Hi - sorry if this is redundant I just can’t figure out how to run a search on the forums to get what I’m looking for. Can anyone give me some recommendations on very reputable honest sales barns in CA or neighboring states. I have a very fancy gelding - he’s green but has a lovely jump will win the hack - really pretty head turner. He’s going to be amazing with some miles…I just can’t ride at the moment. I’ve heard horror stories of sales barns selling horses and pocketing money or horses coming home lame. I would love to find a reputable barn - nice facility good turnouts where I know I won’t be taken advantage etc. willing to send out of state - I’ve heard good things of hap Hansen? Anyone else? Thx in advance! I’m not even sure if a sales barn is the right way to go?
You can always send him to my barn…he sounds lovely 
But seriously, I have heard good things about Hap as well…good luck.
Could Julie Winkel fit your needs? She has quite a few jumpers but she has had some nice hunters run through her barn. She is over in NV, but she has a beautiful facility! She and her interns show/campaign a lot over the West Coast.
What about Andrea Barbee at Dreamland Farms in Dixon?
When you say “sales barn”, I think you really mean a hunter stable whose trainer is one of the “good guys”, honesty-wise and dealings-wise. Barns which only sell horses will not get you top dollar for a really fancy horse. To sell well he needs to get to top shows and prove that he belongs.
There are many good trainers in Cal, but I have been gone for 20 years now, so I do not know which trainers are scrupulous in their sales and commission practices. Hopefully you will get some PM’s with names (both who to go to and who to avoid).
Of course, be aware that the bigger the stable and the better the trainer’s top level contacts, the more it will cost you to send a horse on the road. It could cost you $6k - $10k a month, so factor that into your sales price. It is easy to have any profit eaten up by show fees.
Where in CA are you located?
Also, do you want to sell this horse or are you just looking for someone to put miles on him while you aren’t riding? I just wasn’t sure from your original post.
Hi- thanks for the input. I am in N. California. Definitely want to sell - need a hiatus from the horse world. Sort of done with horses for awhile…tho it kills me when I have this lovely project to work with - think this horse is one of those will be hard to replace kind. Just time to do some other stuff for a few years…
If you’re worried about the money I would just make it VERY clear to all parties from the beginning (like, before you drop off your horse) that there will be a bill of sale signed and notarized by both buyer and seller, and it will clearly state the price and commissions to be paid. If a trainer EVER tried the “you can’t know the buyer” shenanigans with me I’d have to ride my horse back home because I’d pull it out of that barn before I could even get my trailer hooked up. Clients that accept that behavior are asking to be screwed over. Don’t be one of them.
The other option is to say, “I want x for this horse. Anything that you get above x is yours.” You might be walking away from some money, but at least you get what you want and the trainer has incentive to keep the horse sound and get it sold.
Courtneyanyc - thx for your reply very helpful! I was going to say I want X…figure out how to sell the horse with your commission so I get X. Can I ask what you mean when the seller says “you can’t know the buyer”. I clearly don’t sell my horses often. I’ve always kept my horses thru retirement so this whole selling business is a pain in the tush. Julie winkle has a nice looking barn and a few nice horses on her site. I have to say when I did a search on proequest I was surprised at what people were asking…a few seemed way overpriced…
It means, literally, you will have no contact with the buyer, check will not be written to you and might come through any number of intermediaries, each taking a cut. Do NOT do business that way or you will get 20k for a horse the buyer paid 65k for and three agents plus an assistant trainer got a bite of.
Need to ask one question though, how Green is Green? If I didn’t have one broke to WTC with at least the basics of a change AND started over fences, not crossrails, at least 2’6" with oxers? I would not send him to a sales barn or regular training barn to be sold. Nobody buys those and the trainers are never home enough to train them up. You just get a big bill for schooling rides or training board and whoever is home that can walk and chew gum at the same time rides him around. Or he gets put on the walker or treadmill and you get billed schooling ride.
Then somebody comes to look and you get billed for a sales presentation or schooling ride+ show prep for a buyer who passes because it doesn’t know anything.
Get it going pretty good before sending it out to be sold. If its well broke, 90 days jumping 2’6" a couple of times a week popping a 3’ vertical towards the end of that is plenty to go ahead send him out. Less then that, it’s a tough sell even at a much lower price.
Things to think about
Ok, the best barns to get the best dollar are the big name show barns. They have the clientele that are willing to pay good money for a potential high end prospect or greenie. The problem with those stables is the main trainer is nearly always on the road at shows and most of the sales that are done are AT the shows. Horse is there, buyer and buyers trainer is there, vet is there. Horse is tried a few times, vetted and money is wired. But it costs serious money to take the horse to the shows to get sold: shipping, stall, day fees and splits.
The other option is someone who stays home and meets potential buyers at their barn. Good news is: no shipping, show stalls, day fees and splits and the horse receives regular rides and is hopefully presented properly. Bad news is depending on the quality of the horse and the price range you are looking for…see the above…the big name barns that have the clientele with bigger pocketbooks and are more willing to invest in a greenie are busy most weeks at the shows.
Also for your consideration beside honest sales practices and good care for your horse is someone who will ride the horse well, take and post quality videos of the horse on YouTube and is in the know of who is looking for a horse like yours and knows that person and makes the calls/contacts and tells them about your horse. They have to have a good reputation selling horses. I had an old trainer who was just terrible at sales and never sold a thing but she was honest and took great care of the horses! She just kept thinking people would walk in the barn and plunk down money on her ‘nice horses’.
The horse may be able to sell itself but it takes marketing to get the buyer/buyers trainer interested in your horse and it takes effort get the horse seen by the right person!
So if I wanted a honest recommendation on price on the horse…who would you guys recommend asking - who would you send a video too and say “what would you price this horse at”? I’ve been taking a look and either I have a very biased opinion of how nice my horse is or people are asking A LOT of money for what I consider mediocre horses. Lots of thanks for all your replies…really appreciate the time everyone took to reply with helpful insight.
I think you should post him here! Haha, mostly joking. But curious about seeing this horse (and probably drooling over him).
Janet Carlson
Quite seriously, if you posted a video I’ll bet you could get a very good estimate of your horse’s value from people on this forum.
Video is next on my to do list. If only we were allowed to bathe our horses these days ): next year it must rain! I don’t want to break any forum rules - would they allow a video of a sales horse to be posted for pricing?
Oh gosh, I forgot about your water restrictions out there. You could post it on YouTube and just post a link to it here asking for opinions/advice. I hope you get rain soon!
Piper- check your p.m. box
Probably the best place to send a nice horse to get sold for good money in NorCal is Tarrone Seaton and Gilien Pearson at Pheasant Grove.
Andrea Barbee/Dreamland Farm is another option, although in total honesty I did not have any luck with one of mine that was with her for a few months to get sold. In hindsight, I’m pretty sure Gilien would have had him sold quickly for decent money.
[QUOTE=findeight;8123108]
It means, literally, you will have no contact with the buyer, check will not be written to you and might come through any number of intermediaries, each taking a cut. Do NOT do business that way or you will get 20k for a horse the buyer paid 65k for and three agents plus an assistant trainer got a bite of.
Need to ask one question though, how Green is Green? If I didn’t have one broke to WTC with at least the basics of a change AND started over fences, not crossrails, at least 2’6" with oxers? I would not send him to a sales barn or regular training barn to be sold. Nobody buys those and the trainers are never home enough to train them up. You just get a big bill for schooling rides or training board and whoever is home that can walk and chew gum at the same time rides him around. Or he gets put on the walker or treadmill and you get billed schooling ride.
Then somebody comes to look and you get billed for a sales presentation or schooling ride+ show prep for a buyer who passes because it doesn’t know anything.
Get it going pretty good before sending it out to be sold. If its well broke, 90 days jumping 2’6" a couple of times a week popping a 3’ vertical towards the end of that is plenty to go ahead send him out. Less then that, it’s a tough sell even at a much lower price.[/QUOTE]
I too am really curious about how green your horse is, and I agree with your horse should be at the above, before considering putting him out there to show. Can you describe what he is doing consistently?
