A How Much question

[Abacus]

I'd be grateful for opinions on how much I should advertise a horse for. This is the very honest description - on an ad I wouldn't say it all but would discuss with anyone interested.

16.1 bay gelding, 9 years old. No health problems and has been totally sound in the 18 months for which I have had him. I don't know of anything previous.
Irish (with quite a lot of KPWN).
Good movement and an amazing jump, and he loves jumping.

When I got him he had been owned by a teenager and basically I think galloped everywhere and jumped fast. It has taken this long to really calm everything down and get him balanced. It isn't perfect, but he'd now do a decent dressage test and will jump steadily.

Safe to hack alone or with company (he is forward and still needs to be reminded to go steadily, but he isn't badly behaved). Hasn't ever bucked or reared. He's fine to clip, handle, load etc. On the ground he's divine, a super friendly chap who is very relaxed and easy. He's chilled when I take him out anywhere and causes no bother.

He is still green and slightly worried xc, getting better all the time. I find for the first few jumps he wobbles towards them like a baby, then he starts to flow and goes really well.

No real competition history due to my lack of time, the only time I showjumped him (90cm) he went clear. In that particular event he was eliminated xc but has got a lot more confident since then.

Any thoughts? I've tried comparison searches and they vary wildly!

 

[ihatework]

Just going from your description essentially sounds like a nice safe/sound all rounder type that could go out competing but essentially has no CV at all and is therefore a bit of a gamble.

How correct/smart is he? Will he catch the eye in an advert? Is he an easy enough ride for a RC level rider? Will he take a few nerves?

If you could just get a few verified show outings on his CV, placings/mid 60’s dressage and 90cm sj, plus some video of him popping around 80/90 xc sweetly, think you could achieve 12k. As he stands 7-8k. The market has dropped off a bit

 

[Abacus]

Just going from your description essentially sounds like a nice safe/sound all rounder type that could go out competing but essentially has no CV at all and is therefore a bit of a gamble.

How correct/smart is he? Will he catch the eye in an advert? Is he an easy enough ride for a RC level rider? Will he take a few nerves?

If you could just get a few verified show outings on his CV, placings/mid 60’s dressage and 90cm sj, plus some video of him popping around 80/90 xc sweetly, think you could achieve 12k. As he stands 7-8k. The market has dropped off a bit

Thank you, that’s helpful. I have entered a couple of things which hopefully will help (if he goes well!).

He is a smart handsome chap with good conformation and a nice head and eye. A good shape over a jump which will also look nice. But he’s just a bay, and they don’t always stand out!

 

[eggs]

At the moment he is falling a bit between two stools - not quite a happy hacker or a competition horse. I agree with getting some sort of competition record so that you have proof of what he can do.

He does sound like he could be a decent RC horse.

 

[dixie]

Actually that’s the sort of horse I’m currently looking for.
There’s quite a few on HQ between £10-12k but I’ve also noticed recently some dropping below this.
I would suggest somewhere between £8-10k depending how quick you want the sale.
If you’re in the South West you could forward me details if you wish.

 

[dixie]

Thank you, that’s helpful. I have entered a couple of things which hopefully will help (if he goes well!).

He is a smart handsome chap with good conformation and a nice head and eye. A good shape over a jump which will also look nice. But he’s just a bay, and they don’t always stand out!

I love a smart bay !

 

[SEL]

If he came up on my FB feed for around £10k I'd think he was fairly priced. I'm not looking but I still follow various sites from when I was so adverts come up pretty often.

I think it also depends on where you are located and how quickly you need to sell. A local producer who takes their time is at the higher end but another local who turns them over quickly is always a few £k cheaper.

 

[Squeak]

Agree with the others that if you can get him out to a couple of shows it would help increase his price. You could do some BS on a ticket as well as some UA dressage and UA ODE's, although it would be worth making sure that the ODE's are a good, recognised venue otherwise they wont mean as much.

 

[JBM]

High fours seem good without a record 5 figures if you can get him a few outings

 

[Abacus]

Thanks so much all. Generally agree that I should get him out a bit, I'm not especially in a rush, but once the decision is made it's better to get on with stuff... so I'll see how much we do.

@dixie - thank you - I'll PM you.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

We re looking for the daughter and between £10 and £15,000 seems to be the price (ouch) …actually if anyone out there in H&H land knows of something within reasonable driving distance of Scotch Corner drop me a line

 

[Sossigpoker]

You don't say how high he jumps or what level his flatwork is so for that I'd say no more than £6.
If he's got yhe education to jump a course of 80 and produce a nice prelim test then I'd say a few thousand more.

 

[Kaylum]

Whatever you advertise anything at people will always try and knock you down remember that, so find a good price but be prepared to be knocked down. They will knock you down if the horse doesn't come with tack, if they have to have it shod in the next 3 weeks, if they have to transport within 5 miles basically anything at all.

 

[Abacus]

You don't say how high he jumps or what level his flatwork is so for that I'd say no more than £6.
If he's got yhe education to jump a course of 80 and produce a nice prelim test then I'd say a few thousand more.

He’ll definitely jump a 1m course sj, scope isn’t an issue and he will be capable of more, he really has a cracking jump (I’m a bit of a wuss anyway). A prelim test would be perfectly manageable, and he’d probably have a decent stab at a novice. I’m not saying he’d win either, but nor would he disgrace himself - he has good rhythm and hind action, and is obedient. He’s a really nice horse and with lots of talent, just not been competed - as I said in the original description, it has taken me this long to steady him up and get him listening. There would have been no point competing him until about now, as he would have run at everything far too fast, in any discipline

 

[Upthecreek]

Did you buy him as a project with the intention of selling on? If I was a prospective buyer I’d be interested to know the reason you are selling him after 18 months when you’ve put the work into him and he sounds like he is now ready to go out and have fun on.

 

[Abacus]

I bought him with the intention of eventing, not realising it would take quite so long to undo some habits. And now he’s ready I’m less keen to actually event. I’m 45, have two boys into other sports, and I had probably forgotten how much preparation is needed - all of the practise dressage, sj etx. I find myself not looking forward really to the things I have booked. Am taking him to swalcliffe on Sunday and maybe I’ll love it, but really I think that I’ll probably end the day feeling like it was a bit effortful, even if he goes round well. We’ll see.

 

[blitznbobs]

Id say between 8 and 15 depending on what he looks like, how good his paces are and how good your videos are

 

[Palindrome]

Thank you, that’s helpful. I have entered a couple of things which hopefully will help (if he goes well!).

He is a smart handsome chap with good conformation and a nice head and eye. A good shape over a jump which will also look nice. But he’s just a bay, and they don’t always stand out!

My experience is that people like big bay geldings in the UK, particularly posh people. Brownie points if he has a human name and/or human surname.
From an ex-owner of a chestnut mare with a non human name

 

[TheMule]

Assuming he’s fit and ready, I would probably invest in placing him with a rider for a few weeks to get some events in. He’ll be worth a load more money with a couple of runs under his belt at 90/100