Where to advertise, and how much?

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Abacus

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I'm thinking Equestrian Notice Board or Horsequest, does anyone have experience or either or both?

The horse I am selling is a 15.1 connemara, 11 years old, great little allrounder who would suit a teen or small adult. He basically does every job - good flatwork, excellent jump, steps up or down to suit the rider. He's a pretty dun, has always been sound. Hacks nicely in company or alone, good in traffic. He is earshy which will be disclosed but it doesn't cause any real problems in handling him. No other vices or issues. Fairly low mileage with us as my son just isn't competitive and I have mainly hunted him but previously has evented to BE80. Was eliminated first time out (xc) but after that got a 12th, 4th and 18th.

Any views on a price would also be appreciated!
 
I’d try your local hunt message board and any local pony clubs first and mentioning him here won’t hurt. As for price I’d look at similar ponies for sale to see what level they are pitched at.
 
Expensive, I should think! He sounds as though he will be in high demand.

ETA I am not looking but do browse occasionally. I haven’t heard of equestrian noticeboard (is it more of a local thing and not in my area?) but Horsequest would seem a good place to advertise him. I don’t even look at horses in what will be his price bracket though (assume £15K plus) so no help there.
 
I am the same, I have my riding clubby/Pony clubby 7yr old mare advertised on HorseQuest and Donedeal (ireland) but didnt know what to put on her price wise.
I have only had 1 viewing since advertised even though everyone I speak to says she will be snapped up, it seems Flashy safe allrounders are not being snapped up :(
 
CastlelackSportHorses said:
I am the same, I have my riding clubby/Pony clubby 7yr old mare advertised on HorseQuest and Donedeal (ireland) but didnt know what to put on her price wise.
I have only had 1 viewing since advertised even though everyone I speak to says she will be snapped up, it seems Flashy safe allrounders are not being snapped up :(
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Well, if you are asking anything like the proposed £15,000, for an eleven year old gelding, sweetie but no outstanding competition record to class as schoolmaster, hardly surprising.
Admittedly, a 7 year old mare sounds a better bet, but against a background of rapidly rising forage / livery prices, that’s basically an amateur’s horse.....
 
Burnerbee said:
I think I can see an orderly queue forming right here….
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You would imagine!
I thought when I advertised her I would have people mad to come view, but one viewing in 2 weeks!
I do have LOADS of people enquiring and I send them as much videos/pics as I can from the last 4 years I have gotten to spend with her, and they say shes perfect and beautiful etc but then never progress to wanting to try her!

I have offered people to take her on trial for a week/view her multiple time etc and still no interest!
I just don't understand it.
 
Exasperated said:
Well, if you are asking anything like the proposed £15,000, for an eleven year old gelding, sweetie but no outstanding competition record to class as schoolmaster, hardly surprising.
Admittedly, a 7 year old mare sounds a better bet, but against a background of rapidly rising forage / livery prices, that’s basically an amateur’s horse.....
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Well, I actually am asking for 15k for her which I think is very reasonable for her type and experience and how safe she is.
When you factor buying and producing a horse for 4/5 years anything under 10k leaves you at a loss.
 
Exasperated said:
Well, if you are asking anything like the proposed £15,000, for an eleven year old gelding, sweetie but no outstanding competition record to class as schoolmaster, hardly surprising.
Admittedly, a 7 year old mare sounds a better bet, but against a background of rapidly rising forage / livery prices, that’s basically an amateur’s horse.....
Click to expand...
So what would you value that 11 year old sweet gelding at? Genuine question, I am interested in a range of opinions, and in sensible assessment of what is a realistic asking price that would attract the right buyers. I don't only want to be told that he is worth fortunes, if he is not.

I'm intrigued about how you define a schoolmaster - to me it doesn't necessarily mean in a competitive sense, more that the horse is established enough to teach someone (and be safe). Mine is definitely this.
 
Abacus said:
So what would you value that 11 year old sweet gelding at? Genuine question, I am interested in a range of opinions, and in sensible assessment of what is a realistic asking price that would attract the right buyers. I don't only want to be told that he is worth fortunes, if he is not.

I'm intrigued about how you define a schoolmaster - to me it doesn't necessarily mean in a competitive sense, more that the horse is established enough to teach someone (and be safe). Mine is definitely this.
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Honestly, I wouldnt know what price to put on your boy, maybe 10-12k if he has no medical issues.
My mare wouldnt necessarily be a schoolmaster as she can still be green at times, but is safe as houses.
 
There are so many factors to consider.
Where abouts in the country,
How easy the horse/pony is to ride
Things like being dun will help!

For me, an 11yo dun gelding will be more valuable/sellable than a slightly green 7yo mare, if all other factors are equal.

Abacus description is exactly what I was looking for, for a local family recently in Gloucs. They had 10k and could not find anything suitable. Stretched to 12 and ended up with a lovely type but younger/greener than they ideally wanted, but that was the compromise.

The market has definitely dipped in the last year. But really safe, sound proven allrounders are ones still selling pretty well.
 
ihatework said:
There are so many factors to consider.
Where abouts in the country,
How easy the horse/pony is to ride
Things like being dun will help!

For me, an 11yo dun gelding will be more valuable/sellable than a slightly green 7yo mare, if all other factors are equal.

Abacus description is exactly what I was looking for, for a local family recently in Gloucs. They had 10k and could not find anything suitable. Stretched to 12 and ended up with a lovely type but younger/greener than they ideally wanted, but that was the compromise.

The market has definitely dipped in the last year. But really safe, sound proven allrounders are ones still selling pretty well.
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Thank you, that is so helpful. He is definitely very pretty, which shouldn't help but probably does!
 
Exasperated said:
Well, if you are asking anything like the proposed £15,000, for an eleven year old gelding, sweetie but no outstanding competition record to class as schoolmaster, hardly surprising.
Admittedly, a 7 year old mare sounds a better bet, but against a background of rapidly rising forage / livery prices, that’s basically an amateur’s horse.....
Click to expand...
A good
Exasperated said:
Well, if you are asking anything like the proposed £15,000, for an eleven year old gelding, sweetie but no outstanding competition record to class as schoolmaster, hardly surprising.
Admittedly, a 7 year old mare sounds a better bet, but against a background of rapidly rising forage / livery prices, that’s basically an amateur’s horse.....
Click to expand...
A genuine good sound alrounder not too old should fetch that.When I was looking about 4 years ago I saw a 14.2 heavy weight cob advertised. He was about that age.Advertized as anyone's ride,hacks out in company,first or last or on his own.Good to box,vet and farrier.Competed successfully in showing and elementary dressage.£23.000.He was snapped up by someone who knew him.
 
Abacus said:
So what would you value that 11 year old sweet gelding at? Genuine question, I am interested in a range of opinions, and in sensible assessment of what is a realistic asking price that would attract the right buyers. I don't only want to be told that he is worth fortunes, if he is not.

I'm intrigued about how you define a schoolmaster - to me it doesn't necessarily mean in a competitive sense, more that the horse is established enough to teach someone (and be safe). Mine is definitely this.
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Genuine reply:
Things are worth what people will pay.
And yes, he does sound a sweetie, and he is a gelding in double figures who will not get younger, and yes, I hope he finds a good home - and that you also make your money on the deal.
Let us know when resolved, can all (genuinely) celebrate with you.
 
Chippers1 said:
Sounds exactly like the type of horse I would be looking for in a few months! I have been looking at adverts recently and similar types are going for around 10-15k.
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Well, this is perfect!
Recently there was a little cob, unsuitably placed, which found a lovely new home in Scotland, thanks to communication on this forum - I know it’s not for selling horses, but that’s both of you sorted out without further hassle of searching and advertising, and must be the correct price after all - well done!
 
Are there not already quite a number of decent horses in Ireland?
If posters on here are correct, might be better sending her to the UK to sell?
Good luck!
CastlelackSportHorses said:
You would imagine!
I thought when I advertised her I would have people mad to come view, but one viewing in 2 weeks!
I do have LOADS of people enquiring and I send them as much videos/pics as I can from the last 4 years I have gotten to spend with her, and they say shes perfect and beautiful etc but then never progress to wanting to try her!

I have offered people to take her on trial for a week/view her multiple time etc and still no interest!
I just don't understand it.
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Exasperated said:
Are there not already quite a number of decent horses in Ireland?
If posters on here are correct, might be better sending her to the UK to sell?
Good luck!
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Well yes I guess there are a lot of nice horses similar to her here.
I would send her to UK if I had funds to take the chance she would sell over there but unfortunately I don't so I have to try sell privately.
Seems strange that a genuine, all rounder like mine has only had 1 viewing in that length of time.
 
CastlelackSportHorses said:
Well yes I guess there are a lot of nice horses similar to her here.
I would send her to UK if I had funds to take the chance she would sell over there but unfortunately I don't so I have to try sell privately.
Seems strange that a genuine, all rounder like mine has only had 1 viewing in that length of time.
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I'm a nosy brat and managed to find your ad and I think she's maybe too big and young for pony club (if a parent is spending 15k they want it to have a record), maybe too expensive for the older, sensible riding club person she would be perfect for and although you mention SJI there's no details of how she did so people looking for a comp horse will look past her. I think you maybe need to pick a market a bit more in your advertising.
 
smolmaus said:
I'm a nosy brat and managed to find your ad and I think she's maybe too big and young for pony club (if a parent is spending 15k they want it to have a record), maybe too expensive for the older, sensible riding club person she would be perfect for and although you mention SJI there's no details of how she did so people looking for a comp horse will look past her. I think you maybe need to pick a market a bit more in your advertising.
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She did PC all winter and was adored by all the instructors/parents/kids so she is a proven Pony club horse!
It does say she competed to 1m SJI and if people are interested surely they will ask for her comp name.
Compared to the HorseQuest market she looks to be perfectly priced for a genuine, safe, pretty allrounder really.
 
CastlelackSportHorses said:
She did PC all winter and was adored by all the instructors/parents/kids so she is a proven Pony club horse!
It does say she competed to 1m SJI and if people are interested surely they will ask for her comp name.
Compared to the HorseQuest market she looks to be perfectly priced for a genuine, safe, pretty allrounder really.
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You need to say that in the ad!
People who want an SJI horse will look for one that is being marketed as that, they will see "did SJI 1m" with no details and assume she wasn't very good at it, since if she did really well you would put it in the ad!
 
smolmaus said:
You need to say that in the ad!
People who want an SJI horse will look for one that is being marketed as that, they will see "did SJI 1m" with no details and assume she wasn't very good at it, since if she did really well you would put it in the ad!
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Yes I will change the wording on add,
Shes a very consistent jumping mare to be fair to her.
 
Maybe you need to be quite detailed.Add in if he is good to hack,load,farrier,vet.Put what level rider he is suitable for.Does he need an experienced rider or would he be suitable to bring on a relative novice.
 
eahotson said:
Maybe you need to be quite detailed.Add in if he is good to hack,load,farrier,vet.Put what level rider he is suitable for.Does he need an experienced rider or would he be suitable to bring on a relative novice.
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Yes absolutely, this version was just a summary but i will include a lot more detail for the real advert.
 
She sounds like the perfect horse to move to from ponies!! I’d have her in a few years time or if I had the money for a second now 🙌
 
First update, and thanks for all the feedback. I advertised him this morning at £14.5k and have had quite a lot of interest already, two viewings booked. It is probably easier that I’m in the UK and central (Oxfordshire). Based on that the price seems appropriate, but of course you never know how a vetting will go (I have no reason to think he wouldn’t pass but we all know what vettings are like).
 
CastlelackSportHorses said:
You would imagine!
I thought when I advertised her I would have people mad to come view, but one viewing in 2 weeks!
I do have LOADS of people enquiring and I send them as much videos/pics as I can from the last 4 years I have gotten to spend with her, and they say shes perfect and beautiful etc but then never progress to wanting to try her!

I have offered people to take her on trial for a week/view her multiple time etc and still no interest!
I just don't understand it.
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Your ad is catching the wrong people I would guess. I have found it and I would rewrite it with a view to your target audience - you have cast a net a little too wide in the ad.
 
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