Pls HHO give me strength is selling horses really always this frustrating????

kirstyl said:
Your advert sounds great - I think you have been clear and straight forward and as long as you are not asking a ridiculous price, the right person will come along. I sold my TB last year and found it extremely traumatic and hard work to the point I then took on a loan horse after so I didn't have to go through experience again. Hated loaning and bought another ex racehorse! Despite advertising for 'experienced home only' I had several people emailing asking if he was suitable for a novice rider! He was competing successfully at BE Novice, was totally genuine but needed quite a bit of 'keeping together'. Still took me 7 months and a 1000 off the price to sell him to a suitable home. I really don't envy you, so the very best of luck!!
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I don't think the experienced home thing is totally a unreasonable question though - it could mean that you want a home where the owners are well versed in horse care to ensure the horses welfare, and not refer to riding. All depends on the context :)

Good luck selling your horse OP.
 
I think part of the problem may be the price, and the mention of his racing career, id drop the date of when he left racing. if you think about the date he left, let down time and a harsh winter, then hes not really had a huge amount of re training (I understand that he may be the perfect horse but when reading people may think too soon out of racing.)

chuck him on the lorry and get him out, even if its to a local show or even for a hack in open spaces, for his height etc id think hes a good teenagers horse but if hes unknown in competiton this may put people off, he could be a saint at home, but turn into a typical x racer at a comp..

theres so many x racers for sale very cheaply, to have one worth a bit, then i think you need to get him out and do a bit of everything with him. then hes worth a resonable amount.
 
Hi, just seen your advert and honestly I think he's overpriced for the current market. He's too young to have done much competing so I wouldn't want to see him having done lots but perhaps some local shows etc would help. I wouldn't put his breeding in as it really doesn't matter and he has only had 2 months of reschooling! I think you're £1000 over at the moment unless you keep him until next year and do stuff with him until then. Saying that, I don't want to come across as negative- he really looks a super little horse and I'm sure he'll do well.
 
I think you are in a tricky position. The bottom has dropped out of the market, especially for ex-racers. You are sort of sat in no mans land with him at the moment, he is priced at a mark which you would expect to have gone out and done some small competitions. Anyone who has tthe ability to school on an ex-racer will know that for 1K they could go and pick something up off the track.
I would also seriously look to get better confo shots, the way he is stood in those would have me running a mile from his hind limb confo
 
Hhhhhmmmmm interesting thoughts peeps re price. I actually spent several hours looking at same age/height/breed/experience horses as him and they ranged from £1500 to £6000 to I think my price is pretty fair, also it's ono so I would hope people would take that to mean there's some movement in it.

I know exracers may not be everyone's cup of tea, and trust me I have seen lots of them, that's why I know this chap is worth the extra £, yes you can pick them up for peanuts, but essentially you get what you pay for and he is not your average exracer.

ihatework - which pic is it that you don't like the one where he is stood squiffy in the lane?... I inc that as it's a good body shot and the other stood one shows him side on. It's interesting that you say you don't like his hind leg confo, imho he has good all round confo and his hind leg action is fab really active hocks and steps right under himself which is a far cry from the usual straight legged inactive back legs of most tbs (spent 3 years so far trying to get Soap to where this little chap is naturally) maybe with that in mind I should get some video in the ads if the pictures aren't doing him justice....
 
I haven't seen the ad for your boy but we bought a dutch mare to bring on with a vewi to selling at the end of the winter. She has super breeding and movement but had done little schooling or competing. We have, as well as improving her flatwork, taken her to as many competitions as son's exams will allow and now she's jumping dc's in BN, has been to PC on a number of occasions behaving impecably and won and was Res Champ at her first showing show. When we come to advertise her soon I expect the competitive outings to be the thing that will shore up her value. Like you, we will be in no hurry to sell but I really think, 4yo or 14yo, a horse should have been out to a few little parties to give prospective purchasers a small degree of peace of mind.
 
A video link would be well worth doing - I think with HQ you can add a link to youtube vids. I think as the others have said the photos don't do him justice really so be good to have additional video footage, could have him stood up, basic paces and popping a small jump. I think for the money you're asking I'd be expecting to have been out somewhere, just low key but to prove that he's not a complete psycho as one ex-racer I schooled was when he went to parties!
 
If I were in a position to buy right now he sounds like he'd be ideal for my daughter, but then you may not think we sound ideal for him! :D

We have an ex racer ourselves and have thought about selling her for various reasons, but we like them as a rule so wouldn't hesitate to buy another. Those who have said the market is bad for ex racers are pretty accurate from what my own research tells me, it's sad though because I believe them to be good horses, even our own very quirky one.
 
I think your advert is really good and I have to say that I think your horse is STUNNING - if only I could afford another one, he would be just what I would be looking for (I currently have one ex-race horse!).. All the best - I hope things go more smoothly for you after all the top advice on the advert!
 
RachB said:
I think your advert is really good and I have to say that I think your horse is STUNNING - if only I could afford another one, he would be just what I would be looking for (I currently have one ex-race horse!).. All the best - I hope things go more smoothly for you after all the top advice on the advert!
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Thanks Rach I'm glad someone likes him :) I gave him a big cuddle tonight he doesn't know he's for sale he just thinks his role in life is to be cuddled and fed! Think I will leave the ads now have made suggested changes but will let them run out and get him out and about competing then re advertise with more experience under his belt
 
i do love him, but dont think the confo shot does him any favours-he looks like he has a weak neck, **** feet, straight hocks and very very weak hind pasterns.

try and get one bang side on, make him stand with his hind legs out and square,instead of tucked up under him and his neck arching forward and down a bit(get someone to bribe him with a treat!).make sure its on hard standing and he's been recently shod so you can see his feet-IME a lot of people will look very hard at the legs and feet of an ex racer and in those pics, his dont look great.

i hope that doesnt sound too critical! i just remember what i looked for when looking for a TB, and my boys legs and feet jumped out as A1 so try and show them in the best light poss.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
i do love him, but dont think the confo shot does him any favours-he looks like he has a weak neck, **** feet, straight hocks and very very weak hind pasterns.

try and get one bang side on, make him stand with his hind legs out and square,instead of tucked up under him and his neck arching forward and down a bit(get someone to bribe him with a treat!).make sure its on hard standing and he's been recently shod so you can see his feet-IME a lot of people will look very hard at the legs and feet of an ex racer and in those pics, his dont look great.

i hope that doesnt sound too critical! i just remember what i looked for when looking for a TB, and my boys legs and feet jumped out as A1 so try and show them in the best light poss.
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No i totally see what you mean, I guess I'm just so smitten with him, I just kinda scanned the pic and thought ahhhh that looks nice :) and didn't take into account the impact of his wonky stance. I've basically made up my mind that I'm going to take him unafff dressage, clear round sj and xc schooling before he's advertised again. It will ad more value to him, and also I get to play with him for longer :) Then when he's more travelled and extra boxes have been ticked I will enlist the help of some other horse savvy or camera proficient peeps to do the pics, not my poor long suffering OH who tried but really wasn't much use! :)
 
Think that's the right idea Chloe. I guess I am possibly typical of your market. I've done eventing up to Novice, ridden for a million years etc, but am not a pro, am (slightly!:eek:) beyond my twenties, but still want to event; so whilst I'd happily take on a green horse, I need to know I can get on it after a stressful day at work and not have to psyche myself up for rodeo/napping/spooking/stress, whatever. I read your advert and he sounds lovely, but my gut reaction, being not quite as brave as I once was, is that I'd need to know what happened in a competition environment. I'd be totally prepared to go to loads of little shows to bring them on if the "performance" needed work; but if he turns into a fruit loop the minute you get on in public - no thanks! I'm sure he wouldn't, from what you've said, but the readers of your advert don't have our insight ;) Also, if I wanted him as an eventer, I'd want him to have seen some xc fences, even if it's just water splashes etc. Video that first time if you can, because you can tell so much about a horse by it's attitude to the very first xc attempt; it could be a useful selling technique.

Also, FWIW, I paid what you are asking, 3 years ago, for a 6 year old that was jumping double clears at BN. I think I underpaid TBH, but I do think he is a (little bit) overpriced just now. However, with just a few wee comps under his belt, it's probably an ok price.

So - when he's done a few things - let me know and I will have him :D How would he feel about living with a couple of girls :rolleyes:
 
now_loves_mares said:
Think that's the right idea Chloe. I guess I am possibly typical of your market. I've done eventing up to Novice, ridden for a million years etc, but am not a pro, am (slightly!:eek:) beyond my twenties, but still want to event; so whilst I'd happily take on a green horse, I need to know I can get on it after a stressful day at work and not have to psyche myself up for rodeo/napping/spooking/stress, whatever. I read your advert and he sounds lovely, but my gut reaction, being not quite as brave as I once was, is that I'd need to know what happened in a competition environment. I'd be totally prepared to go to loads of little shows to bring them on if the "performance" needed work; but if he turns into a fruit loop the minute you get on in public - no thanks! I'm sure he wouldn't, from what you've said, but the readers of your advert don't have our insight ;) Also, if I wanted him as an eventer, I'd want him to have seen some xc fences, even if it's just water splashes etc. Video that first time if you can, because you can tell so much about a horse by it's attitude to the very first xc attempt; it could be a useful selling technique.

Also, FWIW, I paid what you are asking, 3 years ago, for a 6 year old that was jumping double clears at BN. I think I underpaid TBH, but I do think he is a (little bit) overpriced just now. However, with just a few wee comps under his belt, it's probably an ok price.

So - when he's done a few things - let me know and I will have him :D How would he feel about living with a couple of girls :rolleyes:
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Yeah actually this post has been a good barrometer. I will get all his 'first times' on vid for potential buyers to see. The market really has changed quite a bit I sold a little tb almost exactly same vitals as him but even less mileage for £3250 to the first people who came to see him, and the phone rang off the hook!....move with the times I guess :)
 
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