Tack n' Talk
Online Equestrian ResourceArchive for February, 2010
Tips on how to make a successful sales video for your horse!
By Larissa Cox
Regardless of why you are selling your horse, you want to make every effort that they go to a suitable home for a fair price. A way to help ensure this is to cast your horse in the best possible light to prospective buyers through a good video presentation. A good sales video not only shows off your horse in a positive manner, but also gives the impression to any prospective buyer that you will be professional in your dealings with them. The video is the first impression of you and your horse, so make it one that people will think of highly.
Who is your target audience?
Compose your video to appeal to those who you might see being interested in your horse. If you would like to sell your horse as a jumper, filming your horse over a course of jumps would be appropriate, rather than showing it hacking through a large field. If however, you would like to sell your horse as a quiet mount for an amateur rider, showing off its easy canter in your field in the back might highlight its good nature well. In addition, make sure the tack is appropriate. If you are trying to sell your horse for English riding, do not use a Western saddle in the video. Additionally, in sales videos, minimal tack and equipment is preferential, so buyers can see the most of the horse, rather than wondering if the horse was only going round because the rider was using draw reins.
Here are some helpful hints:
- Wear neutral colors
- Wear safety equipment
- Have your hair tidy and boots polished
- Braid horse
- Neutral saddle pad and polos
- Film from all angles, standing, trotting out, and under saddle
- Give brief introduction to horse either through inserting text or a verbal intro
- Give contact details at end either through text or verbal conclusion
- Make sure the area you are filming is clean and clear of unnecessary obstacles/equipment before filming and is a safe environment
- Try to film with as little interference from other people/horses as possible
- Chatter or static in film can be distracting, so try to keep filming as quiet as possible, or overlay video with music
- Keep video under 10 minutes.
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SAMPLE VIDEO OUTLINE:
Scene one: Introduction
Stand with the horse you are advertising for sale. Make sure that they are well groomed. Your own dress should be clean and well coifed as well. Remember to dress in neutral colors with preferably no logo besides your farm logo, so as not to distract attention away from the horse. Take this opportunity to introduce yourself and your horse to potential buyers. Below might be a general introduction you may use:
Hi, my name is [name] and I am the owner and/or trainer of [horse’s full registered name]. [Barn name of horse] is [height] hands tall, and [years] old. S/he is [breed], who was sired by [sire], out of [dam]. Please enjoy the video.
If you have an editing program that allows you to insert text into a video, you may decide to put the above information in text overlaying a short video segment of your horse in a field, warming up under saddle, or over a still shot of your horse’s head.
Scene two: horse free lunging or lunging on a circle without the use of side reins
This allows the viewer to see the natural movement of the horse without the influence of a rider or any gadgets. Remember to showcase both sides of the horse.
Scene three: horse undersaddle
This is where it is important to understand who your target audience is for this sales video. If you would like to sell your horse as a jumper, it would be wise to show the horse jumping in this segment. Likewise, if you would like to sell your horse as a dressage schoolmaster, showing upper level movement in this segment may prove to be beneficial. In all cases however, it is important to show the horse on both reins in walk, trot, and canter. Additionally, it is always a good idea to show the horse walking and trotting towards and away from the camera.
Scene four: A note of thanks
This segment concludes the video and reminds the potential buyers of the horse’s details and your contact information. Below is a general note of thanks you may wish to use. Once again, you may decide to overlay text onto a short video segment of your horse in a field or under saddle.
Thank you for watching this video of [horse’s registered name]. For any inquiries of [barn name] please contact myself, [name], at [phone number including area code], or email at [full email address]. I look forward to hearing from you!
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Please note that any unnecessary noise or rider-videographer conversations are distracting to the viewer, and should be kept to an absolute minimum. It may be a good idea to overlay music on your scenes free lunging and under saddle. Additionally, excess equipment, other horses, dogs, or children in arenas or riding environment seen in the video are a distraction to the viewer. Before filming, make sure your arena is tidy, and if you can, allow for a private videotaping session. If not, try to keep video interference from other horses or people to a minimum.
I hope these tips prove to be helpful to you in your next sales video! Good luck, and happy riding! 
Hello Weekend! …It’s gone to the birds!
Hey Everyone! Hope you all had a great week! Although the groundhog forecasted 6 more weeks of Winter, it seems Spring is starting to peep out from behind the clouds.
Today, we have a special Hello Weekend, featuring the artistic ironworks of David ‘Oats’ Ogilvie. Although a departure from our usual equine content, we hope you enjoy exploring the process of making these fabulous iron bird cages with us!
HOUSE OF BIRDS: ONE OF THREE
Story by David Ogilvie
Mary Sue, my wife is a big part of the birds and the cage’s. We started with two bird’s in a store bought cage; then Mary Sue decided that we should have a few more birds … well we went from two to twelve in a hurry . The pressure was on me now to create a new cage that would accommodate our new charges, as well as look good in our house. I have been working with wrought iron for 20 years it has been my experience that to accomplish any task no matter how big or small you must be committed. Mary Sue says that I‘m driven, but it’s not that so much ,as it is that once I’ve decided on a piece I am very focused on that piece, and I want to see the finished project. Here is the first cage.
We researched the specific needs of a caged budgie, the amount and type of space required for flight, perching, feeding, climbing, and nesting. Budgies are members of the parrot family, they move about most often by climbing, therefore they required more height than width in the construction of the cage. We also purchased a nesting box from the pet store where we bought the birds. We hoped that given enough space they would pair off and nest. We didn’t have to wait too long before we were rewarded with the first of seven eggs, needless to say we now had to find friends who wanted to have budgies too! Anyway that is another story in itself, back to cage building. I knew that I wanted a Japanese temple look for the cage, so once the size was determined I started at the base and worked my way up. My mother-in-law Dorothy had a friend from Japan who kindly wrote out House of Birds in Japanese lettering for me. I was able to reconstruct the lettering out of metal and weld it to the sides of the cage for decoration. The overall height was 60in. high, 26in. deep, 40in. wide. We decided that the birds would enjoy our patio in the warmer months so we needed the wheels to manoeuvre the cage and occupants. We have since moved from that home and the birds have all found new homes as well, but the cage remains with us. It is a beautiful addition to our garden, in the summer and it works wonderfully well as a wild bird feeder in the winter months. So ends the story of bird cage #1.
…until the next time, Oats !
David ‘Oats’ Ogilvie was born in the Georgian Bay area but now resides in beautiful Sundridge, Ontario with his wife Mary Sue. Inspired by his parents who both served as boat welders in WWII, Oats’ approach to ironwork is characterized by hard work, adaptability and simplicity. Oats’ has been welding for over 20 years and has the unique ability to create functional pieces that are detailed with beauty. For more information, or to order your own OATS IRONWORKS birdcage, please contact David at oatsironworks@bell.net.
For all things Rockin’ and Riding! Interview with Peace, Love, and Horses!
Story by Larissa Cox
Peace Love and Horses are a unique online tack and apparel store. They specialize in “all things Rockin’ and Ridin’” for the young and young at heart. Read more on how this company found it’s roots and plans for the future!
How did you start the company and what inspired your name Peace, Love, and Horses?
My husband and I started this company once he decided to change careers in a terrible economy! Our daughter rides (Hunter/Jumper) and has for about 5 years so “living” at the barn made us realize that there was a huge “missing link” for the young female riders. There are tons of places you can get show apparel and western tack and apparel but we wanted to be different by offering some fun and funky things to the girls.
Jillaroo Child's Tights Aqua/Pink
Would you say horses are “a family affair” for you?
Definitely….we all chip in. My daughter helps us at horse shows and keeps us up to date as to what girls her age really want. We were so excited to bring on a partner. She has two horses of her own and rides Western. This added a new dynamic and gave us a whole perspective of the true “horsey” chick!
The product lines that you stock seem to be very fun, youthful, and quite unique. How do you go about finding items ‘for the love of all things Rockin’ and Ridin’?
We scour all the trade magazines and the internet and ask our target market all kinds of questions! What do they want? What colors do you want this and that in, etc. We really try and listen to our customers and bring them exactly what they want…and surprise them sometimes!
Charm - Zebra skin (faux) cross with floating guitar
Where do you see trends in equestrian fashion for both competition and schooling wear heading?
We definitely see equestrian fashion really trying to become more mainstream in its offering. Young riders LOVE their sport and want to show off….but they do not want to compromise fashion sense. We really found this when we discovered the Jillaroo Australia clothing line!
Can horses be stylish as well as their riders?
Absolutely! We try and offer matching polo wraps, halters, saddle pads etc. to make sure the horse looks as good as the rider! We feel they should compliment each other with what they are wearing as well as working together as one.
Best Horse Ever Halter
Can you give us any details on the future of Peace, Love, and Horses?
We would love to attend some major equestrian events this year (re Kentucky!). We would also like to open our own store front where people could come and browse anytime. You might even see our very own line of clothing this year but that’s a secret!
For more information on Peace Love and Horses, and to browse their online store, go to:
