This message is from: "Bossmare" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Brigid Wasson wrote-
>
>
> I don't know beans about horse breeding and selling, but I do know a bit
> about business. I've owned and managed a dog walking and pet sitting
business
> for 8 years now. In 97 I started a local network for my industry which is
> still going strong -- in fact we're meeting next week. It is interesting
to
> compare the attitudes and methods of each business owner, and their
resulting
> success. We are all offering basically the same service in the same area,
so
> why do some of us get more calls, more long time customers, a better
overall
> reputation? A BUSINESSLIKE ATTITUDE. Yep, believe it or not some folks
treat
> their business like a hobby. I imagine it's similar to horse
professionals.
Wow, is this ever the truth. I have found the horse industry to be
particularly prone to even treating legitimate services as if they were a
hobby. The farrier who doesn't come when he says, the hay delivery that
doesn't arrive and the vet who doesn't call back with test results and
subsequent calls to the vet office only offers confusion among the staff.
The trainer who doesn't return a call or the trainer who gets your horse and
doesn't train it but keeps collecting the fee.
Recently I was (and possibly still am) in the market for a Fjord mare. I
would like to tell anyone selling a Fjord that, unless your buyer is local,
you must have pictures and videos and they must be all encompassing. If you
are selling that "safe horse for everyone" show it in cross-ties being
groomed and tacked up, show it in a conformation shot minus tack with good
shots of the legs, show it at the mounting block or being mounted from the
ground, preferably without someone holding the horse, then show it ridden
and driven and show it being used out of doors not just in an indoor (horses
behave differently with more stimulus outdoors). In other words go through
the routine from start to finish (including hosing at the end if possible)
of exactly what a prospective owner would be looking for. Showing half the
picture (already tacked up and mounted) doesn't show the handling component
which very often is as much or more important than the performance picture.
If selling breeding stock find a way to show temperament as well as
conformation. Show the mare with her foals, the stallion being handled on a
normal day's turnout (does he need two chain lead shanks and two handlers
and a third to open the gate??) Prospective mare and foal owners want to
know!
In my case I actually bought a Fjord mare because the video showed such a
varied use of the pony and it was consistent throughout that she was not
only a happy camper but a willing worker getting the job done. She was
smaller than I would have liked and had some conformation issues but they
were of less importance than her attitude and my desire for a safe pony for
children. She has proved to live up to my impression of her in my barn as
well. A boarder of mine went through the agonies of videos and I saw a
number of them and we both realized that the videos that show the horse in a
normal day's routine were more useful than the ones of the horse polished to
the nines with the accomplished dressage rider who rode better than we would
ever hope to. However on the opposite side of that please have a nice
halter on the horse, have it trimmed and groomed and the surroundings neat
and workmanlike. A frayed nylon halter, junk in the aisle, broken fence
indicates to me that a person doesn't care about the horse and its
environment so I would question everything else as well. A video is a first
impression, suited to what is being sold and the person it is marketed
towards. If not done well and appropriately there will be no chance for a
second impression as the person will not call back. There seem to be some
people who do not think this is important and I've met a few Fjord owners
who think we should just take them at their word and what I've mentioned
above is not important. What was somewhat stunning to me was a breeder who
told me she "doesn't do videos" and only had to offer photos on her website!
She was halfway across the country from me and seemed to indicate I should
take her at her word. The filly in question was too young to be ridden or
driven but a video of her moving naturally at liberty would have showed how
she was put together and her movement and attitude. And showing her being
haltered and led would have been useful as to her level of handling and
cooperation. The photos available to be viewed were not particularly
attractive and did not show the filly at her best (looked sleepy and
disinterested and/or listless). If the filly was at the stage of
development where she was not at her best this can be explained and a
knowledgeable horseman will know this but if there are incipient problems
that horseman would want to know that too. The best offer I received
regarding a video was from
