What do sellers want?

[hock]

I want them to look at the horse I’m selling after riding at and know they’ll take a bullet for it . I want them to be really clued up on what’s really important about horse keeping ie: hoof balance, saddle fit, regular body work for the horse etc. I want them to ride nicely and take regular quality instruction. And for my horse to like them, I want to feel that click. It also helps if they come and see them a few times as well as it helps with the horses transition. My owners are a fabulous bunch most of them have become friends (not in a weird way there needs to be a healthy boundary).

It’s very lovely to see a horse you’ve raised and produced in their new life. At the weekend I went on a fantastic farm ride with a person who bought a lovely horse off me and it made me so proud to see him having the time of his life.

 

[Wishfilly]

It's obviously good to be an organised and motivated buyer and not waste people's time BUT you are not doing the seller a favour, either. Some sellers will try and rush you and put pressure on you, and especially when buying a first horse, you do need to be sure it's right for you.

If it falls through, it falls through- the right horse it out there for you somewhere!

It's also okay to ride a horse at a viewing, and decide it's not for you, even if it's "fine"- you are going to own this horse and ride it regularly for years, you need to like it! It's a different situation to a pro who needs a horse to do a job, you need a horse you like and that makes you happy to ride! To some sellers, that may make you a timewaster, but this is why we do viewings. As a relative novice, I would also never get on a horse I had not seen ridden by someone else.

Equally as a buyer you will go and view horses and see them not as described, a hand smaller or bigger than it says on the advert is a common one!

Personally, I probably wouldn't go down the route of working livery, because it can lead to all sorts of issues, but keeping the horse somewhere with experienced backup is a very good idea.

FWIW, when I was buying (during covid so hot market) no sellers ever wanted videos of me riding, and people were still willing to have sensible discussions on the phone. I did have a pony fall through due to vetting, but in retrospect, there was a lot dodgy about that set up, and I'm very lucky with the pony I ended up buying.

One tip- if a horse has a registered name, googling it can sometimes bring up interesting things!

 

[SantaVera]

Added to all the above you have to actually like the horse too. Horses can tick all the boxes but sometimes you just don't gel. Trust your gut feelings, you need to fall in love a little.

 

[AthenesOwl]

Added to all the above you have to actually like the horse too. Horses can tick all the boxes but sometimes you just don't gel. Trust your gut feelings, you need to fall in love a little.

Very true! Just like online dating, I suppose.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I also prefer people to let me know they don't want the horse. Some leave after what seems like a positive viewing, and you never hear from them again.

 

[stormox]

Sellers want an easy and hassle free sale. And that means someone who wants 3 viewings and a vetting could lose out to an instant cash buyer.

 

[ihatework]

I think what is key is to remember not all sellers are the same, so there is not a one size fits all for this.

But from my perspective I’d say the following:
- Be honest about your ability, what you want to do with the horse and what facilities and routine you wish to keep the horse in.

- If at any stage during the process the seller indicates this is not the right horse for you then you have probably encountered an honest seller who just wants the right match for the horse, don’t take it personally, thank them and move on.

- Don’t ask millions of questions in separate texts / emails. One or two written communications or ideally pick up the phone. Read the advert first!

- if you make an appointment to view then please either arrive on time or if you are late or need to cancel then please give seller as much notice as possible.

- it’s fine to just not like a horse. You don’t need to be rude or try and make up reasons, a simple, thank you but he isn’t quite what I’m looking for is fine. Preferably sooner rather than later. I would much rather a buyer did that 15 mins in, than having done xyz for an hour + and potentially not given the horse a nice experience in the process

- don’t go and try the horse if you have no where near the asking price available should the horse end up perfect for you (unless you have specifically agreed up front with the seller). It’s fine to haggle, but a genuine and fair market price horse with sell for near or on the advertised price.

 

[AthenesOwl]

I also prefer people to let me know they don't want the horse. Some leave after what seems like a positive viewing, and you never hear from them again.

This reminds me of the horrors of trying to sell our house last year. So many apparently positive viewings which came to nothing, including one family who were apparently cash buyers who told us they were very keen to make an offer.

I would certainly want to let someone know I wasn’t interested in their horse, especially after that experience. Stands to reason you don’t want to mess people around really, regardless of what you’re buying.

 

[anglo]

Added to all the above you have to actually like the horse too. Horses can tick all the boxes but sometimes you just don't gel. Trust your gut feelings, you need to fall in love a little.

I viewed a horse that ticked all the boxes for me , on paper . I rode him and he did everything I wanted , and he was a lovley horse , but I didnt get "that" feeling at the thought of him being mine . I got a message the next day from a total stranger that said they had something that fit the bill . I hadnt even seen him out of the stable and knew he was the one I wanted . Thankfully he went okay ( very green ) and passed the vetting . I have had him now for 23yrs and he still makes my heart sing when I see him .

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I think I was the kind of buyer a seller wants. I viewed quite a few and knew on the day they weren't right and I said so before leaving. I enquired over WhatsApp about one, asking the important questions to me. Arranged to view on a weekend day. Loved him, asked if I could take trainer back a few days later. Still loved him, arranged vetting and brought him home. All done over 10 days or so.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

My perfect buyer was the one who came to view on their way from dropping the outgrown pony off. Girl rode the pony beautifully, burst into tears after jumping round a track and said 'please can we have him'. Dad said he'd let me know, then said 'who am I kidding, obviously we want him'. Agreed the full asking price, paid cash (which they had just got from dropping off their pony. then took him immediately in the now empty trailer!

 

[AthenesOwl]

You’ve all given me so much excellent advice and plenty of food for thought, for which I’m very grateful.

Starting this thread has also made me think more about what I might want from my future horse, rather than what other people might expect me to want (especially horsey friends, who all have opinions). I’ve also been thinking about what is has been in particular that I’ve liked about my favourite horses over the years, which has been great.