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Post by mustangdara on Nov 17, 2008 21:51:02 GMT -5
:)I have never sold a horse before and i have had a few responces to my moms mare Ellie and i started to think about what to ask. I have allot in mind but wanted to get advice from some of you who have sold horses before to good homes. I want the buyer to know everything about her so they dont get her and say you never told me this or that about her...and there is nothing to hide about this horse so i am not to worried,just worried about bad people  |
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Post by DianneC on Nov 17, 2008 22:08:25 GMT -5
What are they looking for in a horse? The best buyer will want what your horse has. You might want to know what kind of riding do they do, how much experience do they have working with your kind of horse. What size of horse do they want, where will it be kept and with what other horses. Not someone new to horses, especially with an unbroke horse.
Have they ever trained a horse before, and what techniques do they like. A good buyer will have experience and know what they want.
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Post by desperatehorsewife on Nov 18, 2008 9:05:39 GMT -5
Good for you for trying to match up the buyer to the horse!
I second all that Dianne has said. No one knows your horse better than you do...but then again we do sometimes limit our horses based on our own limitations (come to think of it ;D) I always like to put a forgiving horse with those less experienced, and a forgiving owner with a horse that struggles with new concepts or ideas. The experience level of the potential owner has less to do with it than their desire and attitude.
I'm glad you're getting several responses...it's a tough time of year to be marketing a horse regardless of feed costs. People have never bought strong in winter.
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Post by fantasykiger on Nov 18, 2008 14:38:45 GMT -5
It really depends on the horse, what I look for in a buyer. I want them to compliment each other. More often then not, your horse will let you know from the first meeting if they have any intention of liking who you brought them to meet. I know that may sound ridiculous but all my horses are friendly. I know them inside and out if they respond to someone unfavorably repeatedly just by them casually walking out in the pasture, something is off.
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Post by mustangdara on Nov 20, 2008 16:53:22 GMT -5
Sooo...i have a gal in cal. who really likes Ellie. I got to talk to her today and she seems really nice and i think ellie would do well with her Vaquero style training...her motto is "there is always tommorow" I tried to tell her every thing about her good and bad, i am sure i could write pages about her. This gal is trying to decide if she would want to drive the 7 hours to come up or have her shipped sight -un- seen. (yikes, i may actually sell her)  She shared her absolute deal breakers...and Ellie is not even close to those. she is going to send me photos of current horse and facilitys where ellie would live and the beach she would be riding on!!! Do any of you ever sell without metting the buyer?? Do any of you sell to someone you never met??? |
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Post by DianneC on Nov 22, 2008 11:03:24 GMT -5
Most buyers are someone you don't know to start with, encourage her to come see the horse. If there is anything you can do to make that easier, a bed to sleep in etc. do that. Most horses do well with that style of training, but its nice to see them with the horse to gauge their style. You sound like you've talked to her about previous horses she has trained, what went well, what challenges she had and how she overcame them etc. Since Ellie will need training that's important.
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Post by JoanMRK on Nov 22, 2008 11:50:28 GMT -5
I have sold to buyers whom I have not met and have been greatly blessed every time. LindaF who comes on her every now and then in Texas bought one of my most favorite fillies that I had here. Another lady Lana, in Arizona bought another filly. Both ladies communicated with me a lot, asked a lot of questions, sent pictures of their place, their horses, and them. I could not have been happier with where these girls ended up, they have wonderful lives and are deeply loved by their new owners.
PS: Linda I have never met in person, Lana I met when we delivered her mare.
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Post by canadiankigers on Nov 22, 2008 12:39:28 GMT -5
I have had a lot of calls (some inquiries about the Kiger breed and others inquiries about purchase) My first impression over the phone is important to me. What questions are they asking? What do they want the horse for? What plans do they have for it? Where will the horse live? (on the farm or boarded) How much experience do they have? etc...
If I am still unsure I do ask for references, the name of their vet and farrier etc... I guess when all is said and done we can never guarantee that the horse we sell will have a forever home but I do feel that it is important to DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!!! If the buyer is offended by my questions or requirements then I know they are not the buyer for me!!!!
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Post by fantasykiger on Nov 22, 2008 17:20:56 GMT -5
I to have sold a horse across country owner sight unseen. Yet there was alot of conversation over the phone, thru emails and there has been plenty ever sense. 3 years later we still communicate thru emails and photos.
Kelly has brought up a good point. References...I have always offered up references to sellers when I wish to purhcase a horse and a serious buyer with nothing to hide or without a big ego' should not be offended.
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Nov 25, 2008 8:45:57 GMT -5
Personally, I would never sell a horse to someone I did not meet. They really need to make the effort to come here and see the horse in person. This way I know if the match is right or not. Second I look at their ability to care for the horse $wise. So far I have cancelled two sales due to the fact I felt the buyers could not afford what I consider proper care for the horse. Another sale was cancelled because I found out the young gal really wanted a hunter/jumper and they figured on buying my horse, training him some and selling him to get what they really wanted. I am looking for forever homes!
Next I look at the right fit for the horse. No timid folks for the hot Luso crosses! Since we breed out mares regularly and keep the foals until they are under saddle, we pretty much know what type of horse they will turn out to be and what their abilities are. This is another reason that folks have to come out and meet the horses - usually the horse picks them and it is an instant match - those sales are always the best! Some people and horses just don't click, so there is really no point in going any further.
Then I want in detail their past horse experience, if they have ever worked with a professional trainier (I get suspicious when someone wants a young horse and wants to "do it themselves"...), how they plan on keeping the horse (at home, boarding, etc.), who their vet, farrier, dentist, etc. is (and I call references!). Their view on health care and nutrition...but the biggest thing is someone who is ready, willing and open to learning. That is what is really is about for me.
The whole reason I began breeding was to provide our clients with a sound, trainable horse that was bred right, trained right and they could learn on - a true partner. I take so much care into each and every horse I raise and care so much about their life journey, that I look at my buyers as an investment in the future of my horses. We have a Fresh Start Program for any horses we buy back (in ALL my contracts), and we even have a 60 acre pasture picked out for when our horses are ready to retire - they can come home again if they need to and live out their days with their old buds.
I have found that if a buyer is not open to learning, then sooner or later, the horse will be resold and they are so much worse off for that experience. The person tries to make the horse fit into their ideal - not change and grow together toward a common goal: partnership.
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Post by fantasykiger on Nov 25, 2008 12:38:17 GMT -5
And listen to your gut...  in the proccess of finding a new home for the horse my daughter purchased to ride over the summer we had a lady come to try here and ride her out on a trail ride with us. The lady seemed to be very frugal about money in her conversations. Nothing wrong with that as long as priorities are met. She had experience riding and spoke of friends with horses. She was on disability and it was obvious she was ever so slightly mentally handicapped. We were willing to give her the benefit of the doubt if she had good people around her, as the trail ride did go well. She would not be the first handicapped person I have sold a horse to. But I had a bad gut feeling that no doubt would she love this horse but financially I did not think she thought horse ownership thru'. I think the people around her humored her when she talked of horse ownership, never thinking she would honestly purchase a horse. In the begining my daughter agreed to sel the horse to her with the stipulation we could repossess the horse at anytime that good care was not provided. but there was no need before she could pay for the horse we found out she had no place for the horse nor the money that she planned to pay for the horse. She became very angry with my daughter when my daughter changed her mind and told the lady she would not be getting the horse. Wrote a nasty email and has been sense flagging every ad she posts for the horse on craiglist. But no worry, she is a great little horse we are determined will be placed on the right home. So like I said listen to your gut....it is usually right. |
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Post by DianneC on Nov 26, 2008 23:27:50 GMT -5
Great points!
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Post by mustangdara on Dec 3, 2008 17:01:52 GMT -5
I am sure glad to see all these ideas for me to learn more about buyers...Thanks....just today i responded to another responce to her add, this lady wanted to know why i was selling and my lowest price i would take...I e -mailed her back and told about ellie and why i am parting with her, but i did not mention price(i felt i would address that later)the next e-mail from her was asking how i would like to get paid..ie.money order or certified check.....WHOA It kind of freaked me out...she dosent even know much about my horse. anywho...i just thought i would share that with you guys ...i thought it was a bit weird.
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Post by DianneC on Dec 3, 2008 20:36:10 GMT -5
Those are usually a scam. I get one for each ad I place. They don't know the name of the horse you are advertising or anything about them, just that they want to buy it and what is your lowest price. Then they send you a check to include the shipping and ask you to pay the shipper, but then the money order or certified check is no good.
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Post by kigerfan on Dec 3, 2008 22:41:33 GMT -5
Still don't know why people scam like that, can't understand it.
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in the proccess of finding a new home for the horse my daughter purchased to ride over the summer we had a lady come to try here and ride her out on a trail ride with us. The lady seemed to be very frugal about money in her conversations. Nothing wrong with that as long as priorities are met. She had experience riding and spoke of friends with horses. She was on disability and it was obvious she was ever so slightly mentally handicapped. We were willing to give her the benefit of the doubt if she had good people around her, as the trail ride did go well. She would not be the first handicapped person I have sold a horse to. But I had a bad gut feeling that no doubt would she love this horse but financially I did not think she thought horse ownership thru'. I think the people around her humored her when she talked of horse ownership, never thinking she would honestly purchase a horse. In the begining my daughter agreed to sel the horse to her with the stipulation we could repossess the horse at anytime that good care was not provided. but there was no need before she could pay for the horse we found out she had no place for the horse nor the money that she planned to pay for the horse. She became very angry with my daughter when my daughter changed her mind and told the lady she would not be getting the horse. Wrote a nasty email and has been sense flagging every ad she posts for the horse on craiglist. But no worry, she is a great little horse we are determined will be placed on the right home. So like I said listen to your gut....it is usually right.