Selling my horse - aaagggghhhhh

Always Henesy

Always Henesy

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 December 2011
Messages
941
Location
East Sussex
Visit site
Is anyone else finding it near on impossible to sell their horse at the moment?

I have a very handsome 15.2hh Arab who is 8 and all I want is to find him a really nice home.
He is not for a novice as he is very green for 8. He is very difficult to load, hates jumping, is very bolshy, bad mannered (no regard for personal space)
However, he is very sweet (underneath the bolshy exterior), a lovely horse to hack, very handsome, very cheap to keep (he is unshod).
He has a scar on one side of his face from an old sarcoid and has a mild splint on his near fore.
I can't keep him as he is not doing anything or learning anything new being an overindulged firld ornament. I am too big to ride him (5'10" & 13 1/2 stone) and he is just being wasted.
I originally got him from a friend experiencing financial difficulties on the basis that I could at least afford to look after him and sell him on.
He is very well looked after and he will be kept safe and well with me.
But - surely someone would love him and have a very happy time with him?
I have advertised in all the usual places and I am just getting numpties.
I am not asking a lot of money for him - so what to do?
Any ideas?

Newly baked chocolate brownies for anyone who has read to the end.:D
 
I'd have said an Arab would cope better with your weight than a TB so you could ride them, maybe bring them on a bit making them more sellable.

Spring is coming and the market will pick up. If mine I'd prioritise them for the next 6 week to 2 months both on the ground and under saddle, improve them the best I could and then market first half of April - best chance of selling this way :)
 
amymay said:
I think you have to be realistic here.

Even uncomplicated horses are failing to sell.......
Click to expand...

Yes I totally agree. I am being realistic.
It's just frustrating really...as someone would probably have a great time with him and he is only 8
It's sad to think that he will not do anything exciting and fun with his life.
 
Welshie Squisher said:
I'd have said an Arab would cope better with your weight than a TB so you could ride them, maybe bring them on a bit making them more sellable.

Spring is coming and the market will pick up. If mine I'd prioritise them for the next 6 week to 2 months both on the ground and under saddle, improve them the best I could and then market first half of April - best chance of selling this way :)
Click to expand...

Thank you for that.
Yes - I may try and ride him and see how he copes with me.

My TB is 17.1hh and medium build so he can carry me easy :)
 
Always Henesy said:
Yes I totally agree. I am being realistic.
It's just frustrating really...as someone would probably have a great time with him and he is only 8
It's sad to think that he will not do anything exciting and fun with his life.
Click to expand...

Well his future is in your hands....

He is not for a novice as he is very green for 8. He is very difficult to load, hates jumping, is very bolshy, bad mannered (no regard for personal space)
Click to expand...

Sort these issues out - and you have a very sellable horse.
 
Just another thought, could you offer him on loan with a view to buy? This may entice those that look but think he's maybe too much of a gamble.

Oh and yes a 17.1hh medium build TB can carry good weight, I've recently ridden at 16.1hh TB at 12 1/2 stone and he coped easily.
Arabs are strong hardy buggers used to carrying men, so I'm sure he'd cope fine.

Good luck, the market is so frustrating at the moment, but there are buyers, I've just bought :D
 
amymay said:
Well his future is in your hands....



Sort these issues out - and you have a very sellable horse.
Click to expand...

Thanks AmyMay.
I am not used to bad manners as my TB is an absolute gentleman

So...could you recommend the best way to tackle bad manners for:
Leading in and out of the field
Fidgeting and whirling round when being groomed (unless he has a fat haynet to chew on)
Loading in a trailer without having to run through it 20 million times (and that's after about 2 hours of getting him in there in the first place)

Many thanks for any advice offered
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Just another thought, could you offer him on loan with a view to buy? This may entice those that look but think he's maybe too much of a gamble.

Oh and yes a 17.1hh medium build TB can carry good weight, I've recently ridden at 16.1hh TB at 12 1/2 stone and he coped easily.
Arabs are strong hardy buggers used to carrying men, so I'm sure he'd cope fine.

Good luck, the market is so frustrating at the moment, but there are buyers, I've just bought :D
Click to expand...

Yes - I have made it clear that I would be happy with a LWVTB
I just want him to be looked after and happy :)
 
shadowboy said:
When you say not a lot of money does this reflect current financial climate as well as his issues?
Click to expand...

Yes it does

Any less and we would be talking meat money :(

I am not money orientated so would give him away but would be very worried about who would come forward if I didn't know them.

It's a difficult one really...

Thanks for all advice so far
 
Maybe try the project horses website if you haven't already?
As others have said, many people are struggling to sell "problem-free" horses, let alone ones that may need work in certain areas, but things should improve as the weather gets nicer / days get longer.

If you can get his issues sorted a little then it would obviously encourage buyers - bad manners wise - what does he do when you're leading him to & from the field? Is he just very bargy, does he pull you over / get aggressive? If you know anyone with a dually headcollar it might be worth asking them if you can borrow it because one worked wonders for my horse who was very difficult to lead anywhere.
For me personally, the fact that he doesn't like to load would put me off most so maybe try working on that bit the most if you can - is he nervous or just taking the p***? You could try giving him a token feed (handful of chaff) on the ramp every night and slowly moving it inside over a period of a few weeks until he's happily standing to eat rather than rushing through, that method has worked for some people I've known who have had nervy loaders. They then went onto feeding him in the box, putting ramps up and running the engine etc - slow process but seems to work unless he's really panicy about it. Might be worth a try? Hope you find someone perfect for him soon
 
starryeyed said:
Maybe try the project horses website if you haven't already?
As others have said, many people are struggling to sell "problem-free" horses, let alone ones that may need work in certain areas, but things should improve as the weather gets nicer / days get longer.

If you can get his issues sorted a little then it would obviously encourage buyers - bad manners wise - what does he do when you're leading him to & from the field? Is he just very bargy, does he pull you over / get aggressive? If you know anyone with a dually headcollar it might be worth asking them if you can borrow it because one worked wonders for my horse who was very difficult to lead anywhere.
For me personally, the fact that he doesn't like to load would put me off most so maybe try working on that bit the most if you can - is he nervous or just taking the p***? You could try giving him a token feed (handful of chaff) on the ramp every night and slowly moving it inside over a period of a few weeks until he's happily standing to eat rather than rushing through, that method has worked for some people I've known who have had nervy loaders. They then went onto feeding him in the box, putting ramps up and running the engine etc - slow process but seems to work unless he's really panicy about it. Might be worth a try? Hope you find someone perfect for him soon
Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice.
leading to and from the field he is very bargy and has no thought for your personal space. I have a dually halter - this is what I have used to load him in the past - although last time we used *whispers* the chifney.
He is not nasty at all - in fact he is very sweet really. He just needs to learn some manners. My friend had him from 8 months old - and I just don't think he has ever learnt "his place" if you know what I mean.
I may depending on finances send him to a natural horseman who is based near me and see if he can do anything with him.
I just don't have the time - I'm up at 5.30am to do the horses, back home at 6.30, get myself and the kids ready, take kids to school and go to work. I do the same in reverse in the evening :eek:
I do not have the time to give him the work he needs :(
I haven't ridden my beloved TB for 3 months...

I do feel like just giving the whole horse senario up....it's hard work for very little enjoyment :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top