What's he worth?

[WombatStewForTea]

I've been part loaning a fab horse for nearly two years now. His owner has recently decided to sell him and I'm interested in buying him because I'd be heartbroken to see him go. From an emotional point of view he's priceless, but everyone has said that she is asking too much for him. As much as I love him I just can't justify spending what I know he isn't worth. So in your opinions, what would be a fair price to offer (we're in the North West)? This is obviously more honest than an advert for him would be.

16.1 12 year old Warmblood gelding.
Safe as houses to hack in traffic but can be strong and silly in open places sometimes rearing but will settle.
Beginning to work nicely in the school (never going to be spectacular) but will come down to the level of his rider i.e. will plod around with a novice but on the flip side can be very stubborn and when ridden by an able rider can fight and buck and rear when asked to work properly (apparently in his last home he would do this and the rider would get off and he'd win which is why he did it - been vet/back/teeth checked so nothing medically wrong there).
Total gent on the ground to handle and shoe, generally fine to load and clip.

I think my bugbear lies in that she is expecting to get back what she paid for him (her first horse) without understanding that he's got three years older and not done anything to improve his value - never been out to do anything other than a couple of farm rides.
Also she's basing her price on him being 'super safe' but he isn't super safe! He's bombproof to hack but as I've said above will buck/free and would take the mick out of a novice.

Wifey 3k is reasonable for a rearer because it's a WB? Please come this way I have a field of crappy WBs I'd be willing to sell you for even more money! I have a retired one because he kept falling over, let's say 5k for this one, one with EPMS but bred in the purple for dressage (Don Frederico x Warkant) so let's say 10k for this one.

Wifeyfish the low estimates were because the OP said he reared. That's more than warmblood quirkiness and I know dealers who will solve many problems but won't touch rearers. I don't think people were necessarily saying he wouldn't be sold for that - just that they personally wouldn't buy him. And I wouldn't. He's 12 and he's done very little over the last 3 years.

It's a shame. But sometimes thinks work out in unexpected ways, so fingers crossed.

I've got an Irish Draught x TB that I bought as a 12 year old RC horse. I paid a grand including full wardrobe. He doesn't rear and if you gave me his weight in gold you still couldn't have him.

Unless I completely dreamt the first page of comments, the OP has already acknowledged that the horse is not a true rearer so yes, I stand by my response that it sounds like typical WB quirkiness rather than something more dangerous. There's a world of difference between something opinionated and excitable and a true rearer and it's unfair to label the former as the latter!

The horse is light on its front feet in the school which would scare many riders and may have done a proper rear on a hack. The owner won't get on it and it's 12yo. Why would its WB breeding be that impressive? There are WBs all over the place. The good ones are bred to be discipline specific competition horses, this one is a not-so-happy hacker so why would anyone insist on a WB for this job? If the owner has disclosed all this would anyone have paid the asking price just because he is a WB?

This horse has been misrepresented. I hope the new owner is not injured riding it.

Yes. The OP initially said he reared. She was given low estimates. Then she said it was more that he was a bit light in front. Personally I didn't then guess another price.

Hopefully, whatever happens, the horse will get a good home. It's a shame if the OP misses out. And who knows. Maybe he won't pass the vetting. Maybe he will but another really lovely horse who needs a home will come along for the OP.

I've not for one second said that it's impressive because it's a WB, I've just said I've never known of a WB going for £500. From what the OP said earlier I understood that the buyer had been told of the horse's antics on the sponsored ride and was still happy to proceed with the sale/have the horse vetted, so yes whilst the advert may have been misleading it sounds like the buyer is going in with their eyes open.

As for the owner not riding, it does sound like they may have been overhorsed, or perhaps life or health has interfered. I wouldn't assume that the horse was dangerous just because the owner wasn't riding it, particularly as the sharer was happy enough riding said horse to consider buying it.

*I bought a horse who reared with me the first time I rode him after getting him home. We hadn't even left the yard when he literally threw himself up vertically and backwards - he landed on his back. I was thrown partially to one side but the horse injured my inner thigh when trying to right himself. As well as the injury to my leg I broke my wrist and upper arm.

The horse went back to the dealer next day.

I would strongly advise you not to buy the horse if it rears.*

My 14.2 Irish cob did this, and bolted and fly bucked! I didn't know, this behaviour came out 10 months later due to pain AND attitude. I started to dig around her background and learned this was established behaviour down to previous abuse and owners passing the buck after buying off unscrupulous dealers because she was too much for them. metal plates in arms, injuries to both her and owners etc

I absolutely adore her, had her 10 years and worked through all these issues. It took a long time and a lot of money. She's retired now and my best friend. Her personality is huge!

However, I would never, ever sell her (I've never wanted to) because of this. Bloody irresponsible both to the buyer and the horse.

This horse may do bunny rears now but in the hands of an inexperienced rider, the only way is up....

By the way she was 15 when I bought her.

My boy is in that "no mans land" a pp described...but does have a small competition record. He's raced (badly) and some BE 90 and 100. He was weak and lacking topline when I got him with two suspected sarcoids. He also had a sore back. He's priceless to me emotionally and we're working through the physical but he won't ever set the world on fire. I paid £2,700 for him.

He doesn't bolt, rear or buck and has looked after me pretty well as a novice despite some ups and downs so I'm at peace with that amount. But on paper it's more than someone more experienced would have paid for him (well they wouldn't have bought him but I wouldn't be without him for the world...)

2k max I think OP....

Well the buyer has pulled out without even getting to the vetting. Owner has text to ask if I'll continue loaning. Erm no chance!!!

Cheeky!

Good for you OP! Let the owner suffer a bit, she's getting a swift introduction to the world of selling horses...the seller can lie but the buyer can timewaste. See if she's not begging you to have him after a couple of weeks of no one riding him and no one showing him to potential buyers.

Yes, leave her to it. She will have to realise what horse ownership is like without reliable sharers. Hopefully she'll come round and sell him to you. If not, you've at least started the process of distancing yourself a bit.

I thought I was attached to DHorse1 when I had him on loan. Once I bought him it all went up a gear. Knowing he couldn't just be sold so I could really attach myself to him changed everything.