Guide

Offering your horse as a horse share: how to write a good ad

3 min read

A good ad attracts the right candidates and filters out the wrong ones. This guide shows what must appear in a horse share ad in Switzerland, where to publish and how to avoid typical traps.

What must appear in an ad

A complete ad covers five blocks:

  • The horse: Name, age, breed, height (in cm), training level, character in 2–3 sentences, particularities (medical, behavioral).
  • The stable: Location (municipality or region), type (full boarding, open stable), indoor arena availability, accessibility.
  • Expected services: Days per week, included care, stable work (yes/no/which), minimum experience required.
  • The price: Approximate monthly contribution or range. Avoid hiding the price.
  • The photos: 3 to 5 recent, authentic photos.

reitbeteiligungen.ch recommends this five-block structure as the standard.

Photo tips

Good photos attract serious candidates:

  • Horse portrait: Head on, ears forward, open expression.
  • Full profile: Lets candidates assess size and conformation.
  • Ridden: Shows training level and movement.
  • Environment scene: Pasture, arena, ride out.
  • Recent photos: No two-year-old images.
  • Natural light: No filter. Embellishment creates expectations that collapse at the first visit.

Where to publish in Switzerland

Effective Swiss channels:

  • reitbeteiligungen.ch : structured ads, Swiss audience.
  • HorseDeal : broader, with price calculator.
  • HorseDeal24 : alternative.
  • Regional Facebook groups : very active in some areas.
  • Stable bulletin boards : still effective for local contacts.
  • Word of mouth : via instructor, club, known riders.

Publishing on two to three channels usually suffices.

Filtering candidates

A good ad attracts 10 to 30 contacts in Switzerland. To filter:

  • Specific questions in the first reply. Riding experience, years of practice, motivation, travel distance.
  • Phone call before the visit. A 15 to 20-minute call eliminates 70 % of unsuitable candidates.
  • Stable visit only if the call was positive.
  • Trial ride last. Not the first appointment if assessment is unclear.

Data protection

The revised Swiss Data Protection Act (revDPA, September 2023) requires publishing only necessary data.

  • No full name and home address in the public ad. First name and contact method suffice.
  • No identifiable photo of the owner without need.
  • No precise stable location before the first filter. Region or municipality is enough.

Reference: Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Checklist for a serious ad

  • [ ] Horse description (5 to 8 sentences)
  • [ ] Medical or behavioral particularities
  • [ ] Location (region or municipality)
  • [ ] Stable type and facilities
  • [ ] Desired days and frequency
  • [ ] Included care and tasks
  • [ ] Required riding level
  • [ ] Monthly contribution or range
  • [ ] 3 to 5 recent photos
  • [ ] Contact method (without full address)

Frequently asked questions

What must be in a horse share ad? Horse, stable, expected services, monthly contribution, required experience, recent photos.

Where to publish in Switzerland? reitbeteiligungen.ch, HorseDeal, Facebook groups and stable boards.

What photos to include? 3 to 5 recent photos: portrait, full profile, ridden, environment scene.

What does Swiss data protection law say? revDPA requires publishing only necessary data. First name and contact method suffice.

Sources

Manage applications in HorseCompanion

In HorseCompanion, contacts, visits and trial rides are noted per horse. Comparing candidates without a separate spreadsheet. Start for free

Updated: June 2026