How much is he worth?

[Mayandbump23]

My friend has sadly decided to part with her horse due to lack of time (she has an 18 month old DC and another one on the way). As she finds it too emotional to organise the selling etc she has asked for my help. However, as we have both been out of the buying and selling game for years now we have no idea how much to ask for her horse. Brief description of horse:

8 year old traditional 'gypsy' gelding, 15hh, black so can look quite flashy with full mane, feather etc but wouldn't qualify for coloured classes
True to type, ie. calm, bombproof, 100% in traffic, good doer, never sick, weight carrier, no vices etc but also can occasionally be strong and stubborn so not a beginner's ride or a child's horse
Up to date with all jabs, teeth, feet etc
Comes with quality made to measure tack, all rugs etc
Has basic schooling but really his strength is hacking, fun rides etc as he is simply not built for dressage or showjumping

How much should we ask for him? Right home is hugely more important than price but equally she does not want him to go to someone who's just out to make a quick buck and sell him on. We are in Cheshire.

Yes, we thought about £3k but there seems to be huge variation (have looked on H&H, Horsemart etc) from £1k to £5k for these types of horses. Don't want to price too high so we don't discourage too many buyers but also not too low so we don't get dealers etc.

I've just paid £2,500 for a 14.2 Fell mare, with tack, who's probably a comparable horse, happy hacker, can jump, nicely schooled and bombproof but with no CV. I would have paid a bit more (about £2,750 seems to be what the reputable dealers are selling this type for). I'd start at just under £3k and be prepared to negotiate a bit if the buyer seems the right person for the horse

Thanks, it's such a hard thing, selling him, and my friend is absolutely heartbroken. Where should we advertise him in order to get the best 'class' of buyers (as in, lovely experienced horse people rather than dodgy dealers)?

have you considered approaching any local large RDA centres? I know you said not a beginners ride but if the temperament is fab, experienced staff can do a great job with extra schooling etc and they would be on lead rein for very disabled riders.. That sounds like the sort our centre would go for but wrong area of the country. She would then have peace of mind that her horse was doing a great job for people and she would probably be able to go and visit occassionally.

We have always bought and sold through horsequest.com which seems to set the standard in good horses/ponies as reasonable prices.

The last two ponies we've sold went to Switzerland and Guernsey so amazing who reads it.

Will also give you a good idea on valuation. Remember what they ask and what they get may be two very different things but hopefully market will pick up as we get nearer to the time when horses can live out.

Gypsy vanners are very 'in' at the moment, you could probably ask more than £3,000, but that sounds like a reasonable price.

£3000 is a good starting point but you may get knocked down a bit if he is only a happy hacker. Our girl is a gypsy vanner ride and drive and came from a reputable breeder. She is 8 and stands me at £3000 (but will never be sold :D) at the moment because she drives.

The market has gone a bit flat for Gypsy vanners at the moment. Not the right time of year and few buyers around. Things usually start to pick up once the nicer weather sets in.
You could always put him up for loan with the option to buy...that said, make sure he would go to someone who has experience as an inexperienced rider could cause a lot of damage (instill bad habits).

My mare is up for sale for £750 including all tack and 3 good rugs.
She is a happy hacker too but used to do dressage.
Still not sold her, so good luck!

£750?! Our saddle cost more than that...

My saddle i bought 2nd hand for £240 but still nobody wants to buy her!

£3k for a happy hacker!!!

Will be very surprised you sell at that price, our cob hacks, does games, drives, jumps & dressage.. All riding club stuff and we wouldn't get anywhere near that.

Market is tough at the moment, price of feed has rocketed.

Would agree with that Eve.
Everything has gone sky high.

Yep i would say £3k for a happy hacker is a bit extravagant, going by my recent experience! Trying halving it? Your friend could always try selling tack separately to try to make more money that way.

My friend doesn't want to loan him as she wants a 'clean break' so that she doesn't have to worry about him (this is not to say that she would have to with you, korma, but hope you know what I mean). I don't want to enter into a debate as to what constitutes a 'happy hacker' either but I would say my friend's horse is much more than that (this is not to slate any happy hackers, I used to have one myself so know that they are often 'worth' so much more than their price). He could easily show (just not in a coloured class as he is black, you would have to 'show cob' him), could do a decent dressage test (in 'basic schooling' I include lateral work) and has a very good jump on him (so could hunt, especially with his temperament, but is obviously not bred for showjumping). The only thing he hasn't got is the CV as my friend has been too busy to take him to places but I would definitely say that he has 'potential' (and yes, I know how often that word gets misused in horse sales). This we will advertise him for £3000, and then possibly negotiate if the right people come to see him.

Mayandbump23 - Id put him on for £3000, but if right home comes around then go down, because to be honest you dont want to undersell a horse however right now is a bad time to see unfortunately i have 5 horses my self at the moment and cant take on any more what with 6 month old baby. But if you have a picture I can put out some feelers to people I know UK wide

There is nothing wrong with our mare, but i have tried to sell her for more with not much interest!
She is 18 now, not getting any younger and doesnt really jump, so that puts people off.
I sold her orginal cheaper saddle so now she comes with her other lovely saddle so will be looking for around £800 now.
IF nobody wants her i am secretly pleased really as it means i get to keep her!!!