Horse prices - Will they drop?

[Lipglosspukka]

South. It is 14 so may account for being on the cheaper side, but I would still say that sounds quite fair.

 

[PSD]

I've actually seen a couple of okay prices today. Saw a nice Connie hacking/hunting for £3750

Gosh that’s cheap! Nothing under 4K where I am

 

[PSD]

South. It is 14 so may account for being on the cheaper side, but I would still say that sounds quite fair.

All the cheaper ones seem to be down south

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I've been window shopping over the last 6 months plus with the idea that what I would want/need could be found somewhere between £5 and £10k (suitable as first horse, sound, over 14.2 and 5yo+). I do feel more recently I've been finding suitable looking ads (granted I'm not making actual enquiries yet) towards the mid and lower end of that range. Or it might be wishful thinking!

 

[coblets]

All the cheaper ones seem to be down south

Whereas I’m in the SE, and all the cheaper ones seem to be up North.

I’m close to giving up on the horse search though. Still look at sites as I do that when procrastinate anywsy, but nothing suitable or close enough. And can’t put deposit down at livery as don’t know how many months it might take to find something, but on the other hand livery places get snapped up quick around me.

 

[PSD]

Whereas I’m in the SE, and all the cheaper ones seem to be up North.

I’m close to giving up on the horse search though. Still look at sites as I do that when procrastinate anywsy, but nothing suitable or close enough. And can’t put deposit down at livery as don’t know how many months it might take to find something, but on the other hand livery places get snapped up quick around me.

They do here too. I’m paying for an empty stable at the minute because I won’t give it up - if I do I won’t get it back for a very long time!

 

[splashgirl45]

i window shop all of the time, cheapest seem to be at either end of the country so scotland or south west. there are a lot advertised by a dealer in the south west that sound too good to be true for the price. i am in suffolk and prices are generally higher apart from a couple of dealers who i am suspicious about..

 

[PSD]

I do think in some aspects some of the market is slowing. People are starting to wise up to the cheaper ones and realising they’re not actually cheap…they’re overpriced vet bills!

 

[Caol Ila]

i window shop all of the time, cheapest seem to be at either end of the country so scotland or south west. there are a lot advertised by a dealer in the south west that sound too good to be true for the price. i am in suffolk and prices are generally higher apart from a couple of dealers who i am suspicious about..

Cheapest seems to be where you are not. Wherever you are, that's a rule of thumb. Or Murphy's Law. When I was looking, I was trying to find horses in Scotland as I didn't want to drive a zillion miles, and there were slim pickins' at that 3-4K price range.

 

[splashgirl45]

down south we call it "sods Law" dont know why

 

[DZ2]

OP I'm with you on this, I hope prices will come down a bit. I completely understand that it cost to breed and raise the foal, but with current prices (once maybe the "new-working-from-home" horse owners or whoever is feeding the current horse buying craze have stocked up/emptied their savings) I think lots of people will eventually be priced out because wages don't go up.

In 3 years before covid I've bought 2 nicely bred 4 year old WB for about £10K, one directly from the breeder in the UK another imported from the continent. I'm pretty sure the sellers wouldn't sell them at a loss, both were dealers who knew how to count money. I had very bad luck with them and both have retired very young with various medical issues after £££££ of vet bills. I'm not sure I can (or want to) afford to potentially waste £15-20K on similar type in current market.

I don't have the solution but I wonder if things continue as they are then will it mean drastically reduced horse ownership in the future.

 

[racebuddy]

Ive got getting vetted this week , and had to stretch my budget to £13.000???

 

[PSD]

Ive got getting vetted this week , and had to stretch my budget to £13.000???

Wow!

No chance I would pay that for a horse ?

 

[brighteyes]

My friend just picked up a useful-looking 4YO Sec D Mare with papers, known/traceable history and a nice temperament that has been started for well under £3K

Not a chance would I pay the stupid prices about at the minute, not for what I want, anyway.

 

[PSD]

My friend just picked up a useful-looking 4YO Sec D Mare with papers, known/traceable history and a nice temperament that has been started for well under £3K

Not a chance would I pay the stupid prices about at the minute, not for what I want, anyway.

Wow that’s lucky! I guess you have to know where to look and be lucky!

 

[Jenko109]

Not all sellers are jumping on the bandwagon.

I have just recently sold a sweet NF mare who had done a bit of low level riding club, perfect hack, quiet, easy pony for £2700.

Could I have marketed her as a novice ride and got 4k+, perhaps. I just wanted a nice home for her, I wasn't concerned about making silly money. I got more than I paid for her and haven't added any value to her by anything I have done so felt it very unjustified to price her too high.

 

[PSD]

Not all sellers are jumping on the bandwagon.

I have just recently sold a sweet NF mare who had done a bit of low level riding club, perfect hack, quiet, easy pony for £2700.

Could I have marketed her as a novice ride and got 4k+, perhaps. I just wanted a nice home for her, I wasn't concerned about making silly money. I got more than I paid for her and haven't added any value to her by anything I have done so felt it very unjustified to price her too high.

Trouble is it’s finding sellers that are genuine, like you, that are selling “cheaper” ponies because they want a genuinely good home as opposed to selling cheap because they know the horse has issues. That said, even the horse having issues doesn’t stop them putting a hefty price tag on them!

 

[L&M]

Having been offered £10,000 for my 13 yr old irish cob, who I bought for £2250 several years ago, I can safely say that once he retires if the market remains the same (or worse) I will not be having another horse.

I agree that horses may have been too cheap for a while now but this hike is way out of my reach, and we have our own land and stables so not as if we have to factor in livery - I just couldn't justify it when other bills have to be paid.

Consequently he is wrapped up in cotton wool and am very careful in everything we do......

 

[Abi90]

I’ve just seen a 4 yr old ID x Cob type, no recorded breeding, for sale. He’s done a bit of everything at home and looks a nice sort but hasn’t been out. They were asking £15,000 for him and had a lot of interest.

I’ve come to the conclusion that at the moment I couldn’t afford to buy my own horse again, even with her arthritis.

 

[Bernster]

Bertie was expensive and my friend felt the sellers were trying it on. But she had lots of interest. I believed her as the market was hot and similar horses were selling quickly. Including people who said they would still consider buying if he failed my vetting, and 1 offering to buy unseen. I paid it as I liked him, he ticked all the boxes, and he had a solid comp record slightly above what I’d want to do. And to top it all, he’s a complete sweetie, cute and handsome - what more would you want in your equine partner (maybe in your none-equine one too haha).

 

[Annagain]

Bertie was expensive and my friend felt the sellers were trying it on. But she had lots of interest. I believed her as the market was hot and similar horses were selling quickly. Including people who said they would still consider buying if he failed my vetting, and 1 offering to buy unseen. I paid it as I liked him, he ticked all the boxes, and he had a solid comp record slightly above what I’d want to do. And to top it all, he’s a complete sweetie, cute and handsome - what more would you want in your equine partner (maybe in your none-equine one too haha).

I started thinking £5k would be plenty to get what I wanted (I had more but didn't want to/ think I'd have to spend more) I realised within a week or two it was nowhere near enough and upped it to £7k . I then went to £8k for Charlie. He felt expensive at the time but I think he'd be £10-12k now although that's irrelevant as he's here forever. I was prepared to pay £8k as he had the temperament I was after, the seller let me see him first (we'd been in touch for a while) but had other people waiting to see him. Over 20 years, the extra £3k (from my initial budget) works out as £3 a week so it seemed daft not to push my budget as far as I could.

As annoying as it is and we'd all like to pay less, being stubborn about not wanting to pay more when you can afford to only harms your chances of getting a nice horse.

 

[ImmyS]

This is why I bought unseen from Ireland in the end and was prepared to take the risk as just could not find anything remotely suitable to view or the ones I did like were snapped up within hours of being advertised. It worked out well and with the current market looking like it may be here to stay I would probably do the same again.
Finn’s a nicely bred, well started 3 year old RID who was 4K. I have seen similar since for above the 10k mark!

 

[JJS]

I’ve come to the conclusion that at the moment I couldn’t afford to buy my own horse again, even with her arthritis.

I wouldn’t be able to afford mine either. A safe, sane happy hacker, who’s forward going, fun, and has beautiful manners on the ground. No health issues, vices, and a nice height at 15hh, plus a good weight carrier to boot. I certainly couldn’t buy another one like her, and I honestly think I’d be priced out of horse ownership full stop.

 

[SibeliusMB]

The market right now is one more reason I'm happy I imported my horse from the US rather than buy right now. I can't imagine being in the middle of that at the moment. Prices are just as insane in the US now too; I'm seeing pretty average looking 3' amateur horses being marketed for $50-100K+. The same horses two years ago would probably max out at $25K. Unproven prospects with no show record are being listed as "low fives," which apparently translates to $30-45K. I.N.S.A.N.E....

The ex racers have been getting more popular in recent years which is good, but now they're flying off the market before people even have the chance to schedule an appointment and for higher than average prices. Grade types of no particular breeding or training are also crazy expensive for what they are. The whole horse world right now is completely bonkers.

 

[PSD]

Not all sellers are jumping on the bandwagon.

I have just recently sold a sweet NF mare who had done a bit of low level riding club, perfect hack, quiet, easy pony for £2700.

Could I have marketed her as a novice ride and got 4k+, perhaps. I just wanted a nice home for her, I wasn't concerned about making silly money. I got more than I paid for her and haven't added any value to her by anything I have done so felt it very unjustified to price her too high.

Well I found a rare seller just like you today!!

I’m absolutely over the moon!

 

[ImmyS]

Well I found a rare seller just like you today!!

I’m absolutely over the moon!

exciting!!
Details please…..

 

[teapot]

Having spent the last three months keeping an eye out for horses for work, I'd say the market's beginning to slow - scrolled through more adverts today that I had seen before, whereas a few weeks ago it was always new horses.

 

[PSD]

So I went to view a friends Arab mare who she said was a saint in all ways etc which I fully believed. However she was loaned out a year or so ago and came back a mess so they’ve chucked her on some good grass to get the weight back on and it worked a treat. However she seemed to change character, they couldn’t catch her and she was very spooky so as soon as I arrived they said she’s not herself we wouldn’t feel comfortable you even attempting to get on which I really appreciated but needless to say, I was gutted.

However…they said they had a plan b so I thought eh okay worth a try.

A beautiful chestnut full up section c gelding with 4 big whites and a blaze. He’s a chunky lad with a huge front, he just needs some muscle on. I did think I’d be too big but he rides so big and honestly as soon as I sat on him I knew he was the one.

I’m beaming still now, he was everything I want and more. He comes this weekend! Sorry for the rubbish riding pic, it’s from a video. He was super, had a little look at a few things but nothing dramatic and he’s very responsive. I feel like a kid at Christmas!

 

[Berpisc]

Well I found a rare seller just like you today!!

I’m absolutely over the moon!

Hope it works out ok....

 

[PSD]

Hope it works out ok....

Thank you, she’s a friend so I know the pony which always helps!