Horse Ads Never Cease To Amaze

Awareness of the outside world. Speaking of sales pages. “She was also a torchbearer in the long legacy of Black contributions to Thoroughbred racing, a sport that was built on the labor of enslaved Black people.” Breyer: Cheryl White | Rider, Horse, and Book Set. I didn’t expect historical relevance on a toy sales page. Good for them.

~~~

Here’s a new one, seen on a ‘Horses we have for sale’ page.

“On-site trial fees apply.”

I took this to mean one had to pay for the privilege of looking at the horse. Really? You have so many inquiries that you have to filter out the tire kickers?

Furthermore, are you sure they were tire kickers? There’s a lot of things a prospective buyer might not be telling you. From a post ten years ago & still true,

The horse is special but not special enough. His talent is average. Our ideas on his value are so far apart that it would be insulting to make an offer based on what I think he’s worth. Do you have any IDEA how lame your horse is?

[Note to Horse Sellers: We Are Not Idiots. We Are Polite.] 2014

You, the seller, have no way of knowing why we, the buyers, walk away.

A more optimist interpretation of the fee might be a form of in-house lease for a week or two. In which case, maybe?

Nope. Further investigation reveals a substantial cost to try the horse, refundable with purchase, along with several other rules, including a penalty for trying the horse a second time.

What?!?!?

Deep breath. Not my circus; not my monkeys. If it works for their process, more power to them.

This is me, looking elsewhere.

Onwards!
Katherine