Loan pony valuation

[snowpo]

I have a bit of a disagreement going on with my pony's loaner so just wondering what other people would value him at. She took him on loan a year ago and the plan was that she would buy him for what he was worth at the start of the loan.
14.2 8yr Connemara gelding, he had come back from laminitis & was hacking & limited school work. Previously well schooled & decent jumper but hadn't worked properly for over a year, just hacked. Can be very strong but not dangerous just needs competent rider (not for children). Lovely pony to have around. Can be a shit to catch (hence laminitis as couldn't catch for weeks in big field).
Loaner had agreed a price 6 months ago & now after advice thinks he's not worth agreed price due to the laminitis (which has not returned as she is able to manage.)
Just wondering if I am completely off the mark or she is!

This current market is mad but a pony that can’t be ridden by children, can be a shit on the ground and had laminitis I personally wouldn’t pay over £2.5-3k.
But equally I’ve only ever owned TBs and they are cheap as chips!

Thanks, just to clarify once you've caught him he's a darling, just sometimes decides to go a bit feral!!
And that's above the price I suggested & originally agreed

So essentially a green child's pony that cannot be ridden by a child, previous laminitis and bad to catch...not more than £1k I'm afraid.

Not green, just hadn't been properly ridden for a while. Suit teenager or lightweight adult. Yes that was along the lines of my price, she's saying not much more than meat money.

What will you do with the pony if the loan comes to an end? Livery costs for a few months would eat up any cash you’d been hoping for from the sale. If you’re otherwise happy that the loaner can give your pony a good home, I’d think twice before turning her offer down

Yes you're right, tbh honest she got my back up by going down by £800 on a price she agreed in Feb and saying I should be paying for 'extras' including clipping(?!) and front shoes (when I told her he'd likely need them at start of loan). Tis my fault for not sorting out a loan agreement.
If I took him back now he is worth more because of the work she's done with him but I'm not out to make money on that or take him away from her.
However I realise I may be cutting off my nose to spite my face here .
Husband has said the same - let it go & move on!!

Agree on the price for the pony (then charge for the tack!)

FWIW, I'm the light adult in the market for something pony sized. The catching and strong (what's he ridden in?) would put me off more than the laminitis as daily issues, but I'd still go to £2k if he was otherwise right.

Equally if she’s looking for a horse for £1k you can’t even pick up straight off the track ex racers for that at the moment... she’ll be struggling to find anything.. I’d stand your ground on the agreed price and see what she says

Has she seen the horse market at the moment??? I've just bought horse number two. It took me some months of very intensive searching and I can tell you now that horses with all sorts of quite serious issues are going for very decent sums. Connie's in particular are easily selling for north of mid four figures where I am. Clearly your pony has some problems, but presumably she is already aware of these. Whilst you don't want to make money out of her, it might be worth just having a look at some of the selling sites (Horsemart, Horsequest, Horse and Hound etc) as well as asking a few local dealers what their estimation would be. At least you would then know what the market rate is.

I did have a quick spin through horsemart. He's a nice smart athletic type too, bred in Ireland. To be fair to her I said I would stick to his value a year ago.
So she agreed to price in Feb of £1200 as his value when she took him on, came back last week & said her friends & experts are telling her he was only worth £300 at start of loan.
They're also telling her he's only worth £850 now even though he's jumping 1m courses. I don't dispute she's added £500 to his value just think she's undervaluing him both a year ago and now.
Anyway she's now agreed to pay £850 so at least we've got a compromise. I'm sure as I can be she won't sell him on as her family never sell their ponies!
(Only posting on here as fairly sure she won't be on this site! Otherwise I wouldn't put all the details, although I've said all the same to her anyway).

Thanks for all your different views, has really helped and I think justified my belief he was worth more than £300

I've seen unbroken 14.2 five-year olds for sale for £3.5k. Pony foals are going for £1k at weaning. An eight year old that can work nicely, even with some quirks and the lami, could fetch more than £1k. That said, if your loaner looks after him well and would give him a good home, I'd think that was valuable.

She taking the mick! I would take pony back and sell on. The market is good at the moment.

I would say £1200-1600 when he went probably £2.5 the way things are now. Is she haggling because she can't afford him? If so what happens when she gets a vets bill?

£300?!
Good luck to her.

£300?? Is she 'aving a laaaffff??? honestly I think she's got a proper bargain even at £850, I really hope you didn't throw in any tack or rugs for that? Any horse that can be ridden at all, even barely broken youngsters or crocked elderies or nutty ex racers are going for well well into 4 figures now, so even with his issues I'd have priced him at £1k + pre lockdown or probably more like £3k + now she's got him going and with the lockdown market lunacy. She should 100% count herself lucky you didn't take advantage of her work and the massive increase in prices to bump the asking price up, never mind her asking for a discount, you're a better person than I am for sure. At least as PPs have said he's gone to a good home...

to answer a few questions she is a 6th former & has stables at home. Her parents have said she has to pay for him which I guess isn't a bad life lesson but she lost her part-time job riding out racehorses when Covid appeared so yes she is struggling for money. I have pointed out the vet fee cost if he injures himself and her parents would step in if necessary.

He went with an old saddle/bridle & few rugs but she's had her own saddle adjusted to him so mine came back.

I'm probably too soft but he's well looked after & it would be a pain in the arse for me to sell him as I'm too big to ride him. At least I know you all think I was along the right lines with price which makes me feel a lot better .
Thanks all!