Knowing How To Negotiate

Many times in the world of equine rescue an advertisement or a horse at auction will catch our eye. Often horses who have been purchased by horse dealers/traders and who are on their way down a path which will inevitably lead toward the slaughterhouse will almost speak to us, begging us to intervene. This is when negotiation skills come in handy -- to secure the safety of horses in need of rescue. Having the tools with which to help you understand the art of negotiation is key to being able to save as many horses as humanly possible from a terrible and/or violent end. This is the reason for horse rescue, after all.

Horses Advertised By Private Owners

If you come across an ad for a horse which portrays the animal as in danger of being sent to auction at a very low price, shuffled off to a dealer or worse yet, shipped to slaughter, the first step is to call the owner and try offering donation as an option. Some owners will be glad to find someone willing to give their horse a home, others will need more persuasion. Such owners are frequently desperate themselves, in a financial bind or otherwise unable to care for their horse(s). Offering a modest sum if the owner does not agree to donate can generally guarantee the horse will come home with you, particularly if you point out the expenses which will be incurred in transporting the horse and consigning to auction, expenses that will be avoided if you take possession of the horse. At times your experience in dealing with private party owners will be in relation to a horse who either has been subject to abuse and/or neglect or such is suspected. This we cover on our Neglect And Abuse page. Nine times out of ten you will be successful in bringing such a horse home, as long as you remain diplomatic and non-accusatory. The single most important point to remember is that you do not want to alienate the individual if at some point in the future he/she needs to place a horse again. In such instances, if you remain on good terms you will have an amicable relationship which will allow you to do more good for more horses in the long run. Something to remember, however, is how vital it remains to investigate, prosecute and punish abuse/neglect offenders. How you approach an abused and/or neglected horse case depends on your success in acquiring the horse and removing it from a bad situation. Using the assistance of law enforcement is vital in securing a safe future for an abused or neglected equine. Please refer to our Neglect And Abuse page for more information.

Horses Offered At Auction

As explained on our Auctions page, if you see a horse you feel is truly in need of rescue, sometimes you can negotiate with a consignor prior to the horse selling at auction. An important point you can make to the seller is that your offer more than likely will be for more than the horse will bring in the ring (provided, of course, your offer is reasonable for the horse in it's current condition). When approaching a seller, be sure not to act in an accusatory or offensive manner by placing blame for the horse's condition on the seller verbally. This will not only disintegrate any chances you might have to save this horse before it is taken into the auction ring, but may very well spread your reputation among the dealers/traders who will avoid you and refuse to do business with you in the future. Your reputation is golden, don't do anything to damage it if you hope to continue in your efforts to save horses.

Horses Acquired By Horsetraders/Dealers Or At Feedlot Locations

This is the area in which perhaps the most diplomacy is required. Of course, as most dealers realize moving horses as quickly as possible is in their best interest financially, you generally can negotiate prices on most any horse they have for sale. If you have ever been to a dealer yard, you will recall seeing a variety of horses in differing conditions. The horses who are injured, sick or somehow debilitated are your best rescue candidates, as the dealers cannot ask premium prices for them and they usually are "disposed of" via the slaughterhouse or another auction as quickly as possible so as not to incur too much expense in feed and care. Listen to what the dealer tells you about each horse - you might not want to hear it, but they generally are very knowledgeable about horses and you can often learn from them. Naturally, one can never have enough knowledge! You should be cordial but developing a close relationship is not advised. The rumor mill already works overtime in regard to rescuers who work too closely with dealers and you would be well suited to remain strictly business and keep your focus on rescuing horses truly in need, NOT selling horses for the dealers on their terms.

 

Return To Main Page

© Equine Rescue Resource Network 2001 - All Rights Reserved