This is making it's away around the community.

Cowboys and Warmbloods

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqjj8xHCA3A
Breed: Dutch Warmblood
Date Foaled: MAR 1996
Gender: Mare
Height: 16.1 hh
Color: Bay
Markings: White Blaze,white socks
Temperament: 6
Registered? Yes
Reg. Assn: I SportHorse
Asking Price: $12,000 (US)

I got a terrible case of the giggles when I read the text of this ad:

The poster girl of any stable of quality horses. 16 one, magnificant bay with blaze with socks left front and left hind.Registered International Sporthorse as Edlweiss. Born 96 and owned most of her life by a professional trainer. An outstanding brood mare to her one colt now two year old in Tucson. Loads,clips,stands,and loves to be pampered and brushed. heavy thick mane and tail,just a beautiful animal. Katie is powerfull and a pleasure on the trail.

Translation in my best cowboy accent:
This hear is the nicest lookin' horse and belongs in your DQ stable 'cuz I can't ride the damned thing which is why her temperament is a "6". I don't know a whole lot about her breeding 'cept she's a registered sport horse. The person who owned her before me was a professional who told me she's trained real good. She's a pretty color with some white. I thought I'd tell you all that since I dun have nothing else to say about her and thought you might not notice from the picture. Oh yeah, she's good on the ground 'cuz I spent lots of time in the round pen with her. She's a real life my little pony so one a you english gals needs to come get this hairy princess outta my barn. I really wanted a quiet QH but I ended up with a big mover that ain't real comfy on the trail.

A Deserving Bad Rap For Bad Wraps

http://www.horseclicks.com/horses/0kkzp6/

It's debatable whether polo wraps add any significant support, but it's a proven fact that applying polo wraps improperly can cause serious damage to a horse's legs. If you don't know how, don't do it! And certainly don't take pictures of it and post it on your sales ad.

Wrap do's and don'ts:
1) Do it right or don't do it at all.
2) Don't use them in conformation photos (along with any tack other than a bridle). It looks suspicious and buyers need to see the legs good or bad.
3) Do ride in them to show off your horse's flashy movement for your sales ad.
4) Don't ride in them if you horse's movement is poor or uneven for your sales ad. It will draw attention to it in a picture or video.

Here's a video made by a couple of teenagers about how to put on polo wraps. Good job girls. This looks like it may have been a school project, so I hope you both got an A.

Pricing your horse: OTTB's

The economy is not so hot right now. Horses are luxuries. A lot of people who are selling right now are trying to get out from under the burden of horse ownership. Very few people are buying. Those that are, are looking to get a deal. Consider yourself lucky if you find a buyer willing to pay half of what your horse would have been worth before the economy went down the proverbial pooper.

Thoroughbreds. I love TB's. They have heart and they are sporty. Sadly, they aren't worth a whole lot unless the have extensive, successful show careers and aren't ancient.

People looking for Warmbloods consider a registered foal or horse by an approved TB dam a lesser horse than a full Warmblood. I certainly don't agree with them, but the market says it is so.

Thoroughbreds off the track are worth even less. People are giving away perfectly sound, green OTTB's. Do not expect people to pay big money for your OT prospect no matter how nice it might be. For some reason, plain bay seems to be very common and undesirable as well. I applaud those of you who can take one of these guys in and retrain them as riding horse, but it's not a venture you can expect to make money on.

I have my own experience to share. Last Christmas I took on a young, gray, beautiful, sound OTTB who was talented beyond belief. I spent a couple months trying to sell him. I actually had a lot of responses to my ads. Dozens in fact, but was unable to find a taker for even $2k. I ended up giving him away as a prospect to an open grand prix jumper rider. I guess she thought he was plenty nice, but still buyers were just not buying.

This is the ad that prompted this blog entry:

Price $10,000
Breed(s) Thoroughbred
Sex Gelding
Height 16.0 hands
Color Bay
Foal Date May 2005
"This guy is a big puppy dog. As sweet as they come. Great mover. Gorgeous canter with a big stride. Jumping 2' courses and getting changes. Very quiet with great brakes. Super smart and willing. Trail rides and fox hunted. Off the track, but I cant imagine this one ever really ran. No track behaviors in any way. He is green but will be easily finished. Ready to start his show career. Eligible everything. Price will increase with training."

A long list on this on reference alone for free off track horses:
http://www.thehorse.com/Horses/Available.aspx

And a long list of adoptive agencies and rehab facilities of OTTB's:
canterusa.org
findanottb.proboards.com
quarterpole.com/ROAN
excellerfund.org
getahorse.org
lopetx.org
midatlantichorserescue.org
horseadoption.com
rerun.org
secondstride.org
tranquilityfarmtbs.org
ottbs-online.com
fingerlakestap.org
leightonfarm.com
friendsofferdinand.org

Is this safe?

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/grd/1471349115.html

What the hell people?!? Sigh.

For $15,000 you can buy this oh so kissable face!

http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-962639.html

What a cutesy whootsie picture! Alas, but NO! It's unprofessional to use sentimental pictures to sell your horse. Be sure to tell them when they contact you to tell them that this horse is very loved and loves to be loved on.

Aside from the unprofessional picture, the closest thing to a conformation picture where you can evaluate the horse is from the wrong angle and cuts off the horses legs. The only good thing about the ad is the horse is groomed but the halter is ill fitting. See, there's always a but. I just don't have anything nice to say and then it gets worse.

This is the text from the ad:

Danny is a 17+ hand, 8 years old, dark bay gelding. He is a Warmblood/Thoroughbred cross. He has had some show experience in both the equitation and the hunters. Very easy on the ground-bathes, clips, loads, ect. Danny is very quiet and safe. Unfortunately Danny's current owner can no longer afford 2 horses. Danny is for lease or sale. Please call if interested .

This ad was placed by the owner of the horse. Maybe they should have left it up to the trainer. For 15k I'd certainly like to know what shows he's showing at, what level, and how he is placing.

This is not a picture of a 12k jump.

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1480735&share_this=Y
Breed: Thoroughbred
Date Foaled: MAR 2005
Gender: Gelding
Height: 17.1 hh
Asking Price: $12,000 (US)

It's possible this horse can actually jump, but the picture shows him in very poor form. When you put up picture like this it does 2 things: 1) Turns a buyer off because the horse looks like a cow hurling itself over a 2' jump. 2) Discredits you as a seller. If you use a picture such as this one with horribly hanging knees and then claim this horse can be an eventer, it basically says you don't know what you're doing or talking about.

Sellers Law #3:
Better to post no jumping picture than a bad jumping picture.

Oh, what a pretty head shot of a $30k schoolmaster!

http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-944651.html

Too bad that's the ONLY picture.

There's no additional link to a website for more pictures or video. They say the horse has been show by everyone and their Mothers, so where are THOSE pictures? This is a nicely bred, been there/done that, solid 2nd level, and playing around with FEI dressage horse. Which leads me to...

Sellers Law #2:
If you are selling a riding horse you should probably get some pictures of it being ridden.

Draw Reins On A "Classically Trained" Horse

http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-944571.html
Horse Name Lucimiento Del Sur
Price $15,000
Location Ocala, Florida
Breed(s) Andalusian
Sex Gelding
Height 16.0 hands
Color Grey
Foal Date Jan 2001

Shows dressage. Exhibition horse. classically trained. SWEET horse. LOVES people and other horses. easy keeper.


I'm not a hater nor a proponent of draw reins. They simply shouldn't be used in a sales photo. Or in this case, shown being used on at least 3 separate occasions and then claim your that the horse is classically trained. I don't think so! And what exactly does exhibition horse mean? I assume it does tricks like the Spanish Walk. The pictures in this ad do not match the claims in the text. Also, please note in the comments what you think the movement in that last picture might be. I'm thinking it's leg yield away from the wall. An odd choice for an ad.

Just tell the lady what she wants to know!

Sellers Law #1:
Bare minimum, these are things you must list on your ad: breed, sex, height, age, and a way to contact you.

Seller fail example:

Warmblood for sale, $10,000
Gelding for sale, bay. Very athletic – well bred and would make a superb dressage or jumper. Very motivated seller. Must sell now! Call or email for more pics and video!
415.666.6666
415.333.4444
-----------------------------------------------
On: October 20th
To: craigslist-respond156af78237y7544@craigslist.org
From: xan@xan.com

Hi there,

Is this horse still for sale? I’m very interested.

Can you answer a few questions?
1. How tall?
2. Age?
3. What breeding
4. Would love more pics and video
5. Would he be suitable for eventing?

Please call me if it’s easier to answer questions that way
Xan
415.333.4444
-----------------------------------------------
On: October 30th
To: xan@xan.com
From: xxxxmonkeyfartz6982aol.com

Hi!

Yes! Still for sale! I am a very motivated seller! Please let me know if you have more questions!!!

Thankx!!!
-----------------------------------------------
On: October 30th
To: xxxxmonkeyfartz6982aol.com
From: xan@xan.com

Hi there,

Thanks for responding. I did have a couple questions Smile
1. How tall?
2. Age?
3. What breeding
4. Would love more pics and video
5. Would he be suitable for eventing?


Please do call me if it’s easier to answer questions that way
Xan
415.333.4444 <- my number

-----------------------------------------------
On: November 5th
To: xan@xan.com
From: xxxxmonkeyfartz6982aol.com

OK no problem I am driving now but she is tall my husband is 6’6 and when he rides her feet drag ground hfwipkxS[V46….

Sent from my Mobile Annoyance Device
-----------------------------------------------
On: November 5th
To: xxxxmonkeyfartz6982aol.com
From: xan@xan.com

Hi there,

Thanks for responding. I thought this was a gelding?

Please do call me if it’s easier to answer questions that way
Xan
415.333.4444 <- my number, any time of the night or day!

-----------------------------------------------
On: November 10th
To: xan@xan.com
From: xxxxmonkeyfartz6982aol.com

Sorreee!!!! Was thinking of the yearling we have for sale! LOL!
I will send pix when I have got my hubby to take some next week. He’s a really great horse! He hasn't been shod in a while the shoer hates him, hahaha, but I can get him done if you want him?
-----------------------------------------------
On: November 11th
To: xan@xan.com
From: xxxxmonkeyfartz6982aol.com

Are you still interested in this horse? I am taking him to someone to try this week. He has bad thrush so he can’t be turned out and sore heels – don’t know why. Also he eats 13.5 scoops of pellets per day - he is very big. He is a lazy jumper and knocks 2’ jumps – he does dressage. Please let me know – I am VERY motivated to sell!! My hubby says it’s him or the horses! LOL!
-----------------------------------------------
On: November 11th
To: xan@xan.com
From: xxxxmonkeyfartz6982aol.com

hubby says horse has to go to auction - i would appreciate it if you would make your mind up!

-----------------------------------------------
On: November 11th
To: xxxxmonkeyfartz6982aol.com
From: xan@xan.com

go to hell.


Ok, now really, does this person want to sell this horse or not? I think I can safely assume english is this sellers first language, but she must have a severe learning disability. That or posts far too often on lolcats.

Thank you Xan of the UDBB for sharing her fruitless yet entertaining experience with us!

Ok, we get the point.

http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-944540.html
Horse Name KING
Price $2,700
Location millersburg, Ohio
Breed(s) Draft
Percheron
Sex Gelding
Height 16.3 hands
Color White
Foal Date Apr 1995

This does indeed appear to be a bombproof horse. However, it's not appropriate to prove the point by jeopardizing your daughter's safety. Horses, no matter how dumb and lazy, are still horses. Worse, she's in no position to get out of the way. Add in a dog. Real marketing genius!