Part 2: selling the not in work horse

[CHT]

I posted previously about selling my gelding after I was injured Sept 17. I found a trainer who came and rode him last Friday and it went well. She is supposed to jump him tomorrow. Her agreement was I pay for her time for training rides (she has to tack up and untack too). She has already posted a picture of her on him on her FB feed. But:

1. She is horrible about communication. I am still waiting for a time for tomorrow. It seems there is always a 3-5 day delay in reply which annoys me. I am not sure I should commit to her. Communication was not an issue when I delt with her previously.
2. Her proposed agreement was pay for rides, and then 10% commission. My thought is, as I am paying for her time to ride, I “own” the videos, and should only pay commission if she brings the buyer or shows him to a buyer. Does that make sense?
3. I had a client ride him today. Just flat. Cantered some poles (which he jumped) and it went well. I am wondering if I should just (or also) ask her to help me. She has a day job and her own horse, so not a tonne of time, and no connections.

If Trainer advertises him on her feed, is it odd if I also advertise him? How should I arrange / negotiate the arrangement with the trainer? Any other thoughts?

Trainer recommended a price of $15K, but the money isn’t an issue for me.

[Mander]

I’ll preface this with: I don’t know what the “standard” thing is here, and I know that sometimes the “normal” in the horse world doesn’t exactly make much logical sense.

I would expect if she is advertising him, whether on her FB or by word of mouth with her clients, a commission is expected and fair. I think if you’re both advertising him, she might feel a bit encroached on, like you’re trying to snake her commission out from under her. Again, not sure what’s “normal”, but it’s at least worth talking to her about it if it’s something you’re considering.

If she is only going to train him and not advertise him (and you are going to do all of that yourself), then I would not expect to pay her a commission.

That said, you should really clarify - in no uncertain terms - what both of your expectations are ASAP before she posts any more about him (unless you want her to of course).

[Warmblood1]

My biggest concern would be if communication with you is that bad, how is it with clients? Does she wait days to respond to them as well? If so, you may be paying for a lot of training rides while the horse just sits.

Usually the whole point of sending a horse to someone on commission to sell is to use their resources so you don’t have to worry about placing ads and selling yourself. If you don’t mind placing ads to sell and think you could sell him, maybe you can pay for training rides and take over the selling part. If you are selling the horse and she isn’t involved in the sales part, I can’t really justify a sales commission for her if she is solely doing training rides. If she is showing him to clients then of course a sales commission would be earned.

[CHT]

I don’t know if she will be “training” him, likely just riding him enough to get current video and so she feels comfortable showing him to people/representing him. I opted to keep him here (my property), so having her come here was a nice option, but now I am second guessing it based on the poor communication, but she does ride him well (although I haven’t seen her jump) and likely has good connections. I am a little worried that if someone wanted to try him she wouldn’t be accessible though.

[Bluey]

Bring that lack of timely communication up, see what she responds?

Have any you agree to IN WRITING, with starting and ending times for the contract and signed by both parties.

[skydy]

I agree with Bluey. Any agreement that includes a commission needs to be in writing. If she has any issues with that, don’t use her. Definitely discuss the communication issue with her and make it clear that lack of such is not what you expect.

I think you are wise to keep him with you. Don’t send him out for sale/training. You will lose control. If you can get someone else to ride him, I’d do that. Being incommunicado at this early date is not a good sign.

[hoopoe]

echoing Bluey and skydy. You are in the driver seat, it is your money your horse. I think it perfectly fine to lay down what you expect as far as communication and I would be darned sure to get every contingency of the commission written out.

I think having the horse at your place turns him in to a lesser priority for the trainer and that is the level of service you can expect. Horrible attitude to have given the situation. You are horsewoman enough to take care of all this yourself. You client can help and I would certainly give her a something extra when he sells.

I dont think you should commit to the trainer since it sounds like she has not committed to you. This could change if you have a real, open dialogue

[skydy]

@CHT, Did you ask her to post your horses photo on her facebook feed? Did she ask you if it was OK to do so?

[CHT]

She just posted a teaser picture, not an add. She sent me a message at 6am - she had thought she responded but hadn’t hit send. Todays ride went well, but I need to find a camera that works in my arena better…or learn how to use my camera better. it is too cold for me outside now.

She is also a physical therapist (rehab), so I guess i feel some value in that for my own sake - she thinks I am over doing it,

I have him on my webpage, but I think I will let her advertise him for now. We seem to be on the same page as to the type of home I want him to have. We will see. Picture from today.

[Mander]

He’s so cute! Hard to tell from the angle of this photo, but does he cross his feet like Cortes C?

[Polydor]

Just one comment about your client riding him and potentially helping you. If she shows as an amateur, just know the rules around amateur status - paying for her riding or advertising him for sale. Something to look/think about.

P.

[gertie06]

How much training does the horse really need? If he’s decent quality, $15k is a pretty great deal right now. If you can just find someone to keep him exercised, you can do a lot of the promotional activity yourself through social media, paid, and unpaid advertising sites.

But seriously, communication is the critical in sales. I personally would not move forward with the person you’re describing.

[CHT]

I agree, but on the other hand, out of the trainers I talked to, she is the only one willing to come here, and she does seem to get him (and me), so we will see. It really helps me to be able to have him at home. (mentally and financially). Now she has jumped him she seems more invested and has messaged me for new info/pics.

[CHT]

I think she would do it for the experience and additional riding. I wouldn’t have her advertise, but I do need someone to show him to people and tack up/untack. Unfortunately with her job, she is on call every few weeks. I forgot about that - she can’t commit those weeks if I had someone wanting to try him.

[MapleBreeze]

This is always outlined in a contract.
Who is taking and creating the videos? They own them if not specified in the contract with a photo release.
How will she be promoting the sale of the horse? Again, contract.
Who is resposible for paid and no paid ads?

If you dont want her to sell the horse for you but just ride then you pay an hourly rate for ride time.

If shes an agent and handling calls, she gets a commission.

[CHT]

So far she just posted him on a social media. I am taking video on my camera.
She says a few people contacted her so far (he was posted today). We will see.