Buyers market? / are horses selling?

Bustalot

Bustalot

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 March 2011
Messages
539
Visit site
Hi

Looking to get another horse soon. Was thinking best to wait until start of next year as they are predicting a bad winter so prob wouldn't be able to do much with said new horse any way.

Although it hasn't stopped me searching the for sale ads :D There are definately a lot of (what look like) good quality horses at resonable prices, so it is most definately a buyers market. Proably also to do with the fact that lots of people will sell going into winter as the costs implications etc to keep them.

As I have said i have seen some nice horses for sale and have had to tie my hands behind my back to not call and go see them. Do not really see the point on getting a horse at a resonable price only to then pay its up keep through winter, could just save that money and spend more on a horse in Feb/March.

So getting to the point of this post... Are horses selling? Just thinking that these horses i have already seen advertised i could keep hold of the adverts and call them when i am definately ready to make an offer to see if the horse is still available (Although that won't be for another 4/5 months)

Do you think this would be wrong and annoy the seller?
Does anybody own a crystal ball and see the horse prices increase next year while heading into spring?
 
I've had a very nice horse for sale for ages, had ONE enquiry, it's a joke! He's a young horse and as I so more with him over winter thanking price will actually be going up if he doesn't sell, according to several experienced jumpers/trainers views he's under priced by around 1K anyway, however much of a bargain still doesn't look like he'll be going anywhere anytime soon
 
It wouldnt hurt to keep the ads and contact when you are ready, they may be sold or if still for sale the price may be higher, if the owner has kept through the winter they may have increased in value due to hunting or competing successfully in that time.
 
I think you would bed better to buy now , winter can be a good period of time to take things slowly get to know each other build a bond and be ready for the season , you'll pay quite a bit more after christmas
 
We have just sold one and a yearling filly that was not advertised except on our web site and I am hoping the other one will be sold this week as she is very rare and we can never breed another like her I have had lots of enquires but people have had to sell there own horses first.
 
Ladylina83 said:
I think you would bed better to buy now , winter can be a good period of time to take things slowly get to know each other build a bond and be ready for the season , you'll pay quite a bit more after christmas
Click to expand...

This


It is too tempting to do too much with a new horse too early - and then be suprised when problems start to appear. A bad winter would encourage you to take things slowly and that can only be good!
 
angrovestud said:
We have just sold one and a yearling filly that was not advertised except on our web site and I am hoping the other one will be sold this week as she is very rare and we can never breed another like her I have had lots of enquires but people have had to sell there own horses first.
Click to expand...

Ooo just curious, why is she rare and why could you not breed another like her?
 
Its been the same since time immemorial!!

Its winter - horses come up for sale cheaper as most people dont want/cant afford to keep over winter - good hunters mind get snapped up! then come the spring the fair weather riders come out and buy buy and prices rocket.

In your situation you could potentially go and view now and then wait until after xmas but be prepared for the prices to increase and potentially lose a good horse.

If you want a good horse then put your hand in your pocket and buy something you can bond with over the winter and enjoy in the spring - rather having to spend the spring trying to find the horses character out and getting in tune.

depends on if you want the hard work in the winter or not really. xx
 
I don't mind the work in winter. Just thought maybe save the winter costs and put it towards actually buying the horse at the beginning of next year. But I suppose it is all a bit swings and roundabouts as I would end up paying more If I wait anyway. Hmmmmm decisions...
 
Ladylina83 said:
I think you would bed better to buy now , winter can be a good period of time to take things slowly get to know each other build a bond and be ready for the season , you'll pay quite a bit more after christmas
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I'm doing with the 4 1/2 year I bought at the beginning of the month :)

I was planning on waiting till Spring, but he sounded too perfect to miss. I'm thrilled with him. He was a pretty tidy sum too, so I would say good horses (as always!) are still selling.
 
I've just sold an eventing schoolmaster. He was advertised for 3 weeks, and I had about 5 phonecalls about him, but none materialised into viewings. The just as I was giving up hope, somebody rang up, came to see him, gave me full asking price and with no vetting. He is now in an incredible permanent home, and I really could not have hoped for better, they are perfect for him! So yes the market is slow, but it only takes one person to fall in love with the horse!

Personally I like to buy horses at this time of year. It gives me the winter to get to know them, and do some low key stuff, then come the spring I can hit the ground running (as it were!)
 
I too am buying now (subject to vetting) I have been looking since August and been to see one other. My theory being if you leave it till spring as others has said you may go faster with them than you would in winter, and secondly particularly if you dont have a horse to ride, you may find you buy with less reservations as you want to be riding through summer so dont take your time as much! I was quite happy to wait and keep looking through winter to hopefully find something for spring time but I seem to have found what I was looking for now at the right price :) fingers and toes crossed for the vetting please :p! Its unbacked so will be taking my time with him through winter with him letting him get to know me and doing slow progressions as he is lovely to handle but hasnt done anything else. Good luck finding what you want theres no harm in ringing up and going to look providing you think its suitable and would be willing to buy if it was right for you :).
 
Im looking now but then I want a horse to hunt on this winter. Although I do think with these dark nights I must be mad. I may have found a horse though.

Good luck becca1305 with the vetting.
 
Last edited:
Doesn't matter what time of year - if you see a stunner that's perfect and exactly what you are after and is the right price, for goodness sake don't let it pass you by, you'll regret it!

It takes a long time to find the right horse.
 
I'm another one who is waiting a few months. I think that prices will fall more over winter. Yes prices go up a bit in Spring, but not right after Xmas - there is still Jan, Feb and March to get through before winter gets easier...

As someone else said, if you see something you really like, all that goes out of the window!

ps. I've just sold a lovely pony to the first people to see him, without any trouble. But he was realistically priced.. Not thrown away, but not at silly money.
 
i have been searching for that last 6 months..........................still can't find the one, keep looking starting to think i am looking for rocking horse poo:)
 
hollyandivy123 said:
i have been searching for that last 6 months..........................still can't find the one, keep looking starting to think i am looking for rocking horse poo:)
Click to expand...

I think there are fewer being advertised at the moment, I have been looking for one and have just found it (subject to vetting).

He was overpriced IMO, but we negotiated and although I think I'm still paying slightly more than the current market indicates, I'm happy.

Roll back a few months when I was only tentatively looking, there were loads like him on the market, so it seemed.
 
Thanks cavaletti :).

Good luck with the vetting for yours too OldNag! Im so nervous, though I take it as a good sign aa shows how perfect I think he matches what I want! :D.
 
Good luck to all those getting horses vetted, Hope they turn out to be everything you want in a horse. :)

Maybe i could start looking and going to view a few, just to clarify what i am looking for and what i am not. As others have said it has taken them 6 months anyway in which case it will be next year for me anyway.

Just have to bite the bullet and do it!! Off to the bank today to sort the money out so i am ready to buy if i see something sooner rather than later. If I don't see anything i like for awhile then so be it.

Argghhh..... I must be mad!
 
IMO many horses aren't selling because the people selling them STILL want ridicuolous amounts of money for them. Just look at the prices being asked for really average animals (thousands and thousands of pounds). Not that I advocate giving a horse away, of course, as this will merely encourage irresponsible ownership but the prices being asked by SO many people is just incredibly ill judged. Good luck to them if they want to hold out of the one in a thousand buyer but meanwhile don't grumble that horses aren't selling!!!

OP: Good luck in your search! :)
 
I am trying to find a new home for my boy, priced at £1500 which people think is reasonable, I can't get a sharer or a loaner or a buyer, four phone calls no visits. even had one "loaner" who told me my horse would be a difficult horse to re-train as he had been trotting [so actually never read the ad!] and that standardbreds are known to be this that and the other, in fact he is a lovely ride, so I think at least he was "saved" from going to a person with fixed [wrong] ideas.
There is someone advertising locally for a horse:
.... " looking for a horse thats free to a good home.must be a novice ride 99% bombproof and good to do in all ways. not particularly a competition horse but maybe just a wee hacker to work with.if your looking to get rid of your horse quick then theres a loving home waiting with lots of pampering and love.any type sex ect over 14.2hh. ""
 
Last edited:
I haven't readvertised our boy atm he was advertised and we had little response, I would prefer to buy something now so daughter can get in the swing with it over the winter ready for next season but trying to sell anything in Cornwall is very hard work! We have sort of decided to keep him going BS, BD and hunting over the winter and then try again in the spring. I know the market is dead but it strikes me that the ones who did enquire wanted something up and running with a good comp record for under 5k which perhaps I am wrong in wanting more.
 
Im looking possibly, and can’t find anything I just want something that will hunt/travel/ be alone from time to time around 15.2h no bigger pref gelding.
But I don’t want a cob or a coloured. Can’t seem to find anything that catches my eye
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top