Seller's Woe

[sollimum]

I appreciate it is so hard to buy a horse. I am selling my mum's cob who is lovely, hacks alone and in company, has done rc clinics, great on the ground, schools nicely. Just an awesome little cob. However, some buyers seem petrified, messaging me to say they will only come and see him if he is beyond bombproof. Others send me lists of questions which I answer and then they don't even reply to say thank you. It is incredibly hard work. I am in my fifties and all I can suggest to others who want to hack but are feeling nervous, is to hack as much as possible before you buy a horse. Go to a trekking centre for a weekend and hack for miles, fall in love with being in the saddle and then go and look at ponies with a fresh perspective. The more you ride, the more you want to ride.

 

[Maxidoodle]

He sounds great, hope he finds his new special human soon.

 

[cauda equina]

People can be idiots
Your cob sounds smashing, I'm surprised someone hasn't already snapped him up

 

[sollimum]

[

People can be idiots
Your cob sounds smashing, I'm surprised someone hasn't already snapped him up

He is lovely. It is just really hard work and I do appreciate it is really difficult buying - you are told to trust no one.

 

[ihatework]

The petrified buyers steer clear of - they are just not worth the hassle.

The million and one question buyers - I used to keep a word document of the Q&A and just copied and pasted into an email.

You have to semi dissociate to the process otherwise you’d go mad. BTW most serious buyers will phone either immediately or after the initial digital contact.

 

[sollimum]

The petrified buyers steer clear of - they are just not worth the hassle.

The million and one question buyers - I used to keep a word document of the Q&A and just copied and pasted into an email.

You have to semi dissociate to the process otherwise you’d go mad. BTW most serious buyers will phone either immediately or after the initial digital contact.

Thank you. That is great advice. Will do.

 

[mini_b]

Ok I understand being nervous. Seriously, been there. I had an accident, got smashed up, got back on too soon before I had got sorted mentally.
lots of riders get the wobbles for one reason or another but if you are so so petrified that you cannot get on a flight animal not be terrified, you shouldn’t be buying one yet.

these problems need worked through off the horse as if anything minor happens it’s the horse that gets the blame

I know there’s a point where you do have to get back on, but petrified is not it.

just don’t get back to those sort of buyers you’ll have comeback. He would make someone a lovely friend, good luck! Xx

 

[honetpot]

If they were that nervous I would not be selling to them any way. I like people to phone, its tedious but you can usually work out the people who are unrealistic quickly. Also be wary of sending of anything written, no horse is bombproof, most will have a but, it's how the new owners cope, you can not really asses their competence, or their horse management skills.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Others send me lists of questions which I answer and then they don't even reply to say thank you.

I'm interested to see the other side of this one. If I ask questions about a horse & then realise its not for me I don't reply because I picture the seller drowning under messages and I don't want to further clog up their in-box with just a thank you.

 

[SantaVera]

It's as difficult to sell as to buy

 

[Fieldlife]

I'm interested to see the other side of this one. If I ask questions about a horse & then realise its not for me I don't reply because I picture the seller drowning under messages and I don't want to further clog up their in-box with just a thank you.

A thanks but no thanks is far more helpful and polite, after questions and after viewing.

 

[Skib]

I am mainly a hacker so I went to a BHS riding school for 6 lessons designed to prepare me to try out a prospective horse. I also memorised an easy dressage test so I knew what I was going to ride.
This knowledge was never put to use as the sellers did not let me even try the expected horse but put me on another younger one which they wanted to off load on an innocent o.a.p. This was a fairly local yard so I did not expect a wasted journey.

 

[sollimum]

I am mainly a hacker so I went to a BHS riding school for 6 lessons designed to prepare me to try out a prospective horse. I also memorised an easy dressage test so I knew what I was going to ride.
This knowledge was never put to use as the sellers did not let me even try the expected horse but put me on another younger one which they wanted to off load on an innocent o.a.p. This was a fairly local yard so I did not expect a wasted journey.

I am sorry that is so rubbish.

 

[Cloball]

He sounds lovely I'm sorry it's rubbish. I'm pretty sure I came across as exactly this to one buyer I though, I fore warned the seller that I'm not the most confident but I don't expect horses to be robots. I did exactly as you suggested I hacked out loads of different horses, rode my friends horses, my instructors etc. But there was just one particular horse I just felt utterly terrified on for no specific reason, I did apologise profusely and second guessed the whole buying idea. Tried the next one and was happy as Larry

 

[Horseysheepy]

I sold a horse in 2005. I put an advert in the local paper which had a word limit of just 30 if I remember.
Advert was simple and horse sold to a pony club mother daughter share, just a few questions asked to cover any gaps, vetting passed, horse picked up two days later.

Roll forward to present day, adverts are limitless with words now, you can put videos, copious amounts of photos and pretty much cover every eventuality in terms of potential questions a buyer may ask.
Yet the buying and selling process just seems to be so much harder now.

 

[hairycob]

There are some really wierd buyers around. When my son sold his horse there were several photos, a couple of videos and details of hos breeding on the ad. He was ISH 3/4 tb. He looked 3/4 tb. Potential buyer requested more videos which we sent - flat, coloured poles & xc along with more photos. She travelled 2.5 hours and refused to get on saying we had mis-advertised as we said he was Irish & he wasn't a cob!

 

[Glitter's fun]

I sold a horse in 2005. I put an advert in the local paper which had a word limit of just 30 if I remember.
Advert was simple and horse sold to a pony club mother daughter share, just a few questions asked to cover any gaps, vetting passed, horse picked up two days later.

Roll forward to present day, adverts are limitless with words now, you can put videos, copious amounts of photos and pretty much cover every eventuality in terms of potential questions a buyer may ask.
Yet the buying and selling process just seems to be so much harder now.

People just skim read, if that. Most FB adverts have replies asking "how old", "how tall" etc when it's in the advert. If I send emails for work I find if I'm making more than one point or asking more than one question I only get an answer to one.

 

[Barton Bounty]

There are people on here looking for what you have right now! Hopefully they may pm you.

As for contact, I would always respond and either arrange a viewing or I would say, thank you so much for your time but its not for me.

 

[Peglo]

I sold a horse in 2005. I put an advert in the local paper which had a word limit of just 30 if I remember.
Advert was simple and horse sold to a pony club mother daughter share, just a few questions asked to cover any gaps, vetting passed, horse picked up two days later.

Roll forward to present day, adverts are limitless with words now, you can put videos, copious amounts of photos and pretty much cover every eventuality in terms of potential questions a buyer may ask.
Yet the buying and selling process just seems to be so much harder now.

I bought my TB from the local paper. Think the advert read something along the lines of:
16.1 bay mare 12 year old. £1200.

I agree that people who are looking for the safety of a rocking horse is not ready to buy. It must be hard sifting through potential buyers to find the right home for the horse.

 

[Horseysheepy]

People just skim read, if that. Most FB adverts have replies asking "how old", "how tall" etc when it's in the advert. If I send emails for work I find if I'm making more than one point or asking more than one question I only get an answer to one.

Yes that's a good point, I know I would skim over a large chunk of writing, yet take more time to read a smaller paragraph.

 

[Abacus]

People just skim read, if that. Most FB adverts have replies asking "how old", "how tall" etc when it's in the advert. If I send emails for work I find if I'm making more than one point or asking more than one question I only get an answer to one.

Here I think ad formatting can be helpful. Not so long that people lose attention, not so short that the important information is missed. Bullet points are useful if the site allows it. Remember the important standard info (good to shoe, handle etc) while trying to give some sense of personality and what they are best at. And of course really good photos, not a blurry old one with half the horse missing or a head over the door. If he has been for sale for a while maybe take the time to get new photos and refresh the ad. (I'm not suggesting you haven't done the above, it's more a general comment, people can be easily put off).

Sometimes, changing the focus of an ad can help if you're getting the wrong kind of responses. In this case I wonder if you've stressed his safety and 'niceness' so much that you are getting the really nervous people. Maybe try a new ad with different photos, and a description more like 'Fun cob, forward but safe, great for all RC...' etc to aim at a more capable bunch of people.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I bought my TB from the local paper. Think the advert read something along the lines of:
16.1 bay mare 12 year old. £1200.

I agree that people who are looking for the safety of a rocking horse is not ready to buy. It must be hard sifting through potential buyers to find the right home for the horse.

Yes, I remember an average advert would read:
16.2hh IDXTB, bay gelding. 12 years old. Good to shoe, clip, catch and box. No vices, easy to do. £3500 ono.

 

[Skib]

I ride a horse described as IS. She was aready on the yard when the yard changed hands and no one knows what IS stands for.

 

[Glitter's fun]

I ride a horse described as IS. She was aready on the yard when the yard changed hands and no one knows what IS stands for.

It's a terrorist organisation. Be careful.

 

[Fjord]

Your mum's cob sounds awesome! Just out of curiosity, how tall and how old?

Maybe advertise as a great happy hacker/low level allrounder, to try and weed out the 'too nervous to get on' lot?

 

[SO1]

I expect people who are nervous have been advised to get a cob hence why that is probably what you are getting.

A FAQ document is a good idea.

Too many dealers mis selling horses it is "buyer beware" so buyer become less trusting and want things in written now and more information. Failed vettings are pricey and travel long distances also has a cost to it.

I don't know if there were more dodgy dealers 20 years ago or social media has made it easier to indentify the issues. Vetting has become more of things that people do now. When I was a child 40 years ago none of my childhood ponies were vetted and I expect they would not have passed the vet.

If you paying upwards of 5k people will want to make sure that everything is ok. Insurance now requires a 5 stage vetting for over 5k for some companies.

I am an annoying person who asks questions but after 3 unsuccessful viewings I am learning more about what to ask and what to see before wasting a sellers time. Questions are annoying but more frustrating if someone turns up who is not a match especially if you have lots of interest and are trying to fit in lots of viewings as it is a slot that could have gone to a more suitable person.

 

[Fieldlife]

I ride a horse described as IS. She was aready on the yard when the yard changed hands and no one knows what IS stands for.

Most probably Irish Sports horse.

 

[Mahoganybay]

I remember buying my daughter first pony from a advert in the paper version of Farmers Guardian. Advert was one line. I rang, we viewed and we bought.

Pony was a little shit, but taught my daughter stickability

Buying / selling now is an absolute minefield and I sincerely hope my mare lives a long life so I don’t have to buy another

 

[Keith_Beef]

People just skim read, if that. Most FB adverts have replies asking "how old", "how tall" etc when it's in the advert. If I send emails for work I find if I'm making more than one point or asking more than one question I only get an answer to one.

I've never sold or bought a horse, but have sold a few other things, furniture and paintings mostly, but also clothes and tools. Oh, and a flat.

People will ask questions when the answers are very clear in the advert, will want to see an item and then reject it due to something that was clearly visible in photos in the advert.

When selling the flat, I wrote "no agencies, please". Agencies called me. I changed the wording to "I will not take calls from agencies" yet they still called me.

 

[Widgeon]

I ride a horse described as IS. She was aready on the yard when the yard changed hands and no one knows what IS stands for.

Given that you appear to have established beyond reasonable doubt that the creature is in fact, a horse - I would also guess she is an Irish Sport Horse who lost the H somewhere along the way.