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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

How do you decide what offer to make on a pony/horse?

77 replies

TheWindowDonkey · 29/01/2015 23:15

Hi all,

We are on the verge of putting an offer in on a pony known to us. My child has ridden it often, we know it to be of lovely temprament, caught easily, stands beautiflly when being tacked/groomed etc but with enough pep to keep dc interetsed. We cant afford trailer so will just be schooling/Pony club use.
Pony is welsh section c , over 13 years and has done some Hunting/shows, but nothing for the last couple of years. It is 12hh or therabouts and dd is 10 (just) so should last her for at least a couple of years?
I have no idea of pony values, this would be our first owned and not loaned pony, so any advice would be gratefully recieved. We have been given a figure by owners, but thought i would ask here first what someone would pay for a pony as described above.

Kept dc and dpony sex out of it as i'm worried enough that my post is identifiable. :)

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Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 29/01/2015 23:16

Ugh, last line means the sex of both pony and dc, obviously there will be no pony sex. Blush

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balancingfigure · 30/01/2015 13:52

I was always told 'a horse is worth what someone will pay for it'! The price people would pay for the pony you are looking at would range massively depending on area and other circumstances.

I would consider if you can actually afford the asking price and then it depends a bit on the seller. If you have told the seller the pony is perfect you may have limited your negotiation space! On the other hand the seller may take pity on you!

Then offer less than the asking price - you can ask for a bigger deduction the higher the starting point. So DD's pony was on for £650, we offered £500 and then went up to £550. If the asking price was £2,000 you could maybe offer £1,500 or £1,600 to start with. Remember (as I was always told by Dad) 'you can always go up but you can't go down'!

There are so many factors in whether negotiation will work for you but 99% of the time it won't hurt to try. The only time you might not want to do it (and this is rarer with horses than say houses) is if there was other keen potential buyer and they may get there before you.

Good luck!

Bonkey · 30/01/2015 13:56

How long is a piece of string?

Its only worth in £'s what it is to you.
Although saying that I would spend thousands (if I had it) on a pony that I knew would keep my ds safe and happy! A good childs pony is worth its weight in gold BUT its a buyers market out there at the moment - people are giving some lovely ponies away because they just can't keep them.
I suspect once the spring starts then prices will go up though...its all very dependant on where you are too

The only thing that did stand out to me was that its only 12hh... most of my friends with 10yo's have 12.2 plus or are just growing out of this size and looking for something in the 13hh+ range - although again thats all child/pony dependant.

I personally wouldn't be getting my 10yo a 12hh - in fact if I was looking for my 8yo I would be going for 12.2/13hh but again thats just me.

Have I babbled enough without being all that helpful? Sorry!

ExitPursuedByABear · 30/01/2015 14:01

Have a look on preloaded and horse mart for similar ponies to compare.

Offer less.

ExitPursuedByABear · 30/01/2015 14:01

Preloved. Sigh.

Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 30/01/2015 14:16

Thank you, some useful advice there. I've spoken to dc's instructor about the pony and she's seen dc on it and said its fine for her for another couple of years. Its being sold as a second pony but will be dc's first but as we've been lucky enough to ride it often we know they'll make a great team. Dc actually just short of 10, and on the smaller side, so hoping the advice we have been given by the instructor is good.

For us knowledge of the pony is selling it to us, the absence of all the hassle and heartbreak of finding a horse we trust would (at this stage at least) erase worries about it being too small. We also know a young adult has been riding the pony too, so it shoud be ok?.

They are asking 2k, we've a budget for horse and vetting/saddle costs and i've been honest and said we can go to £1700. Now its just fingers crossed. :)

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Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 30/01/2015 14:18

Is it crazy that i'm sitting here shaking with nerves about perhaps missing out on a pony i'll never get to ride! :) Kids, they tug your heartstrings! I always wanted a pony and could never have had one, i'd so love to make dc's long held dream a reality!!

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ExitPursuedByABear · 30/01/2015 14:21

That sounds like a lit of money. They will snatch your hand off.

ExitPursuedByABear · 30/01/2015 14:21

Good luck!

Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 30/01/2015 14:28

Oh help, is it too much? They bought her for 3k 18months ish ago but their daughter lost interest (i thinkshe may have come off and lost her nerve)

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Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 30/01/2015 14:30

When i had a look on horse quest and horse radar similar ponies seemed to be around that price? Damn, hope we havent gone in too high.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 30/01/2015 14:34

As others said, it is worth what you will pay.

Pixel · 30/01/2015 16:23

Oh well, at least you've tried to haggle. I just paid the asking price Blush.

Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 30/01/2015 16:52

Thank christ for that Pixel, i've been sitting here feeling like a mug! :) though we already love the pony, who is a genuine sweetheart.

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Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 30/01/2015 16:54

Just seen the pic of your lovely boy(?) in the snow, no wonder you paid full asking, he's gorgeous! I would be useless as a hard trader, i fall in love with animals too easily!

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Bonkey · 30/01/2015 18:15

I also paid the asking price for mine...but I loved him by that point and would have given that and more to get my mitts on him had it then .

Good luck!

Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 30/01/2015 18:48

Its hard when your heart gets involved (may be living my childhood again through dd!)

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Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 30/01/2015 18:49

And thank you Bonkey, i will be back repeatedly to this board asking for wise advice from you lovely lot if we get her. (And if we dint as we'll look for another pony!)

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Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 30/01/2015 18:50

Ahem, dont, not dint, may be drinking wine...

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Pixel · 31/01/2015 00:13

Thank you Smile. He's handsome that's for sure but he's also a bit of a funny one. He can be a sweetheart but he can also be an absolute monster!

I have to confess it didn't even occur to me to offer a lower price. My last pony I'd got over 20 years before and he came free with a saddle Grin. I'm not really used to horse trading!

lapetitesiren · 31/01/2015 00:32

I don't know anything about current values. When I bought mine I considered it money spent and gone. He was worth it to me and I think if you don't expect to get anything on resale you'll be happier.some people spend enormous amounts on holidays and just enjoy the moment. If you overthink the cost you will take the pleasure away. Dont worry if you overpaid- you are able to afford it or you wouldn't have offered. There are cheap/ free horses around but unless you happen to know one well you have to take a huge risk when you take one on. Hope your offer is accepted and you have lots of happy times together.

Original poster
TheWindowDonkey · 31/01/2015 08:31

Grin we have a pony! Gave in and told Dd (were going to wait til after vetting) who has a smile a mile wide! Grin

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ExitPursuedByABear · 31/01/2015 10:55

Hurrah. Hope you get years of pleasure.

Bonkey · 31/01/2015 11:08

Yay!

So pleased for you!

Enjoy!

Pixel · 31/01/2015 17:28

Lovely, let's see some pics soon Smile.