Dear Horse Owners Writing Sale Ads, Please Keep The Following Things In Mind
- Put a picture of your horse with the ad. We don’t want to have to wait for you to send us pictures. To buyers, it feels like you don’t really want to sell your horse if you don’t post a picture.
- Kid-safe is a term that should be used carefully. Buyers expect that to mean that children have successfully and safely ridden the horse. Not that you “think” they probably could.
- Saying your horse can do ring work is just fine. A lot of people like a horse they can ride in the arena. To me that means it can walk,trot, and canter, quietly. If it doesn’t canter, or bucks at the trot, or refuses to work. It doesn’t do ring work. In fact, a better description would be doesn’t do ring work.
- Speaking of rings.. how is it that so many people selling horses tell you they have no place for you to try them? Guess they haven’t been riding them after all.
- If a mare is pregnant or has a foal at her side, I ask kindly that you mention this at the beginning of the ad. An extra horse is kind of like a big thing.
- Hacks out alone does not count if the horse is screaming and trying to turn for home the whole time.
- Don’t say the horse ties unless he isn’t constantly spooking, yanking, and trying to getaway. We are not interested in whether or not you can tie a knot, we want to know if the darn horse will standstill.
- Good for vet and farrier means that the horse doesn’t have to be drugged until it can hardly stand to be taken care of.
- If your horse has to be drugged for anything that is not routine we are probably not interested.
- How much you love the horse is not a legitimate way to determine your asking price.
- If the horse has any health or soundness issues, mention them in the ad in detail, and answer the question honestly will the horse stay sound while in work?
- Us horse people know a lame horse when we see one. We won’t believe you if you say “oh my gosh I have never seen him limp before!”
- The same rule applies when it comes to “I have never seen him buck before”, “I have never seen him rear before”, “he has never run away with anyone!”.
- You are lying if you say your off-the-track thoroughbred that has not been restarted is the perfect beginner horse.
- If you won’t get on the horse first, I’m leaving. That can’t be a good sign and I’m not trying to break my neck.
- Good with dogs, cats, and kids does not mean that the horse just doesn’t kill them when he kicks them.
- Loads on the trailer do not mean that he will “eventually” load on the trailer after an hour or hours of coaxing (beating) or bribing with food. If you say load it means he walks right up on that bad boy.
- Don’t post an ad saying you are “considering” selling your horse. Don’t waste time having people come look if you really aren’t ready to let them go.
- If the horse has any weird quirks or behaviors that any new owner should know about make sure you mention that, at least when someone contacts you! Depending on what it is, it may be a deal-breaker.
- Show experience…be specific. Did the horse go to a schooling show and do well? Or did he act like a banshee and get kicked off the show grounds? Kind of a big difference!
- And the last rule. Something very simple people! Write an honest description of your horse. Include everything that a potential new owner would want and need to know. When composing an ad think about all the things you would want to know if you were looking to buy a horse instead of sell.
Honesty Is So Important!
Not only just because it is the right thing to do. Not being honest about horses can get people hurt.
It can also land horses in bad situations when they don’t live up to the new owner’s expectations. Obviously, there are some people that care about the horse, admit their mistake, and will take time to find the horse the best home possible.
Unfortunately, there are also people who will just take the first opportunity to get rid of the horse without any consideration of what might happen to them. This can land even the sweetest, nicest horses in bad places.
Horse Shopping Can Be Fun!
Let’s keep it that way and be honest about what we are selling. And those of us who are the buyers, be honest with yourself about your ability as well as your budget.
Tire kicking is rude. Don’t go and look at a horse if you are not ready or have no intention of buying. Come on, you know that would make you mad if someone wasted your time and said they aren’t in the market yet after you spent your time with them and your horse!!!!!
Sorry About The Rant!
Sometimes, we horse people just have to get it out of our system. This horse person just so happens to be a blogger too so that means other people are subjected to my ranting! I promise I won’t do it too often!