Are hunters selling well at the moment?

Christmas Crumpet

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I've just sold my hunter on as we didn't gel very well and got what I think he was worth at £4.5k (esp. with no vetting!!).

Although I've got a horse to hunt at the moment, I always keep an ear open for something that might suit me. There seems to be a lot of hunters for sale at the moment at the top end of the market. I saw a £9k one advertised the other day. There are also a lot at about £5.5 - £7.5k. Are people really spending this amount of money on hunters especially very normal hunters i.e. just your average hunter, nothing special or remarkable about them?

I know how hard it is to sell a horse at the moment so are sellers setting a high price and then taking a reduced amount for the horse? It does seem like a lot of sellers think their horses are worth a lot of money when, in the current market, they actually aren't.

Any thoughts on buying/selling hunters at the moment?
 

spacefaer

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This is something I'm interested in too, as I have to sell one of mine. I'm dithering as to which one and I would love to know what is selling in the current market!

I don't really want the expense of advertising both and they are both very distinct types -one is bound to be more desirable than the other. ....

My question would add to Carolineb's - what are people looking for in a hunter? What is more important? Safe and sensible or performance?
 

Bernster

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Well, sounds like there is a buyer and a seller right here ! Maybe you could compare notes ;-)

I can only comment on a few of my friends and I would want/have just bought. Safe and sensible would be at the top of the list, straightforward, polite, not strong, bold enough to jump most standard fences (3' ish give or take) but not world beaters or thruster's horses. Not too lightweight either. Not much eh!

But I reckon you will have just as many people going for the top end hunters too, as there seems to be such a range of people on the hunt field from my limited experience.

It's been a while since I was looking properly but I would think both could command decent prices but for v different reasons.

SF - someone emailed the website recently looking for a new one (Kimblewick, if you know people there).
 

Christmas Crumpet

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The horse I sold was a 6 year old, not very well schooled on the flat but jumps well, good hunter who has hunted 2 seasons and does what it says on the tin pretty much but far happier in a yard with other horses than living on its own and exercising etc on its own. A proper "I'll do my job then I'd like you to leave me alone" horse and one that isn't particularily pleased to see you at any given time of day!!

So I got £4.5k for him which, I think, in the current market was probably pretty spot on. However, I see all these horses advertised for more than that and they don't jump out at me as being much different from him. Mine was advertised for more but we were quite happy to drop the price so that he would sell.

I guess a horse is only worth what someone is willing to pay!!!
 

PorkChop

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Top end hunters will always have a buyer and tbh I would consider a top rate hunter to be going for more than £9k.

For the majority of the market, I would say safe and straightforward to a fence is a priority. People will put up with other problems in my experience.
 

spacefaer

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Thanks bernster! I know Carolineb in RL and sadly neither of my guys would suit!

Not touting for a sale but genuinely interested as to what the majority of people are looking for :)
 

Ditchjumper2

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When my OH looks for a horse it has to stop, start, stand and steer when ridden "blokes way"!! ie no contact. It must stand still whilst he has a wee, a fag or a drink!! :D

Now we are both no longer spring, or even summer chickens, we want manners and safety. It is no fun being towed about or being unable to stand and have a drink by a horse that mantles all the time even if will jump a 5 bar gate with its eyes shut.

A well mannered hunter who knows his job will always sell for a good price. Hunters are special, some only hunt and that is all they do, but they are still worth their weight in gold.

We are very lucky to have 3 crackers.
 

Doug

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From a buyers point of view I am looking for my first hunter at the moment.

As I am a novice rider I have a fairly obvious set of criteria:

- Safe, Sane and Predictable
- 8-9+ years old as a minimum
- 'Been there done that' type. I want one that can teach me and show me the ropes when hunting, XC, fun rides and clear round jumping
- Gelding
- 16.1/16.2+

After being lucky enough to have a TB hunter on loan for the summer going into Autumn hunting I want to find one with the same sort of personality. He was a perfect gentleman and looked after me on my first (and only, to date) days autumn hunting. We spent many hours out hacking getting his fitness up and had my first gallops and XC schooling with him and at no point did he even properly spook, even when a pheasant flew out of the hedge and pretty much smacked him in the face.

As I won't be popping 5 bars all day a couple days a week etc in the near future I am not needing to look at the top end of the market. According to the adverts I am reading I seem to be able to get this type of horse for £3-4.5k which seems fair enough. They are typically not TB at this price point. They are ID, IDX or ISH.

The few that I have emailed about seem to have sold already so obviously the market is moving well enough at that price point.
 

Bernster

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Wish I could find one of those £3 - £4.5k horses that suits all my requirements!!

Ooh maybe you have speshul requirements :)

the other thing is that I suppose I'm thinking of a horse that hunts, rather than an out and out hunter, although as both have their talents I reckon they are both worth a pretty penny!
 

marley and danni

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theres always a market for hunter and every one i know seems to be selling well and at the price they want.

if i was to sell my horse id sell him as Eventer/Hunter. hes a fab alrounder. Stand perfectly when asked at a hunt or on foot while having a drink! goes and stops when asked. jumps anything infront of him safe and most of the time straight. great with a novice (which is what i am only been riding 3 years and marley has only ever hunted with me) hes a TB ex race horse and other than the masters horses or the whips horses hes ussualy the best behaved... if i were to sell i would advertise him at 6K hes perfect ladies hunter or even a teenager!

if i were to be looking again i would want somthing slightly bigger around 16/17hand mark bit more bone than my current TB and everything that my current TB is like just in bigger form :D Manners are everything! and of course jumping!
 

Goldenstar

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Good made quality wieght carring hunters that are mannerly at the hounds have been 'made ' as hunters by that I mean it's their primary career not a second job for say an show jumper or an eventer can always find homes.
The sorts of horses that I might buy for Mr GS who don't mind if the person that hunts them sits in them only at the hounds ,don't pull ,stand while the rider has a drink and a chat jumps sensibly whatever they get pointed at, these are special horses and I expect them to be in the 6 to 12k bracket if they are smart looking and sound.
 
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