Times are tough and many are turning to the web to sell their animals. For those who aren’t web savvy this can be an overwhelming task – but it doesn’t have to be.
Most of it is just common sense, however there are a few specific things you should do when you want to sell your horse online. (Partly so you don’t end up being terrorized by Fugly Horse of the Day).
1. Come Prepared
Be sure to have vet records, farrier records registration papers, and any other relevent paperwork handy and organized. Also keep your vet on call in case potential buyers wish to speak to them.
2. Take Good Images
This is key to creating a good ad and saves everyone time. I see so many ads with tiny, blurry images – people won’t buy a horse they can’t see.
Always include a clear conformation shot of the animal as they look at the time you post your ad. Where possible add a head shot, a movement shot or two and a shot under saddle.
There are a few key elements of taking a good horse picture.
Take them during the day
The more sunshine the better. Regardless of the quality of your camera, it will take better pictures with more light.
Keep the sun to your back
This helps to prevent overexposure and allows you to capture coat color with more accuracy.
Clean them up first
Seriously, I see some really dirty animals in ads. Dirty will never sell and it doesn’t take that long to get (at least one side) clean enough to take pictures.
Find a nice backdrop
Avoid pictures in front of your house – keep addresses, license plates and your kids out of your images. (Stepping away from the dung dumpster/ broken fence/ junker car is always wise too).
Make some noise
Try tossing a pebble or rattling something to get their ears forward, this makes a much nicer picture.
Don’t try to hide flaws
People aren’t stupid, being honest saves everyone’s time.
3. Spend Time on Your Words
Make sure you give a complete description of the animal, again the more honest the better. A good physical description helps, but be sure to highlight your animals good qualities while being realistic about their bad ones.
Be sure to include
- Temperament
- Awards won
- Show career
- Where you bought them
- How you used the animal
- Length of your ownership
- Why you are selling
- How they are kept – stall, pasture, etc.
- Injuries, disabilities & vices
Providing accurate information allows people to make informed decisions.
4. Be Realistic About Price
Lets face it, many are selling their horses due to desperate times. You don’t want to do it, but hiking the price up because that is what they are worth to you isn’t going to help anyone.
Be realistic about your pricing – really if you have love for your animal (and animals in general) earning money from them is worth far less than finding them a good home.
If you can’t afford to feed them, the least you can do is make sure they go to someone who can.
Here are a few elements to consider
- Breeding – purebred animals are worth more
- Training – how much have you put into them?
- Health problems, vices & defects
- Competition experience
- Reason for sale
5. Choose the websites you list with wisely
This is an important one because there are so many out there. The trick is to use the ones who have decent traffic – investing time creating a great ad is wasted if no one sees it.
Start With These
- Equine Now
- Dreamhorse
- Horse Clicks
- Horsetopia
- Equine Hits
- Horse City
- AG Direct
- Craigslist
- Horses For Sale
6. Stay True to Your Animal
Check references, ask questions and be wary. Regardless of the reason you are selling, it is important you fulfill your basic responsibility to that animal.
There are so many sad cases of horse abuse out there, make sure your horse doesn’t become one of them.
Nice article. Times are certainly tough and I’ve been seeing that with a lot of sellers recently. A couple notes about the websites you listed to use. Your users shouldn’t worry too much about oodle, that’ll come automatically for you when you create an ad with the others on the list.
Others on your list are really duplicates. The AQHA and USHJA are really just affiliates of equine.com and are the same site. For those who aren’t going to be selling their horses in Europe, horseforsale.co.uk isn’t needed. You should also add Equinehits.com and perhaps agdirect.com to your list.
Thank you so much for your comment, I updated the list to reflect the this information.
If you know of any other sites for European or UK horse people, please let me know. Plenty of people there need to sell a horse too.
Great post. Marketing and selling horses in the current economy is not a simple task. I have a couple of comments to add:
Under point #2, please change ‘confirmation’ to ‘conformation’. This is a common mistake found in many ads that should be avoided.
When taking photographs outdoors, the photographer’s shadow should not be cast onto the horse. The handler should be cropped out of photos especially if inappropriately attired.
The list could go on, but you have covered the basics well.
Changed & thanks for letting me know kc!