Buying your ride?

Foxford

Foxford

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So... I've been riding a horse for someone for the past 15 months. I also looked after him a couple of days a week up untill early January. Because I have moved, it's impossible for me to continue looking after him, but I'm still hoping to ride him once a week.

On my last day his owner told me she was probably going to sell the horse to make room for more. Immediately I said I would be interested, but I had limited funds. His owner was adamant that she wanted him to go to a good home, and I think they want me to have him.

I'm concerned about what to offer, or what he is worth. The complications arise in the fact that he was purchased at 4 for nearly 6k. He is now rising 7, but despite lessons and having a professional rider once a fortnight his owner hasn't managed to get him up to the level she wanted. Also he has developed a mild cribbing habit (not much turnout) and he had a bout of lami last year (due to being overweight).

Now before you say I'm mad for wanting to buy him, I have thought it through!! I know exactly what I am getting and we are a real team. I'm excited by the prospect of having full control over his training and I think I know what he needs to shine. Also, he is the only horse I've ever had such a strong connection with other than Suzy, who we tragically lost last year as I'm sure some of you will remember.
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So, my problem is this - I don't think he is worth very much! But I think his owner does and I'm worried she will be insulted by any offer I make, or that she will ask for more than he is worth and more than I can afford! So if anyone has any thoughts I would be massively grateful if they shared!
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Phew!
 
i am no expert at all on prices but if you have said you have limited funds she should get the picture - could you afford to offer what she paid for him?
 
No!! But I'm pretty confident he is worth nowhere near that. I think the original price was due to his potential which he has not achieved in the last 3 years, not to mention the lami which would knock a lot more off.

Perhaps it would help if I said all he has done are a couple of prelims which have been less than sparking ie. scores in 50s.
 
You obviously have a price in mind, so ask her how much she is hoping to get, then tell her how much you would be prepared to pay. Talk it up by saying she wouldn't have to advertise, home for life (??), you know him, his history etc etc. You could go so far as to point out why you don't think he's worth as much as she thinks. If she's expecting more than she bought him for, or even the same, from what you say, she'd be lucky .... there again, there are people out there prepared to pay stupid money for not alot!!
 
well i didnt want to say that but i think you might be right. is always so hard buying a horse on potiential, its a tricky one, good luck and i hope that it works out, sounds like he would have a lovely home with you.
 
I part-loaned a horse for 2 years, and the owner gave us first refusal on buying him when she decided to sell. However, he had some major issues, and was worth less than half what she wanted, especially as it had been me doing all his schooling and riding!

We decided to walk away, and got a much better horse instead.

If you really want him, then the owner will know this, and probably bump up the price, so you will have to pay over the odds. I would wait to see what she wants, and then make a counter-offer, stressing what a good home he'll have with you.

Good luck!
 
Thanks! It must have been very hard for you to walk away. If we couldn't come to an agreement I would be prepared to leave it, but it's not a decision I would make lightly. I am surprised your owner bumped up the price - just because I often hear stories of loanees buying their horse for a small sum.
I must stress I don't want to rob the poor owner! Merely to agree on a fair price.
 
I was gutted, especially as she didn't sell him straight away, and the next sharer (an ex-friend of mine) broke down his tendons about a month after I stopped doing him.
We were still on the same yard at the time, so I had to avoid him, which was painful. I was glad to move to a different yard.

He had sarcoids, was bad in traffic and he was also scared of horse stiles, which limited where I could hack him. To me he was only worth £500-1000 max, whereas the owner wanted £2.5k. She's now a bit of a dealer, and I think wanted to take advantage of my bond with the horse...

Your owner sounds much nicer, so I'm sure you'll be able to compromise on the price.
 
Its very difficult putting a price on a horse that is probably an allrounder rather than a tallented one discipline horse but if he is very good natured, super with heavy traffic on his own & in company, easy to do in the stable and has fairly good paces at the age of 7 presuming he is an adults size 15.3 - 16.2 he would probably be worth £4k - £5k purely for the safeability factor. At 7 he is still young and his potential is still open to persuasion so with a lot of correct flat work he should be worth what they originally paid for him as a decent level riding club competitor at the age of 9. His laminitis bout should not usually put people off as it may have been a one off from being overweight and probably fed the wrong feeds during spring grass season, also a serious contributory factor is usually bad foot shape (sorry, my hubby's a Vet so I am rather hot on laminitis issues). I would just say to his current owners that you are out of touch with the horse market at present and put them on the spot to give you a guide price. Incidentally, one of my liveries has just bought a 7yr old 16hh TBx Gelding done a little unaff prelim, riding club SJ and general hack for £5,250 the owners were asking £5,995 for him. I however have just paid for a rather green potential dressage horse of similar description for £7,800 asking was £8k. Hope this helps.
 
I think you should speak to his owner, go through the details that you have a really strong bond with him, really enjoy riding him and make a good team....all of what you have said above is super....then say you have a limit fund but know you could do really well together...ask how much she would be willing for you to buy him for....if it is really high, with out insulting her I would mention the cribbing and the lami issues....see what she says....lay the cards down and see what result you get....as the saying goes - if you dont ask, you dont get....good luck...sounds like a lovely horse and with all your hard work sounds like a great team....
 
Thanks for your input - much appreciated! He has not been hacked out for 3 years, and although I believe he is safe it's not proven. I don't think his owner would be too keen to let potential purchasers try him on the road either, as the yard is situated on a busy country lane. You're right he is about 16.1!
 
Sadly a horse that has suffered from Laminitis is very more likely to get it again. Owning a horse that is prone to Laminits brings with it the cost of veterinary fees, medication and shoeing in the future and the uncertainty of when the next episode will be. Laminitis is not just caused by eating to much but can also be caused by stress or other medical or mental issues.

If you have limited funds then be aware of the heartache and costs of veterinary fees and medication.

However valuable the horse may be in the owners eyes in reality a horse that suffers from Laminitis is sadly only worth meet money as whoever takes it on is taking on a big liability.
 
I don't think that I can really advise you on prices here - I live in Cornwall - and prices are always different down here, as people aren't willing to travel as far (it seems anyway!!)

However, we have had a couple of driving ponies prone to laminitis, and although it is something to always be aware of, I do believe that with good management and exercise regimes, laminitis does not need to bring a whole host of bills. After our first experience (many many years ago) with the pony getting laminitis, we have always been very careful at keeping grazing restricted. I do use this for all my horses now, and they are kept on more restricted most of the year round - and they all do much better.

On a smaller (electric) fenced area yes they do strip the grass down, but also it is a more manageable size paddock, where poo picking is not the night mare it would be in the whole field.

Works for me anyway..... !!
Just my 2p's worth
 
All things considered, what's the max you're willing to spend?

I'd offer a bit under that (a 'bit' depending on how much - say 2.5k, offer 2k as 'the most you'd be looking to spend on him). That at least leaves you some wriggle room to barter as she'll probably want more.

Definitely have a limit in mind though and don't go over it - it's easy to get carried away with these things.
 
Think the best thing to do is ask her what she wants for him?

Tell her you'd rather that than insult her as she must have a guide price she's thinking of, and then go from there.

Think it's unfair of people to say 'make me an offer' and then when you do, they usually choke and make out that you must be dreaming. Makes the whole situation rather uncomfortable.

If she's looking for a similar price as she paid 3yrs ago you can tell her that's not what you're prepared to pay and walk away. She may well run after you!
 
Thanks everyone - you've all given me some food for thought. I just needed an outside opinion or three. I'm going to see him this weekend which I'm looking forward too. I don't think he has done much since I have left, mostly because of the bad weather.

OWLIE I nursed him through the lami, and I know what having him will entail. He isn't ready for the meat man yet.

Well I hope to have good news next week.
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Remember too that it works in your favour.... ie you know him and know that you are a team.... so surely that makes it worth spending a little more than a strangers horse that you hope you will like!!

Hope that makes sense and that you are sucessful in your bid to get him.
 
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