What’s the done thing with horse viewings?!

Traks

Traks

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I’m selling my boy and have been inundated with enquiries and people wanting to view 🤪 I’ve had 2 viewings so far, waiting to hear back from the last lot. The first person actually wanted him but hadn’t checked a stable was available at their current yard (they already have one horse there) so I had wait for them to basically see if they could find something for him…and in the end the YO said they couldn’t take any more so they passed. I was so annoyed but also cross with myself for not asking if they had a stable before they viewed!

Assuming yesterday’s lady doesn’t want him I’ve got a viewing booked for Sunday lunchtime. Would it be acceptable to book another one in for Sunday late afternoon? Or is that cheeky? It would sort of force a decision I guess if we had 2 booked for one day?

Im just trying to plan my weekend and also in case some don’t show…and have so many people wanting to try him, I just want the best home for him.

Thanks!
 
Asking if they have a stable ready isnt something I would think to ask either.

I think two viewings a day is fine, providing horse is fit enough and there is ample time for a rest and cool down between viewings. Also be sure the second lot are not coming from miles away as being told horse is sold while you are half way through a four hour journey is rotten.

You don't want the second lot turning up to find a sweaty horse. They would be mad not to turn straight back around and leave.
 
You need to decide how you want to make a decision. Do you have lots of time and want the best home? If so you need to be very clear that you will allow x viewings and will decide when you’re ready having found out about the choice of home and what they plan to do.
I would be screening all calls and only allow people with appropriate experience, facilities and resources ££££ to come and meet you both. As long as you’re up front about two viewings on the same day ie best home l think that’s fine. What’s not ok is free rides. Also if people have to travel to view it’s very important that you are upfront about the way you’ll be making a decision.
 
Thanks guys, when we bought our pony they had 2 in a day over Saturday and Sunday and we were travelling 4 hours 🤪 we were second on the Sunday so I had to keep messaging on the drive up to check he was still for sale!

I’ll probably keep to just the one viewing Sunday then, I hate doing them to be honest and not in a desperate rush to sell him x
 
I can't believe people attend viewings without having somewhere to keep a horse and sufficient funds in place

Deposits always bug me though or rather the size of them. Up until buying Lari I was never asked to put a deposit down on a horse. A verbal agreement was enough. I was told there was another lady viewing him that morning so I didn't even think I'd get the chance to view him that afternoon, when I text to check I was spun a story about how she had loved him but wasn't 100% sure so he was still available for me to view! Now I realise it was all a ruse to make me even more eager and I was so chuffed to still be able to view I went along happily.

Bailey came over from Holland on the Thursday, I tried out on the Saturday and with my own tack again on the Sunday.

Monday I rang to book a vetting, Tuesday the horse was vetted. Thursday I took delivery. Friday I rode.

Much the same timeline with the others too.

In those days a handshake was enough. I worry about a deposit when I view a horse as my savings are tied up.
 
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I hate selling too and get myself tied up in knots trying to be fair to everyone. And still some people get the hump if you don’t let them view first etc or hold the horse for them while they faff about. So I found a way that minimises my stress: one viewing per day, homes vetted prior to viewing via a phone call, viewings on any day of week so if you arrange for in a few days, horse might go, horse remains for sale with viewings continuing till a non refundable deposit is paid to secure the sale.
 
I do one per day as it’s common for 2 children to be viewing, or a mother/daughter share so pony/horse is ridden by 3 people (me first) flat, jumping and hacking. Seems enough to me. But if it’s just one rider then 2 would be fine too.
 
Birker2020 said:
I can't believe people attend viewings without having somewhere to keep a horse and sufficient funds in place

Deposits always bug me though or rather the size of them. Up until buying Lari I was never asked to put a deposit down on a horse. A verbal agreement was enough. I was told there was another lady viewing him that morning so I didn't even think I'd get the chance to view him that afternoon, when I text to check I was spun a story about how she had loved him but wasn't 100% sure so he was still available for me to view! Now I realise it was all a ruse to make me even more eager and I was so chuffed to still be able to view I went along happily.

Bailey came over from Holland on the Thursday, I tried out on the Saturday and with my own tack again on the Sunday.

Monday I rang to book a vetting, Tuesday the horse was vetted. Thursday I took delivery. Friday I rode.

Much the same timeline with the others too.

In those days a handshake was enough. I worry about a deposit when I view a horse as my savings are tied up.
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I know! The assumption was it would be fine because they already have a pony there…I did think yeah ok this is just an excuse but my friend knows the yard owner at their yard and she said yes, they did ask about the stable after the viewing not before and no, there isn’t space! The parents aren’t very horsey though, it’s for the teenage daughter who gets a lot of support from their YO so I do think they maybe didn’t know or realise you don’t go horse shopping without a stable! 🤦🏻‍♀️
 
we drove 5 hours once and arrived a little early to find another family and a kid already riding the pony in the outdoor. The seller just said oh they aren't quite finished yet, they wanted to go for a little hack too, can you just wait over there.... ! We walked away. I was furious, had the seller told us she was planning multiple viewings in one day there is no way I would have gone all that way.
 
One viewing a day. If I turned up and found a horse sweaty / saddle marked or having been ridden, I’d be straight back out your gate unless I was feeling petty, in which case I might string it out for an hour and waste your time in return.

Far too much like a mild stiffness or a tendency to rush can be hidden by working the horse earlier in the day.

(And this is why you should always arrive early for viewing, make sure you don’t catch the horse on the lunge!)
 
I sold one during the peak of COVID. It was absolutely insane - I had hundreds and hundreds of messages, comments, requests to send them more pictures and videos and so on.

In the end I filtered out the timewasters by asking people to tell me a bit about themselves and what they wanted to do with him, which meant I could ignore the more generic messages such as “More info please” when it was all in the advert anyway. Home was very important to me so this approach tied in quite nicely with that.

I also asked for a nominal deposit to hold him for the viewing, meaning I wouldn’t let anyone else view beforehand. I felt it showed some commitment from them and also from me in the sense that nobody was going to get in there first as I was willing to hold him for a few days if they wanted to come at the weekend etc.

Had two people view - first one I refunded the deposit as he wasn’t forward going enough for her, the second bought him so I knocked it off the sale price. It worked well for me and coincidentally I made a friend for life in the lady I sold him to. I didn’t find it put anyone off as I had multiple people willing to send the deposit but the interest was so overwhelming he was sold in less than a week!
 
I hope you sell without issues.

I have been sent videos of two in the last few days and have looked at a further one on a website.

All three are lame. It's a nightmare, so if you have a good horse to sell BNAC he should sell super fast. Good luck!
 
Birker2020 said:
I hope you sell without issues.

I have been sent videos of two in the last few days and have looked at a further one on a website.

All three are lame. It's a nightmare, so if you have a good horse to sell BNAC he should sell super fast. Good luck!
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Thank you! I seem to be attracting people who haven’t a clue what they are looking at! Ex racer but the most amazing temperament and very un-racehorsey! Got a few more booked in so fingers crossed 🤞 He’s definitely sound 😂
 
Ugh I already hate selling!!! Had another really good viewing, they loved him and said he was “something special” but then said they didn’t want to spend more than 3k…he’s 4k plus extra for tack. I’m not dropping that much, frustrating!

I’m going to put him on another selling site (he’s on Whickr) what do people recommend? Thanks
 
Whickr seems as good as any. I would be very clear at the start that you’re not going to be messed around on price. Plenty of people think if someone turns up to view, gets on ok etc they can ‘negotiate’ a price. I do fixed price on buying and selling. Maybe try to get some rugs/ tack as part of a deal. Selling is just so fraught.
 
gallopingby said:
Whickr seems as good as any. I would be very clear at the start that you’re not going to be messed around on price. Plenty of people think if someone turns up to view, gets on ok etc they can ‘negotiate’ a price. I do fixed price on buying and selling. Maybe try to get some rugs/ tack as part of a deal. Selling is just so fraught.
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I think I will have to, people see ex racer and think £2k max. My list of screening questions is growing by the day! 🤣
 
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kchgax said:
I also asked for a nominal deposit to hold him for the viewing
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People may have got away with this during Covid craziness, but deposit-to-view is widely seen as a huge red flag. Most people asking for one are scammers selling non existent horses.

I doubt most people would pay a depsoit to view anymore.
 
Bobthecob15 said:
Ugh I already hate selling!!! Had another really good viewing, they loved him and said he was “something special” but then said they didn’t want to spend more than 3k…he’s 4k plus extra for tack. I’m not dropping that much, frustrating!

I’m going to put him on another selling site (he’s on Whickr) what do people recommend? Thanks
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Agree that horsequest and ROR website are good places to advertise an exracer.
 
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Ambers Echo said:
People may have got away with this during Covid craziness, but deposit-to-view is widely seen as a huge red flag. Most people asking for one are scammers selling non existent horses.

I doubt most people would pay a depsoit to view anymore.
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I don’t see it as “getting away with it” as I certainly didn’t scam anyone and it worked extremely well for all parties involved. It meant I could weed out the time wasters and day trippers (which there were plenty of) and those seriously interested knew I wasn’t going to let someone view and buy him from beneath them whilst they made arrangements to come and view.

Each to their own I suppose, just sharing my experience and what worked for me when I was inundated with interest, as the OP stated they were. I’d be willing to do it but then I’ve also bought four unseen from Ireland over the years which is a much greater risk! 🤪
 
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