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sub
Platinum Member
 United Kingdom
1919 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 11:32:16 AM
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I am selling my Anglo arab stallion and have advertised him in Arabian Link, AHS News and on Horsequest. Numerous phone calls about him have been recieved and I have been honest with all questions asked. So why is it that people who come to see him are wasting my time. One lady travelled 2 hours by train, I picked her up from the station and took her to see my lad. She liked him and asked for me to ride him, she then had a ride and he went really well. On the way back to the station she told me that she really liked him but had 2 concerns - The first was that he is entire, and the second, that she was really looking for something a bit bigger! His sex and size are clearly stated on the adverts so why did she bother to come and see a horse that was not suitable for her??? I actually wasted my birthday to show her my horse! I had confirmed all details on the phone so she knew he was a stallion and is 15hh.
Why is it so difficult to find genuine buyers?
How do you vet yours before they visit?
I have sent videos out to enquiries from Yorkshire and Cheshire but have not heard anything from these people - not even the return of my video.
I never had this problem when I had to sell my purebred last year - he was sold to the second person who saw him and they came all the way down from Manchester!
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Bebely
Gold Member
United Kingdom
813 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 12:51:33 PM
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The problem is possibly not that people are wasting your time on purpose but that the reasons that they are giving you makes it seem as if they are.
I am in a sales job and I can tell you for sure, that the reason people give you for NOT wanting something is rarely the real reason but they can't tell you the truth because it makes them feel bad/silly etc (eg your horse went well but felt lively and she doesn't feel confident enough, or he felt sluggish and she wants something livelier!). Often they also don't tell you what they think because they think it is rude or unkind. (eg I think he's ugly, I hate his legs etc etc)
It is much easier to come up with a statement that is just fact, and won't upset you ie he's too tall or too small.
With horses, often I think we just like one or don't like it and you don't know until you get there. The lady may have thought he was exactly what she thought she wanted on paper but might have just not fallen for him.
I know this doesn't help to stop this happening again, but you may not be so upset if you thought they weren't wasting your time on purpose.
Good luck with the sale of your horse.
 
Bev |
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Serin
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1792 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 1:26:57 PM
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Sub
I have My little Sec B mare for sale at the moment , And i have decided people only try horses at the weekends for a free ride !!! Well I dont let them even go that far if i dont like the way they act or behave around Her or I (posh).
I find if you can have a good lenghty chat with somebody over the phone , no body putting on a show you normally find somebody genuine .
This time of year is not the best to sell but a good time to buy !! |
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Wyllow
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2885 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 1:42:39 PM
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I also wish you good luck with the sale of your horse and hope no more people waste your time.
It's maddening when they won't tell you the real reasons...but maybe it IS a case of just not "clicking".
I know what it's like to go and see an animal myself and find that he is exactly as described, a nice ride, etc, etc...but I just don't like the look on his face or some aspect of his demeanor that I know will grate. What do you say? It sounds lame to say, he's just not "The One"...but in all honesty THAT is the only reason there is.I 'm afraid that I'd say this ~ most people will know what I mean...but I can understand others attempting to find a more rational excuse. Still, when it really is a case of time wasting, it's rediculous and unkind.
Better luck with other potential buyers. I hope your horse finds a happy home.
~Wyllow~
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k brown
Gold Member
United Kingdom
810 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 2:13:54 PM
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This might sound a bit brutal, but if I go to see a horse, from the minute I get out of the car if I dont like it I say so! "its not what I am looking for" then get back in my car. What is the point of having rugs off, seeing it trotted up or ridden if its not what your after! Doesnt matter how long a journey youve had, or if the owner hates your guts for being blunt! it justs saves everyones time! kirsty.
one day your a rooster the next a feather duster. |
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sub
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1919 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 4:57:43 PM
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Exactly.
I would rather someone says that he's not the right horse for them, than have me present him and ride him. I have had 2 people come to see him who said they would call me back as they wanted to come and try him again and bring someone else with them... Still waiting for the calls!!
I do not get upset about it all, after all, I want a good home for life for my boy as he's home bred. There is a person out there for him, I just hope they see his ad!! |
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SueW
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
97 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 6:10:24 PM
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I'm having similar problems with my 4 year old Anglo gelding. The advert states that he is 15 hands and 3/4 TB, 1/4 Arab. One potential buyer was told on the phone that we had had problems with pigment loss around the eyes but it was now OK. She came to view the horse and immediately he was brought out of the stable she said that he was too big. The measuring stick was brought out and he measured a fraction over 15 hands, but when you take into account foot growth he is probably spot on. Then she said that the pigment problem was linked to cancer and also she wasn't sure about having a horse with Arab in it! She still wanted to see him ridden.
If I re-advertise I think I will state that I have a gelding which measures somewhere between 14.3 and 15.1 hands, is 3/4 TB and 1/4 something else, has superb movement and should do well showing, dressage, jumping, endurance, etc., but likely to drop dead from cancer at any minute.
Sue
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Kerry Wilson
Silver Member
United Kingdom
280 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 6:33:13 PM
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Thank goodness i'm not the only one having trouble finding a genuine buyer! not a problem I've encountered before in 25yrs breeding. Sure the right person for my colt is out there, the problem is finding them!!
Kerry |
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Serin
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1792 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 6:38:15 PM
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I went to look at a horse for a Client last week , sounded fab on the phone , infact picture this ........
16.2 middleweight WB , Bright bay , rising 7 , done xc , sj and Dressage ready to go on etc !!!
Ok so spoke to owner sounded ok , expecting a green but muscled horsed that had basic education ready to do ..
Got there put my head over stable door ........ got back in jeep and yes i mean as quick as that !!
Mare had a dutch gag in her mouth , losts of muscle wastage and a recent injury !! very underweight .....
found out mare just had foal weaned , did said work year before last .... when she was four and had basicly from being backed only done 6 months work !!
No papers and wanted £2,500 !!
Which is fine if she hadnt lied and you were looking for something to bring on !! |
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SueW
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
97 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 6:42:00 PM
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Hi Kerry,
I've heard about so many people who are having trouble finding the right person to sell their horse to - and it's not just Arabs and Anglos.
Sue
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susan hobson
Silver Member
United Kingdom
367 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 6:55:51 PM
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Hi Everyone,
There are people out there that just want a day out and a free ride.
I wouldn't have beleived it but it has happened to me. One lady came quite a distance to look at my mare, she was just what she was looking for (something to bring on, but good in traffic, the right height, etc.) She rode her for quite a long ride, in heavy traffic, the mare didn't put a foot wrong, her last words to me were 'I will phone you and let you know' I'm still waiting, what a tosser.
Don't give up, I did find a brillant home for my mare and found a friend as well.
susan. |
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Lisa
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2611 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 10:24:33 PM
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| I had a filly for sale and the lady who came to see her was early so the filly was tied up wearing her thick headcollar. She said she had no dish to her head so I moved the headcollar and she said oh she does have a dish! So I said I'll just put her show bridle on and trot her out for you. Oh no she said don't bother and off she went! Not being funny but I don't think she gave the filly a chance, she could really move and was mostly Egyptian so her head would have dried out more (although she was by no means ugly!). And I felt more annoyed than if she had at least let me put her bridle on and show her off properly. It would have taken five minutes!! Then if she didn't like her fine. I was not impressed! Sorry but I spent ages on the phone and getting her ready the least this woman could do was give me five minutes of her time! Even if it was just to be polite! |
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Serin
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1792 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 10:29:28 PM
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| But would we want to sell to folk so shallow |
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Lisa
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2611 Posts |
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pat ww
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3459 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2003 : 10:42:09 PM
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A while back I was having problems with lack of grazing, and thought a solution was to put one or two on loan. So a general ad went in.
We got someone ever to see a filly, who wanted to breed a foal as companion to their own mare which they were breeding from for the first time. We got round to discussing potential mates and their attitude started to annoy. They asked could she be convered by my stallion, and would that be at no cost as their 'payment' for taking her on loan for the 18 months.
I nearly said 'over my dead body will you get my filly!' A 3 year old by a European champion stallion deserved better than that. I might have wasted their time, and I don't give a d***. I just ended up with a higher hay bill and my horses where I knew I had their interests at heart, not just a quick buck for someone else. |
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Wyllow
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2885 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2003 : 6:59:01 PM
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It took me a year to find the right home for the last horse I sold. It was well worth the wait!
I had had one woman who came to see this horse to whom I'd made quite clear he needed a sympathetic but experienced and confident rider. She came with her tiny, teenage, very nervous daughter!
I also had ring me up repeatedly someone to whom I made it clear the first time that the horse was not for sale to his yard ... his son had assaulted my closest friend....and I reckoned if that was the way the men folk treated women around there, how would they treat a horse?
I had other enquiries from people that I think just wanted a chat on the phone to someone!
I finally found a great lady who happened to want to stable the horse at the yard of another lovely person who had taught me to ride far too many years ago than I'd care to mention! They had him on trial for three months before a decision was made, but I wanted to be sure everything was working before a sale took place.
It was a happy end to the story for us all, not least my horse and I felt the wait was worthwhile....but boy, was that a long year!
One thing I have learned from this is that I now feel I must be 110% happy with any other horse I ever take on permanently before I even think of purchase as it can prove so VERY difficult to find a home you are happy with for them if you decide to part company with them.
Yes it's brutal to take one look and say "no thank you" but very often you know on sight if it's not going to work and it's just as well to say it, even if the owner thinks you haven't given it a chance.It's hard, but it's better said and over with.
I wish people would be frank on ALL fronts, not just on the issue of horses, it would save a LOT of misunderstandings and hassle!!
~Wyllow
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sub
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1919 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2003 : 11:57:04 AM
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Hopefully, I have now had a genuine visitor. He came to Gatwick from Dublin yesterday and saw me stallion. He was very in the know about vetting procedures etc. and got me to do alot before I had even saddled him up. He videoed everything and asked all the relevent questions, even what was my boy being fed on! He is buying for his daughter and says that he will show her the video and will then call me either way to let me know. He likes Moonraker very much and said that he hopes his daughter will too. If she does he is aware that I would like her to come and ride him first before vetting etc.
The only problem is no one is looking for a stallion. Doesn't anyone want a well made Andes son for breeding??? Every one wants to cut his bits off I think he'd much rather have lots of girlfriends! |
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sub
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1919 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2003 : 9:11:44 PM
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My genuine visitor did call me back! His daughter liked the look of Moonraker and they arranged for a friend to visit him and have him vetted.
Vetting passed with flying colours Genuine visitor changed his mind They have decided that a 3inch height increase from the present horse they have is not enough
Never mind - at least he called me to let me know and thanked me for my time - If only more people were as honest.
Fingers crossed for a new home soon
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