How much are OTTBs selling for at the moment?

[Shinx]

Sadly I'm finally facing the fact that I need to sell my lovely 8yo TB gelding. He's the sweetest horse I've ever met but too much horse for me and I can't afford both him and my new hacking buddy I've recently purchased, although my heart wishes I could just chuck him in a field and love on him forever.

He's a very straightforward, if spooky horse, 16.1, gorgeous to look at, and fit. He's had extensive professional training and has never had any soundness issues. He's working at elementary, though he's never been out to a show before because I'm too much of a coward to take him! He only raced a couple times, if that matters.

I'm out of touch with the horse market at the moment. I know horse prices were through the roof, but I don't know if they are still or if that ever applied to OTTBs. I'm worried no one would want him and that I wouldn't be able to find him a great home. I especially worry that it would be hard to find a home to take him further in dressage (not that that really matters, but it would be lovely to see him progress and shine!).

Does anyone know what a realistic price range would be, and how long it might take to find a good home? We're in the SE. Thank you!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Need more info really. Does he hack alone and in company. Is he good in traffic. How is he to handle on the ground? Good to shoe, clip , load etc?

 

[[153312]]

5-6k

 

[Shinx]

Of course, should have said! He's good out in company, on roads and in traffic. He's not at all brave on his own unless he knows the route really well, then he's okay. I've never taken him on road by ourselves because I don't fancy roads at all and only tolerate them if my companions insist, haha.

He's good to shoe, good to clip, a dream to handle. Loads fine in side loaders but doesn't like rear loading trailers (but will eventually).

He's always a favourite on the yard, he's really a character and loves a cuddle!

 

[ponynutz]

Been having a nosy lately at prices of things and seems to be about 3-7k depending on how much they've done. Sounds like he's possibly at higher end of that even with an honest advert.

They seem to be the only thing that haven't been hit by the massive increase in prices (although I don't really know how much they were selling for before).

A lot of people are putting if they're ROR eligible on their adverts nowadays too.

 

[I'm Dun]

yup 5 to 6k and he should sell easily if he's a nice person and smart to look at. If you get a bit of competition history and he has the potential to go on, then a fair bit more!

 

[ihatework]

He will be a tricky one to price without seeing or sitting on him.

Any decent rider looking for a dressage horse probably won’t want a TB. If they would consider one they probably wouldn’t be keen on an 8yo and would instead have the experience to source and retrain raw.

Your amateur hacking & dressage market are generally wary of TBs, although some are having to consider them given the soaring price of non-TBs. If he passes a vet, is rideable for a semi-competent RC rider and generally easy and not excessively spooky, I’d imagine 5-6k.

 

[Shinx]

Thanks all. I guess I'm worried about price because it's a reflection of desirability and I don't want someone to scoop him up because he's cheap and good looking. He's confident and moves beautifully with a confident rider, and a spooky upside down banana with an unconfident one! It's why I haven't sold him so far even though it costs me an arm and a leg to keep him in training. If I knew he'd go to the perfect home then price wouldn't be an issue, but he deserves the best and it makes me anxious and sad that I can't guarantee that unless I keep him myself.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think to get your higher end price you’d want to be able to say he’s good in traffic, could you get someone to get a bit of roadwork under his belt?
Id be wary of someone that said they didn’t hack much on the road and instantly think it’s bad in traffic.
He sounds like a lovely horse. Some have sold at my work recently for £2/3000 having done absolutely nothing but go on the gallops and hack round the fields.

 

[ihatework]

Thanks all. I guess I'm worried about price because it's a reflection of desirability and I don't want someone to scoop him up because he's cheap and good looking. He's confident and moves beautifully with a confident rider, and a spooky upside down banana with an unconfident one! It's why I haven't sold him so far even though it costs me an arm and a leg to keep him in training. If I knew he'd go to the perfect home then price wouldn't be an issue, but he deserves the best and it makes me anxious and sad that I can't guarantee that unless I keep him myself.

In your shoes I’d LWVTB and handpick/monitor the person very closely

 

[ponynutz]

Thanks all. I guess I'm worried about price because it's a reflection of desirability and I don't want someone to scoop him up because he's cheap and good looking. He's confident and moves beautifully with a confident rider, and a spooky upside down banana with an unconfident one! It's why I haven't sold him so far even though it costs me an arm and a leg to keep him in training. If I knew he'd go to the perfect home then price wouldn't be an issue, but he deserves the best and it makes me anxious and sad that I can't guarantee that unless I keep him myself.

You can't escape everyone, obviously some people are just really good liars but I'd vet people hard. Let them ride him a couple of times in different scenarios with you watching and get a feel for them. You have every right to say, 'I don't think he's right for you' if you think that. Until the money is exchanged... he is yours.

Hopefully you'll find the perfect home for him he sounds really lovely! Good luck x

 

[Flyermc]

Thanks all. I guess I'm worried about price because it's a reflection of desirability and I don't want someone to scoop him up because he's cheap and good looking. He's confident and moves beautifully with a confident rider, and a spooky upside down banana with an unconfident one! It's why I haven't sold him so far even though it costs me an arm and a leg to keep him in training. If I knew he'd go to the perfect home then price wouldn't be an issue, but he deserves the best and it makes me anxious and sad that I can't guarantee that unless I keep him myself.

Could your trainer sell him on your behalf?

 

[mini_b]

Stick him on a GOOD sales livery and get them to take him to some comps and get him out on the road and improve his CV a bit.

 

[Shinx]

His trainer would be willing to compete him, I'm sure. It would definitely be good to get some comps under his belt.

He is good in traffic, in company. He's has a lot of experience on roads. It's only solo hacking that I've never taken him on roads (but I see terrible accidents on Facebook every week and honestly don't know why it's worth bothering with roads when we have miles and miles of off-road hacking on our doorstep!).

I've thought about loaning him out, if his old sharer would have him I'd loan him to her in a heartbeat but she's bought her own horse now. No one is going to want to keep him where he is on full livery, and I've heard so many stories of loans gone wrong. I'm sure equally there are plenty of success stories too, though!

 

[fetlock]

If he looks good, moves really well and is beautifully schooled, might he be suitable for someone as a show horse, local or otherwise?
Any pics?

 

[WispyBegs]

He sounds like a lovely sort.

If you could get him out to compete a few times you wouldn’t struggle to get 6k.

A good sales livery might be a good idea as they know how to market these horses and normally generate the right type of interest.

 

[Lady Tinseltime]

Have you considered putting him on sales livery with a professional. They would be able to advise you on price as well as presenting him at his best

 

[TheChestnutThing]

As an avid TB owner and competitor I hate that people won't buy a TB for a decent price because they aren't a WB. Personally TB's are just as, if not more, competent than WB's, but seem to have gotten a bad rep for some reason due to them coming off the track for free or a cheap sum. There are plenty of %^&*ty WB's around and they sell for a shed load yet the lovely competent TB get's sidelined again and again. Having owned and competed both, I personally would pay more for a well rounded TB than a WB.

 

[I'm Dun]

As an avid TB owner and competitor I hate that people won't buy a TB for a decent price because they aren't a WB. Personally TB's are just as, if not more, competent than WB's, but seem to have gotten a bad rep for some reason due to them coming off the track for free or a cheap sum. There are plenty of %^&*ty WB's around and they sell for a shed load yet the lovely competent TB get's sidelined again and again. Having owned and competed both, I personally would pay more for a well rounded TB than a WB.

Its because being shod and started so early impacts them. The ones that finish sound are tough cookies, but lots come with issues. And I have one who I think is the best thing since sliced bread, but I was aware when buying him that it was a calculated risk

 

[Flowerofthefen]

As an avid TB owner and competitor I hate that people won't buy a TB for a decent price because they aren't a WB. Personally TB's are just as, if not more, competent than WB's, but seem to have gotten a bad rep for some reason due to them coming off the track for free or a cheap sum. There are plenty of %^&*ty WB's around and they sell for a shed load yet the lovely competent TB get's sidelined again and again. Having owned and competed both, I personally would pay more for a well rounded TB than a WB.

Not quite on the lines of ops question but I took my tb for a sj lesson on Saturday. He was absolutely brilliant, did everything asked, he was brilliant!! The next in was a super smart coloured pony. Well it bucked , reared, span, napped!! I just shouted over to the trainer ' and they say tb's are mad!' and he just smiled!!

 

[[153312]]

Not quite on the lines of ops question but I took my tb for a sj lesson on Saturday. He was absolutely brilliant, did everything asked, he was brilliant!! The next in was a super smart coloured pony. Well it bucked , reared, span, napped!! I just shouted over to the trainer ' and they say tb's are mad!' and he just smiled!!

wow hope the coloured's rider didn't hear that, how callous.

 

[webble]

wow hope the coloured's rider didn't hear that, how callous.

Agreed

 

[Flowerofthefen]

wow hope the coloured's rider didn't hear that, how callous.

She heard it and laughed!!. All said in good humour!!

 

[Wishfilly]

I'm assuming you've had all vet checks etc done? My concern with a spooky ex-racer would be ulcers or kissing spines. Kissing spines may or may not show up during a vetting- but personally, I would want to investigate before selling on if I hadn't already.

Does he jump? I don't think you'd get £5k+ for him if he doesn't, unfortunately.

If the home is more important than price, I'd definitely go down the LWVTB route.

 

[Shinx]

He has had ulcers in the past and they've been treated. No kissing spine. He has regular vet checks and the physio every three months. We did have some contact issues recently but the dentist and physio sorted him out. Otherwise no physical problems at all, he's always been sound.

He does jump, but I'm not a jumper so haven't spent much time on this. I've considered sending him to a SJ trainer for a couple of months to brush up on his skills.

Very irritated right now -- my old mare has just popped up for sale on Facebook and her new owner didn't tell me she'd be selling her on. Completely her right legally but it just highlights that once they're no longer yours, they're no longer yours! Maybe it's a good time to learn this lesson, before I make the same mistake twice.

 

[Shinx]

As an avid TB owner and competitor I hate that people won't buy a TB for a decent price because they aren't a WB. Personally TB's are just as, if not more, competent than WB's, but seem to have gotten a bad rep for some reason due to them coming off the track for free or a cheap sum. There are plenty of %^&*ty WB's around and they sell for a shed load yet the lovely competent TB get's sidelined again and again. Having owned and competed both, I personally would pay more for a well rounded TB than a WB.

Thank you, it's really nice to hear someone say this! For dressage at least they're generally perceived as being too spindly compared to WBs, but that's just an aesthetic preference. What I don't understand is why there's this assumption that TBs will never make upper level dressage horses -- there's absolutely nothing holding them back from any of the movements, and they're usually very easy to train, very cooperative. The only reason we don't see more of them is because no one chooses them and trains them up!

I think there's also a certain level of snobbery as well. Because they're cheap and plentiful a lot of people will rule them out out of hand.

In terms of athleticism it's really hard to beat a TB. Most upper level XC horses are almost entirely (but not quite pure!) TB. If you find one with a good head on its shoulders there isn't much they can't do with proper training.

 

[Shinx]

Thank you to everyone who's responded, I've taken all of your comments on board. At the moment I think we'll carry on with his training, work on his SJ skills, and see if I can find a competition home to loan him to in future. I'm very wary of casual loans and I think the universe is trying to send me a sign (via my mare on fb!) that selling isn't the right option right now.

 

[Wishfilly]

He has had ulcers in the past and they've been treated. No kissing spine. He has regular vet checks and the physio every three months. We did have some contact issues recently but the dentist and physio sorted him out. Otherwise no physical problems at all, he's always been sound.

He does jump, but I'm not a jumper so haven't spent much time on this. I've considered sending him to a SJ trainer for a couple of months to brush up on his skills.

Very irritated right now -- my old mare has just popped up for sale on Facebook and her new owner didn't tell me she'd be selling her on. Completely her right legally but it just highlights that once they're no longer yours, they're no longer yours! Maybe it's a good time to learn this lesson, before I make the same mistake twice.

I personally think if you can get him jumping it may widen the number of homes available to him. Lots of people like ex-racers for low level eventing etc, moreso than lower level dressage.

I do think if you can't bear to lose control over him, then selling is the wrong option.