Buying a hunter

[ihatework]

A friend of mine needs to sell her horse, she got it with the aim of SJ'ing big tracks but it's not really going to be cut out for that job. It's only 6 yo and is a big, 17hh ish MW. Really bold over natural fences and an armchair ride.
She is pretty confident he is going to make a cracking hunter / team chaser but hasn't actually hunted.
Is he sellable as a hunter and how much would an untried horse fetch?
It's difficult for me to give her an accurate figure as I am not that involved with the hunting scene, but he is a quality horse, just not really suited to life as a SJ'er. He does a respectable dressage test though!

 

[RunToEarth]

Has he actually hunted- not really worth even advertising it as a hunter unless it has done a good season- people who buy hunters as a general rule like to know which hunt they have come from, and a lot buy in the season so they can test drive...

 

[Weezy]

Got any pics you can PM me B&J?

 

[chestnut cob]

Can she hang on to him til the start of the season and get him out a few times, or is she desperate to sell?

 

[ihatework]

She really wants to sell now but if he is still with her in the autumn she will take him cubbing and then out hunting if still around.

Weezy he has actually just gone online, I will send you the link.

 

[AmyMay]

Agree with Rosie about not advertising it as a hunter. But I also wonder if it would be suitable as a team chaser as well - 17hh MW is a pretty big lump of a horse to get round in the times set perhaps?

What's it's confirmation like? Could be aimed at a showing home if it's correct.

 

[ihatework]

Hmm ... he's going to be a tricky one to sell at the moment.
He is not really a show horse, I'm pretty confident it would TC, very bold and long striding. It really is suited to being a hunter but I completely agree it needs to be seen out there and doing it !
She'll be taking it cubbing as soon as it starts if he hasn't been sold.

 

[AmyMay]

Well if she can get it out cubbing - and it behaves and settles to it. And also gets the opportunity to get it over some natural fences she may well be able to sell it for a bit of money.

Where is she based???

 

[ihatework]

Hampshire, so not even the best hunting county unfortunately!

 

[AmyMay]

Tricky. The master of the Curre (Jackie Thomas) is a big man - so always needs a big horse to hunt. He has two at the moment - but who knows, may always be on the hunt for another.

It could be worth contacting the Hunt secretary to put some feelers out.........

 

[kick_On]

this one is difficult one, as everyone say unless horse has seen hounds you can't sell advertised as 'hunter' only as 'potential hunter', which then attaches a much lower price.
You'll have to find someone who wants to train and turn into hunter, as sound like it has potential BUT needs to be trained to cope with the hunting environment as some take to it and other horses it just blows their brains.
But quality will sell and as you say it got manner in other aspects so i'm sure some will see potential. As for value i would suggest that's value should be based on know job NOT potential , but defo add in advert that is good overnatural stuff and see what happens.
A good hunting horse will defo command very good price as in any horse disciple and esp if can carry a 'man's weight' all day