Where to advertise a sweet but limited horse?

I used to buy cheap projects to bring on entirely for that market. As well as other advice already given, I would definitely recommend advertising very locally. Not the only place, but I used to stick up a free ad on the noticeboard at local venues, rs, feed merchant & tack shop while in there anyway. (even if not free its pennies). You'd be suprised how many people would pass on details to a friend looking. On a whim I did once stick a card in a co-op close to a few big yards & frequented by horsey people. And it was that ad that the buyer saw. Of course you can't advertise the same on a piece of card, but if its local I never had a problem, people are willing to travel a few miles without videos etc first. Obviously in addition to websites too, but certainly a method I still use.
 
I know why he hasn't been snapped up. He is inbetween markets. He looks too much like a blood horse and has a light frame which puts off the happy hacker brigade and mother/daughter shares as he is not in the 15hh cobx or native cross bracket combine that with his lack of experience and more novicey riders will probably pass his advert by.
For more experienced riders who want a competition horse perhaps he is just a little plain and sweet looking! He looks a doll in that XC video, a real pootle round a BE80 type but he's not showing real scope and fire is he for those looking for a future event horse.

Tbh he's be perfect for someone like me who wants a horse that looks like a blood horse but that is quiet and easy for allround stuff. I'd maybe re'jig his advert and put across a bit more how easy he is for a rider wanting to do RC rather than scope and ready to win title.

He looks lovely :).
 
Having found his ad on HQ I agree with Firewall re the inbetween markets thing. I personally think you have priced him right (although it doesn't hurt to add a bit and rejig the wording!!)

It's a shame he isn't a fraction smaller and a fraction chunkier.

He is a RC horse, but could really do with a few comp outings under is belt. If you haven't sold in a couple of weeks PM me, I could be interested in a project at the right price.
 
I actually stumbled across your advert whilst looking for something else, and I must agree it doesn't seem to be targeting the right market. I think if you worded his description in the ad more like you have worded your post, then you are more likely to find him the right home.
 
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What would put me off is that you have 'bold, careful, scopey jump' and 'ready to win' then show a video of him popping over 2'6 xc (although very nicely!) You have been far more honest about him on this post and that should be conveyed in the ad. I would say that he is a RC type and what height he is happy doing. I would also put more photos up.

I have a similar horse, although bigger, who happily jumped 2'9, will go up to 3' but no more. If he was 6 then I think he would be priced the same or a bit higher and that would be in the north of scotland.
 
Found your ad too I think. I do think your advert is geared more towards comp rider than leisure rider and so perhaps the comp riders are saying too cheap, not scopy enough, and then the leisure riders are saying ohh too scopy...or something like that anyway, if you get my drift. I'd word your ad more along the lines of what you've put in your post and you'll get the right market. Try trade-it and horsemart for that price range (be aware you will get fair amount of annoying teenage dreamers with no intention of buying!)

FWIW if he'd been advertised a few months ago I would have been on the phone straight away, while I was after (and bought) something a little more competitive, I was also not adverse to buying something with less scope but could spend some time and have some fun bringing on, then selling on in a few years.
 
Thank you all so much for your carefully considered replies :) Although I'm fairly shocked at how easy you all find it to track down the advert - there really is no hiding on the internet, is there?! :eek:

I think probably Firewell has hit the nail on the head with her comments, in that he is a little bit between two markets, what she says about him is spot on, and that probably explains why I haven't had so many calls. I am less in agreement with those who want me to change some of the wording, in that he does indeed have a "bold, careful, scopey jump" and would be quite capable of jumping someone very novicey off. I suppose what I'm saying is that it is indeed the horse himself who is between two markets, rather than the advert. If I try and change the advert to make him sound more "bob the cob" it really won't reflect the horse.

I have someone coming to see him on Saturday who sounds, on the face of it, ideal, so please keep your fingers crossed for that :rolleyes: If that doesn't work out and I readvertise, I will bear all your very helpful comments in mind and try and adjust accordingly. Many thanks again for taking the time to help :)
 
TableDancer said:
My concern is that I don't want him to go to someone who feels they have spent a lot and ends up disappointed, rather to someone who feels they have got a bargain and is constantly pleasantly surprised by what he can offer them :)
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^ This is my thinking for if/when I try to sell Wilby again. I'd rather he go off and be loved as a happy hacker and never pressurised, than someone buy him and try and make him into something he's not! He's an absolute darling on the ground (provided you don't pull his tail :o) and a saint to hack, hunts/cubs, never naughty on the flat but is just a bit 'special' to jump! He's capable of jumping well, but just loses his confidence at the tip of a hat, hence my thinking that he will never be a decent competition horse.

What I've found is that those who want a happy-hack type of horse don't want a young TB :( Am hoping I will have more luck selling him as an 8yr old next year...
 
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