Guide for Preparing a Horse for Auction

1. Health Check and Veterinary Care

The first thing which must be done before the actual start of the auctioning of the horse is to get the horse in the best health that it can be in. Organise a proper vet check to ensure the horse is healthy, its body does not show any signs of a disease or an injury that may keep people away. A certificate from a veterinarian can be quite useful because it provides proof of the horse’s health, and can help sell at auction.

2. Grooming for Presentation

Another, non-performance related criteria is grooming to provide the horse with the best looks possible. To help maintain the coat, mane, and tail grooming is needed to remove dirt and tangle. Do not neglect the feet –neat and well shaped hooves are indicators of well maintained horses. They become more elegant looking and can be polished off with the use of a coat conditioner.

3. Training and Behavior

The most attractive feature with being able to get attention during sale is a well trained horse coupled with manners. Basic handling and training on the horse should be practiced and done long before the actual competition. When selling a horse for riding or breeding, exposing the subject’s status and conducting a parade throughout the auction are beneficial. A quiet and attentive horse will make the consumer have confidence in the product.

4. Clean and Polished Tack

The approach that one uses to bring the horse in front is as important as the horse itself. Saddles, bridles and reins should be clean, and well polished. Clean saddles and difficulty also show attention to details besides making horses more attractive to buyers in case of resale.

5. Professional Photography and Videos

Therefore, photo and video quality matter when it comes to branding your auction on the website. Produce video which demonstrates horse movement, training, and character. Be sure to present clear, well lit pictures that will showcase the desired features of the horse such as conformation, or coat positively. It also allows the horse to be seen ridden or worked in the arena to show what it can do and it’s worth to a buyer.

6. Documentation and Records

Make all forms complete, which consist of pedigree of the horse, health records and training records of the horse. To get a potential buyer’s trust regarding the background of the horse, one should supply accurate and comprehensible details.

7. Auction Day Presentation

On the day of the auction it is preferable that the horse looks calm and is handled in a confident manner. It is advisable to get there early in the day to give the horse an opportunity to respond to an acclimatization process. When presenting it to a bidding auction, the horse has to be clean, well behaved and well mannered. Handlers should be composed and assertive because fear is contagious and may affect a horse.

This also means the person selling the horse will need to respond to questions from the buyer on issues to do with training, health and background of the horse. That means the more knowledge you own and share in a way that is as clear as possible, the more trust you will gain with potential consumers.

8. Setting the Right Reserve Price

When preparing for the auction, be very thoughtful as to the horse’s value, and then choose the right starting price. This is the lowest amount of money you are willing to take from the horse and it has to be in proportion with the age, breeding, training of the horse not forgetting market value. It is important not to get your hopes high and set a very high reserve price so that you don’t set a very low price that makes you lose your horse for less.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XLt1Y6mzZo&t=5s 

First of all, a horse to be auctioned, must be in excellent condition and groomed before the auction. Vets, conditioning, and preparation are vital in preparing the horse with a view of acquiring potential buyers. It’s important to use high quality photos and documents well as this creates trust from the customers. Some of the factors crucial on the auction day are appropriate stance and correct establishment of the reserve price. The above approach increases your likelihood of getting the best price of your horse during the auction.