How to Sell Your Horse Online

Now you're probably wondering why I am starting with something that may seem so insignificant, but the truth is, this is one of the biggest (and most annoying) mistakes that I see from online horse ads. The way I see it, if you aren't willing to take 30 seconds to run a quick grammar/spell check on your posting, how committed can you be to placing your horse in a home that will be a good fit for both horse and rider?

Believe it or not, I have actually seen horse ads that don't even mention the animal's gender! It amazes me how much simple (yet vital) information is left out of these ads. And sure, I know I could "call or e-mail for more info", but why waste my time or yours on something so simple.

Age - And let's include the real age please. Not the (Age - 5 = SOLD) formula that you so often see in horse ads. When we brought the last gelding into our barn, the vet said, "Oh, he's 12, is he?". Apparently 12 seems to be the going age right now - mature enough to be experienced and level-headed, but not so old that it's on its way to the grave.

Gender - No  matter how "cute" or "sweet" your horse is, there are a lot of people that are solely shopping for a mare or gelding (or stallion for that matter), so the only thing this omission will offer you is an annoyed reply.

Height - Just for fun, let's actually measure the horse before we post its height. You see a lot of "he's about 15.1 hands" or "she'll mature to about 16.2 - 17 hh".  There is no way to know for sure what height a horse will mature to, so when posting an ad for a horse that is not yet fully developed, it is better to include its age, current height (at the withers), and height of its dam and sire to give better prospective on its future size.

Have you ever responded to an ad for a horse that is "about 16 hh" and when you finally went out to meet them, realized they must have been measuring to the tips of its ears? Height can be a dealbreaker for some, so there is no reason to lie about it. Plus, if someone is willing to lie about something so simple for a quick sale, what else aren't they telling you?

Discipline & Training - Prospective buyers want to know what your horse can do and how well they can do it.  Or, if you're youngster is a "great dressage prospect" or "future barrel horse", tell 'em why! Is it just because you think that is what prospective buyers want to hear, or is it something else (breeding, movement, conformation)? And be honest about the level of training and temperament. You know what they say, "If it ain't broke, then don't sell it as broke!" Or something like that...

Pictures of your horse playing in the field or bonding with it's pasture mates are great for your Facebook page, but to sell your horse, it is important to post quality conformation pictures for prospective buyers.

Camera Angle -  The best conformation pictures are set at a 90 degree angle on the horse's left side. Forward angles can make the horse look front heavy and unproportional. 

Stance - Aim for a "square" stance on clean level ground. A horse at leisure may lean on one hip, and the photo may make your horse look strangely proportioned or worse - it could make the horse appear to have lameness issues.

It doesn't do you much good to include all of the above information and then omit the asking price. Prospective buyers may come across your ad and assume that no price means it's probably overpriced.

A horse's "value" is determined by several different factors:

1. Breed/Breeding
2. Age
3. Level of Training
4. Performance/Competitive History

And don't be afraid to search around for similar horse listings to help set your price points. With online ads, most people assume there is some room built in for barter, so if your price is firm, then say so (but you'll probably still get some lower offers).