WHY ISN'T MY HORSE SELLING?

Here are a few points to think about when advertising that may help attract the right buyer.

1.  Keep the description of your horse in your advertisement reasonably brief, as you want to encourage people to engage in conversation with you.  Talking to someone should make it much easier to understand better what is wanted and equally will allow you to give the right impression and more easily convey the true essence of your horse. 
2. Watch the wording and phrases you use in your written advertisement.  For example, what does it even mean to say, ‘Needs a confident, capable rider?’  The connotation here is that the horse is going to be difficult.  In fact the seller may be trying to convey that to be competitive at a higher level the ‘Horse needs a confident, capable rider.’  So maybe balance exactly what information will interest a would-be buyer, enough for them to call and ask questions, and leave out what can be misconstrued and a real put off.   Questions are what you want.  It is while you are talking that both parties can get a clear sense of suitability and compatibility.  As an example, during such a conversation, it can be conveyed in the sense that you intend, i.e. ‘the horse is forward moving but will never bolt or be uncontrollable.’
3. Having said the above, something to keep in mind is that most horses will almost certainly behave quite differently with a different rider.   Always be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.  The seller may have a strongly held view that the horse will never in a million years suit a beginner.  And guess what, a knowledgeable family will come along with their 7 year old inexperienced and very nervous child to view and ultimately purchase your highly competitive, successful grand prix pony, and in a week your pony completely adjusts and truly enjoys their new job of taking life easy and looking after their new rider.  It happens.   More often than you’d think. 
4. ‘A good photo speaks a thousand words!’   Photos need to be clear, high resolution and not watermarked.  If you’re happy to show to the world that you are not strictly honest regarding unauthorised use of copyrighted photos, is a buyer then likely to trust you?  Please provide human interest photos, not all jumping shots.  Standing there, or doing fun stuff, can be attractive.  Provide a good action video too, which can play directly on your advertisement and be used for marketing.
5. Maybe think about rather than keeping the sale of your horse on the down-low for whatever reason, choose a marketed option on ispyhorses and get the word out there.  This will greatly increase your horse’s chances of being seen by the right person who may otherwise never have known.