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.

I think the age may be putting people off, allgone bellyup, I know I would have to think very carefully whether to buy an 18 year old, having watched many friends deal with ageing horses. Though it depends on what type your mare is, natives often lasting longer than, say, TBs. Having said that, my friend's TB was in active work until she was 25 (!) whilst another friend's native has been badly arthritic since age 12!

My friend has now decided to wait for a couple of months when the market may have picked up a bit and there will be more buyers looking for horses. In the meantime we are (re)schooling her horse so that he stands a better chance of finding a lovely home when the time comes to sell. He was doing some nice halt to canter transitions yesterday, he really is such a lovely boy.

There are also people that are happy to buy older horses, who know that the reduced price is due to their age and the amount of "useful" years the horse may have left.

I bought my DD's pony 2 years ago at the age of 15, she was very cheap (was chucked out doing nothing) but has been there and done it all. She was a great find, has taken DD1 froma nervous lead rein rider to a free riding, confident rider who does all sorts on her. She isn't without problems (prone to laminitus and will escape from field any time the battery is low/no on the fence) but her pro's far out weigh the cons. DD2 is now learing to ride on her (she's 3 and the pony lets her bring her in/faff about with her for hours, never putting a foot wrong). Worth her weight in gold.

We are now looking for another like her but bigger and age will not put us off.