Sell yourself or have someone else do it?

Eventing Girl

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I have a rising six year old potential eventer that I need to sell. My question is would you advertise yourself and if so where would be best OR would you consider sending her away to a 'selling' yard and let them do it for you? Has any one had experience sending their horses away to be sold? :) TIA
 
Following as will shortly be in the same position - (sorry nothing useful to add!)

I'd also add to the list of questions....what do prospective buyers want to see? My 5yo has been produced with a view to eventing her this year but due to personal reasons (I'm no Hot to trot....) my plans have changed somewhat. So do I carry on as i have been, attending clinics etc, or do people want to see show results? i hate unaff shows where everything runs late... Do people like on board footage from a gopro? Or do i really have to stand on the horses back as some sellers love to do?!?! Really dont think that is a good idea....

Sorry to hijack Eventing Girl : )
 
Following as will shortly be in the same position - (sorry nothing useful to add!)

I'd also add to the list of questions....what do prospective buyers want to see? My 5yo has been produced with a view to eventing her this year but due to personal reasons (I'm no Hot to trot....) my plans have changed somewhat. So do I carry on as i have been, attending clinics etc, or do people want to see show results? i hate unaff shows where everything runs late... Do people like on board footage from a gopro? Or do i really have to stand on the horses back as some sellers love to do?!?! Really dont think that is a good idea....

Sorry to hijack Eventing Girl : )

No probs :) The more questions the better :) I have the facilities to keep her in work at home, it's all the time wasters that put me off and then I'll end up saying 'I'm not selling her to them' and we'll have another field ornament!!!
 
I think if a horse is showing potential to go somewhere in showjumping/eventing etc its best to send away. On sales livery around here the horse goes out to some shows as well as being schooled at home and prepared and shown to its full potential by people who's 'job' it is to sell horses, I've heard some bad stories about horses on sales but as long as you use a reputable yard they tend to have people going to them for horses all the time so will probably sell quicker than you doing it yourself.

If said horse is more fun/all rounder then I'd keep and do myself, and just suck up the time wasters and try and find out as much about people on the phone as possible before they come view. I'd piece together a nice little video of said horse doing bits of flat/jump and hacking along with a conformation vid. It's just if your prepared to deal with day dreamers and hagglers, sometimes they are such a pain its easier to just send the horse away and let someone else deal with them!
 
Someone else because:
1. I have an eventer that I know and trust;
2. She will always show the horse off better than me (I hate riding in front of people);
3. She is more flexible time wise than me for potential buyer trials;
3. She will keep taking the horse out competing if that's what I want;
4. She has a huge range of contacts so there may be no need to advertise although she can and does;
5. She is very good at assessing the right home for the horse.
 
Having been on a pro event yard, the horses which would sell quickly and generally for more money were those with some record behind them. Pro would do a couple of unaffiliated over BE courses and that would be sufficient. However, being a pro did mean the record looked pretty good!
 
Well I put a post on facebook at 11.30 and someone has been to try her already!!! She was lovely and is coming back tomorrow to ride her again.....fingers crossed please :)
 
I was in a similar position, had a six year old mare with immense dressage talent that I decided to sell as what I really want to do is event. Sent her away to professionals in germany to be sold, but these people are our friends and we know and trust them. I'd say if you can find someone with a really good reputation then send him/her there. I am neighbours with Harry Meade, he sold me a lovely 1* eventer. If the horse is a serious prospect with a lot of potential it may be worth having a chat with him to see if he'd be willing to sell it for you.
 
Following as will shortly be in the same position - (sorry nothing useful to add!)

I'd also add to the list of questions....what do prospective buyers want to see? My 5yo has been produced with a view to eventing her this year but due to personal reasons (I'm no Hot to trot....) my plans have changed somewhat. So do I carry on as i have been, attending clinics etc, or do people want to see show results? i hate unaff shows where everything runs late... Do people like on board footage from a gopro? Or do i really have to stand on the horses back as some sellers love to do?!?! Really dont think that is a good idea....

Sorry to hijack Eventing Girl : )

If you are trying to sell her as a potential eventer then I would suggest taking her to some shows. Buyers want to see that the horse is good on paper. Maybe do a couple of unaff ODEs (or even just an unaff dressage and an unaff sj) to show that she can get good dressage scores and can jump a nice clear round. You don't need to do loads, but she will automatically stand out if you get some good results. I know what you mean they can be a pain but I have a couple of venues I know are always reliable and usually run smoothly. I think go pro footage would be a good thing to have going xc as it'll give them an idea of what the horse is like to ride and that it is brave, honest, etc. No haha you absolutely don't have to stand on their back unless you want to xD There are other ways to show the horse is sane and sensible. Maybe get videos of her being shod, hacked, trailered, clipped etc. Also if she has any quirks just be completely honest about them it'll save you time!
 
If you are trying to sell her as a potential eventer then I would suggest taking her to some shows. Buyers want to see that the horse is good on paper. Maybe do a couple of unaff ODEs (or even just an unaff dressage and an unaff sj) to show that she can get good dressage scores and can jump a nice clear round. You don't need to do loads, but she will automatically stand out if you get some good results. I know what you mean they can be a pain but I have a couple of venues I know are always reliable and usually run smoothly. I think go pro footage would be a good thing to have going xc as it'll give them an idea of what the horse is like to ride and that it is brave, honest, etc. No haha you absolutely don't have to stand on their back unless you want to xD There are other ways to show the horse is sane and sensible. Maybe get videos of her being shod, hacked, trailered, clipped etc. Also if she has any quirks just be completely honest about them it'll save you time!

Thanks for the advice. : ) I've done some unaff dressage with her (i like dressage, they give you a start time!) and have pencilled in a combined training show in the next few weeks. An unaff ODE I think will be out of the question i think as by the time the season starts i'll be winding down riding. She has absolutely no quirks, utterly super little horse. But will be limited to the lower levels due to size / lack of blood as is mostly conne. So i'll be aiming at a teen coming off ponies or a small ish adult as she's 15.1.
 
Thanks for the advice. : ) I've done some unaff dressage with her (i like dressage, they give you a start time!) and have pencilled in a combined training show in the next few weeks. An unaff ODE I think will be out of the question i think as by the time the season starts i'll be winding down riding. She has absolutely no quirks, utterly super little horse. But will be limited to the lower levels due to size / lack of blood as is mostly conne. So i'll be aiming at a teen coming off ponies or a small ish adult as she's 15.1.
Try her on Pony club classifieds. Mostly connie seems to be selling very strongly atm.
 
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