What if your horse doesnt sell?

mrsclark

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Hi everyone,

Basically i was wondering if people could give me any advice on problem i have..
I have a lovely showjumper up for sale, he is so talented and absolutely nothing wrong with him. He is the sweetest most genuine horse ever. He was up for sale in the summer and we had a lot of time wasters come and try him, but no one decided they wanted him, we took him off the market over christmas, and he had a holiday. He's now fit and out competing, ive re-advertised him but havent had any calls... The only reason he is for sale is because im now at university and dont have the time. Otherwise i would be keeping him! He's in livery at the moment, costing a fortune, and i have to pay the yard owner 10% comission when he is sold as he is supposed to be helping us sell him (although has been pretty useless). Im spending so much money on full livery (i come from a non horsey back round so no family who could help) and im at a loose end.. what do you do if your horse doesnt sell?? He's amazing and i dont know why anyone wouldnt want him :(

Any help/ideas would be most welcome.. i just dont really know what to do..

Thanks,

Sarah
 
Cut your losses and drop the price, especially if you're paying full livery! Make sure you have good pictures, videos showing him off well and a well written advert.
 
If the person helping you sell is useless just tell them you don't need their help anymore and if you do eventually sell you won't have to hand over any commission.

Have you considered putting him on loan instead?
 
Not really had a lot of experience of this, but I'd think about where and how he is advertised (is it a good ad with clear photos, is the ad on the popular websites?). If he's well advertised you might have to think about lowering your price, as it's not the best time of year to be selling. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush! Dropping your price and selling him will save money on livery. He sounds ace though!
 
I cant really loan him as my parents really need the money for my uni fees... I suppose i'll just have to drop the price.. money down the drain :(
 
Now I'm just dying to start looking for a showjumping horse.......

If only I could sell this pony :(

I wholey sympathise, I'm in exactly the same position & its driving me mad! I can only suggest what others have said, consider dropping the price, maybe tweak the ad wording & put some new pics & a video on if possible. Good luck xx
 
Has your ad got lots of pictures and well worded? and video is a bonus. Have you tried facebook groups for a local crowd? I think you will just have to think long term costs for you and drop the price I'm afraid :-(

I don't think it sounds like the YO person is working that hard but then again it is winter.

Are you at uni near home? Whereabouts in the country are you?
 
I'll swap you for a jumping pony :D

It's so frustrating isn't it?! Like your parents need the money off yours for uni fees, I need the cash off mine for a horse, although I have dropped the price somewhat now after doing some research into horse prices! Mines still slightly lower than others similar to him though. I'm going to end up giving him away!! Have you checked your price against others that are advertised? x
 
but what if your already asking well below what a horse like him is worth? i suppose in this economic climate no horses are selling at what they are worth.

I live west sussex and go to uni in essex, its just a bit too far :(
 
Yeah i have, personally i think he's priced right. there are others on the market who are at the same level as him, but he has so much potential and is only 7..so frustrating! x
 
Yeah i have, personally i think he's priced right. there are others on the market who are at the same level as him, but he has so much potential and is only 7..so frustrating! x

There are always lots advertised, but do they sell?? Do people have to drop their price too??

I think that the time of year doesn't help. People tend to wait til after winter. By Spring half term people will start to think of the summer and want to get going..
 
On the other side of the coin, I bought a new horse a week before Christmas, after months of looking.
A friend sent me the advert and although i liked the look of him, I felt he was overpriced for the current market.
I kept an eye on the ad and the price dropped, I tried him on the Sat, vetted on Tues, home on Wed.
I did pay £1,700 less than his original price though, horses are selling but the price needs to be realistic.
Not saying your horse is overpriced but its very much a buyers market atm.
 
On the other side of the coin, I bought a new horse a week before Christmas, after months of looking.
A friend sent me the advert and although i liked the look of him, I felt he was overpriced for the current market.
I kept an eye on the ad and the price dropped, I tried him on the Sat, vetted on Tues, home on Wed.
I did pay £1,700 less than his original price though, horses are selling but the price needs to be realistic.
Not saying your horse is overpriced but its very much a buyers market atm.

Very true! Thank you!
 
When I sold my boy I was in London and him on full livery in Essex. I couldn't ride him everyday so I needed him schooled and fit to sell.

When I discussed with the YO also instructor and trainer my requirements we had two options.
- I pay full livery and further set amount for schooling
- 20% of sale price

I went with the first option and luckily he sold at first viewing.

You however seem to be paying for both. Maybe look for someone else to sell on your behalf.
 
As someone who is horsehunting at the moment, I don't think they often sell at the asking price. All the horses I've viewed, the sellers have said they are open to negotiation.

I know diddly squat about selling though! Good luck OP
 
PM me with a link to your ad if you want an honest viewpoint on why you might be struggling :)
 
Xspiral will you have a look at mine too if you don't mind? It's been tweeked a fair bit already but I'm at a loss! It's a pony though xx
 
The other tactic would be to raise the price. Sounds silly but often a good horse underpriced rings alarm bells. I have no idea the sort of price bracket you have him in, but it can be worth moving up to the next bracket if he's as good as you say and seeing what happens.
 
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