Effectively Buying Effectively Buying and Selling Horsesand Selling Horses

Kathy AndersonKathy Anderson

Extension Horse SpecialistExtension Horse Specialist

So you want to buy a horse?So you want to buy a horse?

Key’s to getting what you want!Key’s to getting what you want!– Who is it for?Who is it for?– How experienced are they?How experienced are they?– What do they want to do?What do they want to do?– Where to keep it?Where to keep it?– What is the price range?What is the price range?– Where will you find it?Where will you find it?

Horse BuyingHorse Buying

Green + Green = Green + Green = Black & Blue!Black & Blue!– Be honest with the Be honest with the

level of abilitylevel of ability– Young horse + Young horse +

Young rider = Young rider = trouble!trouble!

– Not all “older” Not all “older” horses are “quiet” horses are “quiet” horseshorses

Horse BuyingHorse Buying

What do you want What do you want to do with the to do with the horse?horse?– Trail rideTrail ride– ShowShow

Each horse has a Each horse has a purposepurpose– Be honest with Be honest with

what the purpose iswhat the purpose is

Horse BuyingHorse Buying

Where will it live?Where will it live?– Boarding stableBoarding stable

Necessary facilities Necessary facilities for your purposefor your purpose

– Owner’s placeOwner’s place CommitmentCommitment

– TimeTime– FacilitiesFacilities– MoneyMoney

Horse BuyingHorse Buying

PricePrice– Be honest with what you can affordBe honest with what you can afford– Set a budgetSet a budget

Purchase pricePurchase price BoardBoard VeterinarianVeterinarian FarrierFarrier Equipment/tackEquipment/tack

Where to look?Where to look?

AuctionAuction– Be carefulBe careful– Set budgetSet budget– Know what you are looking forKnow what you are looking for

Specific horseSpecific horse

– Research horse prior to saleResearch horse prior to sale– Know sale termsKnow sale terms

Where to look?Where to look?

ClassifiedsClassifieds– Read between the lines!Read between the lines!– ““Unlimited potentialUnlimited potential

Could mean horse is difficult to train, may Could mean horse is difficult to train, may be young with potential, but limited training be young with potential, but limited training to date. Beginners/novice horsemen should to date. Beginners/novice horsemen should avoidavoid

– ““Broke for Western Pleasure”Broke for Western Pleasure” Could mean can walk, trot, lope and that’s Could mean can walk, trot, lope and that’s

about all.about all.

ClassifiedsClassifieds

Barrel or penning prospect Barrel or penning prospect – Can mean a high spirited horse with a Can mean a high spirited horse with a

lot of “go” and not much stop, may be a lot of “go” and not much stop, may be a bit “nutty”, probably fairly greenbit “nutty”, probably fairly green. . Inexperienced folks need to avoidInexperienced folks need to avoid

ClassifiedsClassifieds

Great for lessons and trailsGreat for lessons and trails– Probably not a show horse, just goes Probably not a show horse, just goes

straight ahead.straight ahead. May be great, depending on your needsMay be great, depending on your needs

ClassifiedsClassifieds

Has been used in 4-Has been used in 4-HH– Can mean everything Can mean everything

from going to one from going to one “ring-practice” to “ring-practice” to placing at 4-H shows. placing at 4-H shows. Be careful and Be careful and

investigate moreinvestigate more

Kid brokeKid broke– Broke for what?Broke for what?

Be careful and Be careful and investigate moreinvestigate more

Where to lookWhere to look

Word of mouthWord of mouth Trusted personTrusted person

– Take them with you Take them with you when you shopwhen you shop

Where to look?Where to look?

InternetInternet

Where to look?Where to look?

Posted flyersPosted flyers– ShowsShows– Tack storeTack store– Feed storeFeed store– Horse related Horse related

eventsevents

Take a lookTake a look

Where does it live and whyWhere does it live and why– StallStall– RunRun– PasturePasture– Where are the other horses housed?Where are the other horses housed?

Take a lookTake a look

Manners, vicesManners, vices– Ears – attitudeEars – attitude– Stand quiet/paw Stand quiet/paw

pacepace

Take a lookTake a look

General General appearance/personaliappearance/personalityty– Tense/quietTense/quiet– Old injuriesOld injuries– Does it shyDoes it shy– ConformationConformation– Feet/legsFeet/legs

Take a lookTake a look

Will the horse do Will the horse do what you want what you want to do?to do?

Test rideTest ride– Owner/trainerOwner/trainer– PurchaserPurchaser

Take a lookTake a look

Pre-purchase examinationPre-purchase examination– Buyer paysBuyer pays– Designate what is neededDesignate what is needed– Radiographs?Radiographs?– Sound for purpose?Sound for purpose?

Take a lookTake a look

Second visitSecond visit Trial period?Trial period?

– Set period of timeSet period of time

What to askWhat to ask

How long have they had the horse?How long have they had the horse? What have they done with it?What have they done with it? Why are they selling it?Why are they selling it? Who would they trust with the horse?Who would they trust with the horse? Negotiate the priceNegotiate the price

Buying horsesBuying horses

Be patientBe patient Stay on trackStay on track Avoid the “impulse”Avoid the “impulse” Just because it’s “pretty”, does not Just because it’s “pretty”, does not

mean it is the best for you!mean it is the best for you!

Selling your horseSelling your horse

Selling horsesSelling horses

Be honest with what you have to sellBe honest with what you have to sell PricingPricing

– RealisticRealistic Research to find what similar horses have Research to find what similar horses have

sold for in your areasold for in your area

– Willing to negotiateWilling to negotiate

Selling horsesSelling horses

– AQHA Incentive FundAQHA Incentive FundCheck goes to owner at time Check goes to owner at time issuedissued

Selling HorsesSelling Horses

Straight Straight forward forward representationrepresentation

AdvertisingAdvertising

ClassifiedClassified– NewspaperNewspaper– Regional publicationsRegional publications

Breed magazines/journalsBreed magazines/journals InternetInternet FlyersFlyers Word of mouthWord of mouth ReputationReputation

AdvertisingAdvertising

ClassifiedClassified– BreedBreed– AgeAge– UseUse– Price?Price?– Phone/contactPhone/contact– RecordRecord

AdvertisingAdvertising

InternetInternet– PhotoPhoto– VideoVideo– PricePrice– ContactContact

EmailEmailPhonePhone

PhotosPhotos

AdvertisingAdvertising VideoVideo

– What the horse can doWhat the horse can do– Honest representationHonest representation– Both directionsBoth directions– ConformationConformation

GuaranteesGuarantees

SoundnessSoundness– Be specific Be specific

Trial periodTrial period– Set amount of timeSet amount of time

Horse SellingHorse Selling

Veterinary examinationVeterinary examination

Selling/BuyingSelling/Buying

Be patientBe patient Be honestBe honest