Selling the older green horse

[Arzny]

Looking for some advice on a mare that I have.

Starting with the negatives: she’s chestnut, shes TB, she’s had 9 years off (broodmare), she’s in the Midwest, and she’s 12.

In my opinion, she’s still a steal. She w/t/c in an appropriate training level frame. She’s polite in the mouth. Cantered a course of poles with clean changes both directions yesterday. She’s RRP broodmare eligible. And yet, I cannot get any decent bites on her. The people who ask for more info for teen riders come back that she’s too green. The people who have come to try her for a lesson horse say she’s too big of a mover. I’m seemingly stuck in the middle of too green but too old but too fancy. Any suggestions for placing this type of horse? Should I send her somewhere? Should I bite the bullet, take her off the market and show her a bit?

[Paint_Party]

It sounds like your mare has some really good, saleable qualities. Unfortunately, you’re getting the typical feedback I’d expect from most horse shoppers.

If it were me, I would keep her and continue riding her. Providing you have the time and finances, make her a summer project. Get her to a few schooling shows so she has some miles on her. If you can demonstrate that she’s safe and sane at a show-- albeit still not yet finished-- I think you’ll have a better chance at finding her a new home.

[Arzny]

I can, and will continue to work towards that. I was just wishing I could move her now, you know?

[Smiles]

What have you priced her at? At the end of the day it all comes down to what people are willing to spend. 12 y/o mare with limited experience isn’t an easy sale so your price is probably to high.

[Arzny]

I had her at extremely low fours and was advised that the price point was scaring buyers or getting the wrong kind of interest - bumped her to $5k with no improvement.

[StormyDay]

I’d get some show miles on her, even if it’s cross rails. At 12 she’s probably pretty level headed at shows and if you can advertise that, that will move her. 9 years off to be a broodmare is also a red flag to me that something may have been medically wrong and as a buyer I’d want more info on that. How are her offspring doing in competition?

[Arzny]

Racehorses - not show horses. Full brother was a multiple stakes winner so once it was clear she wasn’t going to be a black type winner herself she was retired and bred.

One kid is a cute LL hunter with a kid. Another was exported, and the others have disappeared from the face of the earth and/or are still racing.

[Inimitable]

Oh boy, she sounds right up my alley, but I am not a typical buyer. I agree with putting some show miles on her this summer and then trying again. Or, could you lease her to someone as an RRP project? That way she’s off your feed bill and someone else can spend the time putting miles on her.

[mmeqcenter]

Same, I actually bought such a horse a little over a year ago for $6k. She was 10, had sparse and inconsistent work since coming off the track, then had one baby (I bought her as soon as the baby was weaned). But, to be honest, I really only bought her because I knew her, my friend owned her (and kept bugging me to buy her ) and she was my other mare’s best friend for 2.5 years at the barn I was boarding at. I was planning my move back to my own farm and needed a companion for my best girl lol. Only thanks to COVID and the crazy prices now that I even have spent the $6k. Six years ago I wouldn’t have given her a second glance over $3k.

This is a hard type to try to sell on the open market. Word-of-mouth in your circle will probably be your best bet. I’d keep her listed, in case the right person comes along, but really screen people that contact you about her, and plan on taking her to some shows this spring/summer (with a for-sale flyer, of course).

[StormyDay]

I’d highlight that one of her offspring is showing in the hunters with a kid. It shows the sort of personality to expect from her.
Some shows will announce the horse is for sale when you go in the ring… that can be a great way to advertise.

[GraceLikeRain]

how long has she been back under saddle? Could you spend the summer getting her out on a few trail rides. Go cross country schooling, and take her to a little combined test? She should have value as a nice BN eventing type if she’s good minded after a few months of exposure.

[Arzny]

5 weeks, with most of those rides being walks down the road for fitness.

XC schooling is an ordeal here. 3 hour drive to the closest course, so don’t know if I’ll go that route!

[paintedpennypony]

She sounds perfect and I love her. Chestnut TB mares are my favorite. Send her to me for lots of spoiling and an easy life. Please and thank you!

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

The fact is, the conventional advice is to “buy a horse currently doing the thing you want to do,” for less experienced riders, and for more experienced riders, they may be concerned about her age and feel if they’re getting a greener TB to train up, they’d rather buy young. The mare and chestnut factor may also be an issue. Re: a lesson horse, I can confirm that when I was getting back to riding and put on some OTTBs, they were too big a mover for me to handle. (I am a very small person though)

I’m sure there is a buyer for her, but I agree that putting more training and more show miles on her may be necessary to move her. Do you know any younger riders who might have the time or inclination to take her on for a reasonable fee to get her legged up and take her to some shows? I think ideally you’d want to get her over some 2’3" fences rather than crossrails, though.

[BeeHoney]

I think your only option is to get the horse further along with its training and get it out showing /going places reliably.

I’m not saying I agree with how things are, but a green 12 year old horse, especially a TB, has very little value. She’s not easy or reliable enough to be suitable for a junior or amateur, and her age and breed make her not worth investing training in from a professional’s perspective–it would likely be a break even project at best. The horse also hasn’t proven that she is sound enough to hold up to a jumping and showing career–a horse that is sound enough to WTC and do some poles is not necessarily going to hold up to a more intense jumping schedule. There’s also an unproven temperament aspect–plenty of inexperienced horses perform beautifully at home but are more difficult or require a lot of prep for shows.

I know this isn’t what you want to hear, and I’m sorry. I think your best option is to get the horse where it is suitable for a wider range of riders, has proven its ability to hold up to a more intense riding/jumping schedule, and proven its ability to travel to shows and go in the ring without getting overly ruffled.

The horse may end up being more marketable to an adult amateur who is interested in a more “multi-purpose” type of horse–something they can take on trail rides with their friends, do some local shows, do some hunter paces, low level eventing, etc. Along that vein, it might be worth your while to trail ride the horse and do some hunter paces or local competitions–even eventing or dressage–all while getting a bunch of photos and videos to demonstrate some versatility.

[Arzny]

Update: she has found a wonderful new home with a local pro who wanted a nice quiet project her teen lesson students could help with. Great situation for her!