Selling options WWYD

[risingtrot]

Hello,
I'm new to the thread although I'm a long term lurker.
I have a horse I wish to sell, but looking for advice.

He was very slow to mature, so wasn't broken until late 6yo but has never really had a lot of constant work through my own work commitments, so I'd describe as low mileage although he has been out to some small events, dressage, country rides etc, and been straightforward.
He is a nice looking horse, well bred with lots of scope, really easy to work with, a nice person to have a round. He does have a very small nappy streak in him but TBH I think it's more boredom than nasty-ness, the more often he's worked the less likely he is to nap. I think is naughty when not worked consistently and does settle once in a routine.
He has been off for about 10 weeks now as he got his leg caught in the fence, but I'm reluctant to get back on and start again as just before he did this I came off and think I've lost my nerve to get back on him.

So I've decided to sell him, but don't know where to advertise and also is it worthwhile trying to sell him from the field? Obviously I'll reduce my price, I'll be honest that he can nap, but 99.9% of the time he doesn't think about it.

Or do I send him to a dealer to be sold on my behalf? I've heard horror stories that some dealers take a horse to sell and once they've sold it, taken their weekly livery bill and commission it's ended up costing the owner money.

TBH I've wrote off everything about him, so the amount of money I get back doesn't matter. I keep him in my own field so no livery fees to worry about but I do not want to looking after him again this winter.

He is a nice person so I do want him to go to a home where he'll be taken care of. Any ideas or suggestions, or would anyone like a horse to sell on my behalf?

 

[measles]

I do agree with the advice that you received in Comp Riders that another rider getting him back into work and showing him to potential purchasers would be a better solution than you riding him given that you and he are not on the same wavelength. An honest sales yard should assess if it would be worth your while paying them to take him and sell as there would necessarily be costs involved. Is there someone experienced freelance that you could get to come to him instead?

 

[Borntobeaprincess]

I would try and get him back into work before you sell him.

Only so you can increase the likelihood of finding him a suitable home.

Just know from experience that the cheaper the horse is the more likely you are to get novices, or people wanting something for nothing. I'm sure you would vet all new homes thoroughly but if he is being sold from the field it might not be that easy to get an accurate assessment of someone's riding ability.

Once had someone come and try my horse for loan who sounded lovely on the phone, had experience with young horses, last horse was an ex racer she had re schooled, but when she turned up she struggled to tack up and couldn't even do riding trot. She had worked on yards for years so had good stable management but couldn't actually ride very well.

There are lots of smaller yards which take horses on for schooling and sales prep that you could try. Or failing that could you advertise for someone to ride him for a while?
Not as in a loan agreement, but either for a small fee or for free as long as you were upfront about the reason for wanting him worked.

I'm very short of time just now so currently have a very competent teenager riding my young horse, it's not a loan per say, basically she gets to ride for free but I control what gets down and when she rides. Both parties know it is to the horse fit until such times I have time to get the horse out competing again, but in the meantime the teenager gets a horse full time without the associated costs.