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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
  
| Past health issues.
For example the gelding I have for sale (advertised on BHW) has been treated for EPM. He is 100% and working better today than anytime in the 5 years I've owned him, but in the interest of the horse going to a good home I feel the need to disclose the treatment.
Do you put it right out there in your sale ad?
I've been bringing it up as people inquire, I'm not interested in hiding it and dragging people from 4 or 6 or 8 hours away to try him and then telling them, if that's a deal breaker it wastes both our time. Or should I be getting people out to try him, like him, see that he's sound as a dollar and then bring it up? What would you prefer?
First time we've sold a horse like this, but I'm working to build a good reputation and my fiancé has worked to build a great reputation in the area for solid horses so it's important to us to protect that. Plus he's been my personal horse for the past 5 years so I do want a good home for him. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | If it is something that he would be prone to the rest of his life if not managed properly then I would disclose it to the prospective buyer. If you don't put that in the ad then I would at least tell them when they call. Normally serious buyers will call you rather then just email/text you (at least in my experience they do). |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I would for sure tell the prospective buyer when they call. That is something I would want to know before I came to try your horse. |
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 Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| I would want to know in the ad so I wouldn't waste mine or your time by calling. That would be deal breaker for a lot of people. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
 
Location: Kansas | fulltiltfilly - 2016-05-06 7:13 AM If it is something that he would be prone to the rest of his life if not managed properly then I would disclose it to the prospective buyer. If you don't put that in the ad then I would at least tell them when they call. Normally serious buyers will call you rather then just email/text you (at least in my experience they do).
agreed |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I am going through the same thing. I have a gelding that has never been lame or sore. We had a buyer vet him this past weekend. He passed all flexion tests and when we x-rayed, an old bone chip was discovered. It is smooth and attached and very well may never affect him. The buyers passed on him though due to this. They did release all x-rays to me though. I still have him advertised. I do have video of him during the vet exam flexion test passing on the leg with the bone chip. I have been disclosing the information to people who are inquiring. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434
Location: Northwest Florida | I wouldn't put it in the ad itself, but I would disclose it during the first conversation. Usually past injuries and illnesses are brought up in the first conversation. I definitely wouldn't let them drive out there, even if it weren't a deal breaker I think waiting too long to disclose it would make it seem like more of an issue than it is, just like putting it in the ad would to me.
I would just explain the treatment, how long ago it was, that he has no remaining damage and offer vet records. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | If it was me I would disclose it in the ad that he has been treated for EPM and is 100% and has been for however long. Does require regular treatment costing xyz dollars a month and price is reflective of this.
Nearly all horses require some form of maintenance at some point in their life so as long as the buyer knows this was an issue that can be managed at reasonable cost then they can make the informed decision.
If you leave it off the ad you'll be spending time with buyers who are may very well pass based on his previous medical history once disclosed. If you put it up there and people already know about it then those that contact you are likely more serious buyers.
Make sure to have awesome videos with no excuses (ex. I couldn't make a run because the ground was wet/hard/sandy/muddy/soft etc.) Post a great video showing how awesome he is and hopefully that will make a lot of people worry less about his EPM Treatment.
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Totally agree on disclosing it in the first conversation. Perhaps an adjustment to ad disclosing some maintenance so people who want the easy keeper maintenance free horse pass on without contact.
Hoping to get some awesome runs on him this weekend, I've only had him out once this year.
He's in a tough price range really and I don't blame people for passing due to the EPM. I don't mind keeping him around, but we are at capacity and want to get back to keeping some prospects around and my fiancé wants to bring in some outside horses for training so someone's got to go. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| I would disclose that information prior to the person coming out to ride him. It wouldn't bother me if it was missing in the add but I would want that honesty over the phone. Maybe don't sell him as a barrel horse? If he can ride trails or something non-competitive you might have better luck. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 393
| I would disclose in the ad that he needs maintenance. Not necessarily what it is!
Having this done to me with a recent purchase, it is not fun finding out AFTER you purchase the horse they have had some sort of major health issue that wasn't disclosed!! It is not a great feeling!! As long as you tell them then its their choice!! |
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 Captain Of The Prude Broom
Posts: 2153
Location: cincinnati, oh | I would prefer to see it in the ad. Like someone posted earlier may state when he was treated for EPM, how long he has been symptom free and if you provide any maintenance to keep him symptom free. If it is a deal breaker for someone may as well weed them out before they waste your time and yours inquiring on the horse. |
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Location: midwest mama | Every stinkin' thing! LOL
Past injuries, illnesses, shoeing, total health history.
Personality traits, habits and quirks, etc.
I usually "over-disclose" because I don't ever want anything coming back on me. Plus I want the horse AND the new owner to be happy.
Then it is up to the prospective buyer to decide what they can work with and what they can't. |
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 Regular
Posts: 52
| I agree with mentioning it in the ad. If you don't at least say he needs some sort of maintenance buyers might get suspicious when they find out about the issue. It may look like you are trying to hide it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3534
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | I would not put health issues or quirks o anything negative in the ad. I like it when the ad is short and simple. Then give the info after the potential buyer inquires
I sold a gelding al ittle over 5 years ago. He was going through the process of going blind in one eye. He had "moonblindness" and at the time his eye would clear up for awhile and then flare up and get cloudy. I had spent $1000 in the year prior in vet bills treating him but it didn't really effect riding him. He was highly likely that it would spread to the other eye eventually. He was 9 at the time. I kept his ad short and simple. Every inquiry I got on him, I immeditely told people about his eye and treatment and fully discolsed all copies of vet records. People seemed to be thankful. I had to negotiate on my price but found someone willing to care for him and his special needs. I couldn't have hand picked a better rider or home for him. They came 5-6 hours one way from 2 states away. Also, all communication with the new buyer was through email. We even agreed on the price through email. The buyer was a 16YO girl who had always ridden saddle seat and wanted to get into barrel racing. after about a month of emailing back and forth, she showed up with her parents, grandma and trailer with cash in hand that we agreed on.
As for the person who says serious buyers will call, I don't agree with that. The horse above was all through email. I sold a 9YO mare last year that was patterned on barrels and poles but needed some more seasoning. I put an ad online on a Wed. Got a text on a Thurs. All communication, photos and video links were through text. The buyer and her mom and son showed up 1 week later to try the mare. Her and her bf came 2 weeks later, with cash and bought her. They lived 4-5 hours one way away and I NEVER had a single call or email. Only text, except the two times we met in person.
I buy and sell a lot of stuff online and almost everything is done though text or email. I've found text is more convenient and buyers seem to prefer that. I think I get 1 call out of every 10 inquiries. Now, I'm not talking about $10K or higher horses, but even those might start with just an email.
Jusy my experience and advice.
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As an honest seller, when do you disclose...