A buyers how much

chaps89

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Not intended as advertising, I am the buyer not seller. Will not post a link to the ad as don't want to appear negative against the seller in any way shape or form (plus don't want some-one calling and having him before me ;) lol) Purely just interested in peoples opinions.
15.1hh 14yr old gelding, done BE in the past (but not very successfully) doesn't jump anymore (physical investigations done and all ok, think psychological problem) Can be a bit of a grump (pulls faces but nothing more) to be around. Not keen on big traffic (lorries & tractors but does nothing more than scuttle past if they stop for him. If coming from behind you have to pull into a gateway for them to go past)
Fine to box, clip, shoe, load/travel, hacks alone & in company, healthy (occasionally gets mud fever but that's it) Good at shows, clean in the box, schools nicely & correctly but not flashy or hot (fine by me!)
Owner seems to have been totally honest so far & viewing is arranged but price on the ad seemed realistic as it was a glowing ad for a perfect horse but he does sound a bit quirky & as such I think maybe over-priced, so would be interested in hearing others thoughts on value?
Appreciate a horse is only worth what some-one is willing to pay and all that but don't want to get ripped off, shouldn't even be looking at the moment, he just sounds a good fit & is local & seller is happy for me to view & take it from there.
 
Primarily happy hacker, some local shows & low level endurance. Own horse been semi-retired for years and properly retired since last year so wanted something to do a bit more on than I could with him or do with other peoples horses so not just slobbing about & totally low key.
 
I have sold something sounding similar:
12 yo, 16hh, showjumped in the past but not keen, generally easy horse that could be awkward hacking, but schooled nicely if a bit common looking for £3850.
I would expect smaller and a bit older horse to fetch around £2.5K.
 
Wow, some of those are real low prices, if you can find me a similar sounding horse for less than £1k please let me know cause unless it's unbroken, crocked or ancient I haven't seen any! Interesting you sold something similar-ish Martlin & your estimate sounds about what I was thinking, roughly.
Can't see traffic being a huge problem endurance, would mostly be doing it with a friend & he is apparently better in company and rides I've done previously have had very little, if any, road work at all.
He doesn't sound nasty or dangerous in any way, just a bit quirky, would most definitley ask to speak to vet/see vet records if went ahead with purchase but too soon to do that as not even seen the horse yet!
All a bit premature at the moment as not seen said horse yet never mind got to price discussions but just interested in others thoughts before going further.
 
I have sold something sounding similar:
12 yo, 16hh, showjumped in the past but not keen, generally easy horse that could be awkward hacking, but schooled nicely if a bit common looking for £3850.
I would expect smaller and a bit older horse to fetch around £2.5K.

Really?? But the only thing the buyer will be able to do with this horse is school. Hacking isnt fun if you are worried traffic and although he might be ok for endurance he isnt a proven endurance horse and unless he has a cleared vet cert there is the possibility that the not jumping = something wrong
 
At a guess I'd say around £1,500. The big traffic wouldn't be too much of an issue to me as I'd always look to pull in if a big lorry/van/tractor were behind me anyway but we have rather narrow roads where we are so it just makes sense. I'd also get a vet to vouch for the jumping being psychological rather than physical.
 
In today's market I could find you 10 horses for under £1k that are as you describe.
It's basically a hack who doesn't like big traffic, an ex eventer that doesn't jump, and past it's prime age-wise.

If you pay more than £1200 absolute tops you will be being had.

But hey, if you like it, it's your money!
 
In today's market I could find you 10 horses for under £1k that are as you describe.
It's basically a hack who doesn't like big traffic, an ex eventer that doesn't jump, and past it's prime age-wise.

If you pay more than £1200 absolute tops you will be being had.

But hey, if you like it, it's your money!

Agree, I knew of a 12 year old mare. 15.2 done all basic r/c stuff. owner basically can't afford her anymore £850.00.
 
Agree, I knew of a 12 year old mare. 15.2 done all basic r/c stuff. owner basically can't afford her anymore £850.00.

I'm so going to come to you guys when I'm next looking to buy a horse as all the ones I've found at this level have been around the £3k-£4k mark
 
All fair points that have been made & will take on board.
I'm not bothered about it being an ex-eventer as long as it would do the job I want it to do sufficiently & I wouldn't proceed if I was unsure in any way, getting another horse is a huge deal for me & having had so many health problems with my own horse (not anything that has been my fault just pure bad luck) would only proceed with something that had been seen by a vet previously no matter what the reason if I could speak to said vet.
Lots of thinking to do anyway.

ETA -
I'm so going to come to you guys when I'm next looking to buy a horse as all the ones I've found at this level have been around the £3k-£4k mark
This! I don't have that sort of budget, in fact any horse purchased before next year will be with money begged/borrowed/stolen from family members so there has to be a compromise somewhere- I am realistice, I know I'm not going to find the perfect horse for small sums of money so I either need to compromise on age, soundness/health or ridden quirks sadly.
At 14 this horse should sitll have plenty of miles on the clock (in theory) and I believe most of the hacking around my yard is off road (sounds of that I don't know but only moved there when I retired current horse hence not been out that way) and as horse doesn't bolt or do anything extreme I think how he reacts to large traffic is something I could cope with.
 
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I think a 14 yo who did not excel at his job and is not 100% in traffic is not worth more than £1000 and please please get him vetted no matter how cheap a horse becomes expensive quickly if it's not sound.
 
ETA -
This! I don't have that sort of budget, in fact any horse purchased before next year will be with money begged/borrowed/stolen from family members so there has to be a compromise somewhere- I am realistice, I know I'm not going to find the perfect horse for small sums of money so I either need to compromise on age, soundness/health or ridden quirks sadly.
At 14 this horse should sitll have plenty of miles on the clock (in theory) and I believe most of the hacking around my yard is off road (sounds of that I don't know but only moved there when I retired current horse hence not been out that way) and as horse doesn't bolt or do anything extreme I think how he reacts to large traffic is something I could cope with.

Perhaps it's a Surrey thing? In the end I agreed to take the horse I'm riding on full loan for a year to give me a chance to add to my current budget of £2.5k as I was less willing to compromise on certain things. Good luck with the horse anyway, as I said before I wouldn't be remotely concerned by it's traffic issues as it sounds like it could still be a decent happy hacker.
 
Horse would be vetted without a doubt, I took a gamble on last horse as he was in poor condition when I started, his health problems that arose did so with time & wouldn't have shown on a vetting anyway but that's just horses, this horse would be to be kept long term & is likely to cost more to purchase so vetting goes without saying to me personally.

Perhaps it's a Surrey thing? In the end I agreed to take the horse I'm riding on full loan for a year to give me a chance to add to my current budget of £2.5k as I was less willing to compromise on certain things. Good luck with the horse anyway, as I said before I wouldn't be remotely concerned by it's traffic issues as it sounds like it could still be a decent happy hacker.

Possibly. Horses 'down south' certainly do seem to command a premium (as with everything down here I've found!) I learnt the hard way last time I purchased (admittedly 9 years ago, gulp) by chasing all over the country so determined to stick local this time.
I won't compromise on health, in fact my criteria is basic, aged 2 - 15, gelding, with the right attitdue to going out & doing stuff & sound, beyond this I'm open to considering anything.
Think part of it is not knowing what I want, whether it's a youngster to back & bring on, something green to bring on or been there & done it to learn from/go out & have fun with right away so I'm keeping my options looking at everything but tbh I'm fussy, I've seen a few ads on paper that have been spot on but unless the horse has caught my eye I've not been interested as to a certain extent my heart isn't in it & I am willing to take as long as it takes to find the right horse for me.
 
About 2.5k ish as well i'd say. A lot of horses you have to pull into a layby if a big lorry/tractor comes along. In fact I do that with my own horse who is fine in traffic as common sense imo. Weird how people think that's an issue....
He sounds nice, just not a jumper! Sure he'll pop the odd fence for you fine though.
 
It doesn't matter what any of us thinks he's worth - it's what you're prepared to pay for it that matters.

The fact that you're viewing the horse must mean that he's at least in the ball park of being the right money (for you).
 
About 2.5k ish as well i'd say. A lot of horses you have to pull into a layby if a big lorry/tractor comes along. In fact I do that with my own horse who is fine in traffic as common sense imo. Weird how people think that's an issue....
He sounds nice, just not a jumper! Sure he'll pop the odd fence for you fine though.

There's only one issue I won't deal with and that's not good in traffic particularily in a hacking horse.
To my mind there's no point in a hack with an if in that direction.
 
I'd give no more than £800...he sounds like an a hole...sorry, don't hate me, just tell it like I feel it. Good luck whatever happens.x
 
Seems opinion is divided for sure, I certainly have question marks about him but feel unless I see for myself how he is then I won't ever know and being so close down the road he is worth looking at. Experienced instructor friend is coming with and I'm just going to take it from there, I'm in no hurry to get another so will take as much time as it needs to find the right one, whether thats the 1st one I look at or the 100th (tho I hope I don't have to look at that many, lol)
Faracat - they're all way too much £££ for me unfortunately, I've also kept my eye on endurancegb website but there's nothing much local, one that caught my eye but is in Cardiff & simply don't want to go chasing all over the country again!
 
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