When communicating with private horse sellers

Casey76

Casey76

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 July 2011
Messages
3,651
Location
North East, UK
Visit site
I'm in communication with a lady who is selling her horse. We've exchanged several emails, and he sounds very nice on paper, just what I'm looking for.

However he is a long way from me (he is near Marseilles, about a 7 hour drive), so I've asked for specific conformation photos and some video of him inhand so I can (get a friend to) check his gait/movement before I make plans to go to visit.

The last email I had was on Saturday when the lady said she would take photos and video "the next day if the weather was good" but I haven't heard anything since.

I sent another email today asking if she had had the time to take the photos and video, but I didn't want to sound really demanding and impatient.

I did try to put across that I was very interested in her horse, despite the distance, and that I would be happy to visit with my instructor - once I had seen some video. I also explained about my riding history and riding level, and my aims at being a rider. I also explained why I was looking for a second horse.

I'm now not sure if I've overcooked things a bit.

How do you show interest without being demanding and pushy?
 
I think you have every right to be fairly demanding, you are spending the money after all!

If someone wasn't keen to send up to date pictures I would assume they either weren't really bothered about selling, or that there might be something to hide ie., the horse is a bag of bones or lame.
 
When I was selling my mare I had a chap from France enquire ( I'm in W Yorks). I happily gave as much info as poss and sent lots of photos. Didn't want him wasting his time if it wasn't what he was looking for.
 
I drove 250 miles to buy a horse lorry (because clearly not in my county are good enough lol) and I grilled the poor woman, got her to send me pictures of just about every nut, bolt and screw, photos of documents and asked a million and one questions. She was brilliant and answered every question and sent pictures quickly with no problems, when we decided to go and look at it, it was fab and exactly what we were expecting. You're the one with the money so I'd expect any decent seller to make the effort, even more so when it's an animal you're buying.
Personally if you really want him, I'd give it another couple of days and send one last email saying if she's changed her mind about selling then that's fine, but can she let you know either way so you can look elsewhere.
 
Well, has the weather been good? She probably just expects a bit of time to gets together video etc (is she French?!), are horses her job or does she do something else? I would say give her a week unless she spends all day at the yard, and even then she would need another person to help.

I don't think you're being demanding in what you're asking, I travelled 4 hours to see my horse and the seller couldn't seem to believe I was going to come all that way and pay for the transport etc, but I did and explained I had looked all over and felt she was just what I was looking for! I had seen videos, loads of pics, and had lengthy conversations over facebook with the seller so I basically knew if she was what I thought she was going to be, faults and all, then I would buy her. You can't really do that without video or at least A LOT of pics and a chat with an honest seller.

I went to see lots of horses based on a few pics and a brief description plus a conversation with sellers varying in accuracy, a couple of which were very far away (one took about 6 hours to get to, I was exhausted and on the verge of tears when I arrived to get bombed around the school with! (Gorgeous quality horse for a great price just a lot more strong than I wanted).

Hope you hear from her soon, and that the horse is the right one for you :-)
 
I am in same boat atm, I wish sellers would just take decent confo shots to start with tbh, its not rocket science. This time of year though, when it's not very light then I would give a week-life happens and if it were me for example, I would have to get very busy husnabd to help me videoing.
If they want to sell, have nothing to hide then they will do it-had a lovely woman this week who sent me links of videos from horse being born to first backing through to her vets contact details.
 
Thanks all :)

I did get a response tonight to say sorry, but that her horses are more than an hour away, and that she couldn't get any video this weekend.

I responded to say that's fine, as long as I know, and went on to give a bit more detail of what I want in the video (walked and trotted in hand towards, in front and away from the camera, and ridden w/t/c)

I should receive more up to date photos tomorrow :)
 
She may have other people interested who are nearer and not asking for pictures and videos.
So less hassle for them

Id say next step is to call them.

Let them know again you are very keen but need pictures and videos before deciding if to make the journey.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top