Do people actually buy 2 year olds?

[Faithkat]

Serious question. I've been trying to sell my (now) 2 year old basically since she was a weanling and have advertised her periodically on various websites, forums etc. In almost 18 months I have only had one phone call and they didn't even bother coming to see her. She really has to go sooner or later although I am now thinking that I'll have to keep her until she's 4, backed and going but I do not have the ability or resources to bring her on (not to mention being far too old!). This is not a disguised "for sale" ad, I'm just curious as to whether or not people do actually buy youngsters. I realise the market is pretty depressed all round but I'm also not prepared to sell her below her value, I've invested far too much time and money in her for that.

 

[arwenplusone]

Lots of people do! It is a better option sometimes to buy a young horse with no 'issues' that you can start yourself.

What sort of a horse is she - have you an advert link?

I sold an 18month old last year - in September so it can be done.

 

[Faithkat]

I just find it depressing that I haven't even had timewasters!!

http://www.horsehunter.co.uk/Elegant-2-year-old-p-35057.htm

 

[Lollii]

Ahh she is lovely, But I had never heard of the Horse Hunter site, I only look on Horse & Hound and Horsemart, can't really be bothered to troll around the othere sites.

Have you tried H&H?

 

[ISHmad]

We bought a 2 year old a few months ago. Sorry for sticking my neck out here, but I do think that £3250 is a lot of money in the current climate. Good horses going well under saddle are selling for less than that.

I do think she's a really nice horse by the way and apologies if my comment above offends. Just wanted to give you some honest feedback

 

[arwenplusone]

lovely looking 2 yr old but you are asking too much ££

I could go out and buy a just backed or ready to back 3/4 yearold for £3k (with decent lines/confo etc).

If you are buying a 2 yearold you have to factor in that you will keep it for at least a year without doing much with it. In today's climate that is quite a tough ask.

I think you need to be more like £2500 - I'm sorry

 

[ladyt25]

Ok, so I am not into breeding so don't know the breeding lines/relevance but, in my opinion (and not sure you'll appreciate my honesty here!) I think she may well be just a little bit overpriced for her age.

I have been browsing horses of this age for a bit as potentially looking for something to bring on when I have to start thinking about retiring my horse. I wouldn't look at anything over £2K (and hopefully under) as I would be intending to do the bringing on and hard graft myself.

I am not sure whether others out there are similar to me? If you REALLY want her to sell I think you may have to consider dropping the asking price. It's all dependant on the market out there and what people want. She looks like a nice type but, if there are other similar ones out there for say £1k less then they are more likely going to be the ones selling.

Have you actually got her on any other sites? I think the likes of Horsemart/Horsedeals/H&H may get more hits.

 

[Fransurrey]

I considered buying a 2yr old, recently, when looking for a second pony, as I don't think I'm experienced enough for a foal/weanling, but have brought on youngsters before, so people must buy them! I was put off by prices that I saw, but I was on a bit of a budget!

 

[SpottedCat]

Too expensive - she's the sort I'd be looking to buy if I wanted another horse but not at that price I'm afraid because for not a lot more I could get a just backed 4yo which is similar.

That said, have you tried advertising her in eventing mag? I would probably fork out for the more specialist magazines which the professionals and serious competitors are likely to see TBH as that's the market I think is most likely to spend that kind of money on a 2yo.

 

[flyingfeet]

See the thing is I can go and buy a yearling out of a Grade A /B mare crossed with a GP Stallion for £2k.

So I think that's too pricey. Also has the Anglo Arab done anything competition wise? If she has it may help the advert.

 

[Faithkat]

I hear what you are all saying but even at £3250 (and I would be prepared to come down a bit) I am actually losing money. I think purchasers need to be realistic about how much it actually costs to produce a quality horse. She cost me over £1000 before she was born and to quote Mayflower "you have to factor in keep for at least a year" - yes, that's one of the reasons she (and many others like her) are the price they are, producing and keeping them for 2 or 3 years costs considerably more than £3k!!!

I've tried H&H, Horsedeals, Horsemart etc and already spent a few hundred pounds on ads, I cannot afford to keep on like that, it's just not worth it.

Edited to say: I tried a few ads without mentioning a price and had no repsonse to those either

Her mother was only just rising 5 when she was put in-foal so hadn't done anything yet. Some of you may remember her schooling pics with Binkybex (she went to BB when the foal was weaned). She has subsequently been sold. I was fully expecting to be able to sell the foal at weaning but the lack of response meant that one of them had to go for financial reasons.

Eventing magazine phoned to ask if I wanted to advertise with them but at £40 for a single ad - I don't think so, it would have been another £40 down the drain. She was advertised as for sale in the Young Event Horse Championships programme . .
. .

I can see me cutting my losses and selling her for meat, I thinK!!

 

[SpottedCat]

But then you consider that for only £1500 more (give or take) I bought a v well bred 5yo who was out eventing within 6 months of me buying him. This, I think, is the reason only studs/professional riders etc actually make money on breeding horses. Because if you keep her and don't spend out on advertising her in the 'proper' magazines you are continuing to spend money on her so her 'price' will go up.

She isn't selling, so something is wrong somewhere as good horses young and old are selling despite what anyone tells you. Purchasers don't need to be realistic when other people are prepared to sell similar quality animals/older youngstock for less money - they simply shop elsewhere I'm afraid.

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
I hear what you are all saying but even at £3250 (and I would be prepared to come down a bit) I am actually losing money. I think purchasers need to be realistic about how much it actually costs to produce a quality horse. She cost me over £1000 before she was born and to quote Mayflower "you have to factor in keep for at least a year" - yes, that's one of the reasons she (and many others like her) are the price they are, producing and keeping them for 2 or 3 years costs considerably more than £3k!!!

I've tried H&H, Horsedeals, Horsemart etc and already spent a few hundred pounds on ads, I cannot afford to keep on like that, it's just not worth it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with you and it is tough for breeders. I sold a very nice little filly last year for £2k and that probably made me a bit of a loss.

If you can afford to keep her, then perhaps that is the way forward but if you sell her now for £2500 versus selling her in a year for £3250 will that be any different in terms of your profit? Probably not.

Depends on how much you want to sell her really

 

[Faithkat]

Problem is, Mayflower, I've had NO response at all, not even to the ads that don't mention a price. I might be prepared to go down to £2500 but if people don't even try an offer, they'll never know. . . . . I think I put up one ad last year with "sensible offers invited" but zilch . . . . aarrghhhh!! She has GOT to go sooner or later, she was bred to sell and as I said in original post, I do not have the ability or resources to bring her on. Mind you, looking around, not many youngsters seem to be selling, I keep seeing the same horses appearing in updated ads all over the place so it's obviously not just me that's having problems I recently visited the stud who stand her sire and I've never seen so many horses there, they aren't selling any either despite their name, reputation and connections (and, for info, they don't sell any foal under £3k . . . . mine was priced at their suggestion)

 

[Lollii]

quote I can see me cutting my losses and selling her for meat, I thinK!!

Don't do that! I will pay the meat money and have her ... she is lovely ... toodles off to bank to arrange another overdraft to pay for another horse .... !

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I don't want to offend but I'm going to say it anyway.
Would it not have been better to have asked this question (or a similar one) before her dam was put in foal?
One reason that there are so many ponies going through markets is the over-breeding, not just of poorer animals but also of better quality animals which do not have an assured home.
I realise that people's circumstances change but I wish that small-scale breeders would accept that they have a responsibility to the resulting foal, possibly for the rest of it's life.
Rather than selling her for meat, you could cut your losses and sell her rather more cheaply than the current asking price.

 

[Faithkat]

I doubt if there are very many foals born that have "an assured home". Unfortunately breeding a horse a very long term project (realistically - 5 years) so NOTHING can be assured given that time scale. There was no "credit crunch" even rumoured when I put the mare in foal 3 years ago and, believe me, if I had had ANY idea that it would be be so difficult to sell, I most definitely would not have bothered.

BTW, I'm continually stunned by the people on here who take every word literally. There is no way I would sell her for meat!! And, if you read my previous response - if no-one even tries an offer, they'll never know.

 

[Foxford]

I bought a 2yo last year - I actually think it's a good age to buy, as I put in a year of groundwork before I backed him. OK I know a lot of people might not have the time to do this, but it made backing him a lot easier as he trusted me and was well-mannered etc.

I think you should try horsequest or H&H. Also, could you take her to futurity or a county show? A good result here could help justify her price and get her seen.

 

[ladyt25]

I think (unfortunately for you and others in your position) a buyer is unlikely to care whether you have lost money or not -all a buyer is wanting is a horse for the best price they can get it for!

We bought a 4yo 16.1hh Andalusian x who'd just started out competing for less than you're asking.

At the end of the day buying a youngster, whatever it's breeding, is taking a risk. It may never turn out to be what a purchaser wants so they buy with that in mind.

I think if you want more money for her, you'd be better off keeping her, having her backed and getting her out on the circuit. Therefore you have more justification for her value.

I've seen a lovely few youngsters for less between £1000 - £1500. I would be prepared to take a risk on a horse at that value as opposed to 2K more.

I assume the 'selling for meat' comment was rather tongue in cheek' ?!

 

[Faithkat]

[ QUOTE ]
I bought a 2yo last year - I actually think it's a good age to buy, as I put in a year of groundwork before I backed him. OK I know a lot of people might not have the time to do this, but it made backing him a lot easier as he trusted me and was well-mannered etc.

I think you should try horsequest or H&H. Also, could you take her to futurity or a county show? A good result here could help justify her price and get her seen.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't have my own transport so travelling her around is tricky and expensive. Futurity - too expensive. However, my reasoning behind taking her to the Young Event Horse Championships last year was get her seen . . . . . 'nuff said, no response; Similarly, she is entered for New Forest Show at the end of the month but, again, I am relying on a friend for transport and showing her for me but, thus far, she hasn't even been to practice with her and no way am I taking her to a large, very exciting show without some practice! There is a local show this coming Sunday that I would like to take her to just to get her out but see previous sentence! The filly is normally pretty unfazed by things but NF Show can be VERY exciting . . .

BTW, I agree with you about buying a 2 year old - I just wish more people felt the same way. Oh well, keep buying the youngstock mix then . . . . . !

 

[lizzie_liz]

I have read all the responses and looked at the advert and I am sorry but I wouldnt pay 3k for a 2 year old especially when you are not a well known breeder and the dam has very little track record.
If you knew when you set out that you didnt have the experience to bring on the foal then sorry you shouldnt have bred her. When breeding you have to think about all the eventualities and what ifs.
if you are so desperate to sell then I think you to have to reduce the price and accept you have made a loss.

I know that is what you want to hear but truth can hurt. You came on here for advice but so far you dont seem to be accepting that.
Also if you dont put a price on an advert it can put a lot of people off.

 

[Faithkat]

I do have the experience to "bring on a foal" and have had a good many over the years. What I do not have is the facilities to bring on a RIDDEN youngster - hence expecting/wanting to sell as a 2-3 year old (or younger if people are interested).
I am accepting that people only expect to pay peanuts for a youngster . . .I tried an ad without a price to see if that made any difference, but like I said before, I do not appear to be alone in having difficulty selling a youngster. End of . .

 

[Kenzo]

Best age to buy a horse I think personally.

 

[BBH]

I am in the same position, I have a really super welsh D boy and haven't had any serious response. To be fair I've only advertised him on two websites. Two people have rung, one I didn't like the sound of so said he was sold and the second from a lovely lady who didn't want to travel.

I am not asking a silly price either.

 

[hollyandivy123]

hi
here is another point of view, in your add you mention angloarab X wb, you are trying to sell as and eventer or compition prospect. i think that maybe putting angloarab might actually be putting people of as arabs are not seen as event comp prospects.

maybe removing this from the advert up might have a better response, you wouldn't be lying by putting WBx

nice mare by the way

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
Problem is, Mayflower, I've had NO response at all, not even to the ads that don't mention a price. I might be prepared to go down to £2500 but if people don't even try an offer, they'll never know. . . . . I think I put up one ad last year with "sensible offers invited" but zilch . . . . aarrghhhh!! She has GOT to go sooner or later, she was bred to sell and as I said in original post, I do not have the ability or resources to bring her on. Mind you, looking around, not many youngsters seem to be selling, I keep seeing the same horses appearing in updated ads all over the place so it's obviously not just me that's having problems I recently visited the stud who stand her sire and I've never seen so many horses there, they aren't selling any either despite their name, reputation and connections (and, for info, they don't sell any foal under £3k . . . . mine was priced at their suggestion)

[/ QUOTE ]


You are in a difficult position.
The stud can command higher prices for their stock as they have a reputation and a regular list of buyers. As a private seller you cannot.

If you advertise something at £3250 and say offers invited people will not (the majority) offer £2/£2.5 because they don't think they stand a chance of getting it. PLUS there are loads of youngstock out there that ARE reasonably priced.

If you cannot afford to take her out and about then drop the price and sell her cheaply. Better that than keeping her when you cannot afford it.

Seriously, advertise her for £2250 and I think she will sell.

It is heartbreaking I know but the best thing to do.

I originally wanted £3.5k for my filly (been to futurity/Bramham/county shows - serious eventing bloodlines & movement to die for). I sold her for just under £2k as I needed to reduce stock before winter.
Sometimes you just have to take the hit.

 

[Faithkat]

*smiles* I seem to recollect that Tamarillo was always trumpeted as being an Anglo Arab - never did him any harm and his results speak for themselves!!!

 

[hollyandivy123]

are but the majority of people wouldn't think that or remember, most average people would think arab cross long distance riding
and is your mare related to him?

the longer you keep the less profit or greater lose you will have. how much have you spent since weaning? if you have your own land and don't have livery then that i believe is the only way to make money on youngsters

would the stud that the dad came from be willing to sell her through them? if so you might get rid of the mare but you will then have sellers fee and livery and will still have less money back.

if you where selling back in 2004 then maybe the price, but not many people will spend that much on a youngster if they have to have livery on top

 

[SpottedCat]

[ QUOTE ]
*smiles* I seem to recollect that Tamarillo was always trumpeted as being an Anglo Arab - never did him any harm and his results speak for themselves!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but he is the only AA eventer I can think of, and I happen to agree with the other poster but did not say so because I knew you'd come back with this.

As I see it there are 3 options:
1. Drop her price, take the hit - ads without prices never get great responses as people assume the animal is overpriced/too expensive for them - they only work for top level competition horses.

2. Send her to someone well known who has the professional contacts to sell her on to the pro market which you don't - and take the hit that way in their cut.

3. Keep her, get her backed and out doing stuff, and take the hit via the costs of keeping her for another two years and sending her to someone who can do what you cannot in terms of backing/schooling/competing.

Whichever way you look at it there is a financial implication sadly. You've posted about this so many times, and every time the response has been that the horse is overpriced - nothing has changed. If you had the contacts in the professional market or the backup of a stud name and reputation then life would be different, but you don't so it isn't. The fact that the stud gave you advice on how to price her is also a bit meaningless since she has not sold at that price!

 

[Walrus]

I don't know much about selling horses but IMO there is a vast difference between advertising with no price and advertising with a lower price. I look at adverts with no price and automatically think "if you have to ask you can't afford - that horse will be expensive". If you're willing to take a lower price then I would put a figure on the advert.

Also I do tend to agree with other posters - maybe just say WBx if you're advertising to an eventing market. Sorry.