Slow & Steady Stables

10/29/2022

Truth..... if you're "Surprised I still have this (X) for sale.... " the market is telling you that they're not willing to pay your price until you fix something.

(Priced too high, age too old, location too far, Chestnut mare, too small, too big, issues not disclosed etc)

11/10/2021

So proud of "S***t Shot" who we helped become Crystal's😉

4th place in Barrel Racing (2020 class) at the makeover. And he's largely her lesson horse at home! Kids ride him and practice his pattern.

I got to see him again and it was so great to cheer them on.

2020 Barrel Racing fourth place: S***t Shot and Crystal Rutten

06/14/2020

Anyone looking for a 5 yr old version of Max?

Located jn Illinois. $4k

Exclusive Touchdown is a beautiful double-bred AQHA and Palomino. He is a 2015 model and about 15.1 hands tall. Stunner of a dude, built like a brickhouse!

https://canterusa.org/horses/listings/exclusive-touchdown/

06/07/2020

Seen while scoping out horses for sale on CL.

Who (near California) needs an absolute SAINT of an animal for their child, spouse, friend???

"Getaway Cactus" Looks so cute. YOU have to watch the video!!!!

((I don't know the people or the horse but it's definitely going to heaven when it crosses the rainbow bridge))

Looking for his new “person” “Getaway Cactus” aka “Apollo” is a 14yr old (2/23/06) OTTB 16.1hh...

05/31/2020

Ok kids.... Let's do some market research....

If I have a horse to sell (I don't yet but I'm trying to find a nice one)

Would you like...

Mare or gelding?

Age??

Color??

Breed??

Experience??

Just to be forthright (because this is me)

I'm looking at doing the following upon purchase /to acquire:

1) Vetting - $1k - $2k. (My one vetting last week that didn't lead to a purchase cost $600)

2) Shipping from wherever.

3) All the stated things in my last post.

So let me know... what are you looking for ??

05/27/2020

Hi Everyone,

It's Emily. I have had an idea for a while, well a long while but it's one of those ideas that I thought it could be a good idea to try. Realistically it could be a bad idea to try. That led to discussions and basically John and I said, "Oh what the hell we'll try this!"

So here's the idea... in all it's simplified glory. (Understanding that it's not refined and is only meant to see if the world is receptive to all or part of these ideas. )We are going to try to sell 1 horse during a period of time in the next few months. And in so doing try to test out these single and combined ideas on buyers out there.

**Disclaimers** I have a 4 stall barn. I am not a MASSIVE profit based selling company. I care for my horses myself with help from one other person. I care about the horse's best interests and well being more than the bottom line financially or any ego based ideas. (If the horse needs more time and not to be rushed, I will do that. I don't expect to win the Olympics on a new green horse in 2020....so we're only on the timeline that the horse needs :D )

1) The horse will be for sale and it will have already passed a pretty tough vetting when I acquired it to be my resale animal. All animals I am considering are having a neuro exam and C-Spine (neck) xrays done in addition to airway scoping, and other joints/areas.

All parts of the vetting (Reports, images AND BILL) will be available to the buyer. As well as giving the potential buyers access to speak to the PPE performing vet to discuss their thoughts.

2) The horse will have had maintenance work done before being listed in the form of dental, shoeing, and any needed innoculations or basic vet work. (All records and bills will be available for review. All providers will be able to discuss the animal with any potential buyers)

3) The horse will be started on a once a week PEMF program (for the first month, after the first month it will be treated as needed, usually 1x a month) with my friend and MASTER Equine Masseuse and PEMF wizard, Jordan Meadley. IF the buyer purchases the horse inside the first month they can have the treatments at their location (if they're within the service area) and the remaining sessions from the first month are included in the horse's sale price. If they're outside of the service area we can recommend another Pulse practioner and offer a discount on the first month's remaining sessions. (Only Pulse, not Magna Wave nor Bemer)

4) We will not being doing any 'loose movement' videos in a ring that attempt to capitalize on the horse's natural adrenaline in their first week at the farm. We believe that while there's inherently nothing dangerous about this method, it doesn't promote the new home as a sanctuary where the horse can relax. Nor have we seen a correlation to the movement a well muscled, relaxed and comfortable horse can produce later in life when sufficiently trained to the point of better muscle control and extension. We might post videos of the horse moving in turnout without any human encouragement or any human inside of or near the field. Again, they're to do whatever THEY want in the field. It's another sanctuary.

5) Free jumping videos will be limited to heights that make sense for the mind and body of a newly acquired animal, possibly unfamiliar with the concept of a) jumping, b) loose areas not on grass, and obedience to a human standing on the ground blabbering. :)

6) We have worked out a Covid friendly way to allow trying the horse at our farm.

7) We have worked out a Covid friendly way to allow trying the horse at nearby open schooling facilities.

8) We will offer a list of the top vet clinics in the area that we have not used directly for any vettings.

9) We will offer assistance with any needs to rehome any horse bought through us. While I am not financially able to offer a refund we will absolutely help in any ways we can to assist if the horse ever needs a new home, either planned or suddenly. Because we all know stuff happens and life can change.

and finally

10) We will offer you the ability to come and try the horse at our facility* for as many days as you feel you need to decide if it's the horse for you. (Bear in mind we only allow our horses to jump 1x every 5 days minimum. )

*- Must abide by and follow all Covid policies in place, and pay a reasonable deposit for the privilege.

So that's the idea. A lot of this is done in a lot of places. It's not reinventing the wheel, it's about putting things together that may not currently be together in some places.

We truly welcome and hope for feedback of all kinds. Good, bad, indifferent. I believe it's possible to be an honest seller and disclose what you know. Explain your pricing and work to have/(find in this case) a better product on the market so that buyers can begin to trust in sellers who want to help them towards their goals.

My aim to is sell above average horses because it costs the same to feed an average horse versus an above average horse, so why not have a really nice animal.

Emily

12/29/2018

Howdy everyone! I'm down in West Palm Beach and Wellington, Florida for the weekend auditing the USHJA Gold Star Clinic and watching the jumpers at the show at Wellington. This is my first time to this part of Florida and boy it's a lot to see. I'm incredibly grateful to my husband John for watching over things at home so I can be here for this learning moment. Additional thanks to Lex for taking care of the ponies at home. Those poor guys won't know what hit them when I get back. 😆😁

Today it was flat work day with Richard. Due to getting in VERY late I opted to rest and go watch the 3rd group only. It still was a lot of useful material. After that I went and watched the second half of the welcome class today and a few bits of the low hunter derbies in between trolling the tack shops and running into an old friend.

Tonight I went back and saw the ring setup for tomorrow. I'm definitely going to bed early tonight so I can watch all 3 groups tomorrow. This is a neat group of exercises.

So much fun and more to come. I am grateful to be pet sitting for a friend so I've got a cute corgi, mini aussie and a lovely cat all to keep me comfy.

More to come tomorrow !

Em

03/04/2018

Maybe this isn't news, maybe this is common knowledge but just in case let me suggest a few things as spring starts creeping ever closer and with it comes the desire to get our equines back into show/ riding shape and fun.

1) Never ignore the subtle changes. If Fluffy was awesome at X skill before but seems less so after winter maybe think about checking things with a vet before sticking to a timeline that you devised from planning the shows/ rides that YOU want to go to on the internet. Remember always that while our horses may like or put up with the jobs we ask of them, at heart they just want to be professional lawn mowers. 🤠

2) My name may give it away but going slow will always benefit the green horse, the green or nervous rider and of course anyone with working to knock the rust off. Don't overlook the value of shipping to a show just to school in the warm up or during a ring schooling break. You CAN do this and much can be gained from it. Just make sure to talk to the show organizers first so you know what they need and what, if anything, that it will cost.

3) Just because you're excited to get back to warm weather and weekends of exciting places and competitions doesn't mean you shouldn't still properly prepare your horse's body for the job. Tendons, ligaments, backs, lungs, cardiovascular systems and minds need time to also get fit before you leave the start box. You will spend a whole lot less of your season competing if you skip this. Remember all those days it was too cold, wet, blowing to do more than ride in a ring, well now it's time to get outside, find a nice hill and start getting everyone's lungs and hearts pumping. But start slow. And do more interval training of small amounts rather than a brisk 2 hour group trail ride.

4) Time to know your rule books. You have a coach, that's great. You go alone, that's fine also but there are many rules that embody all the various sports and ultimately it's up to all of us to be responsible for reading AND understanding what rules apply to us. Even if you don't compete at a recognized level it would be wise to learn the USEF rules for your discipline as many local associations follow their guidelines.

Jumpers do you know what level standing martingales can't be used at?
Eventers, what happens if you canter behind a xc jump (on the landing side) that you're about to jump?
Dressage riders, how long do you have from the bell ringing before you're eliminated?
Hunters, how can you go about seeing the judges card?

5) Sharing the love. For all that we do to play in our silly worlds of showing do you remember to ALWAYS thank every volunteer you run across at an event? You may not recall this when you're stressed out and trying to stay on time getting ready and your horse has most definitely lost at least a couple marbles, but everyone you are dealing with is there because they want YOU to have the chance to do this. They gave up lots to be there and will likely have to deal with a lot of personality types. I don't care how stressed you are you absolutely can and should smile and thank these people genuinely. A box of donuts, a cheap gift card, flowers or some carrots for their horse, who's at home, is not a bad idea either. Shows are dwindling a bit because it's hard to find people to give up sleeping in on a non work/school day. I encourage all my friends/ readers to start improving the relations and brightening the days of those who make our ribbon walls and year end awards possible.

That's all the rambling for today.

Em

12/29/2017

Emily's Educational Moments - December 29, 2017

So you think you know how to sell a horse with an online ad and video…. Let’s just go over some of the basics.

Have you included in your ad:

1) Age (If near a new year it’s coming age)
2) Height (Actual not guessed)
3) S*x
4) Breed and maybe lines in its pedigree (Try to use correct acronyms, watch out for spell check issues)
5) The horse’s location
6) The job the horse has been doing
7) The job it could do well
8) The price
9) Any old injuries
10) Any vices (Certain vices are actually required to be divulged in different states sales laws. Cribbing is chief among them)
11) A proper conformation picture. (Hint… these can take hours to get not minutes and the right stance of a well conformed horse absolutely can make a difference)
12) A video that includes: a few seconds of the horse standing still with proper side on view of conformation; 30 seconds of trot each direction. 30 seconds of canter each way, preferably with a transition up or down. If it jumps, a small amount of it jumping well over its ADVERTISED height of jump. Do not jump 18” if it’s advertised as having shown 1.20 meters. Not even with grandma on him. Great that he’s kind but throw Joe Pro on and jump a few fences you’ve said it can jump. Videos don’t need to exceed 2-3 mins. Your life story with the horse may take up hours and hours on YouTube, but don’t do that to a buyer. Less is more. Also… do not make your sale video your first attempt at editing. Ask friends who do it more than you to look over the video you’re thinking of using BEFORE you post it with an ad.

[True story, I saw one the other day that was like a bad flashback movie. In the indoor, then on xc, then in the barn, then the next fence on the same xc, then 10 secs of trot in the indoor, then back on xc..8 minutes of this. I didn’t know if the horse was nice or not. But I knew I didn’t want to give the owner the money I had to spend.]

13) A nicely put together jump or skill picture. The slightly different shot that doesn't look like everyone else's pics and is done well can be a huge advantage. It can be beneficial to hire a photographer or a friend with a good camera and excellent jump timing to do a few photo shoots in a nice arena with nice fences. For a jump picture DO NOT use ill timed pics. Get the right moment over the fence as a frame off perfect either way can make a brilliant jumper look average....or worse.

(**NOTE** using a photographer’s proof image [Stamped with a copyright] is this fun thing called copyright infringement. It is illegal and the photographer can take you to a mediator and you can be ordered to pay a fine. WHY?? Because it’s REALLY easy to prove that you posted it with a screenshot. Buy the picture that you like enough to steal.)

Now…back to that picture..This is NOT the moment to throw in the cell phone pic/video of when you realized the rent was due and selling “Bubba” NOW was the best idea so you threw your cousin on him and made him jump the family picnic table… bareback…in a halter…and he fell off. But the picture from 2000 yards away shows great knees.

Selling is a serious thing and the common trait of those who do it well is that they put out a solid ad/video of an accurately described horse. Buyers look for sellers that know how to sell. And repeat business is easier when you don’t come across as a bubbling idiot.

Before listing the horse:

1) Have you notified your boarding barn that you will be listing your horse and found out what notice/paperwork they will need filled out by any potential buyers and any restrictions when they come to try your horse
2) In the absence of having an indoor, have you arranged a way to get to and time to use a local indoor for showing purposes. (Check on liability forms and costs as well)
3) Planned which days/times you are available to buyers to show the horse
4) Notified your vet so you can share your horse’s vet record or x-rays
5) Practiced having riders other than yourself ride your horse to see how they do with other riders
6) Practiced jogging the horse correctly in hand so he is used to it both for showing his soundness (and buyers will likely video this) and also for pre purchase exam purposes
7) Setup an email address that’s easier if you have a more complex email normally (Ex TeddyPaintforsale@###XX.com )
8) Trimmed your horse or given it a body clip job at least a few weeks before listing to allow lines to regrow in
9) Acquired some show videos as examples of him doing his job. Have the links to these easily available for interested buyers.
10) Prepared a standard ‘response’ email to send to buyers who inquire that include a link to his sale video, price and a little bit about what type of rider he’d like/benefit with as well as your best contact info, location and best times to show the horse.

No no’s to consider in sales:

1) All nylon halters (unless it’s a western based horse or a rescue) All leather halters look nicer.
2) Dirty, hairy horses.
3) Dirty, ill fitted tack, pads, bandages etc
4) Bad backgrounds on videos/pics. Do not pose the horse in front of the porta potty or the muck pile. Also some exterior horizontal surfaces (like fencelines, arena doors, hillsides) can create an illusion and make a horse look smaller or seem uneven in their conformation. Try to pose a horse in front of a solid background on a level surface for conformation pictures. In the absence of a solid surface choose a flat driveway with a natural background (fields etc)
5) On the videos, riders that don’t highlight the horse’s abilities.
6) Riders that override. Jimmy Wofford always says, “The difference between good riding and bad riding is that you can see bad riding.” Don’t use footage that shows bad riding.
7) Don’t talk on your videos. If you did during filming mute the video before it goes on YouTube. DO NOT ADD Music. Please.

Remember that you want to make money (or lose less money) by selling this horse, so don’t give money away by neglecting points where a smart buyer can negotiate with you. Have his feet done recently. Have your shots done. Have solid records of your show history. All these things when absent can be points of negotiation for the buyer. Not that you as a seller would accept the attempt but it is something that has been negotiated money off for in the past.

Examples:

“Oh since “Bubba” hasn’t had his shots since February of 2016 I will need to do that.”

“Bubba’s feet are particularly bad and my vet/farrier are worried he may need corrective shoeing”

“You said you went to 10 shows this year but I can only find online results for two. So I’m not sure he is experienced enough to command the price you’re asking”

Working on all these things can help you find a solid home for your horse and allow for a better return on your investment. Now of course there are exceptions to all these guidelines. By and large however these tips when followed will help to better prepare you and your horse for the selling experiences and maybe help you get more of your asking price.

Good luck!!

~Emily

12/15/2017

Beautiful winter day at the farm