Horse prices?

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Patterdale

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I had thought that the pandemic would see horse prices crashing, but the opposite seems to be true so far!?

Is it just me or have there noticed it? Any theories as to why?

I currently looking for a quality yearling and had thought I had a good budget until I started asking for prices...?
 
Yup they seem the same. If I was selling mine I’d be asking a normal price. But who knows if people are getting them or not?
 
I don’t suppose we will know until this is over and horses are advertised as normal. At the moment I guess the few ads that appear will just be asking prices as before rather than reflecting reality.
 
I have just started looking but agree with you not a massive change in prices yet. I think there may be a drop in prices once there is some relative normality and everyone knows more about their finances.

I would have thought there would be a drop however if I was selling a genuine sound allrounder I would still be asking a decent price (unless I was in serious financial difficulty)
 
The idea that horse prices would drop because of the virus was probably wishful thinking. Friend is currently looking for a second horse with the same spec as her current one. She paid £7K for him last year and is now only seeing equivalent horses for £10K.
 
It's ridiculous, I enquired about a 4 year old cob, 14.2ish, had a sarcoid on its face and was told price was £5k!!!
It was a very polite thanks, no thanks and I have bought a 3 year old HiPo ??
 
I am selling one is the low 4 figures... had a few genuine enquiries but a few people asking for cheeky offers and will buy off videos but I get a bit over protective....
Does depend on market... very tempted to keep him, compete him and then ask for mid to higher 4 figures, however if the market crashes I could end up keeping, further producing and still get low 4 figures... thoughts??
 
dominobrown said:
I am selling one is the low 4 figures... had a few genuine enquiries but a few people asking for cheeky offers and will buy off videos but I get a bit over protective....
Does depend on market... very tempted to keep him, compete him and then ask for mid to higher 4 figures, however if the market crashes I could end up keeping, further producing and still get low 4 figures... thoughts??
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Sell now, and sell unseen if someone wants him. Its not unreasonable given your location and the virus situation.
 
dominobrown said:
I am selling one is the low 4 figures... had a few genuine enquiries but a few people asking for cheeky offers and will buy off videos but I get a bit over protective....
Does depend on market... very tempted to keep him, compete him and then ask for mid to higher 4 figures, however if the market crashes I could end up keeping, further producing and still get low 4 figures... thoughts??
Click to expand...

I would sell now. A bird in the hand etc.
I think that prices are artificially high now, but like Leo says they’ll tank come winter as the ramifications of this start to hit home.
 
I have sold one, being sensable, though word of FB. I think they have got a bargain, and I have do not have to go through all the faff of photos', video's and people just not turning up. I have sold two calves, again not for silly money but not cheap and may have sold a cow, so things are selling. Have a had couple of really cheeky offers on the cow, but I have plenty of grass, so can wait.
 
I suspect any massive impact has not yet hit. Furlough scheme is running to end October. Job losses are - for now - relatively light. Most folk are getting paid. There is ample work for those who want it - albeit minimum wage stuff. If there is an impact on horse prices with folk neededing to sell because they can't afford to keep - it won't be until closer winter.

And I have to confess I am glad with that. Profiting from someone else's misfortune doesn't sit well for me. But I do accept it is likely to happen.
 
On a slight tangent, my sister in law was describing the sums she'd saved in entry fees, etc. Clearly she'd rather have competed, but I was astonished with the fees (I've never had much to do with the more professional side of things).
 
Every now and again I look at dreamhorse.com and it is amazing the prices people are asking. I guess if one is the market for those sorts of horses then the high unemployment rate and crashing stock market here isn't a concern.
 
somersetredstreak2020 said:
Encouraging to hear as it's a pretty good indicator that individual finances haven't been hit too hard.
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Yet.

There are 7.5 million people furloughed and not all those jobs still exist. AND 2.5 million benefit applications and some of those won't find another job that pays enough to keep a horse.

The horse market hit is yet to come.

.
 
I think the bottom of the market will crash. There are a lot of dodgy horses being sold at the moment - some can't be the bargains they appear to be.
Sadly there will be people who have to sell due to financial pressures, and hopefully they'll get a fair price for quality horses.
 
Interesting that a couple of you mention prices seeming really high at the moment. I was just starting to think I was really out of touch with horse prices!

I've browsed a few adverts recently, and the private sale asking prices have really shocked me - I've just looked at a nice enough looking gelding, but 13 years old and described as 'with potential to go far' even though he's never been to a show. A good few thousand pounds. Another would apparently do 'a lovely BD Prelim', although has never competed either and also not a youngster. That one was cheaper at 5k, though. Just two examples but there are loads. I thought my budget, whilst not millions, would stretch to more than an 11 year old capable of 'a nice prelim' or a teenager 'with potential', but it appears not! Dealers' horses seem more sensibly priced, although I know one near me that is planning to add 5k to everything once viewings can start again.
 
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I bought unseen a few weeks ago, as my mental health/general wellbeing was rapidly declining (my lovely old pony who I owned since a child had sadly died, amongst other issues I deal with day in day out, life was unbearable). She's been an absolute treasure and worth her weight in gold - but I did pay full asking price, which imo was completely worth it.
 
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