Selling a funny looking horse...any advice? Update post 96

[CHT]

Rocket is an awesome horse. He is fun and safe. But…he is a funny colour, and grows almost no mane and very little tail.

I had him advertised all last fall and had no one come try him out…which seems odd as he is exactly the type of horse people always say they would love to have in their barn.

Now I really do need to sell him…he is not getting used enough in lessons (most of my students now have their own horses or jump bigger than this guy can) and I need room for boarders.

Any ideas on how to get people to consider him even though he is a little funny looking? I have decent pictures and video of him jumping and doing flat work. He has show results. His price seemed reasonable. I am pretty sure if someone just came to TRY him, they would love him.

[Foxtrot_s]

I guess put out an honest ad - that horse would appeal to me for instance, well, if I knew more about him. I don’t need fancy. I need a citizen. Must be lots of people like me. A husband horse? Is he a kid’s pony?

[islgrl]

I would sell him on his funny looks. Play it up while you explain he is a solid citizen and worth coming to see.

[UlysMom]

Absolutely agree with everyone else. Play up his awesome qualities and use his wonky looks to make him stand out from the crowd. I can tell you I would rather have safe and sane funkilicious than fruitbat Fabio any day.

Most people who know what they want and how to look for it will appreciate an honest ad with a bit of humor to engage and give him personality. Good luck!

[SuzieQNutter]

I had an ugly horse which we didn’t think we could sell. He was a good jumper.

I rode him first and jumped him and then when the girl went to get on I resalised before she mounted that she was a beginner.

This guy was a 16.2 tb who could pull. I stopped her getting on and explained as gently as I could that this was not the horse for her. A tb was not a good first horse.

She did not get on and ride but was adamnant that she was going to buy the horse.

She said she was taking him to an indoor school with instructors to help her. So I agreed to sell him, but still didn’t let her ride him.

As horses do he injured himself so I called to say he couldn’t be picked up that day.

She arrived and the first person she came across was my mum. When she said she was here for him. Mum started with he couldn’t go today.

The girl launched a tirade at her. The horse was hers she was here and she was taking him.

Mum just raised her hands in defence and said that he was hurt and covered in blood.

She said she didn’t care she was taking him and she did.

I never did hear what happened to him.

With you boy I would start now with permoxing his mane and tail daily.

One of the side affects is a long mane and tail.

I think it is even starting to work on Twiggys forelock. A couple of hairs are now reaching her star.

They do take a while to grow, but it sounds like you think you will have him for a while.

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8043715]
I guess put out an honest ad - that horse would appeal to me for instance, well, if I knew more about him. I don’t need fancy. I need a citizen. Must be lots of people like me. A husband horse? Is he a kid’s pony?[/QUOTE]

Those of us who subscribed to the Chronicle magazine for years remember the great ad for Cyrano. A horse breeder who advertised often in the Chronicle had a gelding who had a big nose. The horse sold. Don’t know if he showed or if he had a successful career, but someone got a Cyrano nosed horse and paid money for him.

As for color, horses of all colors sell. Conformation and breeding and performance should be more important than color.

[Foxtrot_s]

Permoxing?

[cutter99]

I think we need to see pictures of him!

[MissAriel]

Maybe you could share your pictures/video and folks here can let you know if there is something else there you aren’t seeing.
You said you advertised, but are you advertising where there are buyers looking for this type of horse?
I like the suggestion of playing up all his great qualities and adding a little humor regarding his quirky looks (I am dying to see this guy ;))

[Wonders12]

I agree with everyone else, use his looks to your advantage. Don’t act like he’s a fancy horse and then people look at the pictures and go, “Huh?” Explain that he’s an $XXX packer, but since he’s a little unique looking, they can get him for $X.

Also stay away from confirmation photos in his ads. Action photos and videos only. Non action photos should be strategically positioned with kids with smiley faces wrapped around his neck. You’re not going to hide anything this way, but I’m more likely to fall in love with his jump and THEN look past the no mane.

[poltroon]

I would write the funniest ad you can, I would emphasize that he is a solid citizen who can take a joke, and as your lead image, I would dress him up in the most ridiculous costume you can put together that you can get him to tolerate - even if it’s just as simple as bunny ears attached to the bridle or maybe him wearing some funny sunglasses with a fake nose. People will click the ad, at least, and maybe even share it.

If you have pictures of him carting around little kids from your lesson program, or can make some, include those.

Of course, include your more traditional videos and images. If this is a horse someone would want to show, maybe take the time to braid him up and looking great too, just for the picture.

Good luck!

[HungarianHippo]

Can he pull off a roached mane? I personally love that look as long as they have a decent neck.

[SuzieQNutter]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8043866]
Permoxing?[/QUOTE]

Permoxin or it does have other names like Permethrol in Australia.

Permoxin is cheap and only added to water.

It takes away the itch which takes away the scratch which takes away the itch. Which is what causes manes and tails to grow.

It can be used on horses and dogs. It [B]Cannot[/B] be used on cats.

It kills ticks. It dries clear and you cannot tell a horse that has been permoxined.

It is an insecticide not a repellent. I add a drop or 2 or 3 of lavender oil to help to keep flies and mosquitos away.

Permoxin - Insecticide spray and rinse concentrate for dogs and horses.

Active constituent 40 grams per litre. PERMETHRIN 25:75 (cis:trans)
solvent 698 grams per litre Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether

For the control of Pyrethroid-sensitive flies: buffalo fly (Haematobia irritans exigua), stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans), and biting insects (Culicodes spp) on horses.

For the control of fleas (Ctenocephalides felis, Ct. canis) and ticks (Adult Rhipicephalus spp) on dogs. An aid in treatment of Flea Allergy Dermatitis (Summer exzema) on dogs and Queemsland itch on horses. Does not control paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus on dogs.

[imaginique]

Impossible to help without pictures. :winkgrin:

[Countrywood]

Play up his attributes and “inner beauty”

[rugbygirl]

I think you should take him to all the little schooling shows and look for crying kids who are horribly over mounted. Offer them a free ride/free class on him. I bet he will sell the first time Mom sees the look on their faces. Try to find a kid with obvious younger siblings at the show.

This could be very fun. Encourage interest by doing things like riding him bareback to the concession stand, and putting glitter on him.

If only my kid was older, or my butt was smaller…this horse is the best lesson horse ever.

[CHT]

Here is a picture of him jumping with a student.

http://www.stage.hillsidestable.ca/dir/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Rocket_Jump-300x275.jpg

Now…if you want something even better I could post a picture of Rugbygirl riding him sidesaddle last week…because he is totally the horse you do things like that on even though none of us had any sidesaddle experience…

[CHT]

I wish I had little kid students for photos…maybe I can borrow the neighbour’s girls… the thing is, even though he is very much kid safe, it is even more that he is nervous old lady safe…but somehow that is harder to capture on camera.

[JLR1]

[QUOTE=CHT;8044107]
Here is a picture of him jumping with a student.

http://www.stage.hillsidestable.ca/dir/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Rocket_Jump-300x275.jpg

Now…if you want something even better I could post a picture of Rugbygirl riding him sidesaddle last week…because he is totally the horse you do things like that on even though none of us had any sidesaddle experience…[/QUOTE]

I don’t think he looks funny at all! He’s quite cute and looks to be a Very capable little jumper! Less hair makes him more aerodynamic:lol:

[mountainhorse]

[QUOTE=JLR1;8044133]
Less hair makes him more aerodynamic:lol:[/QUOTE]

Perfect ad addition!!! Hahaha.