How much should they be asking for this horse?

[SpottyTB]

I've been asked to ride and sell a horse for someone and I'm a little doubtful about it's true value...

16hh 6 year old bay sport horse mare, out of kings composer, is quite bolshy, not brilliant manners, bucks chronically, leans on the rider and snatches the reins out of your hands, reared twice with me, naps mildly, hasn't done anything really, ie; shows, xc schooling, lessons etc, rarely hacked out, spooky and nappy alone,
kicks out In company however she does have beautiful paces and the most scopey jump ever, but is scared of her own shadow and not done coloured poles or fillers. Her front right leg has about 6 splints and the left about 3, all for legs have various scars and white hair marks. She is a sweet natured mare and does learn but realistically, how much is she worth? They want 3k and extra for tack and would like her gone by July/august.

Personally, I'd like to spend 6months to a year on her and I feel this is the right amount of time to get her up to value they think she's worth.

Thoughts anyone?

Only had this mare 2 weeks btw! All the info is from owner and other sources!

 

[quirky]

£1k - £1.5k

 

[jhoward]

with so many good all rounders on the market for less than 3k id be thinking 500 quid to be honest, with her temprement she doesnt really make broodmare status so breeding of no use.

a spooky reaing napper that has no comp records, doesnt hack alone and kicks in company. sorry but she doesnt like she has an awful lot going for her.

 

[Sagittarius]

"They" can ask what they like. Whether or not a buyer would be willing to pay is a different matter.

If you're acting in a professional capacity to sell the horse, then the best you can do is voice your concerns that you may not be able to sell her for the amount that they want so it doesn't come as a nasty shock (and you get the blame) if she isn't gone by August.

On the other hand - if she moves & jumps well, you may well find someone who relishes a challenge and will take her on and £3k won't be a lot of money then.

 

[SpottyTB]

They are friends of ours, basically the horse was bought for there 5ft 15 year old daughter who was coming of a 14hh pony, two weeks after purchase somehow the horse got stabbed in the leg, resulting in vets bills more expensive than the horse was, she had 1 or 2 months off, than brought back into work. Talking to a friend who was at the same yard, sounds like the girl was to small to correct/discipline her so all she did was drag her in, tack her up and canter round and round the school- no walking or
trotting, the occasional jump but that's it. She tried to take the mare out on her own once and she napped and bucked her off, so they didn't try again.

Long story cut short, I offered to compete her and ended up with another horse to ride on to 'help them out'.

I am just concerned that they will put her on the Market and we will get teens coming to try her.. They have put 'good to handle and ride' which isn't right!! So just want peoples opinnions on her value In today's Market,

 

[Funkyfilly024]

1K ? I guess they are paying its upkeep until it sells though right?

Prehaps explain that it isnt worth that and they might be better cutting their losses rather than keep paying the upkeep. If they still think she is worth 3k let them try selling it on their own - i think they would be there quite a while !!

Maby you could also explain that legally they cant sell a horse as descibed like that when it blatently isnt. They would be giving themselves more problems as buyers would have valid grounds for returning it and getting refunded when they find out how nutty it is.

Its difficult when they are freinds isnt it, they should understand though if they are good friends. Honesty is best policy.

 

[AmyMay]

Free to a good home.

 

[SpottyTB]

The annoying thing is, I'd have her! I gell quite nicely with her and the improvement over the lad few weeks is amazing, but I can't bring myself to sell my gorgeous spotty warmblood, who is 5 and Is exactly what I want because I've produced her!

They are paying shoe's and livery yes and I am happy to have her here for a year or so.. As long as I have the time to keep on with my other mare.

It's extremely difficult because they are mid advertising her completely but there again in 6 months time she could be well worth the 3/4k mark. She's learnt so quickly, finally got her to realise I dont constantly want to canter and she can do flying changes when in canter!

Bucking has reduced to only 4/5 times now she's being told of when she does it and rewarded when she doesn't.

Thanks guys that's made me feel better about what I thought she was worth which is 1500 if that! They will just have to be patient!

 

[duggan]

I think you've answered your own questions... she has talent and should be given the chance, but she's not worth the price they are asking as she stands. You'd be surprised how quickly a horse can forget the bad stuff when they have a job. The real question is, you will be the one doing all the work, to get the price they want atthe end of the summer. You have a good chance of doing that, but what do YOU get out of it?
You could offer them her value at the moment, and explain they won't have her upkeep to pay plus advertising costs etc etc...as well as the chance she could go wrong in the meantime, horses do. If that's what you wanted to do, then bring her on and sell her yourself when she's ready.
Or you could do all the work, they could get their price and you could be left feeling very used. It depends on whether you can afford another one really. But get everything down in writing whatever you decide, don't trust to word!

 

[madeleine1]

1k and dont underestimate teenagers. i know some who can ride better then most adults.

 

[CHH]

Are you benefiting from selling the horse given you are putting effort into training/riding the horse?

Who is present when any potential purchaser comes to view the horse?

Be very careful in such a liable society with what answers you give and protect yourself in this circumstance. Sorry to mention it, it's just the very real fact is that this horse has 'habits' which although may be reducing as you ride her, she has 'been known to...'

If you are asked anything be honest and use terminology such as "Whilst the horse has been with me I have found it to be ...." in answer.

Be careful you don't find yourself caught up in anything awful - it happened to a friend of mine who was doing the same favour.

 

[SpottyTB]

1k and dont underestimate teenagers. i know some who can ride better then most adults.

Oh im not underestimating teenagers, im only 16 myself, however the girl who rides the horse is half my size and is so skinny its un healthy (so has no power or strength), plus I've had a few horses that have been sent to me in the past, all with similar habits, so im used to what she does!


In the way of me benefiting from this, its another horse for me to ride and its a challenge (which is always fun) plus when she's ready, it'll be another horse for me to compete, cost free. Having read all your posts, i spoke to our friends (the owners) earlier and said what the going rate for a horse with such issues/habits was and also pointed out the fact her legs are covered in splints/scars and white hair (all of which they hadn't noticed), then went onto say i wasn't happy jumping her until her flat was to a T, as she quite often gets her legs muddled up and trips up (which could be dangerous in a jumping situation) they have agree'd to be patient with both the mare and my educating of her! Oh and also, they also said they would be giving me a cut of her final sale price, be it £50 for £500 im not to fussed, would rather see her go to a good home than a dealers.



Thanks again

 

[SpottyTB]

Are you benefiting from selling the horse given you are putting effort into training/riding the horse?

Who is present when any potential purchaser comes to view the horse?

Be very careful in such a liable society with what answers you give and protect yourself in this circumstance. Sorry to mention it, it's just the very real fact is that this horse has 'habits' which although may be reducing as you ride her, she has 'been known to...'

If you are asked anything be honest and use terminology such as "Whilst the horse has been with me I have found it to be ...." in answer.

Be careful you don't find yourself caught up in anything awful - it happened to a friend of mine who was doing the same favour.

Haven't yet got to all the nitty gritty details of the sale, i advised them to take her off the market (as they proberly wouldn't get much interest in her in this market and for her price - which atm is unreasonable) and asked if i could right a suitable advert with the help of a few people- as and when i feel she is ready to be seen. I will proberly ride her to show her off, but will insist on the owners being there to deal with the question side of things - or i may go down the route of telling the owners i want to be in charge of the whole sale - ie. advert, people calling me and dealing with people coming to see her, so i can be brutally honest in an non biest way!