Summit
Well-Known Member
Offer £1? If you haggle you may end up meeting half way...
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That’s just insulting
Offer £1? If you haggle you may end up meeting half way...
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I personally would not use the term " meat money". I would say field ornament only, but would never try sell a horse that old it would not be fair in that condition.16hh unregistered mare. 21 years old, ride and drive. (Although not been driven for years and not ridden since last year). Sane and sensible although not a plod. Mildly arthritic which may well be sorted by a supplement, but would probably fail a vetting.
What do you think she’s worth on the open market?
If it were anywhere near £700 she’d be in my field now ☹ï¸Do you know the history of the mare, ie medical history? Would you have to pour much ££ into her to get her rideable or drivable?. It really depends as none of us have sentiment here or know the mare personally to know if she is worth 4 figures.
In October my friend and I bought a 13 year old suspected navicular, as told she had x rays. She came to us as she was 1 10ths lame, 15.1 hh from a small rescue, we paid £ 700 for her too. Now she is sound , good farrier and supplements and barefoot. So boils down to you really if you want to rescue her and prepared to offer over just to get her away from this woman. We did and don;t regret it.
The thing is when a horse isnt being taken care of it is very cheap to keep. If someone was to come along and say "yes but I'll have vet bills, feed bills, rug bills, hay bills and arthritis treatment bills" they would think that person was lying because they keep this horse with next to no feed, it never needs to see a vet and the arthritis doesn't bother the horse...
I feel for you OP and I dont know what the answer is other than what you can afford to secure her and dont feel bad if you cant justify silly money for greedy people.
I've been in a similar position with a younger, lame, ignored horse but because he was a good doer and only needed 1 section of hay a day and you could ignore him for 4mths then take him cantering and jumping (leaving him lamer) and he was fine (ie crippled the next day but would continue to oblidge). Tack didnt need to fit, a rug would go on in September and not be removed AT ALL until April at the earliest, only needed farrier once a year since shoes came off and horses dont need teeth done and she wanted ridiculous money for him because she really loved him...
I do wish this bit of the forum was members only. The owner is either skint or deluded, probably both. 😡 We are talking 4 figures
I do wish this bit of the forum was members only. The owner is either skint or deluded, probably both. 😡 We are talking 4 figures
There are some harsh comments here. There are loads of arthritic horses much younger than this and by no means shouldn’t be written off just because she’s been out of work and 21 years of age.
Plus you can’t assume an owner of an older horse is going to be burdened by Illness or injury...again, how many posts do we see with younger horses who are already suffering with degenerate diseases.
I bought my horse last year at 19, he’s now 20. He’d been out of work and neglected but suited my requirements of hacking. What a fab horse he’s turned into...doesn’t look a day over 12
OP the horse is worth what you want to pay
You either offer them what you can afford basically have the cash in your hand it makes it a bit harder for them to resist, or you walk away and leave it hard I know but I really think they are trying there luck here
This is what I’ve done. I’ve made a generous offer which has been declined so I’ve left it at that. I’m hoping they don’t find someone with more money than sense. The owner isn’t aware that the horse has arthritis (and hasn’t noticed the associated sleep apnea either 😱).Completely agree with this. However much you like the horse I think you need to harden your heart. You know they won't sell on the open market for what they are asking, so just offer what you are prepared to pay. They may initially say no but if you leave the offer on the table you might find they come back to you when she doesn't sell.
There are loads of arthritic horses retired or PTS, there are som arthritic horses managed and in some level of work. Arthritis is a degenerative disease. Its only going to get worse and the horse already has it. Its buying a known problem.
While yours may look 12 hes not hes 20. The odds are stacked heavily that you will need to provide ongoing medical care and have increased costs for looking after him.
He sounds a lovely horse and is obviously perfect for you and has a lovely home. That still doesnt mean he has any real monetary value. He clearly has huge value for you, but it wont translate into hard cash. So no offering £1 isnt insulting. Its an offer they should grab with both hands and be grateful a horse they dont want has a secured future.
Any horse of any age can end up fraught with health issues. Gamble you take....
Any horse of any age can end up fraught with health issues. Gamble you take....
I
This is what I’ve done. I’ve made a generous offer which has been declined so I’ve left it at that. I’m hoping they don’t find someone with more money than sense. The owner isn’t aware that the horse has arthritis (and hasn’t noticed the associated sleep apnea either 😱).
Great news. Can we have a picture of the lucky girl?