Do unbroken 4 year old ponies sell?

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bs6an

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I have a pony that has been being used as a companion who I no longer need. He is 4 years old and unbroken, I have been lunging and long reining him in full tack and he has been sat on but I am too big to fully break him in. I am looking to sell him for around £350 to cover the cost of getting him vaccinated and gelded as he was a colt when I got him. My question is am I being realistic? is he likely to sell? Or does the fact that unbroken ponies can be picked up for next to nothing these days mean that nobody would be interested in him?
 
I've just got something like what your talking about. Someone was trying to get me to buy a colt for £200 so yes I would prob have offered you £275? But that's me.
 
I bought a halter trained 4 year old pony last year. He was no where near as advanced as yours. No regrets, He is going out on little hacks now.
 
It's very tough to sell them.

I've had four NF foals (kept till 4/5 yrs) & i've found that's it's best to back them & get them going a bit, even then they're not worth much, especially if under 14hh. Kids don't seem to want/know how to school something on these days.

How big is your chap?
 
Would appeal to me, so many horses seem to do so much so young nowadays & the price is paid a few years down the line.
Only concern for me would be that if buying of some-one I didn't know I'd worry that at that age and it being started, if it had been done properly or if the owner had tried it themselves, made a mess & was trying to sell cheaply to get rid of the problem. Just call me cynical! Sure that is not what you're doing but just what might cross my mind if I were a prospective buyer for example.
That said, if it can be shown good foundations are being put in then I think the pony could be a good project for some-one and don't see why you wouldn't sell.
I couldn't take on a totally unhandled horse (ie, striaght off the forest/mountains at the sales etc) but am contemplating a youngster for my next one, I know it'll be a baby but for me & it being my first youngster it will need to have had some handling/groundwork already instilled so would be an ideal pony for some-one like me to look at.
 
It would appeal to me as you can get stuck in. I'd get him long reining on a circle/steering very well and used to a weight on his back. Can you not get someone to sit on him for you? If they are well backed and not dirt cheap then I think that is the best chance for a good life for small ponies.
 
What a wonderful chance to buy a nice 4yr old not broken or messed up, its such a shame that people these days are so sort sighted that they only seem to be interested in ponies that are winning, but surely there is so much more to achive to break and bring on ponies and get them going well !:)
 
HazyXmas said:
It's very tough to sell them.

I've had four NF foals (kept till 4/5 yrs) & i've found that's it's best to back them & get them going a bit, even then they're not worth much, especially if under 14hh. Kids don't seem to want/know how to school something on these days.

How big is your chap?
Click to expand...

Yes unfortunatley you are so right, kids only want to ride, they have no interest or experience to school or bring on, all they are interested in is rosettes, but seem to forget that the two go together !:mad:
 
How big is he OP? 14.2hh's are ideal IMO as adults can easily back them (for their kids or themselves), obviously the smaller you get then it narrows your market as to small enough people to fit on them - the problem you're finding! So a 14.2hh would sell a lot easier (and for more) than say a 12.2hh.

I used to buy project ponies up until about 4 years ago - unbacked 4yo's (most work they'd done is have a headcollar on), 13.2hh/14.2hh's for max £500. There weren't actually that many back then but I know the market is very different now. I may get another project 14.2hh at some point this year or next, but as usual I wont intend to pay anything over £500 for one.
 
Yes I would buy, my girl was the same I only paid £350 as a rising 4 we are having so much fun with her and doing loads of groundwork, however she was backed at 2.5 years but I'm not riding her till next summer as shes had a bad start and still has growing to do. Tell me more about your pony please :)
 
I dont think you are asking enough for him to be honest you will sell but they will knock you down on price so you wouldnt cover your costs I personally would put him up for double that and then take any offers worthwhile. If he is a big pony and has a great temperament and reasonable conformation he should sell easily.
A tiny under 13.2 may be more of a problem
 
Hi everyone, thank you for all your replies. He is 13.2 so you could just about get away with a small adult on him but I'm 5ft 7 and 11st, I have leant over him and sat on him and he didn't do anything so he is used to having a weight on his back. I don't think there would be any problems in breaking him fully but just think I'm too big for him and I don't know of anyone small enough to ride him. A friends child has sat on him but he is a novice so I only led him round on him. Here is a pic of him, any thoughts on conformation, condition etc. I don't think he looks too bad!
null_zps87a1c6cc.jpg
 
He looks like a useful sort so a small adult would be fine on him He would I expect go as a kids pony though. Still think you are undervaluing him I would ask 700 and take offers over/at 500
 
Ok thank you, I didn't think people would even consider looking at him for that sort of money. Going to write the ad over the weekend, will up the price and then can always lower it if there is no interest. I have that pic of him, one of him lunging in his tack and a headshot do I need any more photos of him for the ad?
 
I would buy a complete blank canvas 4 year old as I like to do my own work, something that's half done I wouldn't be interested in but probably others would. Why don't you take him to a few in hand show before advertising? Gets him out and seen and another string to his bow
 
BBH said:
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/young-stock-horse-4-yrs-3-mths-13-2-hh-chestnut-he/Horses/286157


Have you had any interest ?
Click to expand...

LOL

Interesting post. I tried to sell my quite smart unbacked 4 year old 15.2 for £1000 and got nowhere at all. She's now going away to be broken/competed which will cost at least £2K so will need to get £3K to justify.

However my horse, my responsibility as I did breed her, thankfully she has also 'defuglied' this spring. Yours is lovely btw.
 
No no interest yet but only put the ad up earlier today. Was going to put the ad up at the weekend but thought people might have time to browse the Internet at the weekend so decided to do it today so anyone looking at the for sale ads over the weekend see's him! But that's a good idea whoever suggested taking him out to inhand shows so I will have a look at what's on and see if I can get him out.

Thanks for your replies everyone, it's really interesting to hear everyone's points of view on it!
 
Yes, as others have said, 4yo's will sell but buyers need all the information up front or they simply move on to the next advert.

You've posted the height now but I'm amazed some commented on value without knowing that! You say you are too big to break him which could have meant you are 18 stone and he's a Shetland!:D

Location? Breeding? Colour (which we now know)?

He's nice, but as I suspect you are 400 miles away, that's as far as it goes. Now if he was a 13.2HH Highland and of good breeding, I'd be thinking "deer pony" and definitely be interested....;)
 
I have one of a similar height, but a coloured (not HW) job, which I've put up for £500. She's unbacked, but beginning preparation. And we've had very limited interest. It's all very well people advising you to advertise them for more money, but my personal experience is that there is a limited interest in something of this height & unbacked. Maybe you'll get someone interested at the higher price, but you may also find it puts people off - the market for smaller animals is more limited. I guess if you have a registered M&M it may well be easier - but if like mine it's not (CHAPS reg), then it can be harder.
 
Hi everyone, thank you for your replies. Just to let anyone know who is interested I advertised him yesterday, had 3 calls. One lot of people to see him today and two lots tomorrow but he was sold today to the first people to see him!
 
my friend paid £650 for a unbroken 15'2 mare, was supposed to be 4 but when we'd driven 4 hours to get her, she was actually 5!!

so yes think your pony would sell
 
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