Dressage Your tips for finding a new home!

[j1ffy]

Hi everyone. As mentioned in the latest weekend post, Danny's owner and I need to think about selling next year. As a bit of background, I took Danny on loan a year ago as his owner and he weren't clicking and I had retired my dressage horse, but didn't want to buy as I have a youngster who will be 4 next year. So we always planned to sell, as tough as it will be for both of us as we're rather attached to him!

I've never had to sell a horse and nor has his owner (lucky us..!), so I was wondering if the hive mind of HHO can help with some very basic questions...

1) How on earth do you go about pricing a horse? I've been looking on sale sites and horses of his age, experience and affiliated results go from anything from £7k to £20k
2) Where is best to advertise?
3) Is there any way to filter out the nutters? His owner will field calls and has asked if I can ride him when people come to view
4) When is best to advertise? I plan to do the Area Festival in early Feb, so straight after that or wait until the clocks change?
5) Any tips on wording of adverts? I will avoid the word 'stunning'...
6) Should I just recommend to the owner that he go to sales livery instead?!

Also any other tips, either from the point of view of the seller or buyer, would be most welcome.

I haven't put his details on here as I don't want to fall foul of HHO posting rules on advertising - this is very much and 'advice sought' post

 

[ihatework]

Whether to send to sales livery is a fine balance.

The right horse in the right sales livery will certainly optimise the sales price achieved, potentially significantly. But you have to consider the investment in that - X weeks livery plus commission - which could be very worth it if it’s a quick sale and a clean vetting, but if you run into problems you could be down ££££.

Ultimately I think it would depend on what type of market you are aiming for. If he is an amateurs horse then I see a lot of value of seeing him shown off in his home environment by his regular amateur rider. I think people trying him will get a better gauge of his long term suitability for them than sitting on a tuned up pro ridden horse.

But that does require suitable facilities and availability to show him off to buyers. Sales livery certainly takes the hassle out.

Horsequest has for me always been the best site to advertise, I’ve had very few daydreamers respond to adverts from there. Most people looking for a horse look there.

There is a huge market for safe sane dressage horses. Ones that can be taken out solo, will hack safely etc. If he is one of those emphasise that.

 

[j1ffy]

Whether to send to sales livery is a fine balance.

The right horse in the right sales livery will certainly optimise the sales price achieved, potentially significantly. But you have to consider the investment in that - X weeks livery plus commission - which could be very worth it if it’s a quick sale and a clean vetting, but if you run into problems you could be down ££££.

Ultimately I think it would depend on what type of market you are aiming for. If he is an amateurs horse then I see a lot of value of seeing him shown off in his home environment by his regular amateur rider. I think people trying him will get a better gauge of his long term suitability for them than sitting on a tuned up pro ridden horse.

But that does require suitable facilities and availability to show him off to buyers. Sales livery certainly takes the hassle out.

Thanks IHW - that's useful feedback. We have excellent facilities but my availability will be limited to evenings and weekends, with potentially the odd Friday afternoon. Re: a clean vetting, he's very regular and never sick or sorry so hopefully all clear, I'm not sure if he's ever had x-rays.

 

[ihatework]

Thanks IHW - that's useful feedback. We have excellent facilities but my availability will be limited to evenings and weekends, with potentially the odd Friday afternoon. Re: a clean vetting, he's very regular and never sick or sorry so hopefully all clear, I'm not sure if he's ever had x-rays.

From a buyers perspective, most seem to want xrays these days, especially if insuring and anything over 10k generally needs them. Xrays are a PITA. But it’s attractive to buyers if you can produce a full set of xrays for the horse - it’s done in all the decent auctions and often privately too. However it is a double edged sword as you have plausible deniability if you haven’t taken any!! Anyway I’ll stop myself before I start ranting about xrays, but something to consider.

 

[j1ffy]

From a buyers perspective, most seem to want xrays these days, especially if insuring and anything over 10k generally needs them. Xrays are a PITA. But it’s attractive to buyers if you can produce a full set of xrays for the horse - it’s done in all the decent auctions and often privately too. However it is a double edged sword as you have plausible deniability if you haven’t taken any!! Anyway I’ll stop myself before I start ranting about xrays, but something to consider.

I can imagine the rant you'd have - I'd be similar! I suspect his owner would leave it to the buyer TBH.

 

[Alibear]

Perhaps you both start putting the word out to trainers and horsey acquaintances now ? A lot of nice horses go just via word of mouth and he certainly seems to be a good one. No outlay and as it doesn't seem that you want him gone until February, it can't hurt?

 

[j1ffy]

Perhaps you both start putting the word out to trainers and horsey acquaintances now ? A lot of nice horses go just via word of mouth and he certainly seems to be a good one. No outlay and as it doesn't seem that you want him gone until February, it can't hurt?

Absolutely - we'll be doing that as well. I'm just preparing for the scenario of needing to advertise!