Buying a 19 year old horse - what cost

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Em20

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Wanting others options on the topic

I’ve been offered to buy a horse off of a friend that I loan, however he’s rising 20, gelding, connamara, ex hunter, 14’3no obvious health problems other then a lump on his stomach (he’s grey 🙃) and his stiffness bc of his age. He’s a saint to ride, bath, clip, trim ect. But his age is a big scare factor of it all. He’s not able to jump very big now but happy to school, hack and just have some fun.

However, what is a reasonable price for him? He can’t be insured because of his age, and that does worry me. And how many years of ridden work will be end up with long term, I want to say yes, but practically thinking. Is it worth the worth the risk with a horse his age? And the price is a big factor.

What would you be willing to pay, both just him and if you included tack and rugs. Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
What are they asking..? I wouldn’t be spending much on an allrounder of that age. Tack and rugs very much depends on quality and volume!
Ps catastrophe cover will still cover you I think :)
 
Is there a reason they want to end the loan and sell instead? To be honest, if you love the horse and he suits what you want to do, I'd pay up to £3k with his tack and rugs, knowing that I may only have 5 years of riding from him but hopefully many more years of pleasure from owning him after that. Realistically he isn't worth it to anyone else but I think for a safe all-rounder that you already know and trust and presumably want to keep, it's a punt worth taking. Hopefully they'll want less though...good luck 🤞
 
He's worth a lot to you as he sounds perfect for you but in all honesty not worth much to anyone else. I would offer a token amount, £100 or so to make him mine. If his owner wants the best home for him then I think she will take whatever you offer. Before buying I would get a vet check for peace of mind. Tack and rugs wise, again if it's expensive stuff then you will have to pay for that but tack and rugs are cheap enough on marketplace etc.
 
If he does need retiring earlier than expected could you afford 2?

I’m not a fan of people offloading older horses but giving the owner the benefit of the doubt they want the horse to go to you as your a lovely home then £1000 tops for me.

Any horse could break at any time but older horses do come with extra costs to keep them comfortable.
 
We bought daughter’s pony age 19, we paid £800 over lockdown from a RS.

She has asthma but no other health issues, she’s 25 in January and sound as a pound. I imagine if sold through our PC she could go for more than we paid as she is a great LR/FR.

IMO 19 is quite young to be “stiff” and the melanoma is a worry.
 
Without the melanoma and stiffness - £1500.

But the stiffness concerns me. The melanoma, not so much. £500 to include tack and rugs (assuming he isn't knocking about in a Prestige)
 
If he has a melanoma it maybe needs checking if you’re going to buy, some are harmless and lve had Connie’s with a single melanoma live until 30. If you’re happy with the horse work out the cost of buying one unknown to you. Tack depends on quality. If you were starting out A new saddle will cost at least £2000 by the time you’ve added stirrups, girth etc , and a complete bridle and bit at least £100 for an ok quality. Secondhand saddles around £600, bridles maybe £30. Rug prices depend very much on quality, cheap ones from £50 top of the range £400.
Sound, sane horses that can do a bit of everything aren’t easy to find. A 19 year old might develop problems but so might a 6 year old. There’s always a risk. Given the rise in the price of horses in recent years it likely he was originally bought for £5000 or less so maybe £3000 including tack would be a reasonable price. If he was a couple of years younger l think you’d be looking at a minimum of 5k.
 
eahotson said:
I agree but a vets opinion might be worth having.
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I'd definitely get him checked over by the vet before parting with any money. What he is worth really is just what he is worth to you. If you are fond of him and he does everything you want you may not easily find another that fits the bill as well. You need to buy him though realising you may get several years riding from him or only a short time.
 
Given his age, his mobility already showing signs of becoming an issue and the unexplained lump on an older grey, I would say he would be practically worthless on the open market. He won't pass any vetting will he, he won't ride soundly at a viewing or vetting without medicating to disguise his 'stiffness' that is more accurately called unsoundness. Ex hunter too, so well used in a very physically demanding sport for any horse.

How long have you loaned him, why has owner decided to sell now at this late stage of the horse's life. Any horse can breakdown or drop dead tomorrow, the horse you describe has the chances of doing so multiplied exponentially year on year.

If you have the resources financially and emotionally to treat and care for an elderly sick or unsound horse that you can no longer ride, or even the funds to euthanize if that is the only viable way forward, then perhaps consider ownership. But only for a very small token payment and realistic second hand price for any tack and rugs then go ahead....but I wouldn't personally even consider it.
 
Even if you don't have a proper vet check done as he's a pony I'd have a blood test done to check for EMS and Cushings.

The daily tablets for cushings can work out very expensive in the long run and ponies are more prone to it than horses.
 
How would you feel if you only had six months riding with him and then you had to retire him?

I ask as this happened to us twice. Once with no indication of an issue (5 stage vetting etc). Three years later and his is still on retirement livery.

Second one we knew all the issues and paid a token amount (covered tack and rugs). We had to pts within the year due to the melanomas (you can’t see what’s going on inside). He was loved and had monthly vet checks right to the end. We knew we’d be his last home and I knew it would end that way, just not so quickly.
 
Fizzandfun said:
How would you feel if you only had six months riding with him and then you had to retire him?

I ask as this happened to us twice. Once with no indication of an issue (5 stage vetting etc). Three years later and his is still on retirement livery.

Second one we knew all the issues and paid a token amount (covered tack and rugs). We had to pts within the year due to the melanomas (you can’t see what’s going on inside). He was loved and had monthly vet checks right to the end. We knew we’d be his last home and I knew it would end that way, just not so quickly.
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Oh and I did have a vet check before purchasing. He wouldn’t have passed a vetting but I wanted to know what care he needed.
 
OK so speaking with the heart here whilst trying to engage the cool detached brain: not easy!

My feeling is that basically at the end of the day this horse would only be worth meat-price; so I'd be inclined to offer the dead-flesh-weight to the owner and see what happens. That way he would be yours.

For this price I probably would take him on-board as he is, without necessarily having a vetting first.

One of my liveries took on an ex-hunter at this same age; he was a lovely old boy and gave her several years of pleasure. He was a sort-of gift though, his owner didn't want any cash for him, he'd come to the end of his useful days for her but he was too young for making "the decision" about. So if you want to "think with the heart" I'd say that possibly he's worth making yours for around 1K - 2K? But certainly no more.
 
You can look up his saddle on some of the second hand websites and see what that's worth - less their commission obviously.

Second hand rugs / bridle etc. are pretty worthless when you look on ebay etc.

If I was the seller and you were a good long term home for an older horse with niggles I'd be delighted to offload my responsibilities for £1.

He will cost them £thoushands in retirement if you decide to stop loaning - so it's a fair trade.
 
Agree with all who are saying a 'token' amount.
We lost our beloved Connie at 21 due to his first - and catastrophic - attack of lami. But looking back on the years between 19 and 21 I can honestly say that they were some of the best times ever and I couldn't put a price on those experiences. Had it not been for the lami I've no doubt he would have been delighted to go on. He loved going out and was an absolute joy to ride.
Polos Mum said:
If I was the seller and you were a good long term home for an older horse with niggles I'd be delighted to offload my responsibilities for £1.

He will cost them £thoushands in retirement if you decide to stop loaning - so it's a fair trade.
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This.
A good home for an elderly horse - as an owner, this would be at the top of my list.
 
I would want that lump checked out by a vet unless it’s already been done by current owner.

Stiffness - is he on any joint supplements? A small amount of Danilon per day when turnout is restricted?

My first pony was 21 when she was gifted to me, I bought her tack & rugs for £500. She was recovering from Strangles when I met her and had Navicular. I was realistic in what exercise and care she needed and we had a lovely time hacking and doing low level stuff until I retired her when she was 29.

She died peacefully in my arms aged 31
 
I would try to continue loaning.

If you absolutely had to:
19 year old horse £1 but only after that lump and stiffness are checked out.
Tack - Saddle £350 - £500 depending on make, Bridle £20, more if the bit is special like a Neue Schule or something.
Rugs -turnout £40 each if in good shape and a good brand. Stable rug £10.
As mentioned above I would also check for EMS and PPID (he should qualify for the free PPID test).

When you retire this horse would you be able to afford another riding horse as well - something to consider.
For my retired horse Prascend and Equioxx (for stiffness) amount to £3+ a day plus blood tests. I am in denial about how much his forage replacement diet costs.
 
I would be paying the price of the tack and setting a limit on what you are willing to pay in vets fees and veterinary maintenance.
My 26 yr old Connemara was PTS last summer. He had EMS, had to be managed was sound and looked about 14. He slipped in the field and even with box rest and rehab he was never going to be sound.
I have kept mine most of their lives, I loan them out, so most have been over 20 when they have been PTS. You lucky if they are capable of any hard work after twenty, but they need more management than a younger animal, so what ever your budget you have to allow for that.
The cynic in me thinks its trying to get money out something that was a good servant, if she sells him to someone else he will have an uncertain future. My Connie when I bought him had three homes in two years and I was his fourth. He was sound but grumpy and had become difficult for most inexperienced owners.
 
I'm another one who would continue to loan if I could. Has your friend told you why she wants to sell? While I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, they're probably well aware that the horse wouldn't sell on the open market and possibly usnig your emotional atttachment to him as an easy way to not have the responsibilty of an older horse who has numerous health issues already. As someone else has said on the thread, if you stopped loaning, it would cost them a lot to retire him.

I would understand more if it were due to financial difficulty or something like that and you've both discussed it at length. However, at this point in the horses life, if I could no longer guarentee a safe future due to financial reasons, I would gift to someone like yourself with a strong agreement of return if needed, or PTS. I wouldn't expect any money from purchaser (just £1 for the transaction). I'd also give you everything you needed for the horse to ensure comfort and familiarity.

The responsibility you're taking on is uncertain and probably pricey - to expect you to pay for that is incredibly unfair, as you're really doing the current owner a favour, not the other way round.

If you do choose to go ahead, he won't pass a vetting, but it'd be useful to speak to a vet who knows him well about current issues and ongoing treatment needed to keep him company.
 
Is the stiffness managed (i.e. sound when up to date with joint injections/supplements/cartrophen) or is he having to have regular Bute/is currently unsound? If the former, as long as you are aware of the costs and that the management might work fine for years yet or might stop working/need extra layers in a few months time then I'd be inclined to buy, but I'd be inclined to offer mid to high 3 figures for the horse and whatever the saddle would be worth on the second hand market. If the latter I'm not sure I'd advise buying unless you're prepared to make a hard decision sooner than you'd like and I'd say he was only worth a token amount.
It's also worth considering how much he may start to cost to feed- some older horses are easy to keep condition on through the winter, some very much aren't!
 
SpeedyPony said:
Is the stiffness managed (i.e. sound when up to date with joint injections/supplements/cartrophen) or is he having to have regular Bute/is currently unsound? If the former, as long as you are aware of the costs and that the management might work fine for years yet or might stop working/need extra layers in a few months time then I'd be inclined to buy, but I'd be inclined to offer mid to high 3 figures for the horse and whatever the saddle would be worth on the second hand market. If the latter I'm not sure I'd advise buying unless you're prepared to make a hard decision sooner than you'd like and I'd say he was only worth a token amount.
It's also worth considering how much he may start to cost to feed- some older horses are easy to keep condition on through the winter, some very much aren't!
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I agree with this, up to about £1000, bearing in mind that the stiffness will need managing. Even if he isn't having anything at the moment, it's probable that cartrophen or steroids in the offending joints (once identified) would make him more comfortable, and if you buy him, that will become your responsibility. I would be concerned about a 19 year old being "stiff" - my 16 year old is arthritic and so long as his steroid jabs and supplements are being given, he isn't stiff - and suspect there's more that could be done to manage this.

The melanoma I would be less concerned about, assuming it's been stable for a relatively long time. However I would also remember that there's a chance he may have them internally, and that might end up being the reason for letting him go eventually.

Definitely worth a chat with his regular vet if you can - or if that's not possible, then another trusted vet paid for by you.
 
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