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steP 2 – VIDeo. Now that your horse is all tidy and looking his or may not support selling at what you paid or put into the horse,
or her best, and you have gotten your photos, it is time for video. unfortunately.
Plan to film your horse at liberty, using a jump chute and/or under c. also be honest with yourself! If your horse has been on the
saddle depending on your horses age and training level. at a market for 2 or 3 years, something is probably wrong. time for
minimum get some short video clips of the horse going both direc- analysis to find out why. are they priced to high? are you not
tions, and at all gaits. this is much easier with two people, one to advertising them well? Do they lack the training, ability, or talent
take the footage and the other to encourage the horse. remember of similar horses on the market? If you truly aren’t sure, ask a
the goal here is first impressions. short clips showing the horse professional for an honest assessment. Is there a conformational
at his or her best should get that second glance. If you have the flaw you aren’t seeing? It’s hard to get past our own sentimentality
capability for longer more professional video, by all means do so, and an objective outsider may be able to help. you may not like
but it’s not necessary. expect requests for additional video from to hear that your perfect horse is cow hocked, but that does factor
people who are interested, as they may want to see specific things into marketability and also listing price.
that show ground manners, or reveals if the horse paddles, etc. I
try to take follow-up video as quickly as I can and believe that even steP 5 – hoNesty. Now that you have someone contacting you
if they don’t buy the horse, the secondary video isn’t a waste. It interested in your horse – be hoNest. yes, tell the great things
will then be available for the next person that inquires. about your horse, but you also need to disclose the not so great.
None of us want any surprises if we go to visit a horse. Would you
steP 3 – teXt. Why should a buyer buy your horse? It’s your want to drive a long distance or fly to see a horse only to get there
job to tell them, explain the bloodlines, the temperament of the and find out they are lame, or crib, or have some other issue that
animal, what makes your horse the one they just shouldn’t pass up? happens to be a deal breaker for you? Do they have an old scar or
I admit I struggle here with keeping it short and simple vs writing a injury? a vice? are they a bully on the ground? can the problem
novel. everyone likes to know different things, so I try to focus on be fixed? for an issue that can be resolved, in may be in your ben-
covering the basics. If you are marketing a jumper, as an example, efit to take care of it. Depending on
and you have the great free jumping photo and footage, what else your asking price, it can pay in the
might a jumper buyer want to know? Does the horse have multiple long run to invest some time, en-
generations of successful jumpers in their bloodlines? have they ergy, and/or money upfront to deal
done any showing? Do they seem eager and willing to jump? are with potential issues so that a buyer
they brave and confident, yet careful? follow the same thought doesn’t have to (for example, selling
process marketing for other disciplines; try to address the attri- a horse with good ground manners
butes and items that make your horse the ideal candidate for the vs selling one that isn’t even halter
job at hand. broke).
steP 4 – marKetINg. oKay, you shoulD KNoW….he has
a. you have to invest some to make some. list and buy ads. really BIg ears.
there are multiple sales sites, facebook sites, publications, local
associations, etc. where you can list your horse for sale, and many steP 6 – maKe the VIsIt
are free. Don’t expect word of mouth to be enough. In my own couNt. Now that you have a
personal hunt for an ID, I can’t tell you how many breeders I talked buyer that is interested, who knows what they are coming to see,
to who had horses for sale and didn’t have them listed anywhere. make their visit worth it. Be prepared to show them what they are
horses don’t sell themselves unless you are truly getting them out coming to see. ask them up front what their expectations are.
and about in the world. Do they want to see the horse caught, brushed, tacked, or just
B. Do your market research. What are similar horses listed for get there and have them ready to go? Personal preferences differ
and selling for? Knowing your competition is very important in here, which is why it is so important to ask. Be kind, be profes-
trying to sell a horse. In some instances the current market may sional, and be respectful of each other’s time.
IrIsh Draught horse socIety of North amerIca | 2016 aNNual BlarNey eDItIoN 41
