Talkative Tidbit

Having just mentioned the most expensive horse in the world, I want to talk about selling a horse. These are what not to do; you just want to be honest! To demonstrate poor ads for sellers and buyers, I'm going to make some up (so I don't accidentally offend someone by copying their ad as an example). These are, however,based on ads I've seen before.
First: The I Hope It Sells Horse

Beauty (not real name of horse)

15.2 hh 8 yo thoroughbred mare

Great Prospect for: breeding, riding

Personality 1-10 (1=hot,10=dead quiet): 10

Notes: A lovely mare and a real looker. Great with kids and other horses. Sure to go far or breed beautiful foals. Doesn't act like a mare! Only selling because we can't afford her anymore.

Price: $800

First, the name might catch ad hunters' eyes because they're just curious, but it isn't a name that will catch serious lookers. Then there's the picture. Poor lighting, bad stance for the horse, and horse isn't groomed to look all pretty for the ad. Doll your horse up! Make him/her look fantastic! Now the info, step by step. Okay, so it's a 15.2 hh 8 yo TB mare. Sort of short for the breed, but maybe a good starter horse. Great brood mare though? She does NOT have ideal conformation for a thoroughbred, or any breed at all. Plus, she's 8. By this point, she could have been bred like crazy or not at all. Viewers want the details. Riding? Not specific. What can she do? What can't she do? I know NOTHING about her. Personality 10. For most, this would mean whip and spurs full force with no response. Sounds sketchy for a thoroughbred, a naturally energetic breed. Maybe she is a lovely mare, but she isn't a looker. Don't act like a used car salesman. So she has a good disposition, but if she's 8, she won't go far unless she's been started in a good direction, and if she doesn't have beautiful conformation, she won't breed beautiful conformation. Doesn't act like a mare? Sounds like an attempt to avoid the nasty mare stereotype. She's a mare. She's going to act like a mare no matter how sweet or sour that is. Leave that out because it just sounds sketchy. The price, finally, is very, very low for a horse with "such a great future." All together, it sounds like a "PLEASE anyone.... just take my horse... I don't want it." Make your ads reasonable, not desperate or vague.

Second: The God-Like Horse

Iliad (Epic-sounding made up name)

17hh 4 yo Shire Stallion

Great prospect for: Western, English, jumping, driving, racing, lesson horse, pasture buddy, halter, stud

Personality 1-10 (1=hot,10=dead quiet): 5

Notes: He is quiet enough to teach infants, but has the fire to be fun for advanced riders! He's never bucked, reared, bitten, or anything. No vices. Acts like a gelding. He's a real steal for this price. Wish we didn't have to sell him. :(

Price: $25,000

Here's the exact opposite of the first ad. You see the name "Iliad," and you might think: "Huh, that's an epic name. Wonder what the horse is like." The picture fits the name. Great lighting, clean horse, strong pose, simple background. Take lessons from this image. However, the flags begin to raise here, if you know what to look for. It's a huge horse, and it's only 4, and it's a stallion. As a 4yo, it has potential to get even larger. That's huge, and a ton of food and space required. Plus, why sell such a lovely looking stallion so young? Couldn't it be great for breeding lovely foals? Well, apparently it has great prospect for everything under the sun. Not just as a stud. We've all seen these magical horses that can do anything you want despite their breed. That's not normal. Especially for a giant draft. It's personality is right in the middle. So, it has fire, but it is not hot. It is calm, but not dead quiet. Yet, he's quiet enough, mind you, as a young, giant stallion, to take infants for rides, but don't forget! He can also be great fun as a hot horse for a pro. He's an angel though, because he's never done anything wrong and has no possible vices. Finally, don't you worry because this hot, calm, all-capable, problem-free stallion acts like a gelding. Not a stallion. Hmmm..... Maybe it's just me, but this all seems too good... and contradictory. If he's so perfect, why are the owners selling him? Doesn't sound like a money problem. A horse this great is worth millions because they don't exist.Usually. Still, he's untrained, but is the perfect ride for anyone and everyone.Don't make your horse look like a god, because that sounds fake, and people might assume the worst of your animal.

Show off your horse, but be honest. You want the best suited home possible!