Selling Horses.................

Since the focus of my open house has been about selling horses, I figured now was a good time to address that aspect of the industry. There are so many things that can come into play when trying to sell horses. How those things are handled clearly reflects a person's sense of honor and integrity...........things the horse industry is not know for.

The old connotation of a horse trader may not be so old when money comes into the picture with some horse people. Lots of things can happen when the goal is to make that sale no matter what the cost. All's fair seems to be the standard with some in the horse industry. Ethics go out the window. Nothing is sacred and even friendships can be broken.

It's always been my practice when I am contacted by a person looking for a horse to try and match that person up with a horse that is right for them. If I don't own that horse, I try to put them in contact with someone who can provide them with a horse that suits their needs. I think it's more important to match up the right horse with the right buyer than to make a sale.

Whenever I hear that a friend of mine has been contacted by someone looking for a horse, I try to be supportive of my friend. Even if I might have what I think is just the right horse, I'm not the one that's been contacted. I believe that buyer is off limits to me and I leave the situation alone. I would never go behind my friend's back to try and pursue that sale.

In the long run I believe this sense of integrity will serve me best. I'd rather be known as a breeder that can be trusted than one that will do anything to make a sale. Unfortunately that's just not how it is for some in the horse industry.

A situation happened not long before my open house that just happened to expose one of the problems that can arise when a sale is involved. I heard that a friend of mine was acting as an agent for a buyer from back east.

The object of the search was a Marwan El Shaqab filly. From there it progressed to a filly of those bloodlines. I just happen to have a friend who has such a filly. She is by a nationally know son of Marwan. While I hadn't seen this filly, I knew from others that had that she was a nice individual. So when my agent friend told me what he was looking for I told him about this filly.

I also have a friend who has a very nice colt by the same stallion as the afore mentioned filly. As a matter of fact, I think this colt is beyond nice and into exceptional. The friend who owns the colt asked me if I'd told my friend about her colt. I explained I hadn't because they weren't looking for a colt.

However, within a couple of days, that changed. I learned my agent friend was going to look at fillies and a colt, as well, at a farm in Olympia. Then, and only then, I told my friend if his client was looking at colts too, they might want to consider this colt that belonged to my friend by the well known Marwan son. From an evaluation that had been made by one of the top halter boys in the country, I was sure this colt was an outstanding individual and worth the time to view.

When I spoke to the friend who owns the colt about the possibility of bringing my agent friend to come see her colt, I asked her to please not tell the stallion owner anything about the visit. Unfortunately, I've had enough dealings with this particular person I didn't think any good would come from her knowing someone was looking at this colt for a possible sale, particularly because the stallion owner has a colt of her own to sell. My friend agreed so I went ahead and set up an appointment.

It all sounds simple enough.........or so you would think?

To be continued.............

Part 2

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