05/09/2026
Selling horses shouldnโt be this hardโฆ so hereโs a little PSA for buyers scrolling sale ads ๐
READ. THE. ENTIRE. AD.
Not just the first line. Not just the pictures. The whole ad.
If you message asking questions that are blatantly answered in the ad โ where the horse is located, the price, the age, the height, whether itโs registered, etc. โ you are immediately telling the seller you did not take the time to read it.
And if you canโt take 2 minutes to read the ad to see if the horse even matches your criteria, most sellers do not have time to answer repetitive questions from someone who is likely not a serious buyer.
Serious buyers read the ad.
Now, while weโre here:
โก๏ธ โNeeds consistent ridingโ โ that usually means something changes when they sit. Maybe theyโre cold backed, maybe they get fresh, maybe theyโre just very green and lose their brain without miles. Either way, thereโs a reason itโs included.
โก๏ธ โExperienced riders onlyโ โ this does NOT mean โperfect for my 10-year-old if we pony them for a while.โ
It means EXPERIENCED riders only. If a seller puts that in the ad, thereโs a reason. Respect it.
โก๏ธ โHas quirksโ โ ASK what the quirks are BEFORE loading your child up to come try it. Some quirks are manageable. Some are absolutely not suitable for inexperienced riders. Donโt assume โquirkyโ means cute and funny.
โก๏ธ โMaintenance requiredโ โ ask what maintenance it needs before booking a viewing. If injections, meds, special shoeing, or supplements arenโt in your budget, thatโs okayโฆ but figure that out before wasting everyoneโs time.
โก๏ธ If the ad lists everything the horse has doneโฆ donโt ask โwhat else has it done?โ Chances are, if it had extensive experience doing something else, it wouldโve been included already.
โก๏ธ When sellers post clear leg pictures, USE them. Theyโre there for a reason โ to show conformation, blemishes, straightness, crookedness, swelling, scars, all of it. Learn what youโre looking at or bring someone knowledgeable with you.
โก๏ธ And while weโre at itโฆ shopping outside your budget is unnecessary. If a horse is listed at a certain price point and your first message offers 25% or more below the asking price, most sellers will immediately write you off. If you canโt afford the horse youโre shopping for, donโt waste the sellerโs time. Thereโs nothing wrong with having a budget โ just shop within it.
At the end of the day, good sellers are trying to honestly match horses with suitable homes. Reading the ad carefully before messaging makes the process easier for everyone โ buyers, sellers, and most importantly, the horse.
If you've made it this far. Thanks for coming to my TED TALK.
