Horse viewings and budget

[Bobthecob15]

Hi all

Curious to hear what other people do re horse shopping and budget. If for example your absolute max budget was 10k for a horse, what sorts of prices would you view at? Would you look at 10k or under or would you look at things for 11 or 12k?

Just wondering what others do as I always only look up to my max budget but then I've always offered full price I'm terrible at negotiating!

 

[Annagain]

When I was in that position, I would enquire about horses that were 1 or 2k above my budget but I was upfront with buyers about it. I'd tell them that I couldn't stretch to more than X and didn't want to waste their time and mine by coming to see the horse if they wouldn't consider that an acceptable amount. Some people said they weren't budging but most were honest that they'd asked for a bit more in orer to come down to what they wanted. It made negotiating a bit easier and we all knew that the price I'd mentioned was my budget would be what would end up being paid as I knew they were prepared to come down to it and they knew I was prepared to pay it.

 

[nikicb]

I would only view horses that I know I could afford. If a horse was absolutely perfect and over budget, I would possibly contact the seller and ask if they are open to offers.

 

[LEC]

Any advert over 2 weeks old but over budget I will ring and say this is my budget is it worth coming to see your horse? Then everyone knows where they stand.
I would look £1-2k over budget but you know from speaking to them if they have had a lot of interest and what is likely to be the price.
I always haggle on price. Sometimes I win, sometimes I have to cough up.
The last few have been bought through auctions so easy to drop out or go for it.

 

[Shinx]

I'd inquire about horses above budget but let them know my price. I didn't just arrange a viewing without speaking about price first in case they were firm so as not to waste anyone's time.

 

[ihatework]

With a 10 k budget I would browse horses up to 15/16k.

I’d call up straight away for anything around 12k but would advise of my max budget and see if they were happy for me to view.

If 15/16k horses were still on market after a couple of weeks and I felt they were overpriced I’d then call on those too.

 

[Cortez]

I live in a country where people would be offended if you didn't haggle, or at least think you were a bit weird, and prices are always open to negotiation. If I had 10 grand I wouldn't look at anything priced over around 20K, but anything else is fair game.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Wow really interesting thank you all!!