I love him! He looks a lot like a schoolie I rode for a long time who had a heart of gold and was quite well trained, just not in the package most people associated with dressage horses!
If he is on the smaller side, be sure to include a picture of him being ridden by an adult, and mention the height of the rider. Some smaller horses and larger ponies can take up a longer leg better than others, and lots of adult ammy riders would prefer a smaller mount, but are afraid of looking too big.
Please don’t do the fake tail and grooming chalk! He is what he is and has lots going for him without that. You want the buyer who will love him “as is”
I actually would be finding a way to keep a horse like this.
I would play up his appaloosa looks. People either love appys or hate them seems like. An appaloosa fan wouldn’t be turned off by his lack of hair - I’d advertise him on FB pages for that type of horse.
If he is a packer type and can jump, he’d be a great hunter pace horse. Looks don’t matter one bit for that.
[QUOTE=ben4me;8044690]
I actually would be finding a way to keep a horse like this.[/QUOTE] I know. He is so useful to have around! And we have had him for a long time. Unfortunately I foresee a time in the future where we won’t have the farm anymore (due to my declining health) and I would rather find him a home now than later. Plus…he is so underworked right now! Poor guy: on Thursday one of my more recent re-riders was planning to catch a different horse, but Rocket wouldn’t hear of it and convinced her to catch him instead (and then he was brilliant for the lesson. He knows she packs carrots)…he really does like to work and I just don’t have the lesson program I used to, to make use of him. the kid that rides him for me 2-3 days a week to keep him fit is now horse shopping, so soon he will be without a regular rider and that isn’t fair to him either.
Here is a picture of him braided for a dressage show…I think the braids were equal parts yarn to hair! http://www.stage.hillsidestable.ca/dir/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Rocket_dressage-300x225.jpg
I don’t think he’s that unfortunate looking. I’m not a huge Appy fan but I think he looks pretty nice. Plenty of people really like that kind of coloring. And he sounds like a good versatile type.
I had someone in BC interested in him based on videos, but the vet doing the PPE had trouble telling if he was sound as he is hard to get trotting on the lunge or in hand without a rider (he just wants to shuffle/pace).
This would concern me more than his looks( he looks fine).
Vet could not determine if he was sound for the PPE?
Not too many people will buy if the PPE vet says unable to determine if sound or not.
Shuffly pacey trot could indicate navicular orsomething else.
If you weren’t able to show the vet he is sound then that is a problem.
Weren’t you able to trot him out for the vet?
The gaiting will make it tougher to sell to the non-gaited crowd. If he will reliably gait under saddle, I would market him to the gaited horse community instead. Appaloosas are one of those horses people either really like the looks of or really dislike the looks of–and there isn’t much you can do about it. I agree action shots if he doesn’t take a great conformation shot is the way to go. Today’s marketing is hard–if the picture doesn’t grab someone’s attention, they usually don’t bother to read the ad. Or, they read the ad, but already have a predetermined “I don’t like it” from looking at the picture–I have the same problem with good looking horses that maybe aren’t suited for a certain type of rider, but are fine for another type–invariably the people don’t read the ads, want the horse based on its looks, and it would be totally unsuited! Beginner-type and packer-type horses are in demand, but it seems that people want fancy horses rather than utilitarian horses–I feel your pain. I have one here that I am dreading selling…he’s a cheap horse (under 2K), honest, nice nice disposition, but plain, plain, plain–and I know that because he is not eye-catching, and he is a utilitarian horse rather than anything else, he is going to be a bear to sell. I had one last year, priced the same, under 2K, that wasn’t anything fancy but would go out and do the job whether it was jumping around a course, doing a lesson, or hacking on a trail, and it took me eleven months to sell him. And that one actually had a flashy color!
…not sure about the jumping bareback …sounds gimmicky/desperate - just say it in the body of the ad.
Pony Clubbers need these saints of horses, and then they get passed down to every upcoming generation of little riders.
I’m assuming he’s reasonably priced…it costs money for every month you have to feed, trim, keep a horse.
B.C. has lots of trail horses.
He doesn’t look as bad as I though he would! I would think the issue is more with the photos you have of him? The jumping one is just not good at all and GM would have a field day with the rider. I’m not being mean, but you want to show a horse off to it’s best possible advantage if you want to attract the right buyers.
The dressage picture is okay, but if you have one of him in the test, assuming it’s in focus and clear, it would be a better option.
He does sound like a great all around horse but I would suggest getting better pictures (even if you have to hire someone) showing his versatility. He really looks good when he’s all cleaned up for a show!
Honestly, he is not unattractive. He has appy/poa characteristics. No biggie. I think he’s cute, and I’m not even an appy person. Even for hunters (low level) he isn’t ugly, I don’t think.
I think the larger problem may be that he’s small and kind of limited. You are really looking for someone needing a first horse and sadly those people can be the LEAST educated buyers and the least able to identify what they need when it’s starting them in the face.
Before I knocked myself out with taking new photos for ads I would get on the phone and call every 4-H leader and Pony Club leader in a radius of 25 miles! They understand the phrase, “beauty is as beauty does!”, and realize the value of a less than perfect looking pony or horse. Keep expanding your calling radius until he is sold… Taking him to shows is never a bad idea–the more people who know he’s available, the better.
I also agree that little old ladies like me (fortunately, I’m not the nervous type 
) would find him appealing… :yes: I happen to think he’s a handsome fellow! 
Hard to get photos this time of year: too icy outside and too dark inside. Might have to email previous students that showed him and see if they have better pictures of him.
Regarding the jumping photo: not sure why neither the student nor I realized she had her hoody tied around her waist! Oh well…
[QUOTE=CHT;8044111]
… the thing is, even though he is very much kid safe, it is even more that he is nervous old lady safe…[/QUOTE]
This!!! Definitely emphasize this in the ad!
I don’t know if I should be happy or sad that the Rockies are in the way between Alberta and California. My granddaughter is dying for a horse she can call “Sugarbutt”.
I wouldn’t call him “Rocket”. That might be part of the perceived problem right there.
I don’t think he is funny looking at all! And he can jump! He just needs the right person to come along and find him!
Just remember, spring is about to break and now is the perfect time to sell!
He’s an absolute cutie patootie and if I were in the market, something I would definitely look at!
His tail is pretty typical for an Appy, he must be quite the throw-back there 
As the lady who owned the three half-appy mares I used to ride said of their sire, Crocodile, “He had a stump with about 3 hairs coming off of it!” :lol:
He could also jump like no other.
There’s nothing funny or unfortunate looking about him, he looks and sounds like a real doll. Have you mentioned to your farrier that you’re wanting to sell him on? Whenever I see my farrier he is always up on who has or wants what, v cheap advertising!
[QUOTE=CaitlinandTheBay;8044580]
How large is he? Could his size also be something holding him back? I’d push him as an all-arounder for the low-level Ammy adult. Make sure you play up that he’s a perfect confidence booster while also being extremely capable. Does he have a great personality? Play that up! If he’s just a workmanlike soul, then grab a few shots that look like he’s the life of the party. He may be a little unusually colored, but I don’t think that’s a deal breaker for most Ammies- not when they’re getting something that’s capable, safe, and fun. Just push him for what he is: One in a Million.[/QUOTE]
Maybe we can combine the ideas and suggestions here. Once I get REALLY pregnant, I can bring my sidesaddle to some local shows. This will demonstrate Rocket’s safe, confidence building nature AND make people feel very sorry for him. I will make sure to wear a sign indicating my true height, so that he will not look too small.
LOL
You definitely need better quality pictures. People who are shopping online are skimming through pictures. They only open the ones they like.
Yeah, I don’t think he’s unfortunate looking or odd looking at all (aside from anyone being anti-appy, of course). I think what you need are some large, clear, sharp images of him, 800 pixels wide or larger. High quality images will make him look far more professional and appealing.
