Horse prices - am I being unrealistic?

Third_Time_Lucky

Third_Time_Lucky

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Looking for new young horse with the aim of doing general RC activities. Would prefer medium weight ID/TBX between 16.2/17hh, not bothered about gender. Am I being too unrealistic to think I can get one that has just been backed and ridden away for max of £4,500. Prices seem to be sky high at the moment, I've seen several I like the look of which have only been backed and are ready to go on and asking prices are £6k plus. Is it me being a typical Yorkshire lass (canny with our money!) or does anyone else feel some of the prices being asked are scary at the moment?
 
It really depends where you look. In Glos they are more expensive than horses in Hereford which is in the next county! OH brings home the papers from Hereford as he works there and the price difference is vast!
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Don't think you are being unrealistic at all - in fact I think a lot of horses are very overpriced and a lot of sellers are open to offers. Just had a quick look on Horsemart and there seem to be quite a few in your price range - for instance
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM8...HorseDetail.asp

I know this is an ISH, but not a million miles from you!

There are so many horses for sale at the moment, that it is well worth making a realistic offer if you are seriously interested.
 
I totally know where you're coming from. Been looking for a client and the budget has had to be upped considerably.....

Whether people are actually getting these ridiculous prices for these horses would be interesting to know.
 
No your not being unrealistic.


I'm asking that for mine
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She IS rising 8 though but still a bit green with her jumping (nag in my sig)
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Maybe. Not sure really. If thats all you have then shop around.

When I bought Badger I didn't think I had enough to get anything nice, but I ended up getting my perfect boy!
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He has his faults though, he cribs and was thin, week and quite rubbish at the jumping when I got him.
 
Think horse prices seem to follow house prices! Sky-high in certain areas, much better in others. So I suppose it would be worth travelling to areas offering the bargains.
 
Was originally trying to keep search within around 100 mile distance but looks like I may have to widen this because of variety in prices. Last horse search I ended up travelling over 1,000 miles before finding the boy I bought. Doesn't help when you travel miles and miles and when you get there horse is completely different to what sellers have told you!
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The joys of horse searching I suppose. Never mind, onwards and upwards as they say.
 
I put my 17hh ISh mare in the H&H last may, she had just turned 5. Going well on the flat jumping xc and showjumps but not long broken hence still green. I think I asked £4250, so wanted 4k. I had loads of people phone my and ask if I would take 3k without seeing her....... NO!!!!
I still have her and so glad I didn't sell her as she has good breeding and is due to foal in june.
 
Horse prices have risen so much that people are actually suspicious if you ask too little!!
My YO has a rising 5yo TB, 15.2hh mare for sale at £1500 and people have rung and asked what is wrong with her.
Seems like you just can't win, whatever you decide to ask for your horse.
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Sounds a very reasonable budget and shouldn't have thought finding something in that budget would be that tricky
 
Not being unrealistic at all, lots of people are just blind about what their horse is worth.

You have to shop around to find reasonable prices, but they are there. I think many sellers are not getting the advertised prices.
 
I agree prices are insane but I think it depends where you are. Come up to Scotland and youll find cheaper prices
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Ive never paid over £4500 for a horse and all my competition ones have been backed and ridden away and sometimes done 1 or 2 little events.

You just have to look a little harder. If you're serious about getting value for money, I would advise a trip up to Scotland or even Ireland where there's plenty of ID x's.
 
i agree with diggerdog my friends got her 6 yr old 17hh for sale at the mo for 2900 with some tack and rugs and she had 2 phone calls both asking what was wrong with her!!!the answer was nothing apart from the owners skint and needs a quick sale!!!i think people think there are no bargain horses any more!!!
 
I don't think you're being unrealistic at all. At the end of the day a horse will only sell for what somone's willing to pay for it! Just because the owner/vendor has plucked some figure out of the sky doesn't mean the horse is worth that at all!

We got my sister's horse 3 and a half years ago - he was advertised as a 16.1hh Andalusian x TB 4 years old, hacked our, done some clear round showjumping etc. This was in Yorkshire and they wanted £3250 for him. We actually paid £2650 (some bargaining on my part) as the vet pointed out he wasn't very mature physically for his age. He will be 8 in May this year and has done a bit of everything but I think we paid about what he was worth at the time. He will (when sister returns from Oz) be back doing BSJA and Eventing this year - he's already done some intros and pre-novice and jumped out of BN BSJA within a few outings.

I just think be canny, don't rule out something cos someone has put a realistic price of say £2500 to £3000 for something cos you think it may not be good enough. If you're prepared to do some work on a horse that already knows the basics then you don't have to break the bank getting it!
 
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