How to sell your horse on

Whether it's for you, for the horse or for the buyer, selling your horse is a big step. Are you looking to part with your horse because he no longer suits you? Here are a few tips to guide you step by step through the sale of your horse.

Where can you sell a horse?

There are several options to consider when selling your horse. The first of these is word of mouth. It's important to talk about it around you. With that in mind, you might start by asking the people closest to you. That could be your friends, your family, your neighbours or the people you ride with at the riding school. You can spark their interest that way and make the sale easily while staying on familiar ground.

Another option is to contact professionals: horse dealers. This is the ideal solution if you're in a hurry. If your horse interests the dealer, he could buy him very quickly. The dealer can then take charge of putting the horse back up for sale and making himself a tidy profit. It's an efficient option, but it won't tell you anything about the future owners.

Another possibility is to place your horse on a sale-or-return basis with a professional. This solution does represent a real financial loss. The reason is that the person handling the sale of your horse keeps a fairly hefty percentage of the sale price. Likewise, for the whole time you're waiting for your horse to find a buyer, it will be up to you to cover his keep at your own expense.

Don't overlook the media either. The internet, the press and social media are your friends. You can place an advert in the papers or in groups that specialise in horses. This will let you reach a much wider audience.

How should you sell your horse?

It's best to go about selling your horse with respect not only for the animal, but also for his future owners. It's important to make sure your horse will be well treated, and you need to act in good faith towards buyers. Better still, you can encourage that "love at first sight" moment between your horse and his future rider.

It's also worth understanding what buyers are looking for. You need to listen to the person interested in buying your horse. If, for example, they want a horse that comes with its tack and you have a feeling they'll be ideal for your horse, don't hesitate to pay a visit to La Sellerie Française to pick up the items requested.

In any case, by listening properly to what the prospective buyer has to say, you'll quickly know whether you meet their needs as a buyer and whether they meet yours as a seller.