Another “what is it worth” request for help

[Time for Tea]

Hi everyone. I am hoping for some advice from all you knowledgeable people on what I might expect to get if I sell one of my ponies.

I have a nice honey bay New Forest pony, age 6, very pretty with a pale Exmoor type muzzle and one white sock.
He is well put together, and about 14.1 hh with front shoes on. He has good feet. No laminitis and no sweet itch. He was professionally broken in and he is well schooled, and quite forward, but sensible. He is sensitive, does a nice prelim dressage test, and hacks on his own. He is good to catch, shoe, box, traffic and clip. He has reasonable bone without being too heavy or chunky. He has a nice front and a good length of neck. He is very affectionate and cuddly. He will carry I should think about 10 stone plus tack, so could do parent and child pony. He tries hard and is very well behaved. I rode him for the first time ever today as I only usually ride my older NF now, and he felt quite wiggly and unsure to start with but he settled down and went very nicely. He is quite babyish still though, I would say, and needs plenty of support from his rider.
Jumping he likes, and has quite a big pop, but it’s a work in progress. Sometimes he is really confident and quite grown up about it, other times his confidence is fragile. He hasnt done much, and we have kept it small so as not to overface him. He enjoyed his last little outing which was just clear round at 70cm and he has won a small combined training competition at 70cm. He is a pleasure to take out and about behaviour wise.
Faults? He does like to go to the front if he is out with others, (though if you just sit very still with quiet steady hands he does settle behind) so he can take a bit of a hold but once he is in front he doesn’t rush on, rather the opposite! He has a lovely mouth, it’s a dream.
I think he will show, do nice dressage, be an excellent hack and family pony. Perhaps not better level jumping, but do basic level. He has done a sponsored ride, went well.
Sorry about all the lengthy detail. I have been burbling on. I don’t really want to let him go, but I am getting old and I have one too many. Thank you if you made it this far!

 

[webble]

£8kish?

 

[SO1]

He is big and at 6 likely to make 14.2 possibly sounds absolutely what I was looking for last year and struggled to find. I paid 8.5k for Bert he was 5 and 13.2. I had a budget of 10k.

I would say 8 to 10k for your pony due to his size. He sounds absolutely wonderful.

As a comparison Bert was professionally backed had won his only dressage test, jumped clear at 80cm, been x country schooling and hacked out on his own on short hacks.

 

[Time for Tea]

He is big and at 6 likely to make 14.2 possibly sounds absolutely what I was looking for last year and struggled to find. I paid 8.5k for Bert he was 5 and 13.2. I had a budget of 10k.

I would say 8 to 10k for your pony due to his size. He sounds absolutely wonderful.

As a comparison Bert was professionally backed had won his only dressage test, jumped clear at 80cm, been x country schooling and hacked out on his own on short hacks.

Thank you for your reply. I should be delighted to get that much for him, however I do think prices have dropped a bit. He is a lovely, genuine pony though. It sounds as though Bert is a more confident jumper, and that does increase the price I think. I’m glad you are happy with your Bert, he looks beautiful.

 

[Barklands]

I would have said £6-7k as still green and low mileage. As you have said above, I agree that prices have dropped a bit and/or people are advertising higher still and not getting the interest.

He sounds lovely, I hope you find a wonderful new home for him.

 

[SO1]

Bert is small though and your pony is almost full up and rarer there is more demand for anything over 14h and he is 6. Everyone wants the bigger ponies. Bert hadn't done a sponsored ride or won a combined training. Although jumping clear at 80 he had only done it a couple of times.

Bert was originally advertised at 9750 price dropped to 8500. Bert is going through a bit of a teenager phase at the moment at 6. He is very confident now.

Thank you for your reply. I should be delighted to get that much for him, however I do think prices have dropped a bit. He is a lovely, genuine pony though. It sounds as though Bert is a more confident jumper, and that does increase the price I think. I’m glad you are happy with your Bert, he looks beautiful.

 

[SEL]

I was thinking £7-8k reading your description

 

[dixie]

I would say around £8k too.

There are plenty of buyers still around for a nice horse even if it doesn’t have a competition history. I sold my 15.3 recently for £13k and was inundated.

 

[Time for Tea]

I was thinking £7-8k reading your description

Thank you, very encouraging , he is off to a show today so we will see how that goes.

 

[Time for Tea]

I would say around £8k too.

There are plenty of buyers still around for a nice horse even if it doesn’t have a competition history. I sold my 15.3 recently for £13k and was inundated.

Thanks for your input. I’m absolutely dreading advertising him, I hate selling horses. Glad you did well with yours, that’s good to know.

 

[Supercalifragilistic]

I am looking at ponies that exactly match his description at the moment, although I would want one that was braver to a fence. The 4/5/6yr olds that will make good competitive PC/NSEA types, that have been out to a few training shows, are marketed anywhere between £8-12k.
As he’s a bit less brave and sounds fairly green I would say market him for £8k but maybe be prepared to take an offer from the right home.
I have noticed some ponies sticking around on the market but if you price him below that buyers might assume there’s something ‘wrong’ with him.
NFs tend to go for a bit less than Connies, unfairly in my view!

 

[Patterdale]

I would think that in this market you could advertise at 6-7k, but you would probably only achieve 5k unless the right person comes along.

He sounds wonderful but the market has dropped, and more people are giving up or cutting down.

 

[Time for Tea]

I am looking at ponies that exactly match his description at the moment, although I would want one that was braver to a fence. The 4/5/6yr olds that will make good competitive PC/NSEA types, that have been out to a few training shows, are marketed anywhere between £8-12k.
As he’s a bit less brave and sounds fairly green I would say market him for £8k but maybe be prepared to take an offer from the right home.
I have noticed some ponies sticking around on the market but if you price him below that buyers might assume there’s something ‘wrong’ with him.
NFs tend to go for a bit less than Connies, unfairly in my view!

Interesting point about the pricing below and possible assumptions made. Thank you. Good to have your input as you are actively looking. Completely agree about the overpriced Connie’s, of course!

 

[SO1]

There are people on the Facebook group New Forest ponies uk always asking for big foresters. There is someone on there recently wanting a backed 4/5/6 year old over 14h. There are a shortage of bigger ponies and not everyone wants to jump. If he likes hacking and goes nicely on the flat that is enough for some.

I would not underestimate him he has won a combined training and sensible enough to do a sponsored ride.

It is how you market him and getting him to the right person.

We are coming into summer and best time to sell as we approach the school holidays.

I think also important that if you are asking 8k plus you have decent trial facilities so people can at least canter a 20 meter circle, pop a small jump and do a short hack.

When I was looking last year there was someone advertising a pony that had done less than your pony for 7k with nowhere to canter a circle, see it ridden in traffic or really try it properly.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I think he’s worth 8 if you’re not in a rush. Definite PC potential. Some children are great riders and will get the best from him. Not sure he’ll make 14.2. Better to say approximately 14hh for WH market. Sounds a super pony.

 

[Jenko109]

6k if on a green book.

4k if he isn't.

 

[SO1]

I think you will easily get 8k for him. His size and they are only 2 ridden registered forests for sale on horsequest. They are a rare and in demand breed at the moment.

 

[SO1]

There is a mature lady not novice on New Forest ponies uk on FB looking for a pony that sounds like yours. You could try contacting her and say 8k and see what she says.

It might be worth contacting some of the wanted adds that go through that FB page before advertising.

 

[SantaVera]

8k

 

[Tiddlypom]

If I was 6” shorter than I am, and not getting out of horses, I’d bite your hand off for a pony like him . I hope that you get a good price for him.

 

[Time for Tea]

There is a mature lady not novice on New Forest ponies uk on FB looking for a pony that sounds like yours. You could try contacting her and say 8k and see what she says.

It might be worth contacting some of the wanted adds that go through that FB page before advertising.

Thank you for this helpful suggestion, I will do so. And also thanks for your other most helpful comments

 

[Time for Tea]

6k if on a green book.

4k if he isn't.

Yes he is fully registered with a green passport

 

[Time for Tea]

I will let you all know what happens when he has eventually gone, if I can bring myself to actually sell him.

 

[Melody Grey]

No idea on price as not my area, but he sounds lovely and won’t struggle to find a home. At 6, I don’t think you need worry about him being green, sounds like he’s innocent enough with it. I’d be worried that a fully established, non green 6 year old might have done too much too soon.

 

[Wishfilly]

I think 7kish, perhaps being prepared to take an offer from the right home? When you say his confidence is fragile jumping, what does that mean? Does he stop/run out?

I think he sounds like he would suit a small adult, who perhaps is more interested in flatwork and hacking out, but perhaps I'm reading too much into the jumping comment! I don't think you will struggle to find him a home either, there is a reasonably good market for natives that will carry an adult, for sure.

 

[Time for Tea]

I think 7kish, perhaps being prepared to take an offer from the right home? When you say his confidence is fragile jumping, what does that mean? Does he stop/run out?

I think he sounds like he would suit a small adult, who perhaps is more interested in flatwork and hacking out, but perhaps I'm reading too much into the jumping comment! I don't think you will struggle to find him a home either, there is a reasonably good market for natives that will carry an adult, for sure.

Well I hope you are right. People have been most encouraging. I think he would as you say suit a smallish adult who would enjoy flatwork and hacking and sponsored rides. He certainly hasn’ t done too much. There hasn’t been time. He is very honest jumping, does nothing sharp or awkward, but sometimes (we think) can’t see what to do or isn’t sure about the obstacle, and sort of grinds to a halt. When he won his little combined training he had been to the EC for a lesson before, and knew the school and the jumps, fillers etc. so he felt confident. He has been xc clear round training with a friend and was very good, taking confidence from the other pony, and enjoyed it. So I think it will come. But probably mini stuff, pairs classes or jumps on sponsored rides etc. Though you never know! He would benefit from gridwork at pony club camp, that sort of thing.

 

[Wishfilly]

Well I hope you are right. People have been most encouraging. I think he would as you say suit a smallish adult who would enjoy flatwork and hacking and sponsored rides. He certainly hasn’ t done too much. There hasn’t been time. He is very honest jumping, does nothing sharp or awkward, but sometimes (we think) can’t see what to do or isn’t sure about the obstacle, and sort of grinds to a halt. When he won his little combined training he had been to the EC for a lesson before, and knew the school and the jumps, fillers etc. so he felt confident. He has been xc clear round training with a friend and was very good, taking confidence from the other pony, and enjoyed it. So I think it will come. But probably mini stuff, pairs classes or jumps on sponsored rides etc. Though you never know! He would benefit from gridwork at pony club camp, that sort of thing.

If he doesn't do anything nasty, then I think that's good- I would be honest with people, and say that jumping isn't his first love, but he can do it- it sounds like he might not love a purely jumping focused home? I think that might reduce his price a little, especially for a lot of teenagers. But equally there are lots of people out there who don't want to be out showjumping every weekend!

There is definitely a market out there for him, for sure- I would definitely be keen if I was looking!

I think, if it were me, I would advertise him for 7-8k, but be picky about homes, and perhaps let him go for less if I felt it was the right home for him?

 

[Time for Tea]

If he doesn't do anything nasty, then I think that's good- I would be honest with people, and say that jumping isn't his first love, but he can do it- it sounds like he might not love a purely jumping focused home? I think that might reduce his price a little, especially for a lot of teenagers. But equally there are lots of people out there who don't want to be out showjumping every weekend!

There is definitely a market out there for him, for sure- I would definitely be keen if I was looking!

I think, if it were me, I would advertise him for 7-8k, but be picky about homes, and perhaps let him go for less if I felt it was the right home for him?

Thank you W, and that is exactly what I will do, you are right he is not for a jumping mad teenager. It’s a question of finding the right home , then people won’t be disappointed

 

[bubsqueaks]

He has a lot of boxes ticked & sounds a cracking sought after pony.
I would price him £8-£9k depending on tack being included.
As he is registered he could do workers/showing.
Also depends whereabouts in the country you are.

 

[Time for Tea]

Hi everyone, just to update you after all your input recently. I advertised my pony for £7,500 on NFED, someone phoned up straightaway, today they have bought him and we don’t need to show him to anyone else, which is a relief. Nice family home. So glad it’s all over. It’s a nerve wracking business, selling a beloved equine.