 - that's a very cheap horse and probably one with problems.

As ladyT says, if you ask say £2250, people might bid £1750 -£2000 - and think they've got a bargain. I also think you might attract a better home for her. At the price you're asking, I can see someone buying her, putting the month's work into her that you say she needs, and then selling her on at a profit. Is that what her owner wants?

I've looked at your advert and I genuinely think you're underselling her. If she's fun and safe, then she'll be in demand - at that price, it really looks as though she's got a behavioural or vetting problem.
 
Is she sound? thats always something I want to know and when she was in work was she sound? When I see a horse that hasnt been ridden for a while that is the first thing I think about.
 
Thanks for all your replies, sorry chestnut cob I meant plain jane as in regards to ability, scope potential and results as compared to alot of horses she doesnt have any. She is what she is a fun allround horse but will not take you to HOYS or Badminton.

I will have a go at rewording her ad and placing her in Horse and Hound..

This selling horses lark is not easy at all
 
I agree to cheap, i've just bought new horse and looked at 1500 mark and you just think 2 cheap got 2 be something wrong with them.
 
She is 100% fit and sound, she is hacked 4 - 5 times a week, just not been in the school much recently, especially as we have just had our arena finished a month ago it hasnt helped.

But a very good point.
 
I would be interested if she is a good safe sensible hack. I am probably too far away for me though. If she is sound and owner not desperately trying to get rid I would say she is too cheap.
 
Most horses wouldn't take you to HOYS or Badminton, and most riders aren't capable of getting there !!!

If she is safe and sensible to hack, both alone and in company, and she has brakes, that alone makes her worth decent money to quite a lot of people.
 
i think you need to put more info in the ad.
sell her more- more about good points-any breeding lines?
and a ridden pic or moving pic would be nice too. at that age i would expect to see a ridden pic.
 
I think she is stunning, and if only we were in a better position right now I'd have her in a flash for my mum - she'd be just what we're looking for!!
 
whilst i'm by no means a horse expert... i like to think i have spent more than my fair share of time looking at ads...

here's why i wouldn't ring up about her:

not enough description (you've described her better on here)
no landline number (i know, sounds pathetic, but i hate ringing mobiles, and also i usually google the dialling code)
no ridden pic
no mention of shoe/box/traffic

and for some reason the ad makes me think she's not sound, though i don't know why!

sell her good points (is she safe? 'safe' is a good word to put in for a horse of that price).

oh, and price her at 2250ono

good luck!
laugh.gif
 
I would definitely be wary of that price - people never trust a bargain basement price. My boy had done only riding club activities and had been turned out in a field for a year but they still wanted £4K and I've had to put 3 years of schooling into him - he was ten when I got him. Paid £3200.

What attracted me to him was an ad of him jumping out of water so I knew he could jump - but only ever jump about 1 metre 10 so not a superstar either. I reckon you should ask £2500 and let people offer less and I definitely agree if you're looking for a great home you're in a price bracket that may attract some less than desirable homes.
 
I personally don't think the price was the problem - as I know people are pricing horses lower at the moment because of the dastardly credit crunch, so I wouldn't assume it meant the horse was broken.

I actually looked at this advert and nearly phoned up - I am looking for something that will hack out alone sensibly as I am trying to regain my confidence after my last horse - and she did draw me in. What is her name? PM me if you prefer.
 
i would get rid of the bit about her being not as supple as she could be it makes her sound a bit creaky and stiff, and for that price you don't expect a dressage star so i don't think you need the schooling bit either, unless its a real problem let people decide for themselves. also agree with the price needing to go up a bit. she looks lovely, i'm sure with a few ad tweaks you'll find a good home for her
 
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