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Preparing your horse for sale

H&H staff writer

1 January, 2005

1. Try to get your horse used to different riders/handlers. A horse that has only ever been ridden or handled by one or two people is extremely unlikely to go well at first for a stranger, and when you are selling first impressions count.

2. Ensure the horse is happy and obedient on the lunge, even if you are selling him as a riding horse. Some buyers will ask to see the horse on the lunge to assess its paces and it will not give a good impression if the horse misbehaves due to a lack of practice.

3. If you have limited facilities at your yard, organise somewhere with better facilities, such as an indoor school or cross-country course, where you can take the horse to show it to prospective buyers. If you are going to have to take your horse any from home, make time to take the horse there before so that he is confident in those surroundings and can perform at his best.

4. Make sure the horse loads happily into a horsebox and trailer. A buyer may ask to see the horse load during the viewing. Also you can guarantee if you have only ever travelling the horse in a trailer, the buyer will turn up in a lorry to collect it, or vice versa.

5. Check the horse's reactions to traffic, clipping, loading and shoeing before writing your advert. You don't want to have the embarrassment of explaining that while you thought he was good to clip, he has suddenly developed an aversion to it.

6. Make sure the horse will stand still to be mounted and is well mannered to tack up and handle in general. A fidgety or pushy horse can be extremely annoying and could easily put off a potential buyer.

7. If you are selling a youngster, check that the horse will lead quietly in hand for a variety of people and is happy to have its legs stroked and feet handled.

8. First impressions really do count so take some time to get your horse looking at its best before people come to view. The horse should have been recently shod if it's in work, and it's mane and tail trimmed according to its breed and use. If the horse is either under or over weight then you should take some time to improve its condition and ensure it is suitably fit for the purpose you are selling it for.

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