A question for Studs, Stallion owners, regular breeders....

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foxy1

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I have been looking for a foal/yearling and seen one on a Stud's website that I really really like but I can't afford!

So, the question... Would you be more inclined to accept an offer on the asking price if it was from someone who was going to give the horse a home for life? Or is it just a case of sentimentality doesn't balance the books?

I'm not John Whittaker, but I've had some decent (ish!) results through hard work and training some much loved but average horses and I'm dying to have a crack at something with the quality and breeding to do do the job.

I'm looking at this youngster on a daily basis and I'm just wondering if it's worth making an offer. On the other hand I don't want to insult them as if all all else fails I'm saving up and would love to buy a foal from the same Dam next year!

Thanks
 
for me a person who has a foal and yearling for sale i would say the price i advertise my stock is a guide price but i would be expecting to get near the advertised price come or go a few hundred
 
It depends on the price and if they are have either over inflated the asking price or if it is a reasonable price for what it is in the first place.We would tend to give a discount if it was going to a good/competitive home as to be honest the last thing breeders want to a certain extent is a horse going to a home where it cant fulfill its full potential as it does no favours for the dam or the breeding operation of the stud.Hope you get it but you can only try I suppose.Chance your arm and see what happens.Good luck.
 
Thanks. I would be looking to offer £600 lower than the asking price.....

I think the price is actually very reasonable already for what it is; they are asking £2500
 
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Personally i think that would be pushing it!! I would be offended but maybe not all would if they wanted to get rid due to being overstocked
 
The stud I work for more often than not accepts offers on their horses and will more often then not take them back if for some reason, the horse doesn't suit!
 
emlybob said:
Personally i think that would be pushing it!! I would be offended but maybe not all would if they wanted to get rid due to being overstocked
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I agree - that's a reduction of nearly 25% which is a bit rude, in my opinion - unless there is an issue picked up on a vetting or something which doesn't bother you personally, but would affect the value of the horse for some.
 
I really don't want to offend them.
Maybe I should keep quiet, keep saving and buy a lottery ticket!
 
I think if the price was many more thousands then asking for a deduction of £600 is reasonable , but in this case at this price its a lot. i would have thought that £250 off would be more realistic and after all if you dont ask you dont get. We find it easier here to sell weanling foals than a year later sell a yearling especially if it is going through a gangly growing like a weed, bum up stage and would consider an offer but not 25% off the price.
 
The only rude offer is the one that isn't made.....

25% is a steep discount. But it's one I would consider for a serious show home or for a stallion rearing home because I'm a breeder and want my stock out there showing. If it was for a riding horse, I'd not be interested. Either way, I wouldn't be offended.
 
Thanks for your thoughts.
The one I'm looking at is a yearling. Never been so desperate for another £500 in my life Lol!

If it's meant to be then it will still be for sale when I DO have the money..... (*prays*)
 
Depending how long you think it'll take you to raise the extra you could always ask if they'd take a deposit and let you pay in instalments with the horse not leaving their property until all is paid for. Might mean you waiting longer to get it but you can't do much with a yearling anyway so not much time wasted on your part and seller knows they have it sold. I've done this for a couple of people in the past, would do it again too but I always make sure horse is still nothing is changed on the passport or the horse not moved until it's paid for in full.
 
Maesfen said:
Depending how long you think it'll take you to raise the extra you could always ask if they'd take a deposit and let you pay in instalments with the horse not leaving their property until all is paid for. Might mean you waiting longer to get it but you can't do much with a yearling anyway so not much time wasted on your part and seller knows they have it sold. I've done this for a couple of people in the past, would do it again too but I always make sure horse is still nothing is changed on the passport or the horse not moved until it's paid for in full.
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Oh good idea, didn't think of that- did they pay keep while they were paying installments?
What happens if there's a vet bill in the interim?
 
foxy1 said:
I have been looking for a foal/yearling and seen one on a Stud's website that I really really like but I can't afford!.......
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Which is it, a foal, or a yearling?

If it's a foal, then the owners will be aware of, a/ the stud fee, b/ the likely costs which the mare has accrued c/ the current market place and d/ they may well be glad to achieve a sale.

If the youngster is a yearling, the above paragraph will still apply, but then it'll be 12 months older, or thereabouts, and if it was offered for sale, as a foal, and it obviously didn't sell, then I wouldn't give it a second thought, I'd offer what I could afford.

I'm still trying to sell (though not as hard as I might!) a well bred and very smart yearling, and a couple of similar two year olds, and I most certainly wouldn't expect a buyer to support my business, by paying more for any horse, than they feel that it's worth. The option would be mine, to turn down any offer.

When I have advertised, then I've had many calls with people offering me 50% of the already discounted asking price. Have I been offended? Not in the least. The offers have come from those who've not even seen the youngsters on offer, and they've been courteously turned away!

Ask, and if they don't like it, then they can sell their horse to someone else.

As a matter of interest, what are you hoping to do with your next acquisition?

Alec.

Ets, I have the greatest respect for the opinions of Maesfen, but I would advise extreme caution, unless you know the current owners, VERY well. It could well end in disaster. You've already highlighted two potential pitfalls. a.
 
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Because they were out, I only charged a basic grass livery, don't know how others think about it. In essence, the horse still belonged to me until it was paid for and I'd already have it insured (although not for vet cover) so if anything dreadful happened, I was still covered (in which case, buyer would have had their money back) but nowadays, I think I would want the new owner to pay to up the cover to include for vet fees just for peace of mind.
It's really going to be a case of ask them and see what they suggest but be prepared for it to cost a bit more (in keep charges at least) than their cash price.

BTW, if you do have a payment 'plan' do make sure you are both happy and have carbon copies of what you and they are responsible for while they keep the horse for you. If jabs are due before you collect I would expect you to pay for those plus the farrier for trims too. Make sure the passport is in order too but don't expect it until you collect the horse.
 
How about getting someone else to sound them out. Ring them or email them and ask if they are interested in £1900 cash. I've done it for my boss when he's buying property. Business is business, I'm sure they'd be grateful for the interest. I'm sure if you are polite, they won't take offence. I'll do it for you, pm me! :)
 
Alec Swan said:
Which is it, a foal, or a yearling?
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It is a yearling (I meant I've been looking for a foal or yearling) and a very smart well bred one with a proven Dam line.

I'm looking to showjump but do a variety of activites with my horses including hacking and hunting because I feel it keeps them fresher and mentally happier, so a good temperament is important.

I could offer to provide references as I break and school the youngsters for a local breeder/show producer?

The new youngster I buy will definately have lots of in-hand showing outings too!
 
I would ring them and lay my cards on the table.

Sound them out and ask if they would accept 2k, if not would they hold on to the horse whilst you raised the extra money.
That way you arent wasting their time by going to view the horse.
I once did the same thing and they held onto him for 2 months whilst I got the cash together.

If you dont ask you dont get and even if you did offend them, they dont know you and will never have met you.:D
 
Make the offer !

Its owners perogative to accept or decline and in any case their price of £2500 is an 'offer', one which you can accept or decline ;)

Circumstances at any given time may affect their response but certainly if you are up front and dont waste their time then I'm sure they will give the offer due consideration. It's their to accept or decline.

Personally an offer of "home for life" would not hold any standing for me as I dont feel anyone can honestly say this however a competition home would be of value to a stud/breeder and may hold some 'discount' value.
 
Ok thanks all.

Will put the emphasis on the competition side; youngster will get lots of outings showing in hand as I've been offered a free ride to shows in exchange for running for someone, both this season and next.

Once broken will certainly regularly competed, hopefully successfully! :D :D
 
foxy1 said:
Oh good idea, didn't think of that- did they pay keep while they were paying installments?
What happens if there's a vet bill in the interim?
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My foals are often sold by the time they are a few weeks old. They stay here until weaning at around 6 months old. The usual means of taking payment for these foals is in two equal installments. The first being immediately, the second being prior to the foal leaving. The moment the first installment is put into my bank account the foal is sold. I cover all associated costs until weaning (livery, farrier, worming, feed) but everything else is the responsibility of the owner. Should the foal injure itself then it is exactly the same as any other livery horse whereby the vet fees are paid for by the owner.

All parties sign the contract which is quite clear and concise about who is responsible for what. The buyer is strongly advised to take out insurance, and most of my customers do.

If I were selling a foal or yearling for £2500 then I would thank you for your offer of £1900 but unless you were a breeder or competitor then it would be unlikely that I would accept your offer. A more realistic figure would be if my foal or yearling was on the market for £10,000 and if you offered £600 less then I would accept your offer providing you passed all necessary checks.

If this yearling has as good bloodlines as you believe then I'd say it is a steal at £2500! Why don't you take out a loan and pay that off in installments?
 
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