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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | Ok so I haven't sold a horse in over 8 years, let alone a trained barrel horse, and I'm coming across some questions about what to do.
1. I know it's important to have videos of your horse running the pattern, preferably when they have a smoking run and everything looks pretty. But what if you haven't had anyone record you in the past few years? I'm wanting to get a recent video taken soon but I'm having to work with my family's schedule, which has been difficult.
2. How short or long do you make your description about your horse? I'm wanting to put in all information about him but not droning on, especially when you have a text limit.
3. What key things make your ad stand out from the rest, besides great pictures.
4. Our arena is currently unavailable to be ridden in so I've mainly been doing slow work in our pasture and trail rides. What do I tell ppl if they want to ride him and breeze him through the pattern if we can't use our arena? | |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Find a way to get a video of you breezing him thru the pattern, even if you have to rent an arena or go to a friend's house, same for if someone wants to try him. Our county arenas are pretty cheap to rent during the week, I would check this out in advance of listing him and have a plan. As to your add I would include all pertinent information, breeding, history, training, temperament, price, height, soundness, etc. I know there are many excellent reasons to not list price, but I find it frustrating when price is not listed but then they complain about all the tire kickers. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | Ok here's a rough draft. Tell me what you guys think and feel free to edit it yourself haha. This isn't posted on any sale sites right now and I won't until we have an updated video, but I'd rather be ready than not. For privacy purposes I won't put the horses registered name BUT on the real ad I will have it and a link to his bloodlines.
Blah Blah Bo is a 8 years old AQHA sorrel gelding standing at 15.2 hands tall. Bo is fancy broke; rollbacks, counter arcs, breaks at the poll, can move his shoulders and hips over, and more while at a walk, trot, and lope. Bo is a trained barrel horse, winning money 3D & 4D without me pushing him. Could easily run in the 2D with more hauling. Quick Turner and hard runner when asked but can go at whatever speed you want; walk, trot, slow lope, fast lope, or running. He was even complemented by a multiple NFR qualifier on his athletic ability. Bo is also ridden every week at a salebarn, pushing and sorting cattle/ponies/goats/sheep/llamas. He's the type of horse that can go all day and is very willing. He loads in the trailer easily, goes barefoot, never needed injections or had any major injuries. He's a sweet in-your-pocket type of horse and is a good horse to be around. Besides the breeder, we are the only people who have owned him and done all the work on him. If you are interested and have any questions please call, text or email at ... | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | I think thats a good draft! I will just put my 2 cents in, for what its worth and say pictures make or break a sale ad. I wont even look at a ad if they have crappy or no confirmation pictures. Current videos are absolutely needed. I want to see how the horse is currently working, i dont care how it was working 6+ months ago. Have proven stats and records available from shows you've ran at (if any) and what also won it there as well. I dont care if the horse ran a 17, if a low 14 won it. These are just some of my pet peeves lol.
If your arena isnt an option, use a friends, or if any local places have a "open ride night" or a jackpot have them meet you there. Its always nice to see a horse load/unload in person. I've delt with some major trailer issues before so thats a big thing for me.
Again, these are all just my opinion and what i look for! GOOD LUCK!!! | |
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| "I know there are many excellent reasons to not list price, but I find it frustrating when price is not listed but then they complain about all the tire kickers. "
Agree! 
Edited by turnthree 2017-09-14 9:23 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Posted before I read your ad. Like it. 
Edited by IRunOnFaith 2017-09-14 9:53 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 276
| Honestly, it sounds like it may be in your best interest to hire a broker. Pictures, videos, and the availability to try the horse are the main things that make or break a sale. Yes, you will have to compensate them, and trust me, they earn every penny of it, even if you may feel like you are giving them a very large amount. But if you think about it, if they are able to get more money for the horse and/or are able to make the sale much quicker than you, to get the horse off your feed/vet bill, than it could be very much worth it.
On the wordage of the ad, I like to keep things pretty short and sweet, which is hard for me, because I could talk your ear off all day about my horses. I state exactly what the horse is, does, and then I try to highlight a few of his/her good qualities. Keep it short to keep the buyer's attention, and then be willing to tell them the horse's life story when you talk to them on the phone or in person.
Good luck! | |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | SpaceCowboy - 2017-09-14 1:09 PM
Honestly, it sounds like it may be in your best interest to hire a broker. Pictures, videos, and the availability to try the horse are the main things that make or break a sale. Yes, you will have to compensate them, and trust me, they earn every penny of it, even if you may feel like you are giving them a very large amount. But if you think about it, if they are able to get more money for the horse and/or are able to make the sale much quicker than you, to get the horse off your feed/vet bill, than it could be very much worth it.
On the wordage of the ad, I like to keep things pretty short and sweet, which is hard for me, because I could talk your ear off all day about my horses. I state exactly what the horse is, does, and then I try to highlight a few of his/her good qualities. Keep it short to keep the buyer's attention, and then be willing to tell them the horse's life story when you talk to them on the phone or in person.
Good luck!
Not a bad idea! But how do you find one? | |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Bump | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | As other people have said good pictures and recent videos are a must. If you have record of placings or runs, even if they are old, make sure you state that. If you are posting videos include older videos but make sure you have recent ones and make sure they are clear.
Things I want to know is their height, their age, what they have in previous or are currently running and not what their ability is. I want to know if they have a history of lameness or injury and any health or breathing issues they have. I want to know how often they need injections or if they haven't been injected before. Most importantly I want to know what they are running or if they haven't run in a while what they were running.
If you aren't able to have someone video your run then set up your phone or camera and hit record. Then make your run and edit it afterwards down so you just see your run.
If you don't have an arena to ride in you'll need to find one somewhere nearby that you can haul to. This is a great selling feature as someone is coming to try a horse off home turf so you have a better idea of how the horse handles somewhere other then home.
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | cecollins0811 - 2017-09-14 2:48 PM
SpaceCowboy - 2017-09-14 1:09 PM
Honestly, it sounds like it may be in your best interest to hire a broker. Pictures, videos, and the availability to try the horse are the main things that make or break a sale. Yes, you will have to compensate them, and trust me, they earn every penny of it, even if you may feel like you are giving them a very large amount. But if you think about it, if they are able to get more money for the horse and/or are able to make the sale much quicker than you, to get the horse off your feed/vet bill, than it could be very much worth it.
On the wordage of the ad, I like to keep things pretty short and sweet, which is hard for me, because I could talk your ear off all day about my horses. I state exactly what the horse is, does, and then I try to highlight a few of his/her good qualities. Keep it short to keep the buyer's attention, and then be willing to tell them the horse's life story when you talk to them on the phone or in person.
Good luck!
Not a bad idea! But how do you find one?
I agree with this. I have sold many on my own and several through a broker. The broker is well worth the money. Always gets more for the horse than I am able to, sells the horse faster than I am able to, handles the million questions, setting up a trial if requested, handles shipping/transportation if needed (most of the time it is), and gets the payment squared away before the horse leaves the property. If you've never actually handled a sale where the buyer is not there to physically exchange the money with you, it can be very frustrating to figure it out on your own (speaking from experience).
Where are you located? I'm sure someone on here knows a reputable broker in your area, if you're interested in using one. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | BamaCanChaser - 2017-09-15 12:54 PM
cecollins0811 - 2017-09-14 2:48 PM
SpaceCowboy - 2017-09-14 1:09 PM
Honestly, it sounds like it may be in your best interest to hire a broker. Pictures, videos, and the availability to try the horse are the main things that make or break a sale. Yes, you will have to compensate them, and trust me, they earn every penny of it, even if you may feel like you are giving them a very large amount. But if you think about it, if they are able to get more money for the horse and/or are able to make the sale much quicker than you, to get the horse off your feed/vet bill, than it could be very much worth it.
On the wordage of the ad, I like to keep things pretty short and sweet, which is hard for me, because I could talk your ear off all day about my horses. I state exactly what the horse is, does, and then I try to highlight a few of his/her good qualities. Keep it short to keep the buyer's attention, and then be willing to tell them the horse's life story when you talk to them on the phone or in person.
Good luck!
Not a bad idea! But how do you find one?
I agree with this. I have sold many on my own and several through a broker. The broker is well worth the money. Always gets more for the horse than I am able to, sells the horse faster than I am able to, handles the million questions, setting up a trial if requested, handles shipping/transportation if needed (most of the time it is ), and gets the payment squared away before the horse leaves the property. If you've never actually handled a sale where the buyer is not there to physically exchange the money with you, it can be very frustrating to figure it out on your own (speaking from experience ).
Where are you located? I'm sure someone on here knows a reputable broker in your area, if you're interested in using one.
I'm located in Southern Colorado by Lamar and Pueblo area. I know that's broad area but I live in a small town in between
Edited by cecollins0811 2017-09-15 4:55 PM
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Horse selling questions