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Spanish Andalusian
Horse Articles > Buying and Selling Andalusian Horses
Are You a Seller or a Buyer Type?
Introduction
It's much easier for some people to consider buying a horse than
it is to sell one. This article will explore why you, as a Buyer, should
think like a seller.
The professionals know that there are basically two
types of horse people
– the buyers and the sellers. Buyers tend to collect. Sellers tend
to liquidate. A third type of horse person is the tire-kicker. Which type are
you?
Definition of a Horse Buyer: The Buyer is on
the lookout for deals, bargains, best-buys, best-ofs, and may get caught up in the
hunt for the “perfect” horse. When the Buyer buys, they are thinking of
themselves. Then the tire-kicker is on the hunt, they represent the extreme
Buyer who often has no feelings at all for the Sellers.
Definition of a Horse Seller:
The Seller sells more than they buy. They are wary of buying (may prefer to
produce their own). When they do buy, they take their time and evaluate all the options.
In the end the
Seller type may buy, but very rarely. When they do, the choice is usually good. More often,
though, the Seller is busy selling … to the
Buyer! And if they DO buy, it’s with selling in mind. (ie, investment!) So, they are still a
Seller even though they are Buying. When the Seller buys, they are thinking of
the future Buyers who will buy from THEM.
Confused? You say, well, to get into the business I have to start as a Buyer,
right? Yes you do, sort of. You must buy or acquire a horse to get into the
business. But along the way, it’s good if you think of yourself as a Seller
first and foremost, even when buying. This means you plan for the future,
invest in the best possible horses, and forecast the trends and sales market
where you will be SELLING.
For Horse Buyers, it’s usually all about me me me.
For Horse Sellers, it’s usually about you you you.
Good horse Sellers, that is. Bad Sellers, it’s all about me me
me. You’ve been there, right? That’s another article all in itself.
Bad Sellers talk about themselves and act emotionally attached
to the horse they are trying to sell. They forget that the horse is not intended
for them, but for somebody else. They get worked up in talking about their life,
their family, "their" horse. A good Seller, however, tends to put themselves in
second place and will ask about the Buyer's life, their wants and needs, and why
they are looking to buy this particular horse.
I’ll give you an example of the Seller mentality. When my first
cute Andalusian colt was born, my friends asked me his name. I said “His name is
Sooner.” And then I added, “Because the sooner I sell him the better!”
That's the Seller mentality. I'm ready to sell. A Buyer mentality says, there's
no way I could sell such a cute little colt, what will happen to him?
A Buyer type rolls their eyes when you ask about their “horse business” and
says “I just couldn’t handle selling any of my foals.” If this is you, you’re a
Buyer and should not be getting into the business of Selling.
What Type of Horse Sellers are Out There?
The Passionate Ones.
Some people sell Andalusian horses because it is their passion
to breed good and excellent horses and they share that passion by selling some
of their livestock to the next person who they hope will share the same passion.
And so on. Along the way they make a little bit of extra money. This is the
ideal.
The ideal Andalusian horse Seller is a
person who is passionate about the horses, understands the breed protocols and
standards, breeds a good product, is preserving the breed, and SHARES it.
Sharing is not the same as stealing, over-pricing, gouging, etc.
The Greedy Ones.
Some people sell their horses at inflated prices to either
knowing or un-knowing Buyers. These people are either great breeders with really
awesome horses (and the Buyers know it and are ready to pay for it), or they are
just plain lucky to have an expensive-looking place and a knack for selling to
the rich and famous (and the Buyers fall for this trick). Or perhaps it’s a
combination of both. Or they are just plain greedy.
The Disadvantaged Bunch.
The people who have to “come down” on their prices are the ones without so many
advantages. Perhaps they’re lacking in the real “meat and potatoes”
department. (In other words, their horses just don’t stack up to the
competition.). Perhaps they are new and small. Perhaps they are just plain
desperate.
The Best Sellers for Buyers.
The preferred Seller from a Buyer's point of
view would be that Seller that is
in-between the truly desperate and the truly lucky. These type run a decent
operation, have invested time and money, and tend to be passionate about their
program, etc., etc. These type are fairly rare.
That’s why it’s important when you are in the market to
buy an Andalusian horse for your BUSINESS proposition, you take a good hard look
at who you are buying from. This person can either become your mentor, your
worst enemy, or both.
Hopefully, you want your mentor for the time being to be passionate about the
breed and perhaps they will help you navigate into your very own first SALE. Or
perhaps they provide good quality photos, videos, and information about your
offspring’s parents and bloodlines. Perhaps the ranch you are buying from has an
excellent reputation, the horses are well-known, and you can
RIDE along on that success.
The other option is that they are going out of business. More on that in another
article.
So, are you a Seller or a Buyer? Think about it.
Note: Many of our articles are now available in "blog"
format. The blog allows you to leave comments and share articles. To visit our
blog (a work in progress), go to
Skyhorse Ranch
Blog - Your Source for the Spanish Horse.
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