~ 21 Tips - Sell Your Horse Fast ~
~ Key Strategies on How to Market Your Performance Horse ~
1. Videos are the fastest most effective way to sell your horse fast with online advertising.
2. When taking your own photos, use wide angle lenses to produce a quality equine photo. Professional equine photographers pays big dividends when advertising.
3. Use a trainer who will assist you to market your horse through their extensive network of clients and to other trainers.
4. When working with a trainer, included your commission in your sale price to get the price you desire. Trainers work within a huge network and many times make a large portion of their income from commissions on sales. This is an important part of their business. They develop a portfolio of good clients and customers.
5. If you have your horse entered in an auction, DO NOT RELY ON THEM TO PROMOTE THE SALE OF YOUR HORSE. List your horse on key classified ad websites for sale with complete information on the sale : date of horse sale, lot number, contact information for the sale, sale website, your website with the horse listed, how to bid by phone, contact number or email to reach you and special conditions on the sale of your horse. Include earnings, points, achievements and all trainers. Use online horse classified ad websites that are willing to assist you with writing a professional ad AND will allow you to provide information on the sale where horse is consigned. Some online classified ads will not allow you to list a horse that is consigned to a sale.
6. Do not use one avenue when selling your horse. Used unlimited resources, trainers, online classified ads, horse auctions, friends, breeding farms (owners of horses sire or dam), local advertising and national horse magazines/newspapers. Offer your vet or shoer a commission if they can bring you a buyer from their clientele.
7. Have performance videos of your horse before you place an ad so they can be send “immediately” upon request. You never want to delay when one is requested - buyers have a huge market available. Sell them on your horse “first”. Be willing to send the video free of charge when you are convinced there is a serious interest in your horse. If the horse has been shown in competition, ALWAYS send a video of your horse in competition. DO NOT CUT AND EDIT. The video should be ongoing from start to finish. Amateurs like to see the horse being saddled, handled from the ground, pick up his feet, bathed, loaded in a trailer, etc.
8. Young horses that have never been shown should be videoed as follows - (1) standing unsaddled, scan the entire horse in a complete 360 degree circle for conformation (2) show horse moving freely in round pen walk, trot, canter both directions on lounge line or without a lead (3) walking straight towards the camera and away from it (4) if just started - ride horse at a walk, trot, canter, stop, back on both leads (4) be certain to allow horse to remain quiet and relaxed. DO NOT CUT AND EDIT. The video show be ongoing from start to finish.
9. Have professional advertising posters with quality photos for display at shows, arenas, boarding stables, trainers barn, feed stores, and all equine related businesses where posters are allowed on bulletin boards. Be certain complete contact information if available - emails and websites are very helpful.
10. If your horse is started and has not recently been ridden or shown, be certain to give him a minimum of 30 days for tune-up and conditioning before placing him on the market for sale.
11. The feet should be in excellent condition, trimmed or shod, when the horse is listed for sale.
12. The horse should be current on all vaccinations, on a regular worm schedule and have a current coggins tests. Provide the name and phone number to contact your veterinarian.
13. All registration papers, transfers, bill of sales or other necessary paperwork should be complete and in order when horse is offered for sale.
14. If horse is boarded or with a trainer, have all training bills and board bills paid up to date including veterinarian and shoer.
15. Check into the cost of shipping to provide information on available haulers and their rates for prospective buyers.
16. If your horse has any lameness problems or other concerns, be certain to address this with the prospective buyer before a vet check is performed. It will be revealed. A sure way to kill a sale.
17. Promptly return buyers enquiries with complete, simple, straight forward, honest answers.
18. Assume the buyer is a knowledgeable horseman than a novice. This is respectful and makes you more accountable to the buyer.
19. Condition and groom your horse to promote fitness and eye appeal.
20. Be certain your horse is ready to be shown to a prospective buyer 24/7. Prospective buyers often show up unannounced to avoid horses being medicated or misrepresented prior to their visit.
21. Be a good steward of your horse - provide for your horse as if you were in its steel shoes.
22. “A picture is worth a thousand words” - the very best photos and even better an excellent video will sell your horse online faster than anything else you can do with your ad.
23. With rising fuel prices and costs, online marketing is becoming an effective tool for selling quality horses. Watch for upcoming information on our world class performance horse online auction. Contact us at Search for the Perfect Horse for more information.
