Writing a wanted ad

MissSBird

MissSBird

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Hey guys. Beginning to look for a new horse as I'm finding I miss having one. I think I'm ready enough to move on from Annie.

I've never written a wanted add before so thought I'd seek some advice. I was thinking something like this:

Looking for a quality horse or pony to do all round riding club activities, with an emphasis towards showing and dressage. 15-15.2hh (15.3 if large hack), 4-8 years. Mare or gelding.

I'm willing to try pretty much any type so I would also consider a registered purebred arab around 15hh, or a registered connemara, dales or fell 13.2hh-14.2hh. No cobs or ex-race horses.

As I want to show the horse must have clean limbs and good confromation. I am happy to work with green horses that need work and would take a horse that is unproven competition wise. Jumping is not essential to me, but horse must be good to hack out and travel with another horse in an Ifor 505.

Loving family home awaits right horse or pony.

And then at the bottom my contact details, location and how far I'll travel.

How does that sound? I'm not allowed to buy an ex-race horse but I'm happy with a thoroughbred in general - do you think people will assume I don't want a thoroughbred?

Is there anything else I have missed, and where would you recommend for placing them?

Thanks!
 
I think you need to make it clearer you want to buy. I was reading it assuming it was a loan and thinking "cheeky so and so, she doesn't want much..." Then finally it twigged you wanted to buy...
 
As a matter of interest, why are you writing a wanted ad and where are you planning on placing it? If I were selling a horse, I'd just advertise it, rather than looking for ads asking for my horse. Sorry, but just think you could be wasting your money, stand ready to be corrected.

Also - yes people will think you don't want a TB, and why would you want one that hasn't raced? Ex-racehorses have a far better education than any other riding horse (bar perhaps police and army)
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As a matter of interest, why are you writing a wanted ad and where are you planning on placing it? If I were selling a horse, I'd just advertise it, rather than looking for ads asking for my horse. Sorry, but just think you could be wasting your money, stand ready to be corrected.

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Wanted adds are not a waste. I spent several months looking for a horse, only to turn up and find a) they were a nut job, b) they were so hard to get moving I had leg ache or c) fall in love with them, only to find they go lame the next day, and don't come sound. My horse was not advertised at all. He was sold to me at a third the price he should have been, because she wanted a 5* home for him, not the money, she just couldn't afford the daily upkeep with a baby on the way. She searched through wanted adds, and replied to ones she liked. Wanted adds are deffo worth it.

As to your add, I agree it is too mish-mashed. You say 15-15.2, then possibly 15.3, then 13.2 - 14.2!

And finally, just coz I love 'em, why no cobs?
 
lots of questions!

I have heard of a lot of people finding the right horse through wanted adds, so that is why I'm placing one.

I can't have an ex-race horse. Best laid plans and all, I wasn't expecting to be looking for a horse at this particular moment in my life. Annie was only 11, I expected to have her for much longer. I don't have savings at the moment to buy a horse, so after discussion my father agreed to give me a loan to buy it, to be paid back over time. His only specification was that I don't get an ex-racehorse. He is not very horsey, and the only ex-racers he's known have ended up with severe problems that seem to be related to their past as ex-racers, Annie included. Thus he's put off and doesn't want me taking another one.

The height thing is difficult. I'm not sure what the best way to phrase it would be as an m&m pony would be a different height to a show hunter or riding horse.

No cobs, because generally I find them to need a lot of leg that doesn't suit me due to a problem I have with the muscles in my left leg. And if I'm honest, I generally don't like them. They're lovely enough to be around, but just not for me.
 
Fair enough, you've obviously thought it through. I suspect you will know it when you find 'the one', but just don't know it yet
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I don't know your history with Annie, but it was obviously traumatic and I'm sorry for your loss.

I do think the ad needs to be simplified a bit, maybe just put height limits, and say 'depending on type', but state clearly what you want the horse to do. Perhaps you could state your rough budget too?

Good Luck with your search!
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