How low an offer would be rude for a buyer to make a breeder?

[Scribbler]

I think the title question isn’t phrased quite right.

It would be the right question if you were the buyer. As the seller, you’re real question is: how much should I discount this colt for a fast sale, and how can I tell if this buyer is finally serious?

We can’t answer the first question without intimate knowledge of your region, breed, and pedigree and even we’d all disagree

And as far as the buyer being serious, hard to know.

OP what you need to secretly decide is your absolute minimum figure that you would sell for, and keep that in mind as you play negotiations with her.

Buyer will want to feel she has a bargain.

Payment plan would make me nervous. What if she only pays part of it and disappears the colt? Get her to save up and pay in full.

[Xanthoria]

I used to know someone who would offer $0 for a horse for sale. As you can imagine this person would usually get no reply, and occasionally a righteous “take a hike” in response to this offer. But they sent out enough requests that eventually someone bit. As I recall they got several horses that way.

Moral of of the story is no lowball offer would surprise me. Doesn’t matter: what do you want to GET is the real Q?

[xQHDQ]

@Mara

Will her boarding facility take a stallion? Many do not, no matter how well-mannered and easy the horse is.

That’s what I was thinking. Maybe if you gelded him, you would sell him in no time - much bigger market for a 2 yo gelding than stallion. That could be a motivator for her. Tell her if she doesn’t buy him in the next week, you’ll schedule gelding and then his price will increase (by the price of the gelding or more).

[crosscreeksh]

@Scribbler

Have you had him advertised all along and no one else has made a serious inquiry? That suggests your price is high.

He is not advertised anywhere…the woman saw him on our FB page.

[crosscreeksh]

@Wanderosa

Why reply to her anymore unless she’s giving you actionable information? She sounds like the female version of the men who used to come into the music store I managed. They’d play a bunch of guitars and high end amps and regal us with stories about all the gear they had a home that was better. (I have a Fender Strat signed by the ghost of Elvis!!) My response devolved into leaning over the counter to sweetly tell them, “Cool story!” Don’t let her waste your time. She’s probably talking to 5 other breeders at the same time.

Thanks. I told her I didn’t “deal” via internet chat…only phone calls (made by her!). And yes…I have seen requests she made for videos from other FB posters for their young horses.

[crosscreeksh]

@Scribbler

I think the title question isn’t phrased quite right.

It would be the right question if you were the buyer. As the seller, you’re real question is: how much should I discount this colt for a fast sale, and how can I tell if this buyer is finally serious?

We can’t answer the first question without intimate knowledge of your region, breed, and pedigree and even we’d all disagree

And as far as the buyer being serious, hard to know.

OP what you need to secretly decide is your absolute minimum figure that you would sell for, and keep that in mind as you play negotiations with her.

Buyer will want to feel she has a bargain.

Payment plan would make me nervous. What if she only pays part of it and disappears the colt? Get her to save up and pay in full.

A “fast sale” is no longer an option…she’s been dragging this out for 17 months now! A payment plan would only be accepted if the colt stayed in MY possession and she paid board…no “take him home and I hope you’ll pay deals”! I do have a figure in mind…I just wondered how shocking her offer might be!!

[crosscreeksh]

@xQHDQ

That’s what I was thinking. Maybe if you gelded him, you would sell him in no time - much bigger market for a 2 yo gelding than stallion. That could be a motivator for her. Tell her if she doesn’t buy him in the next week, you’ll schedule gelding and then his price will increase (by the price of the gelding or more).

I don’t geld my boys until later in the spring of their 2 yr. old year. He can be gelded now if SHE wants…here, at our farm…but if she doesn’t buy him he will be gelded later this spring. He is not a stallion prospect, nor does she want him to be.

[Scribbler]

@crosscreeksh

Thanks. I told her I didn’t “deal” via internet chat…only phone calls (made by her!). And yes…I have seen requests she made for videos from other FB posters.

If you want to sell the colt then advertise him properly and see what the market says. A horse is only worth what someone will pay. He could be worth $10,000 or $3500, and right now you don’t know.

I have a friend that loves window shopping horses and goes much further than I ever would, contacting sellers and text messaging me at midnight to ask if I know of any vacant stalls at our barn. She seems to really believe she might buy in the minute but I have figured out she has no real intention.

I would be ashamed to contact seller if I wasn’t serious, but for some people I guess it’s just friendly interaction like going to the farmers market and oohing and awing over the elephant garlic and giant pumpkin.

Since your horse is not marketed for sale yet she probably guesses you are not really serious about selling yet either and the two of you can play make believe for quite a while yet.

[crosscreeksh]

FWIW…we have moved from NE Ok. to NE Tx. in the past 1.5 years…previously we lived in Southern Pines, NC “Horse Heaven”!! Out here in the wild west…Cutters, Reiners, Ropers, and Barrel Racers are the popular horses…English/Hunter/Jumpers/Event horses are less popular. The three horses that I’ve sold are headed East to Va. and NE. Since we are not producing “halter” horses…I don’t really market/sell much that isn’t close to training age. Thanks for all the comments…I’ll just wait to see what happens…or not!! This is a stunning black colt, 4 high whites, GREAT movement and an exception mind/disposition. He can stay here until the right person comes along!

Short story…
Last month we had “buyers” who drove here from 5.5 hours away to “get” a 4 yo TB filly. Do you know what you get when you cross “Parelli with Clinton Anderson” and an idiot?? The people loved the filly…played. pawed all over her…watched her lunge and free jump…offered 1/2 of the asking price…agreed on the full price then went to load her in a small, rinky dink, slant trailer loaded with wheel barrows and assorted tools. The tack compartment took up half the width of the narrow trailer, too. Filly loads fine in any other trailer but the people INSISTED on her “self loading” (I guess they didn’t think there was enough room in there for humans either!) Filly just didn’t understand the concept and after 30 minutes of buyers spinning her around and shoving her head into the narrow door and throwing the shank over her back…and the floor of the trailer being over the height of her knees…Hubby gave them there check back (not an approved method of payment when shipping to an unknown place/buyer) and put the horse back in her stall!!

Welcome to Texas horse selling!! No offense intended to other Texans!!

[Scribbler]

Ah, that all makes sense. I tried googling your user name and got an out of date website in Oklahoma with some very nice looking horses!

You clearly know way more about breeding and sales than I ever will so your business decisions will probably be sound.

I may however know more about flakey amateurs and dreamers and lookie-loos and people that love to talk the talk and my guess is you might not get a sale out of this woman.

[crosscreeksh]

@Scribbler

Ah, that all makes sense. I tried googling your user name and got an out of date website in Oklahoma with some very nice looking horses!

You clearly know way more about breeding and sales than I ever will so your business decisions will probably be sound.

I may however know more about flakey amateurs and dreamers and lookie-loos and people that love to talk the talk and my guess is you might not get a sale out of this woman.

I haven’t kept up to date on internet location changes and the webmaster for our old web site skipped town with all of my account passwords, several years ago. I can delete anything, but not edit anything… so I just keep paying for the site as it is for my own personal references. I figured if I didn’t have links to any sites…I can’t get “punished” by COTH for advertising!! And I’m not computer savy enough to change my COTH info!!

And FWIW…I don’t think any breeder/seller can get to the end of the unlimited supply of foolish/aggravating buyers!! I guess one of these days the woman in question will prove how gutsy/rude she can be!! Our plans are to move back east to a more “English” friendly area. We are aging out, but still breed a few nice babies each year! In the mean time I really enjoy owning this colt!! His daddy, our stallion, is the sweetest stallion on the planet…and all his foals are the same!!

[ASBJumper]

In response to the OP’s question, I agree it depends on how easy you think he will be to sell and whether you can easily afford to keep him around. If you are keeping him at low cost to you and do your own groundwork/training, then you should keep him and/or stick to your current price. If not, take what you can get and be happy you no longer have a-pasture-ornament-waiting-to-happen on your payroll.

As far as payment plans and red flag financials, i call BS. I have never paid more than 5K for a horse, and my present coming 3-yr old was bought on a payment plan. I prefer to spend my money on the highest quality care money can buy, and insurance, rather than save up and buy a super $$ horse. A payment plan also allows me to pay in liquid funds rather than take out a loan or pull funds off a cc, thus putting myself in debt - which is fiscally irresponsible.

I have zero problems paying bills, in fact have never defaulted on one in my life, and have never had to skimp on my horses’ care. If anything unexpected should happen, then the worst i’ve had to do was move from an expensive barn to a low-key, outdoor board situation with no indoor to save $$ for a while. No big deal, and the horses don’t care nor do they suffer for it.

If anyone is concerned about financials, a simple request for references should suffice. Past boarding barn owners, vets, farriers, etc can all vouch for someone’s ability to care and pay for their horse.

[Scribbler]

Well if you do payment plans, the owner doesn’t take possession until the final payment. What happens if they disappear the horse, or you have to repossess and he is injured?

I also don’t get why it would be easier to make payments than to put those sums in a savings account over a period of time, that is make the payments to yourself and then to the seller.

[crosscreeksh]

@Scribbler

Well if you do payment plans, the owner doesn’t take possession until the final payment. What happens if they disappear the horse, or you have to repossess and he is injured?

I also don’t get why it would be easier to make payments than to put those sums in a savings account over a period of time, that is make the payments to yourself and then to the seller.

AGREED!!
I think this is a sign of the times…“credit debt”/default is a normal thing!!
I sold ONE, young, QH gelding many years ago on payments…and let him go to the buyer…the buyer NEVER made a single payment and when we went to find/retreive the horse, he was locked in a stall in a wooden floored barn, no windows, NO feed or water and looked like he was going to die …soon. NEVER again!! Banks loan money…not horse sellers!!

[Foxglove]

Not sure this is relevant, but when I was in the market for my last horse two years ago, I messaged a woman one state away who had a lovely horse for sale. She was asking 6K. My top budget number was 4K. It was not what I could afford --it was what I wanted to spend. Any more seemed too much for what I wanted as a fox hunter/mounted archery horse. Having said that, I have a beautiful facility of 20 acres of pasture, well fenced, well maintained, nice stable, five large stalls --well, if I was a horse, I’d want to live here. I feed best hay I can buy, best farrier I can find, and exceptional veterinary care. In short --I’m a good horse owner. The owner of the 6K horse patted me on the head (figuratively) and told me to run along after I told her what I would pay and sent her pix/description of my facility. A few months later I bought a wonderful horse for exactly 4K that was more than I dreamed a horse could be. Ironically, almost a year later, I was contacted by the 6K horse owner asking if I was still interested in her horse–that she could possibly come down in price. Meanwhile, of course, she’d had another year of board add up on the horse and it was another year older --I really was sorry to tell her that I’d filled my empty stall —I would have liked the 6K horse --but some things are not meant to be.

[SnicklefritzG]

OP, I wouldn’t advise selling to this person. Who drags discussions out over a year??? That’s ridiculous. In addition, if she can’t afford to pay your asking price in cash, I think there is something wrong. People who go into detail about personal issues such as (in your case) paying for an ailing relative, paying for daughter’s showing, are probably making up excuses for trying to get a better deal.

Move on and find a more reliable buyer.

[crosscreeksh]

I agree…cash talks…others WALK!!

[skydy]

@crosscreeksh

FWIW…we have moved from NE Ok. to NE Tx. in the past 1.5 years…previously we lived in Southern Pines, NC “Horse Heaven”!! Out here in the wild west…Cutters, Reiners, Ropers, and Barrel Racers are the popular horses…English/Hunter/Jumpers/Event horses are less popular. The three horses that I’ve sold are headed East to Va. and NE. Since we are not producing “halter” horses…I don’t really market/sell much that isn’t close to training age. Thanks for all the comments…I’ll just wait to see what happens…or not!! This is a stunning black colt, 4 high whites, GREAT movement and an exception mind/disposition. He can stay here until the right person comes along!

Short story…
Last month we had “buyers” who drove here from 5.5 hours away to “get” a 4 yo TB filly. Do you know what you get when you cross “Parelli with Clinton Anderson” and an idiot?? The people loved the filly…played. pawed all over her…watched her lunge and free jump…offered 1/2 of the asking price…agreed on the full price then went to load her in a small, rinky dink, slant trailer loaded with wheel barrows and assorted tools. The tack compartment took up half the width of the narrow trailer, too. Filly loads fine in any other trailer but the people INSISTED on her “self loading” (I guess they didn’t think there was enough room in there for humans either!) Filly just didn’t understand the concept and after 30 minutes of buyers spinning her around and shoving her head into the narrow door and throwing the shank over her back…and the floor of the trailer being over the height of her knees…Hubby gave them there check back (not an approved method of payment when shipping to an unknown place/buyer) and put the horse back in her stall!!

Welcome to Texas horse selling!! No offense intended to other Texans!!

Does your stallion have a performance record? If he is a pinto TB that has no sport record or approval, then that may be the reason you are attracting customers that are more western oriented…
There are issues other than location if you are wanting to sell to eventing or jumping sporthorse buyers. If you aim for the AQHA appendix hunter market you may be more successful in attracting the buyers you want…

[Callista17]

Yeah walk away. If she’s serious, you’d have the cash.

I really low balled once on a young horse. #1 He was a pasture “accident” (not planned breeding) #2 He wasn’t gelded, and needed to be so owner just found out her broodmares were already pregnant #3 Owner advertised a horse my friend bought advertised at $12,000, sold for $2,500, he was advertised $7,500, I think I offered $3,500. #4 Her husband was leaving her and friend said she was desperate for money

I was looking for a prospect but I would’ve had high shipping charges for him as well. Owner was insulted, which I was perfectly fine walking away. She sold him later to an eventer and he broke down. I was more than willing to walk away so no love lost.

[SnicklefritzG]

I bet she did that because you sent her pictures of your farm. She probably figured that if you have that nice of a place that anotbher $2k for the full asking price wouldn’t be a problem.

@Foxglove

Not sure this is relevant, but when I was in the market for my last horse two years ago, I messaged a woman one state away who had a lovely horse for sale. She was asking 6K. My top budget number was 4K. It was not what I could afford --it was what I wanted to spend. Any more seemed too much for what I wanted as a fox hunter/mounted archery horse. Having said that, I have a beautiful facility of 20 acres of pasture, well fenced, well maintained, nice stable, five large stalls --well, if I was a horse, I’d want to live here. I feed best hay I can buy, best farrier I can find, and exceptional veterinary care. In short --I’m a good horse owner. The owner of the 6K horse patted me on the head (figuratively) and told me to run along after I told her what I would pay and sent her pix/description of my facility. A few months later I bought a wonderful horse for exactly 4K that was more than I dreamed a horse could be. Ironically, almost a year later, I was contacted by the 6K horse owner asking if I was still interested in her horse–that she could possibly come down in price. Meanwhile, of course, she’d had another year of board add up on the horse and it was another year older --I really was sorry to tell her that I’d filled my empty stall —I would have liked the 6K horse --but some things are not meant to be.