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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

What would you pay, please be brutally honest

36 replies

lastqueenofscotland · 15/04/2020 19:30

I have a few people I ride for, either strapped for time or struggling with their horses as I’m stupid enough to get on anything.
I’ve completely fallen in love with one of my “clients” horses and she wants rid as she’s overhorsed, she was going to look at doing a straight swap with the dealer but I’d sort of like to offer for him but don’t want to offend.

So warts and all details below

Pros: beautiful coloured horse, nice enough to show. 16.2 and moves well.
6 years old so lots of time to iron out the quirks...
Completely bombproof, does not spook at anything, rode him on bonfire night and didn’t bat an eyelid, our hacking is awful and you can ride him through the worst bits and he’s not bothered by kids on dirt bikes/out of control dogs/ heavy heavy traffic
Easy to do on the ground generally. Good to clip, comes when called to catch, puts himself on the lorry.
Doesn’t buck/rear/bolt ever

Cons
He is forward and very strong and therefore not remotely suitable for a novice. He doesn’t run away with you but does take a hold. I genuinely think he’s rideable in a snaffle. Typically in the more you pull the stronger he gets. But I used to ride racehorses so I’m not that bothered.

He will take the absolute piss out of his rider if he thinks he can get away with it. Can be really nappy/ completely ignore them. He won’t keep trying once he things he won’t get away with it though, if you see what I mean.
He’s done next to nothing over poles (which I don’t think is a bad thing until the breaks are a bit more reliable)
His one quirk on the ground is he doesn’t always like going into his stable but I think personally that’s because his is a bit small.

Sorry this is long... I was thinking around the £1-1.5k mark

OP posts:
Fortheloveofscience · 15/04/2020 19:37

Whereabouts in the country are you? Round me (SE) you'd be laughed at for offering such a low amount.

Popular height, colour, safe but strong, young, healthy, couple of minor bad habits and but could do with more schooling - it's exactly what a lot of people are looking for and I'd expect someone looking for a bold eventing prospect to be willing to pay serious money - maybe even up to £5k-ish. I'm sorry it's really hard when you fall in love with horses, do you think the owner would be willing to compromise on price to be certain of a good home?

Original poster
lastqueenofscotland · 15/04/2020 19:40

I’m in the north.
He’s too heavy built to be an eventing prospect. Would be a nice show con/stressage project probably. I’m sure he will leave the ground but doubt he’d event.

I’m completely in love Blush

OP posts:
Colinthedaxi · 15/04/2020 19:56

I do agree with the previous poster that your offer seems low, I was thinking about £3500 - BUT you can always offer and see what she says.

Original poster
lastqueenofscotland · 15/04/2020 19:59

I’ve only ever owned ex racehorses so obviously my pricing is skewed to the fact people tend to dislike TBs Grin
I’ll have a think about how much I’d be happy to part with

OP posts:
maneandfeathers · 15/04/2020 22:08

I would think 1.5k would be a bit low.
Coloureds are in fashion at the moment and bigger ones even more so. I also think people buying 6yos aren’t expecting the finished article usually.

I would have said 3k and I’m in the north too.

Megan2018 · 15/04/2020 22:16

Without pictures it’s very hard to say.
I was thinking £2.5-3k. Bombroof to hack is always a good selling point. Coloured usually puts the price up but he sounds green. Does he load? Clip?

I have a total knob (absolutely cracking in other respects and I LOVE her) that needs sedating for most things in life and she was still £3.5k. But that was when horse prices were high. Current climate is in your favour-if you are prepared to buy without vetting? As far as I know you can’t get a vetting right now and transportation is limited.

Horse prices will go through the floor in a recession, but buying at this time of year is never the cheapest. Better bargains going in to winter usually as overstocked people don’t want winter costs.

maxelly · 15/04/2020 22:28

I'm afraid I was thinking in the £5k region too (albeit I am SE where everything is more expensive!), he's young, sound and the size and type a lot of people want by the sounds of things. Safe, vice free and bombproof to hack are golden qualities in an amateurs horse as well. How much has he done schooling wise, I know you say he doesn't jump but would he do a nice prelim test now without too much bother? What's his breeding, ISH/WB/ID probably all add £££ to the price tag?

You probably will get a good discount as you know the owner and can offer a great home and hassle free sale (she won't get anything like his full value from a dealer as they will be looking to make a profit, plus now is not a great time to be selling for obvious reasons) but I think you might need to offer more than £1.5k!

Original poster
lastqueenofscotland · 15/04/2020 23:50

Seems I’m way off! I was trying to base it on snooping around horse quest which has novice rides with competition records and hunted for £4K.
I’m evidently way off!

He’s not do a nice prelim currently no - probably an intro nicely but he’s very green in canter and as soon as he’s unsure that’s when he takes a real hold and rushes forwards. You’d probably get round one but it would be to quite my favourite horsey blogger “a twatlap of shame”

OP posts:
Original poster
lastqueenofscotland · 15/04/2020 23:51

Oh and breeding lord only knows. She bought him unseen from Ireland the fact he is nice looking and a nice mover is pure luck!

OP posts:
Moanranger · 16/04/2020 13:00

I live in the SE but I don’t agree with the others re price. What really ups the price is pedigree & competition record. Since he has neither of those, then he is for sure sub £5k. As he is not a novice ride, that knocks more off his price. And I think he is on the big side - 15h 3” to 16h 1” is the most sought after height in the riding club horse category. And he is clearly a project. Everything you describe under “Cons” shouts green & unschooled to me.
I would offer £2k -£3k for him. She could market him herself for somewhat more, but selling a horse in the open market is a nightmare. If you’ve got the dosh, then make that offer & see if she accepts it.
Re vetting, you don’t need a 5 stage to insure a horse worth less than £5k, if you know the horse well, you could skip vetting, it’s of limited use even in the best of times.
Let us know how you get on.

Vanhi · 16/04/2020 13:23

I'd say around £3k. He's young, moves nicely and good in traffic. The cons are actually quite minor I think and something that a decent rider looking for a competition horse would expect. With papers and breeding you'd be looking at nearer £5k.

However, these are troubled times and the owner may value a good home over money so you could go in at £2.5k.

Oh and if you've been riding him a lot I wouldn't necessarily bother with a vetting either. You are taking a risk either way though so could get a 2 stage vetting.

RatherBeRiding · 16/04/2020 13:26

So he's a good looking, generally well behaved total novice youngster with no competition record at all, who needs a lot of work to get him up to show ring/competition standard, but he's already 6.

I'm in the north too and think £2k-£2.5k could buy plenty more like him.

zenasfuck · 16/04/2020 13:28

I'd expect to pay 2500 pounds for him

maxelly · 16/04/2020 15:09

Ok, unknown breeding and walls-of-death in canter would cause me to evaluate my estimate downwards! I still think going in at £1k is far too low though, do you know (roughly) what she paid for him+transport costs, an offer which covers those costs seems fair as it doesn't seem she's done much with him since bringing him over?

countrygirl99 · 17/04/2020 09:49

Has she already spoken to a dealer? If she has you will need to find out what they are prepared to do. If she hasn't, in the current conditions , she might be being over optimistic. If there is nothing on the table and she wants to move the horse on I would offer about £1800 and see how it goes. If she is paying livery and for the horse to be ridden a few weeks without costs before she can replace the horse could swing it for you. Even if a dealer is interested you can still probably give that benefit.

Saharafordessert · 17/04/2020 14:13

I’m in the Midlands and I’d expect to pay around £2500.

hen10 · 17/04/2020 18:06

I was in a similar position as your owner, bought for 3,500 sold for 2,800 a year later to someone who could actually ride before I trashed a green but perfectly ok horse. Let them know you're interested and you never know. I would not have sent mine to a dealer and would have accepted less to a great home due to massive guilt. Luckily I can now follow my expony on a local show jumping winning streak and I am so pleased for him. That's worth the financial loss for me any day. So no harm in making an offer and seeing what happens

terrigrey · 18/04/2020 15:34

I agree that a buyer that is known to the seller is worth knocking £1k off the price. She won't get more from a dealer at the moment.
I would go in at £1,800 and see what the response is. Is sounds like the owner doesn't have time to bring the horse on, so you are doing her a favour taking him off her hands.

TheOtherSideOfTheMountain · 19/04/2020 15:44

About 2.5k

Honeyroar · 19/04/2020 22:31

I’d think a fair low price is around £3k. A dealer wouldn’t pay much more, but will sell it for over £4K. You’d have no chance at £1.5k! Is the owner nice enough to care that you’d give it tgood home? Or are they going to need every penny towards their next horse?

CountryCob · 20/04/2020 09:25

I agree with countrygirl, if she says no then she says no, just let her know that is all that you could pay. It’s hard selling horses, especially at moment and with a recession coming could well get harder and she would know who she has sold to, worth a try and make sure you are letting her know that is your budget, if you do it that way I don’t see why you would cause offence, good luck!

Vanhi · 20/04/2020 09:34

You’d have no chance at £1.5k!

So much depends on the owner though. I got my old boy for 1/4 of the original asking price because I had him on loan, was looking after him well and he was proving difficult to sell due to the market at the time.

Moanranger · 20/04/2020 22:37

What is being forgotten here is that the real cost of a horse is the running costs. She will be paying for a horse she cannot ride.It is likely to be costing her, at a minimum £200-300 to keep, so the sooner she sells, the sooner she is rid of that cost

notquiteruralbliss · 21/04/2020 18:19

Many years ago, I sold my home bred to my trainer for half what I had been offered by someone else because I knew they were a good match. Its not always about money.

P0lka · 21/04/2020 18:27

I'm in the north and would expect at least £3000. Having a relationship already, and an owner who is a motivated seller might get you down to £2500. Really it depends on his conformation and type