Do people not understand how bad the market is?

E

Ezme

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2008
Messages
3,906
Location
North devon, Bristol (term time)
Visit site
Look at this poor little chap:
http://www.carriagelink.com/horsesPonies_new.php 4th one down, new this week. I feel really sorry for him, he's 18 his partener has just died and they want to sell him for £1200. Poor little sod, hope he finds a nice place. I know good 11.2's are worth their weight in gold but it says nothing of ridden or PC work. Not that there isn't a want for small driving ponies but theres more demand for a PC pony. I wonder how long he'll be up there
 
I have been looking for a good 17 hand gelding with plenty of bone and have been gobsmacked at the silly money people are looking for. Even aged horses - that potentially have problems e.g. shivers, wind problems, etc etc. I thought that the market would soften.
Perhaps the crunch hasn't hit home yet.
 
"Nothings selling"
I dissagree with that statement. Have now sold both mine (subject to vetting) and they where only put on last Thursday (and they are fairly expensive competition horses)..
 
I think its the lower end thats suffering. Theres always a market for well produced competition horses but lesure riders are going to be more economically effected by the "credit crunch" so won't be looking for luxury's like horses
 
Am just about to go and view and pay for a clydie mare and am not quibbling the price but did ask her saddle was included. Finding a clydie that is not a youngster in the field has proved difficult.

Some horses are being snapped up at a good price if they are the sort that don't come up too often, ie a good competition horse or a rare breed.
 
I wouldn't say "nothing" is selling, but I would say anything with a problem is going to be less and less likely to sell, even with a price reduction.

People at the lower end won't be buying anything so reducing the price of a horse that *would* be priced higher isn't really going to help. All the seller is doing is pricing it into the part of the market most affected.

People in the mid to upper ranges will still buy because they will continue to have some disposable income. But they will be less inclined to "invest" so will not want horses with obvious issues/circumstances that will require more time and trouble. As obvious examples, with petrol where it is, people will be less likely to take out a horse that will likely need many outings to become reliable and give hay prices, "warehousing" a horse in return for a lower price becomes a less attractive option.

Plus, in a buyer's market there is no reason for people to take a chance on anything that's not - relatively speaking - perfect. Since those are few and far between I think you'll see more people wait then move quickly on the good ones, rather than a lot of bargaining and price changing.

I think it will become more important to have horses presented properly and with as few "issues" as possible but the people who invest and manage wisely will still buy - and sell - what they want.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top