Is it inappropriate to contact someone......

[wildhorses]

I am just curious how everyone feels about this. Here's the story.

I was at a friends house last summer. My friend had a mare there that had been brought in for stud service to her stallion. I absolutely fell in love with that mare. Since that time, I have always said, if I am ever in a financial position that I could try to buy that mare, I would like to contact the owner to see if they would ever consider selling her.

The owner does not have a website, but I do know that they still own the mare, and I have the owners phone number. I guess I just don't know if it is appropriate to pick up the phone and call these people and see if they would ever consider selling the mare or not. And how I should approach them on it if I do decide to pick up the phone and call. Because I don't know these people at all.

So I guess I am just wondering everyones opinion about this. My thought is, that especially since they don't have a website, how will I ever know if she is for sale or not without asking. I know people with websites often get these types of inquiries, but don't know if it's ok to pickup the phone and call and ask.

Thanks for the input!

 

[user 488]

No it is not inappropriate! You said it yourself. How will you know if you don't ask. I get calls like that all the time and I take them as a compliment!

Carol

 

[REO]

I agree with Carol.

: IMO, it never hurts to ask.

 

[justanothercowgirl]

I have had enquiries about one of my geldings after posting driving pics of him here on the forum, I take it as a compliment. :bgrin I saw a forum friend's gelding drive at Nationals and I just love the horse and so I asked him if he would consider selling him, I don't think he minded the question at all, in fact he did give me a price on the horse-it was out of my price range LOL but it doesn't hurt to ask!!

 

[Jill]

Go for it! You never know and the owner will surely be flattered if nothing else

:

 

[normajeanbaker]

You don't know until you call! Worst they say is that she is not for sale! I've had several people call or email asking if certain horses we have are for sale, and I don't mind it one bit, nor do I find it inappropriate.

And, as they say, every(or most) horses are for sale for the right price

Jen

 

[Miniv]

I agree, it doesn't hurt to ask.......

I have had people let me know they were interested in a certain horse, not on the sales list. And a couple of years later I decided to let her go. I had since gotten to know the person and felt good about her, so she was the first person I called. Our mare has a wonderful home.

On the flip side....I fell in love with a mare of a friend of our's. I was up front and told her that if she ever decided to sell her to let me know. The dear lady laughed and said, "She is not going anywhere." Again, a couple of years later, our dear friend was diagnosed with cancer and decided to sell out. Larry and I stopped in to visit her on the day she was writing up her sales list (not knowing about the cancer). I put a deposit on the mare immediately. We ended up assisting her in selling a few of horses just before she passed away.

Maryann

 

[Firefall]

Go ahead and ask, thats how I have found some of my mares. Owner may need some extra room or less mouths to feed and just hasn't done anything about it yet? Good Luck!

 

[horsehug]

I, like the others, consider it a compliment.

I have several horses that people have told me they want me to let them know if they are ever for sale also.

Susan O.

 

[mydaddysjag]

Even if she is not for sale now, you may get first choice if she ever does go up for sale, and they will know that you are interested. Thats how I got my riding mare.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

I met a mentor this way years ago. I wrote Limestone Miniatures to ask about a horse only I didnt really even have all the money at the time. Janet was wonderful and we emailed back and forth I became the unoffical president of the Nighthawk fan club

: - bought a couple of horses from her and really am so glad I did she has been a great help and truly a wonder to work with- and really somone I truly admire and respect so it worked well for me!

 

[PaintedPromiseRanch]

absolutely go for it. the worst they can say is no and be rude, then you are in no different position than now except you know. but most people won't be like that. most will take it as a compliment and you can always just call and say you saw their mare blah blah blah, really liked her, and wanted them to know that if she is ever for sale you would be interested and to please keep your number, or could you check back periodically. we went to a guy's house one day who was in our riding club to pick up something for club business, didn't know him well but rode with him in large groups occasionally... anyway fell in love with his spotted saddlebredmare, Katie,

: but he said she would NEVER be for sale... and after that every time i saw him i would say "hey Dick, how's my horse" and we would laugh about it. well one day when i said that his reply was "she is waiting for you to come get her" - i wish i could have seen the look on my own face, i'm sure it was hilarious! turns out he buys at auction if there is an animal in bad shape that he can rehabilitate and rehome, and he had gotten several more and his wife said that's it, too many, someone's got to go... so he thought of her and us and long story short she has been in our pasture for almost 6 years now

:

dreams DO come true

:

 

[Mona]

Nope, definately NOT inappropriate! I have numerous emails that I have kept on hand over the years, asking me if certain horses were for sale. They weren't, and I wasn' yet ready to part with them, so I emailed them back, telling them I would let them know if that horse becomes available. If the horse ever does come up for sale, I am sure they will no longer be interested, or maybe have found others in the meantime, but I will at least do as I said and contact them first, to let them know.

:

 

[speckles]

Hi, I agree with what everyone else had to say. Absolutely go for it!!!! I have done the same myself on two occasions. The first time was with a leopard appy stallion that I thought would never be for sale. A good friend owned him. To my surprise, several months later, she did approach me and said he was mine if i wanted him as she was reducing her numbers. He now takes pride of place in my paddocks and am enjoying his first offspring this year. The other horse has not come up for sale, but I do have first option on him if he becomes available.

You will never know unless you asked, and imagine how disappointed you would be if you did discover she sold to someone else without you having a chance to buy her!!

Sandra Spekreijse

Serenity Park

New Zealand.

 

[Amy]

I am just curious how everyone feels about this. Here's the story.

I was at a friends house last summer. My friend had a mare there that had been brought in for stud service to her stallion. I absolutely fell in love with that mare. Since that time, I have always said, if I am ever in a financial position that I could try to buy that mare, I would like to contact the owner to see if they would ever consider selling her.

The owner does not have a website, but I do know that they still own the mare, and I have the owners phone number. I guess I just don't know if it is appropriate to pick up the phone and call these people and see if they would ever consider selling the mare or not. And how I should approach them on it if I do decide to pick up the phone and call. Because I don't know these people at all.

So I guess I am just wondering everyones opinion about this. My thought is, that especially since they don't have a website, how will I ever know if she is for sale or not without asking. I know people with websites often get these types of inquiries, but don't know if it's ok to pickup the phone and call and ask.

Thanks for the input!

CALL -- explin it just like you did on the website. Who will be annoyed with someone falling in love with their horse?? You will never know if you don't ask-- then later on - if she sold it to someone else you would also be dissapointed. Nothing wrong with asking. All they can do si say NO -- and then you will know for sure-- but she might just say YES !!

 

[KenBen]

One of the best mares in my barn was not for sale. Saw her on the peoples website and I enquired about her and before you know it I had brought her.

KenBen

 

[ruffian]

I missed the chance at an awesome Arabian gelding we were using in our Handicapped riding program because I had no idea the owner was thinking of selling him. Me and 4 other people were shocked when we came to a session and he was gone -- on his way to California at a dirt cheap price. :no:

Absolutely ask!

 

[SilverRidgeMinis]

I have missed out on horses because I didn't say something even though I thought the horse

wasn't for sale at the time. Don't hesitate. At least they will know you are interested if she isn't for sale

right now or they might have a sister of hers that you might like.

Freida

 

[coopermini]

As every one has said go ahead and ask. The first horse we sold was one that was not for sale. The buyer met with my wife for 5 minutes and they had the deal all worked out. We still would like to have kept her but she is at a fantastic home for life. We have had more inquiries on horses not for sale then our sale horses.

We do keep those options in mind just in case something comes up.

Good luck

Mark

 

[Cathy_H]

In the past I have had inquiries for horses that were not listed for sale... Didn't mind answering the emails & I didn't think the person was being rude............... Some were going to be for sale ( after they foaled or after the show season was over or after being weaned etc)............ I let the inquirer know this & explained the situation.............. Lee & I have been & are again at a place to where our plans may change somewhat. What may not be for sale today may be later. We have a mare that several people are interested in when / if she comes up for sale so we are keeping them in mind.