On the other hand, I see plenty of complaints about people/buyers from people who sell 1 to 5 horses a year. Should they not sell, or use agents or auctions or hire assistants?
Every now and then I’ll vaguebook about groups of people pissing me off. I try to be vague enough that it lets me blow off steam but not pinpoint who set me off - and often enough very innocent friends and or students of mine have said “uhoh, was it me? Did I screw up?” I deal almost entirely with people I know at least a bit, so I’ve cut way back on those posts because I don’t want people I enjoy being around thinking “is it me?”
I have no idea how many inquiries you get if you’re selling 1 horse a year, much less 200. But at both ends of the scale, it has got to be frustrating getting requests from however many people who either didn’t read the ad or didn’t make a spreadsheet of horses they were looking at noting what they learned from the ad and what they wondered about.
Just like boarders complain or comment about barn owners’ quirks, and barn owners complain or comment about boarders quirks , (not always in either case, and not meaning everyone who ever complains should move to the other position), buyers and sellers b what’s complain about each others’ quirks. Absolutely, take note, and if the comments match your style too closely, you might do better elsewhere - or you might learn how something you do might really inconvenience someone else in a way you hadn’t even considered.
For years I wasn’t horse shopping because I was perfectly stocked (well, almost, barring homebred Mr Bucky McBuckerston) . Also for years I’ve read Benchmark writeups and watched clips because it’s really interesting to read descriptions and watch videos of so many horses from one perspective, and see their pedigrees and learn what lines one successful seller likes. Then life changed and I was looking. When I saw a smaller, sporty adult I liked the looks of on Jess’ page, I knew enough from reading her and other sellers’ comments to write her what I bet was a 3 or 4 sentence note saying “ I saw X horse. I’m looking for someone to ride I might sell in a year. How extensive is the flaw you mentioned?”
Reader, I bought that horse.
It’s true, I have my own place, so it’s easier to sort of ignore the cost of a horse who might just be taking up space rather than bringing joy or income, but I bought that Benchmark horse and have been having so much fun with her, and have ridden her while taking several students for their first foxhunt, confident that I could focus on them as need be rather than having to cope with the new to hunting horse I’m on. She’s probably not for sale any time soon….😇
