Are horses selling at the moment?

Laafet

Laafet

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adventuresinblackandwhite.co.uk
Just a short post as I don't want to be done for advertising or anything silly like that. Are horses selling at the moment? I see post after post of people saying they are looking but I don't seem to be having any luck, not even a phonecall after a week.
 
Hi

Interesting question that! I am debating as to getting another horse and have been slowly looking, but yes I keep getting the impression that lots are for sale due to the economic climate etc and people suddenly not being able to financially keep the horse for whatever reason. Perhaps people are looking for a bargain?
I spoke to someone who told me their yard has had some really nice horses come through recently, giving me the impression sales are going on? I suppose it depends what is being sold at the end of the day.

I purchased my current pony 15 yeras ago and the queues were huge, I was lucky to get there first! I keep reading as you probably have, that people have had to travel miles and yes I did that last time too.

Perhaps after my last experience when I have spotted a couple of FAB sounding horses I probably perhaps have incorrectly assumed they are probably SOLD!

Now your question has intrigued me, perhaps I should be more active and pick the phone up and find out? Be good to see what other sellers say about the question Are Horses Selling at the moment?...will watch and see now!
 
I am looking at the moment but am very cautious having had a problem with the last horse I purchased 2 yrs ago with a 5 stage vetting! In the last couple of weeks I think that prices have become inflated as they do at this time of year even though it is exceptionally dry and the grass is growing very slowly and many are still having to feed additional forage/feed even to horses in light work.

I think horses are selling but buyers are looking for the best value for their money, horses are a risk and expensive to put right if things go wrong particularly poignant in times of recession.
 
Thanks for your reply, I am interested in what others have to say. Round and about I hear loads of people wanting to buy traffic proof, easy keeping horses but is it the case that they want to pay peanuts for them?

ETA - Equiscene I can see your point, round here we have been able to turn our horses out 24/7 so the high winter costs are now behind us and with the Easter Hols I was hoping that people would have more time for horse viewing. My own reasons for selling is that my job is 7 days a week, I start 5.30am and have to go back at 10pm every day so not at all financial.
 
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Probably you will get some chancers at any time of the year, trying to get a good deal. Suppose to find a 110% traffic proof /good with farrier/no vices etc for hacking and poping a small pole etc they dont seem to be in huge available quantities.
I still think a horse is only what someone is prepared to pay for it. Traditionally I would buy at the end of the summer when I have always assumed most dont want to pay for feed and care for it during the winter months, well thats my theory!

Trouble is I keep seeing all adverts for mostly fantastic show jumpers which would be wasted with me. Happy hacker.....probably most people really know what their horse is worth.

I have known people sell a horse way over its value knowing its got problems and then someone I know bought a horse at a horrible meat market horse sale because they felt sorry for it and it was the best horse ever!

I reckon the market is sloooowww for sellers thats my vibe anyway!
 
I have just bought a horse - tried him out - had him vetted, made an offer - accepted. He had been advertised for 3 weeks and I was the first person to try him.

I am not looking for a competition horse or a bombproof cob (this is a bombproof arab). I get the impression that young horses are not selling and everything else is selling cheaply and slowly. Especially in out of the way areas..
 
EQUISCENE said:
In the last couple of weeks I think that prices have become inflated as they do at this time of year even though it is exceptionally dry and the grass is growing very slowly and many are still having to feed additional forage/feed even to horses in light work.
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Blimey! We must be lucky round here. I have more grass than my two are even allowed to look at and have had to specifically ask the farmer to only spray for weeds, NOT to fertilize the paddocks.
 
Kitsune said:
My horse sold within an hour. So yes they are, if appropriately priced.
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I didn't know you'd sold Ed!! :eek:

To the OP - I think this is about right really. Horses that are priced appropriately and advertised well will still sell.

If you've not even had any phonecalls then the chances are either your advert isn't very good [poor description or bad photos], or your horse is overpriced for what it is.
 
xspiralx said:
To the OP - I think this is about right really. Horses that are priced appropriately and advertised well will still sell.
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Indeed! I do think some sellers need to realise that prices aren't what they were when the market was high a few years ago. I've seen some lovely, lovely horses for sale when browsing recently, but they are often £2k over priced. :o
 
xspiralx said:
I didn't know you'd sold Ed!! :eek:
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Sorry for the hijack, OP! But yes, put him on horsemart at about 10am Monday - first caller at 11am and sold to the same person - he went Friday..:( But his new home is BEAUTIFUL and his new owner is already sending me photos of them off down the pub and out hooleying :D

I think, conversely to what a lot of people have said, horse prices are higher than I would have normally expected. I think due to the recession people are actually trying to make money from their horses (of course dealers always did but the average private home used to price horses at what they were worth) whereas nowerdays I think people are pricing horses at what they WANT or NEED from them, which is scary.
 
I sold my last horse (last month) within 1 week of advertising him.
But the amount of day trippers, photo collectors, people asking for loans was ridiculous. I even had people asking if they could pay for him weekly!!!
I was pulling my hair out but luckily a sane person, who knew what they were talking about arrived, viewed and bought him.

I'm now looking for another but there seems to be quite allot of poor quality horses being advertised for silly amounts of money.
I'm not expecting to pay peanuts but i don't see why i should be expected to pay over the odds for a horse because the seller can't pay their credit card bills this month and is having to sell up!!!
 
hudsonw said:
I sold my last horse (last month) within 1 week of advertising him.
But the amount of day trippers, photo collectors, people asking for loans was ridiculous. I even had people asking if they could pay for him weekly!!!
I was pulling my hair out but luckily a sane person, who knew what they were talking about arrived, viewed and bought him.

I'm now looking for another but there seems to be quite allot of poor quality horses being advertised for silly amounts of money.
I'm not expecting to pay peanuts but i don't see why i should be expected to pay over the odds for a horse because the seller can't pay their credit card bills this month and is having to sell up!!!
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True, but equally, when you've spent a lot of money and masses of time and patience getting that little horse near perfect, you arn't going to give it away because the buyer thinks you should either be charitable or desperate.
 
elsbells said:
True, but equally, when you've spent a lot of money and masses of time and patience getting that little horse near perfect, you arn't going to give it away because the buyer thinks you should either be charitable or desperate.
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Totally agree with this - If mine were 2k cheaper then I'd be better putting him in a sale and letting him go for £500. I have sold horses before, when I did it for a living and so I doubt my ad wording is poor, I like to think I've been realistic without under pricing him so much that people think 'what is up with that it is so cheap'. Ho hum, will see how it goes, then maybe send him to Builth for the Welsh sale.
 
Whatever the type of horse and whatever stage it education or ability it will sell if placed at the lower end of its price bracket for its type. Good photos and wording in the advert are needed. The statement above about "too cheap" is also correct,people think the horse has a problem. Re Builth Wells , I picked up a lovely pb welsh colt, to make 15.2hh for £210 last autumn. We are thrilled with him, he ties up,groom,leads and picks up feet. We have recently had him gelded and look forward to many happy years together.
 
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Horsesforever1 said:
Whatever the type of horse and whatever stage it education or ability it will sell if placed at the lower end of its price bracket for its type. Good photos and wording in the advert are needed. The statement above about "too cheap" is also correct,people think the horse has a problem. Re Builth Wells , I picked up a lovely pb welsh colt, to make 15.2hh for £210 last autumn. We are thrilled with him, he ties up,groom,leads and picks up feet. We have recently had him gelded and look forward to many happy years together.
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Thanks, agree with this, will just need to be a bit more patient. My horse's full sister was top price at Builth a few years back so I know there is a market there for his breeding. Mind you getting him there will cost a few hundred.
 
I do know people who are looking - but I think everyone is being very cautious at the moment. Some are looking for a loan with view to buy - which I know a lot of sellers are reluctant to do. I think, though if your horse is sensibly priced (ie not to expensive or too cheap!), it should go. Where are you advertising him? Maybe spread your net a little wider?
 
I have just sold mine after 3 weeks advertising. I am now looking and cannot find anything. Everything I have rung about has been sold. So yes they are.
 
NicolaC said:
I have just sold mine after 3 weeks advertising. I am now looking and cannot find anything. Everything I have rung about has been sold. So yes they are.
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May I ask what sort of horses you are enquiring about that are selling so well? :)
 
Laafet said:
Ditto - would be very interested in what is selling and at what price?
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I am looking for a county show quality welsh section D between the ages of 5 - 10 years old that is backed and going well. Budget is £3000. There is not many about and nearly all that I have phoned about are sold.
 
I recently advertised a 13.2h first pony for 2k, the first person to try him liked him so had him on a 1wk trial and then bought him, i was still getting calls about him even though i had put on his advert that he was on trial so i guess there are people out there looking to buy, i am now looking for a 12h Pony Club pony but there doesn't seem to be any at all and the ones that sound ideal are either well over my budget or at the other end of the country!.
 
I've been looking half heartedly over winter but in the last 3 weeks have been out and tried 3 horses, the one I tried today I bought (VERY excited! ). All 3 owners had had LOADS of phonecalls and emails and were quite shocked at the response to their ads...

It might be a buyer's market but there are still good horses out there who are worth the money. Seems to me it's definitely the right time to be buying or selling...
 
I just sold my 8yr TB for £2500, had him up for 10 days, had viewings every day some twice a day. Really thought id have an issue selling him, esp since went to the sales and they werent selling there. Ok my boy was fairly priced in mho, but had some people say he isnt worth £500 so to get that for him im happy.
Heres his breakdown
16.3hh
8
tb
non raced
good to do in all ways
been out to dressage all winter perlims getting placed in the top 4 in each one
hacks alone/taffic
loves to jump, at home 1.30m but is unproven out and about- i like flat, he likes jumping (hence selling)
hunted
looks like a sports horse not tb
have been told that he been younger he would of been worth more as could of aimed him at amiture sj's

and i didnt even advertise him, i did however send away to be sold, was there for 10days total cost of that was £170 including transport beening dropped off and picked up.
 
NO ! a friend of mine has advertised her almost perfect 16 hands ID X TB at least twice on horsemart and other places as well. she has had no enquiries both times. she started off at a couple of thousand which the horse is well worth if not double and dropped right down . nothing. the ad was good . photos ok. they cant understand it. and reading this , nor can i. it has to be a lack of customers surely ?
 
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