If You Pay for A Photo Ad to Sell Your Horse, Do It Right!!!

I can't believe the number of for sale ads on the internet that people pay money for, and still don't bother to even slap a halter on the horse and take it out of the crap-filled pen to advertise properly.

I surf around different sale sites just for fun to see what's for sale in my area and I've made some notes on the dos and don'ts of good horse advertising.. I thought I'd share my biggest annoyances:

1) Take your horse out of the pen, and give it a once-over with a brush... for improved selling results, do a full groom, maybe slap some hoof polish on...
good example of the bad: http://www.equinehits.com/horses-for-sale/horse-189642 - look, we put food down so she'd stand still long enough to take a picture!
another one: http://www.equinehits.com/horses-for-sale/horse-188007 hey look! The telephoto lens works!

2) We all want to see a conformation shot. This means: You have to go all the way out into the paddock and catch your horse. Make sure your horse is perpendicular to the camera so you get a nice side-on shot, and square him/her up. If you want to add to this, take shots showing the legs from the front and back. Tie the tail up for the back legs.
good example of the bad: http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org/classifieds/ad281005 - great... all I know from this picture is that the horse is bay, and might try to eat your cat.

3) Pictures of your horse preforming its discipline are great, but do it right. If it's a jumper, do a nice shot - not one where the jumper is chipping a fence. If it's a dressage horse, make sure it's in a decent frame. If it's doing western pleasure, try not to have its nose stuck straight up in the air. And for God's sake, throw in a conformation shot as well!
good example of the bad: http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org/classifieds/ad279716 You have not shown me anything impressive about this horse other than it tries to evade the bit.

4) Dress nicely! If you're going to appear in the picture (if you must..!) do something about the hay in your hair and manure on your shirt. There's nothing that ruins a picture more than a person handling the horse wearing something that should appear on TLC's What Not To Wear.
good example of the bad: http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org/classifieds/ad279647 This could be a nice shot... if Smokey McHigh wasn't in the picture.

5) Put a nice halter or bridle on... I suggest something not manure-encrusted.
good example of the bad: http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org/classifieds/ad220128 Mmmmm... black and crusty for your enjoyment!

6) Be Safe! I don't care if you could stick dynomite up the horse's bum and it wouldn't flinch... but all you're doing by doing stuff like (below) is proving that you are eligable for a Darwin Award. Another note: don't show your kids on your horse or around your horse unless he/she is properly outfitted - that means proper shoes and a HELMET at minimum. Don't even get me started on foals/greenies/studs with kids.
good example of the bad: http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org/classifieds/ad280242 ... and once the horse takes off, throwing Mr Brainless off, who's going to stop her and the homemade cart?
another example: http://www.equinehits.com/horses-for-sale/horse-190846 prime example of stupid parents. It took me going through a lot of ads to find a properly outfitted kid!! http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org/classifieds/ad275923
this one takes the cake: http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org/classifieds/ad279432 S-T-U-P-I-D!

7) Make sure you have adequate lighting...
good example of the bad: http://www.equinehits.com/horses-for-sale/horse-162051

8) Make sure your spelling is good and you're using correct grammar. Don't sound like an illiterate hick. Bred = pregnant mare... she's been bred, not bread... that's something you eat. It's dam, not dame, and please learn how to spell your breed's name!



Alright I'm done ranting... I'm going to bed.