WWYD selling options

[risingtrot]

Hello,
I'm new to the thread although I'm a long term lurker.

I have a horse I wish to sell, but looking for advice.
He was a twin and very slow to mature, so wasn't broken until late 6yo but has never really had a lot of constant work through my own work commitments, so I'd describe as low mileage although he has been out to some small events, dressage, country rides.
He is a real smart looking horse, well bred with lots of scope. He's a sweetie in the stable, nothing is any fuss and he's easy to work with, a nice person to have a round. He does have a very small nappy streak in him but TBH I think it's more boredom than nasty-ness, the more often he's worked the less likley he is to nap, where he can buck and I've came off him before and hurt my back.
But he has been off for about 10 weeks now as he got his leg caught in the fence and needed time to heal.
I'm reluctant to get back on and start again, life is tough and I'm on my own and other than a field don't have anywhere to ride. I've also lost my nerve with him so want something to instill confidence.
So I'm trying to sell him from the field, obviously I've reduced my price but had no takers. I am being honest that he can nap, but 99.9% doesn't think about it.

Do I send him to a dealer to be sold on my behalf? I've heard horror stories that some dealers take a horse to sell and once they've sold it, taken their weekly livery bill and commission it's ended up costing the owner money.

TBH I've wrote off everything about him, so the amount of money doesn't matter. But I do want him to go to a home where he'll be taken care of. Any ideas or suggestions, or would anyone like a horse to sell on my behalf?

 

[alainax]

It depends on what he is worth, and what you expect to get for him.

I sent my ID off to sales livery and that was certainly the best decision. They rode and hacked him everyday, and people could come try him there.

But then, the sales livery cost me the same as what I was paying for his current livery, so it was an easy choice.

The options would really be sales livery, selling from field and /or as a project.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Where are you? Do you know any local trainers/riders who can come out and get him going again for you? He sounds like the type who is naughty when not worked consistently but would probably settle once he has a routine going. It would be worth the investment as you could get more for him if he was in work. I think in the current situation he will be hard to sell. I also think you sound nervous of riding him so it's probably best to get someone else to, you'll get on expecting him to be naughty and he'll feed off this, someone who's not seen him play up (obviously warn them that he might), ill be more relaxed so will probably help him more. Nappiness is often due to lack of confidence in the rider so he needs someone positive to help him rather than someone wondering when he'll next buck them off!

 

[risingtrot]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

It's my own field so not paying any livery fees. I think TBH if he was on a livery yard he'd be fine, always someone to go out riding with and some moral support for me. And probably would never have gotten to this stage.

Paint It Lucky - that is exactly right. I think is naughty when not worked consistently and does settle once in a routine.
I am nervous of riding him so I know it's a catch 22 situation, he's nervous because he can feel I'm nervous etc. I can't see how it will get better.

I'm in the north so limited with trainers etc and again I'm reluctant to spend any more money on him, I feel like I'm just throwing good money over bad.
It is getting me so down, and don't know what else to try.

 

[Red-1]

I only had one horse that I was not "happy" with and on the recommendation of my friend I sent her to the Crippins (John and Simon I think) to be schooled and then sold. I did not really care about the money, that mare had taken me to Int BE and owed me nothing, but there was "something" about her that I just did not crack, and so I sent her there, not for the money, but so she could be presented to the best to achieve a home suitable for her.

I went to see her after a few weeks and she was happily cantering round a full 1.40 course. She was still naughty, but obviously very talented. She sold to a lovely family. Because she was there for schooling as well as sale the cost of the livery was in the 1000sss , but it was money well spent.

The sad thing in her case was it turned out to be cancer of an ovary, that is why she was so naughty. But, I had the solace that I did not know what the problem was, had "done right" by her, had found a competent home, and had tried my best to make her well set up for the future.

I guess your choices will seem like a rock and a hard place, but I know I felt better just knowing I had done my very best, not just gone for maximum profit.

 

[bollybop]

York sales?