About Equestrian Sales
Buying and selling horses can bring in necessary revenue. Markets include exporting for meat in Europe and South America as well as recreational riding in the U.S. and Canada. Understanding where to market your animal, contracts, and evaluating the value of the animal are all a part of equestrian sales.
Purpose of the Sale
Understand what you are trying to achieve in selling your animal. Are you raising horses for meat, like cattle, or are you selling the animal for racing or as a pet? Your purpose will determine boarding expenses and return on investment. If you are raising the animal to ride, you will have a much different expense need than raising the animals for food.
Pet or Racing Horse costs
Pet or racing horses will cost between $5,000 to around $6,000 per year for the first year. The mare while she is pregnant will have feed, stabling, veterinary and associated expenses until the foal is weaned. The breed and registration of the sire and dame will have great influence on the sale of the foal. Once the foal is a year old, it's time to start breaking it for riding.
Buyer Need
"Greenbroke" animal knows how to bear a saddle, but little else. Most buyers are looking for an "off-the-track" thoroughbred who is at least partially rider trained. The level of training the horse has, time of ownership, cost of care, breed and lineage all figure into the sale of the animal. Keep a record of all expenses, training and veterinary care for the animal. Price the animal to triple expenses or an appropriate price within the market.
Contract
When you draft a contract to sell the animal, make sure all pertinent information of ownership transfer, breed, age, markings, tattoos, brands and shows the animal has won are well documented. Buyer and seller should include the names, address, phone and Social Security number of both parties in the contract. Other items to include are the details of the sale, the price, the relinquishment of responsibility of the animal and how the money will be transferred. It's also a good idea to have an attorney to review the contract before signing.