Can't believe I'm posting this but- how much should I ask for my horse?

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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Well I've come to a cross roads in my life and it seems when I start uni it is going to be near impossible to keep my horse as well. I can either try and find a long term loan home (which is hugely possible as he's going on loan for the summer whilst I'm in Italy.) Or I have to sell, this is my horse of a lifetime who I always said I would never sell so very upset over this.

Disclaimer: This is not advertising I just need to get a general idea as I have rose tinted glasses and not planning on selling for a little while! :)

Basically he is a 148cm ex racing pony. Raced very successfully but I'd rather he didn't go to a racing home. He is 13 and has mainly done PC activities including competing on the gatcombe team and intermediate eventing but mainly raced until I got him.

In the time I have had him I have done low level BS up to 1.05 but was planning on going to newcomers this summer with scope to go further. He is doing nice flatwork at home to elementary level and could potentially go a lot further but he isn't great in tests as he gets stressed and tense, however we are working on this and his scores are getting a lot better.

He will make a lovely eventer but I'm a massive wimp xc but will pretty much turn his hoof to anything. Hacks out alone or in company good to shoe, box, clip, vet etc (loads himself onto the trailer.)

However, he is a poor doer so needs a lot of TLC in the winter to keep him well and he is quirky, very forward going and fast. He needs an experienced and sympathetic rider as he never does anything out of naughtiness, just pure excitement so he needs someone who can understand him and not lose their cool with him.

I was thinking around £2,500 due to his quirks and his age? :confused:
 
If he is your horse of a lifetime loan him or find a sharer! Just choose carefully and make sure you make unannounced visits and regular visits if its not a close friend
 
I do prefferably want to loan or find a sharer but in case that doesn't work out I need a back up plan. :)

Loanee might outgrow him or may not get on with him, I don't think their keen to keep him over the winter either which is fair enough.
 
He is a lovely pony with a great jump, I would not undersell him 13 is not old for a pony they are still in their prime and he could as you say do more eventing which is what most PC kids are now doing.

Selling for a low price may help you be picky about where he goes but can also put off people as they will think he has real problems, a few quirks are expected of talented ponies as long as he does the job and is generally nice to deal with.

If you look on the PC website it will give you a good idea of prices, they are way above £2500, I would think more like £4500 for him as long as he will pass a vet, has no vices and is good in traffic/ box / catch etc.
 
I know I'm not a frequent poster, but had to comment on this!

I've watched you and Andy ever since I was shopping for Dolly for my daughter!

All your worries, ups and downs! Is he too thin? Too stressed? :)

I don't have years of experience, but I know this.

Some ponies are laid back and can move from one owner to another and settle quickly. I've seen it. Other ponies struggle to make themselves heard.

I suspect Andy is like Dolly. Took ages to settle but now he has, will do just about anything for you.

You'll be on here in 5 years time asking where he is now and how your heart is breaking because you let him go. :(

Keep him. Don't sell him. He needs you! :)
 
LadyRascasse said:
If he is your horse of a lifetime loan him
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Ideally this /\

I could not afford Seren when I first relocated to Bristol so she went on loan to a riding school and before we moved she was on loan to a University equine college place as I needed to focus on my studies. I got her back, and I am so glad I never sold her, Seren was my horse of a lifetime and I was so glad we came back together as soon as we could. If you can find a good loan home, and good luck
 
I would ask £3,500, or more, as you don't want people who are mainly interested in cost, he sounds brilliant for the right home, so I would advertise at a high level [H&H for example]
Also let everyone you know that he is for sale. Advertise on RC sites as well.
I would think his racing days are over, because they do slow down with age.
You have most of your life in front of you, and he is a bit older, so of he wants to keep competing, let him go but try to keep in touch.
I think people who pay more come in several categories, including the experienced and the wealthy.
By upping the price you get rid of people who want to sell him on.
 
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redmone said:
I know I'm not a frequent poster, but had to comment on this!

I've watched you and Andy ever since I was shopping for Dolly for my daughter!

All your worries, ups and downs! Is he too thin? Too stressed? :)

I don't have years of experience, but I know this.

Some ponies are laid back and can move from one owner to another and settle quickly. I've seen it. Other ponies struggle to make themselves heard.

I suspect Andy is like Dolly. Took ages to settle but now he has, will do just about anything for you.

You'll be on here in 5 years time asking where he is now and how your heart is breaking because you let him go. :(

Keep him. Don't sell him. He needs you! :)
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This is so lovely I totally agree with you and will do anything in my power to keep him. My original plan of going to to Italy was to pay for a holiday to australia but now putting anything I save into keeping him.
 
Echo what redmone said, id go through the pc to find a good sharer or loan home with a pony like this you should have no problem
 
Well said Redmone! I don't know you Kokopelli, but have always enjoyed reading your posts and seeing how far you've come with Andy. You clearly love him dearly and have gone through a lot to cement your bond with him so I'm sure you'll make the right decision for him whatever it may be. Good luck and keep us posted x
 
Kokopelli said:
This is so lovely I totally agree with you and will do anything in my power to keep him. My original plan of going to to Italy was to pay for a holiday to australia but now putting anything I save into keeping him.
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Get working girl! You can do it!!!

Your holiday to Australia will wait. What's a few weeks break (which will be gone very quickly) compared to keeping this little guy forever! Try to see every event you do together as a small piece of your holiday! (I'm trying to think like this as we seem to have a horsebox now rather than a holiday this year! :rolleyes:)

Dolly's stuck with us for life. I just can't imagine her not being in our lives, and my bum has never even sat in HER saddle - nevermind what you and Andy have done together.

Andy IS one in a million. Everyone can see that.

So in answer to you original question, priceless is the figure you should be asking for him. :D
 
Goodness Redmone your post brought a tear to my eye :D

It is always difficult when we reach points in our lives - travelling/university/meeting partners/moving out etc etc but if we really try there is always a way.
Youve come such a long way with him, I hope it all works out for you :)
 
He's worth more than that! Loan him. I can't bear thought of u selling him. If he was bigger we'd take ur arm off to pamper him for a few years while ur studying. Pingpong can't have one that small though. :-( I'm sure someone less lanky will give him a great loan home though. I loaned when I went to university and i'm so pleased I did. 11 years since I graduated and I still have her!
 
katie_southwest said:
Goodness Redmone your post brought a tear to my eye :D

It is always difficult when we reach points in our lives - travelling/university/meeting partners/moving out etc etc but if we really try there is always a way.
Youve come such a long way with him, I hope it all works out for you :)
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:p I know, I don't often interfere (as I don't generally consider myself qualified in horsey matters enough to advise others!) but when I do......:eek:

However having a "quirky" pony ourselves, it is something we feel quite strongly about! Someone who I massively respect told my daughter this week "this pony didn't used to like you, and now she'd jump the moon for you" and she was spot on. To take my daughter away from Dolly now would seem cruel. They make each other brave.

Perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps Dolly would be fine, and find another person to love her like we do. Perhaps I'm "bigging" our relationship with her up and someone else could do the same. But perhaps not, and I'm not willing to risk her happiness.

I just feel Andy is the same. A fragile soul who, in the wrong hands, would be misunderstood. And who in the right hands is a warrior.

Ponies ROCK! :D
 
Andy has such a rock solid background with both his racing and teams in the past, where his quirks were easily managed that I'm sure he'd sell easily for £4k or so. Just write the advert well rather than pointing out the negatives!

"Super 14.2hh 13yo pony for sale. Andy has successfully competed on all PC teams at Intermediate level, with particular success with his SJ and eventing. He has competed at Gatcombe SJ and will be a brilliant pony for a competitive child. Fantastic paces and snaffle mouthed in all phases. He has hunted (not with current rider) and done all PC activities. Now competing at 1.05m BS with scope to go much further. Has given current rider lots of confidence and is a real schoolmaster for the right child- very sad sale due to a gap year abroad and then university. Right home more important than price, hence £4000."

Then the picture of him clearing stuff by miles, one of him XC schooling and one showing him in an outline.

Easy sale!
 
I'd loan him if I had a spare stable! Desperate for another quirky one!
He sounds wonderful-I would try to loan him out if i were you. A confident PC rider, with a mum who will take them to rallies and competitions and keep him getting experience and chilling out more :) x
 
Ditto what Moggy in Manalos and Redmone said - you can't sell Andy! You guys have come such a long way together and like you said he is your horse of a lifetime.
I put my pony out on loan to a riding school to go travelling three years before uni, then the riding school closed down just before my final year so she came home to me. They had offered me rather more than I realised she was worth when I was abroad (and a 'forever home' for her) but I'm really glad I didn't take it because then they would have been forced to sell her on when they closed down as I wouldn't have been in a position to buy back. When she came home it was tough but brilliant and I still got my first - horses and degrees are perfectly compatible if you plan your time well and get a decent part time job with lots of hours to pay for the horse (and as long as you can drive).
Please consider all your options - loan, keeping and sharer before you sell Andy - it would be so awful to regret it.
 
Go for a loan I think, but be very, very clear with the loaner that he is not for sale but if you should change your mind they will be the first to know because if they get very attached to your horse and you don't want any misunderstandings or undue pressure.
 
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redmone said:
I know I'm not a frequent poster, but had to comment on this!

I've watched you and Andy ever since I was shopping for Dolly for my daughter!

All your worries, ups and downs! Is he too thin? Too stressed? :)

I don't have years of experience, but I know this.

Some ponies are laid back and can move from one owner to another and settle quickly. I've seen it. Other ponies struggle to make themselves heard.

I suspect Andy is like Dolly. Took ages to settle but now he has, will do just about anything for you.

You'll be on here in 5 years time asking where he is now and how your heart is breaking because you let him go. :(

Keep him. Don't sell him. He needs you! :)
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This. I hope you can find a way.
 
I bought my horse specifically to go to uni with!

Would you consider loaning him as a college horse to Hartpury? That way you could have him back during your hols too?

Ditto what others say regarding not selling him!

If you don't fancy loaning to Hartpury, well worth advertising him for loan on some of the local FB sites. I'd be happy to spread the word around Malvern RC too if you want?

ETS - What is his height in hh? Cant work out cms, sorry!
 
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redmone said:
I know I'm not a frequent poster, but had to comment on this!

I've watched you and Andy ever since I was shopping for Dolly for my daughter!

All your worries, ups and downs! Is he too thin? Too stressed? :)

I don't have years of experience, but I know this.

Some ponies are laid back and can move from one owner to another and settle quickly. I've seen it. Other ponies struggle to make themselves heard.

I suspect Andy is like Dolly. Took ages to settle but now he has, will do just about anything for you.


You'll be on here in 5 years time asking where he is now and how your heart is breaking because you let him go. :

Keep him. Don't sell him. He needs you! :)
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Wise words redmone.
 
Don't sell him, unless you consider what you will do after Uni. If you think you will just come home and carry on where you left off (living at home with your parents, maybe?) getting a job that allows you time to ride/care for him, then keep him.

But if your new found degree will take you off elsewhere, then maybe consider that selling is for the best.
 
redmone said:
I know I'm not a frequent poster, but had to comment on this!

I've watched you and Andy ever since I was shopping for Dolly for my daughter!

All your worries, ups and downs! Is he too thin? Too stressed? :)

I don't have years of experience, but I know this.

Some ponies are laid back and can move from one owner to another and settle quickly. I've seen it. Other ponies struggle to make themselves heard.

I suspect Andy is like Dolly. Took ages to settle but now he has, will do just about anything for you.

You'll be on here in 5 years time asking where he is now and how your heart is breaking because you let him go. :(

Keep him. Don't sell him. He needs you! :)
Click to expand...


^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^
 
NOOOO..........You can't sell Andy! I agree with the bulk of the previous posts, you have come such a long way together and are such a team, you will in the future seriously regret it and spend years searching for him. You will just have to give up all thoughts of uni and go and work in McDonalds or KFC!! Seriously though, I really hope you can find a way to keep him and do all the other things you want/need to do (as in want to travel/need to go to uni) because you are such a good team.
 
Honestly it is possible to do horses and uni! Mine is the only thing thats kept me sane this year, genuinley couldnt have done it with out him there.
 
Hi OP, ditto what Dafthoss says, I took mine to Uni, hard work but so glad I did it...could you give it a try and see how you go, and if it's too much then look to sell? Which Uni are you off to?
 
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