How do you write a classified advertisement that will bring the buyers flocking to see your horse?

Simplicity is the key to writing a classified advertisement to sell a horse both online or in a magazine, but don't be tempted to leave out essential information to make the advert cheaper.

By putting more information into the advert, even if this raises its price, you are more likely to sell the horse at the first attempt. A single more expensive advert is cheaper than having to advertise the horse twice, and you are likely to get fewer replies second time around.

Apart from giving your horse's vital statistics, (listed below) the ad should draw attention to anything that makes your horse sound special. A horse's breeding can attract interest from buyers, so it may be worth mentioning a famous or successful sire.

Photographs give prospective buyers a lot of information about the horse and can cut down on time-wasters, but it is important that it shows the horse at its best. In most cases an action picture is better than just a horse standing up as it demonstrates the horse's ability.

A colour photograph will help the advert to stand out in a magazine or on the Internet, but proofs and professional photographs can only be used with the photographer's permission due to copyright laws.

Remember that most buyers have a budget and many are put off if a price is not given or thewords "substantial price required" are used. There is no point in people responding to your advert if they do not have the funds to match your asking price.

Remember to include the area of the country that you are based at the end of the advert and list a landline telephone number as well as a mobile if you can.

Once you have written the advert ask yourself if it would persuade you to go and see the horse ; if the answer is no then you need to rethink the advert.

Type your advert out, rather than writing it by hand and check it carefully for spelling mistakes. When giving an advert over the phone ask the person to read the advert back to you to check they have got the spelling correct.

Vital statistics should include:

• Height
• Breed
• Sex
• Age
• Price
• Telephone numbers
• Area in which you live

You could also consider including the following information:

• Colour and markings eg: stunningly marked skewbald
• Temperament eg: not marish/excellent temperament
• Scope/disciplines eg: competing Discovery/Foxhunter
• Level of fitness and training eg: working at Elementary level
• Competition results/winnings eg: Won £300 BSJA
• Name of trainer/rider if famous eg: competed/trained by . . .
• Breeding if by famous stallion eg: by Clover Hill out of TB mare
• Trial facilities eg: Good trail facilities/seen at livery
• Reason for sale eg: sadly outgrown
• Veterinary status eg: recent vets certificate
• Vices eg: no vices/cribs at feed times