Buying a new horse -how old is too old??

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foxtrot

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I have found a horse for sale who although a little smaller than i wanted sounds just what i am looking for, the only thing putting me off is his age. Hes 20, the owner says he has no obvious health problems (sumthing that can be confirmed by a vetting). I am looking for a pleasure horse mainly to be used for hacking, beach rides etc... with the occassional RC lesson, jumping and showing throw in for variety.
I would be hoping for another good couple of years with my new horse until my youngster is ready.
Do you think 20yrs is pushing it??? the owner is asking just shy of £2000 for the horse, reasonable for its age????
 
At the moment I would say 2k for a 20yo is too high a price. I dont see why you cant find a safe sensible horse with a few less years on the clock for the same money. I have been helping a friend & it is a bit worrying at how cheap some horses are & it just because the owners just cant afford to keep them. 3yrs or so ago the same horse would have been at least 1k dearer.
 
I don't think 2k is reasonable for a 20 year old. Yes he may be fine for another 5 years, or a load of heartbreak and vet bills could be just around the corner. Even if he doesn't fall ill through to ill health, he'll be much more prone to injury by accident than a younger horse.
Did you plan to offer him a home for life?
 
I think there's a good chance there are a good few years in him yet, but I would never pay just shy of 2k for a 20 yo horse!

You will never be able to sell him on, when your youngster comes on will you be happy to keep a pet in the field?

There are plenty of horses you could get for 2k that are a more reasonable age.

If I had masses of land and plenty of money, and they were giving it to me, I might take on a 20yo, otherwise no way.
 
magic104 said:
At the moment I would say 2k for a 20yo is too high a price. I dont see why you cant find a safe sensible horse with a few less years on the clock for the same money. I have been helping a friend & it is a bit worrying at how cheap some horses are & it just because the owners just cant afford to keep them. 3yrs or so ago the same horse would have been at least 1k dearer.
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I agree, and sorry to say but I predict in a years time the market will be even more flooded as people feel the squeeze even more.
 
I was hunting my old mare at 30 and she lived to 35 so you could have many years of fun left! However the price is far too high unless it is a schoolmaster. If you can negotiate on the price then go with it if you are happy and we want pics!!
 
My old guy is 18 this year, and he is in good shape with maintainence. As he ages that costs me more and more money, which I don't mind as he is flawless out hacking, completely unflappable, and is great fun schooling and jumping to boot.

It all comes down to what YOU would pay. If this is the right horse, and the age thing is not an issue because he will have a long happy retirement in your field when the time comes, make an offer and see what happens. You pay for what you want, and if this is what you want, then go for it. However, if there are lots of horses around that meet your needs, they are likely less expensive.

I doubt the seller expects £2000. Negotiate.
 
I think £2k is too much for the horses age, bearing in mind it may be older unless it is registered and you can be sure of its date of birth. I bought a 15 year old pony a couple of years ago, not a single niggle on the vetting and yet within three months of light to moderate hacking he was lame - bone chips in his knee joints, which he'd probably had for a while controlled with steroid injections. As the previous poster said are you planning on keeping him long-term as you'll have his future to consider and you'd struggle to sell him on. Having said that he might be perfect and have years of riding left in him. You could still end up with health issues in younger horses but at least insurance wouldn't be a problem if you choose to insure.
 
i think i know the answer myself, i felt £2K was way overpriced and i am really worried about the health implications. i would want to insure as all mine at home are insured.
Where are all these reasonable priced horses??? iv been looking for a good few months for sumthing safe, sane but also fun in a budget below £2000 and all iv managed to find is green, inexperienced, absolutely bonkers horseys or health problems. If any1 knows of any let me know.
 
Going against the grain...

We paid just a smidge under £2k for my second pony, at the age of 28... :eek: She was worth every penny. At the end of the day, a horse is worth what you are prepared to pay.
 
There seems to be a mental block at the 2k mark, buyers & sellers. If you can stretch the budget and, and assume sellers expect you to negotiate down, you have a disproportionately greater choice if you look at up to £3k. Slippery slope I know, but at the end of the day you want to be out enjoying the summer.. ;)
 
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With any horse you have to go in with your eyes open - health problems can strike any horse at any age.

But I agree with everyone else. If you are offering a home for life, then I think the owner is being very greedy, the money should be put towards the horses welfare, not their pockets.
 
_MizElz_ said:
Going against the grain...

We paid just a smidge under £2k for my second pony, at the age of 28... :eek: She was worth every penny. At the end of the day, a horse is worth what you are prepared to pay.
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when was this? cos even a few years ago this would be true but in the current climate, not so likely
 
tigerlily12345 said:
when was this? cos even a few years ago this would be true but in the current climate, not so likely
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Going back a bit, but said pony was PTS not that long ago (at the age of 37!) and even in her last couple of years, people in our area were still desperate to get their hands on her.

I think you're right though - financial climate will make a difference. As will the fact that my girl was a pony - I dont think horses would be as likely to hold their price.
 
We paid barely over 2k, 6/7 years ago for a 16.3hh bay mare ex eventer who had hunted, hacked etc, school mistress who you can put any level of rider on and she'll try her hardest. Has only spooked twice since we've had her. Turns her hooves to anything but even if we considered selling her now we wouldn't ask that price and she's 19 going 20 this year!
 
Thanks gugglebum. i really wish i could streach my budget but its just not possible. i am also saving so my youngster can have the best start to his breaking as i can afford (i have high hopes for him). All im really wanting is a nice, easy to do horsey to take me onto my youngster not wanting a show stopper.
I am also prepared to give my new horse a forever home, we have over a 100 acres so space is no issue and will still be used when the youngster has his days off.
 
i would say if you can get the price down then fair enough, but that is crazy money to be asking for a horse that is 20! the oldest horse i would consider buying it 10 but that is just me personally, it also depends what you would want to do with said horse as well
 
I think the price is too high for a horse of that type at that age, that kind of allrounder, happy hacker that has not done affiliated anything goes for 2k a lot younger than 20 yrs old. At that age you realistically cannot assume you have years left of riding the horse, especially as you havent got the benefit of having had it for a few years and knowing what you have. If you like the horse, go in with an offer as I expect the seller knows the market for 20 year old allrounders is small. The vetting is bound to show some issues but you should do one just so you know what you are looking at. In your position I am not sure the age per se should put you off as you clearly expect to have the horse for a while and then retire it on your own land , and if the horse looks good for his age may be worth it at a lower price.
 
While I agree the price seems very optimistic, really I guess the bottom line is, how right is this horse for you ?
If you want a couple of years of ready to go fun, and the horse is healthy and can do that, then the price is slightly irrelevant. Vet bills are a reality to any horse owner regardless of age, the only difference with an older horse is deciding whether or not you can offer a home for life and accept responsiblity for its future.
A horse's value is based on what the buyer is looking for. One mans meat is another mans poison.
However, there are other good horses out there for your budget, it maybe worth hanging on a bit longer.
Does this horse come with good, fitting tack ? Up to date with jabs and teeth ? Start up costs for re starting jabs, saddler,EDT etc can easily set you back a considerable sum, so if the horse is really ready to go and have fun on, then the real cost of the actual horse is much less.
 
I doubt theres many people who would but him for £2000 so i doubt you will lose him to someone to a higher bidder. Have you explained to the owner that you really like him alot and that you are willing to give him the best home? I would let the owner know just how much I wanted him and just say but i cant part with £2000 as i need to keep some money in the tin incase he needs vet treatment (which is likely considering his age)

At the end of the day if that is as little as they will take for him i would probably end up paying it IF he was THE ONE and you just couldnt bear not having him in your life.

Unfortunatly there are no guarantees with horses of any age. You could buy a 5 year old and have to retire it after a year or you could buy an 18 year old and ride it for the next 10 years! I bought my last horse who was 13 and i only had her 9 months and she had to be PTS :(....so when i looked for my current horse i was looking for something around 10 years old, i ended up buying my mare who is 15 this year and truly in her prime (thats her in my pic:D)

If you DO really like the horse i would probably offer £1500, which is not and unfair price - so i wouldnt feel cheeky for asking. Remember you may not get insurance on a horse of this age so I would communicate that to the seller and tell them this is why you need to keep a little money aside. good luck x
 
I brought a 31 year old so I'm prob not the most sensible person to ask! But realisticly 2K seems too much, when you can something much younger for the same as you require for the same money. I am totally for buying older horses but at a sensible price, perhaps speak to the owner to see if they will reduce the price.
Remember you will probably be unable to sell the pony and they older they get the more they need in terms of care. My older girl needed more regular dentist visits, farrier visits, different food, etc etc and it all adds up.
 
I don't think 20 is too old for you, especially if you're only going to be using him for pleasure riding and a few lessons and showing. I've got a 20 year old who's still going strong! and I'm sure he still will be for many years to come.

But like everyone else, I think the £2k is a little too much to be paying. If you're getting tack and a full wardrobe of rugs, it would be more acceptable.
 
Another one who thinks £2K is too high. Yes you can get vet insurance for veterans (NFU do it) but the vets fees cover external injuries only - although realistically you probably wouldn't want to put an oldie through surgery.

So.. how about contacting the Veteran Society to take a horse on loan? or Blue Cross? I think I do have a realistic view of horse prices but even I feel that £2K on a 20 year old is taking the mickey! Would have offered £500 tops!
 
I'd make a lower offer and see what they say. The horse's age wouldn't put me off, but the price would! My sister recently sold her first pony to his long term loan home and he would have been about 21 when he was sold. However, they had given him a fantastic home for over two years (he weaves and gets very stressed when stabled, but he gets to live out 24/7 in a small herd with them because they own their own land) and as they can offer him a home for life and a good retirement, he was sold for the grand total of £1 :D
 
I bought an 18 yr old with high mileage for £405. He was my main horse for the next 9 years! At 20 he was being ridden 5 - 6 times a week and was capable of alarming behaviour! He is now 30, and has the occasional hack.

I also own a native pony who is 25 this year and is still capapble of riding 3 -4 times per week. They both really enjoy themselves.

If the horse is fit and healthy and right for you, I would certainly be interested. However, I do think the larger the horse the less likely they will stay fit and healthy into old age (in my experience) my old boy is 15.1.

Also, there is no way on earth I would pay £2000. I also bought a 16 yr old for £400. She was also fine and dandy but was pts at 18 due to an internal growth.
 
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