where have all the good riders gone?

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spacefaer

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A quick question for you all!

I've got a cracking 14.2 dressage/PC pony to sell for friends of mine and have advertised him as being "spooky with a new rider but settles once he gets to trust you" - he's belonged to the same people since he was a yearling (now 9). He's not bad - just spooky for a few days.

Two people came to try him, he behaved like an absolute dream and didn't put a foot wrong but they never rang me back.

I've tried to be honest about him but it seems to have back fired! Why is no one prepared to give him a go and get to know him? I've offered every trial - arena, hacking, SJ, XC course to show him off. He's not badly behaved - just spooky! He also has a proven competition record (loads of wins as M&M WHP, PC/RC everything, BYRDS etc etc) so he can definitely do the job. He is bombproof in traffic (silage tractors included) so can be warranted in every way....

What are people looking for? Is patent safety more important than anything else??
 
Hi - I'm in Gloucestershire - 10 mins from M5 - so can't be geography putting people off. He's advertised on Horsequest under WHP & dressage pony & Connemara. Also BD website.

Both sets of people went away sounding enthusiastic..... and as regards the price, his advert says that good home is the most important as he's been such a star for his owners... which clearly implies that they're open to offers.

I didn't think "spooky" was such an issue! Do you think that anyone reading it thinks I'm understating him and really mean "Nappy"??
 
I think it really depends on what people are looking for at the time of you advertising - sometimes its just pot luck! When I was looking for a new horse there were several I just wouldn't even try, met the horse and went er no, i wont waste your time any longer. Because i had such a bad experience with my spooky horse previously that I needed something I could trust before it learnt to trust me.

If the horse was well behaved on the viewing then no idea why they weren't keen to at least come back again, unfortunately sometimes if people just don't click with the horse then they wont be prepared to shell out hard cash. If you still have contact details I would maybe call or email them and just ask for some constructive critiscim. that's what I did with my spooky horse that i was trying to sell & it did help for the next lot of people (who ended up buying him actually).

Maybe don't advertise that he's spooky, get people interested and then tell them?? Might put people off to begin with but if you wait until they call to explain the full story then?
x
 
I dont think there is anything wrong with ad esp since owners are open to offers.
It could be the time of year(people wanting something they can take out right away) or it's simply that a pony is a big purchase and people want to make sure they make the right choice.
 
I've seen your advert on Horsequest - sounds like a nice pony. Have you tried putting him in the Pony Club Pony section, as the demand for experienced PC allrounders still seems very strong. I wouldn't put anything about spookiness in the ad - just put 'great second pony' to deter the novices. I'd take out the bit about current rider giving up too! Also put in some more jumping pics and mention more about his PC/RC achievements - ie has he been in teams, done rallies/camps, what heights is he winning/getting placed at etc.
 
Don't want to dishearten you but I had exactly the same problem last summer when I tried to sell my pony. Sounds very similar to yours - connemara with PUK wins, BSJA record, RC teams, BD points at elementary level, jumped PN XC fences, HT , RC teams etc etc. I didn't have the spooky issue but he isn't a novice ride - not dangerous but has character! I tried BD, BCPS website, horsemart, Horse Quest, H&H, PC website and had a horrid time. The price wasn't silly either as new home was more important.

I think a lot of people are looking for a 'perfect' pony and won't compromise on small issues or points. There are some lovely people out there looking for ponies and mine eventually went to a PC loan home through word of mouth.

I'd play down the spooky issue -a lot of people read adverts looking for what isn't said or assume the worst. Most horses are spooky to a certain extent in new homes and if he def isn't nappy I'd leave it out or only mention it as an aside. However , if it is a bigger issue than that and especially if children are going to be riding him, I think you need to be honest.
 
Honestly think now is a pretty poor time to sell a pony- at the very beginning of the summer or the very end is when I think poies sell best- so the child can either hunt/ SJ/ dressage all winter, or jump striaght into major PC stuff right away. Bt now, most children have a pony thy will ride until the summer is over... However, if you just keep advertising him, he'll probably sell quite quickly once the summer is over.
 
I saw him on HQ yesterday and he is exactly what I am looking for but 2 inches too small
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I think your advert is great and personally I don't find the spookiness an issue - you could aim more for the mother/daughter or adult rider market with his height. Word of mouth is good for selling - speak to your pony club commissioner or instructor.
 
When people look at an advert they presume that vices are understated - so if I saw a pony advertised as spooky then I would think it was not safe to hack out as it would be spooking at everything and if I were to take it to a competition then it would be spooking at the dressage markers or things that it had not seen before.

The majority of horses and ponies will occasionally spook at something. Even my quiet pony sometimes decides that big green leaves are terrifying yet will happy jump some very scary fillers first time!

If you are a mum looking for a child's pony then they probably will be wanting the pony to be as safe as possible.

Have you tried advertising your pony on the connemara pony society website and hamlets house forum - as connie fans might look there.

Also just because you are a good rider does not necessarily mean you want a tricky horse!
 
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