PrintIf you’ve been in the market for a horse recently, odds are you’ve taken your search online. From website classifieds to social media, Internet advertising makes horse shopping infinitely more convenient than in decades gone by; the thousands of prospects at our fingertips are often accompanied by flashy photo galleries and video clips.
But the informality of web shopping can also be misleading; it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of potentials and lose focus on important details.
In the often-confusing world of horse sales, the relationships established between buyers and sellers are key to successful transactions, so we’ve gone to the experts for tips on creating the best experience from classified to contract.
Be Specific
Before you make the leap from browsing classifieds to calling owners, put some serious thought into your specific requirements. Whether you’ve got a certain horse in mind or are hoping to try several at once, a list of “must-haves” will help sellers narrow down suitable options.
“We have 10 to 20 foals born each year, so every year we have a good selection of 3-year-olds coming onto the market. We have a Facebook page, and we have some of our sales horses posted there, as well as an extensive website with photos, videos, and information,” said Ashley Wolfe, sales manager at Iron Spring Farm, Coatesville, Pa.
“I try to be very thorough on that first phone call, gathering every piece of information I can. Clients will say, ‘I’m a timid rider, I’m an amateur, I’m going to ride with a professional trainer once a week, and I need a horse that doesn’t need to be ridden every single day,’ ” Wolfe continued. “Then I know what horses to present them. I narrow it down so that the list of horses they’re seeing when they arrive here are horses that fit their criteria and their lifestyle.”
Courtney Cooper, who sells 40-50 horses per year through her C Square Farm despite her busy eventing competition schedule, suggests thinking outside the box when it comes to your specifications. Though age, breed, height and experience are all obvious considerations, it’s also important to give some thought to your horse’s intended environment.
“[I like to know] if they keep the horse at home or at a commercial farm,” said Cooper. “I also would like to know any special needs they have. For example, are they in Southern California with limited turnout? Are there younger children who will be around when the horse is dealt with? Are they first time horse owners?”
Planning and articulating your requirements ahead of time not only helps sellers to select potential mounts, but also gives an earnest impression of your abilities and desires.
“I get a sense of who buyers are from the questions they ask me: ‘Could I share this horse with my daughter? Am I going to need a professional to do anything specific?’ ” said Virginia-based sales agent Diane Crump, who currently has several varieties of sport horses for sale and boasts between 30-40 sales per year despite the slow economy. “My goal while I’m listening is to find the right match.”
Carefully articulating your requirements shows sellers that you’re serious; you’ve thought through your wants and needs and expect to move forward with horses suitable to your abilities.
Establish A Price Range
