How much would you expect to pay for a decent thoroughbred?

tobiano1984 said:
I know the place you're talking about, I follow them on FB. I think their ridden horses are very much just walk/trot/canter round the school and not much more than that - but I know they are selective about homes and don't sell youngsters to people who wouldn't know what they're doing.
Click to expand...


I'd buy that. But I wouldn't pay 1k I'd want it for 500. For 1k I'd want it to have done some basic SJ schooling as well and be hacking out alone.
 
I agree with you OP, keep the words ex racer and rehabilitation out of the equation. I would very happily pay the money you suggested as what you have done, is take out the risk. I say this as someone who has bought 2 unraced and well bred NH TB's out of Ascot to event and failed with both! I did have 2 very nice characters but one had an upper limit of 3" but was safe as houses..went to a novice and the other never got over his aversion to water so went of to point 2 point.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
I'd buy that. But I wouldn't pay 1k I'd want it for 500. For 1k I'd want it to have done some basic SJ schooling as well and be hacking out alone.
Click to expand...

They seem to sell all their horses very quickly so I guess people are prepared to pay for the transparency - they are very honest about their quirks/problems etc and full history. I see a lot of TBs for sale for a few hundred, so there are plenty around, but not all are very well schooled/rehabilitated and don't necessarily come with full disclosure on injuries etc! Fine if you're experienced and happy to put in the work though. As per my post on Page 3 I just sold a 3yo TB with basic schooling for £2750 so it's horses for courses.
 
tobiano1984 said:
attachment.php


attachment.php
Click to expand...

Lovely pics! It's all about finding the diamonds in the rough with OTTBs.. I bought mine for about 2k with the basics established and he's never had a pole SJ or an XC fault out eventing and is a lovely person too. Once they have a record (as long as it's a good one) the fact they're TBs makes very little difference. Keep doing what you're doing!
 
Fantastic thread and update. You are doing a wonderful thing. I know someone who used to retrain ex racers, one at a time, event them, then sell on. She was/is an amazing horse woman, had a fantastic eye for a good horse and she did make some good money out of it.
As others have said (and as you have found) there is a market for what you are doing, you take the risk out of it for buyers. I knew of a tb who quadrupled in value in three weeks, as owner did basic schooling and hacking - people then feel they know what they are buying.
I would never buy of the track as would worry too much about what I was taking on, but I would buy once the horse has been ridden away.
Good luck with your venture. I look forward to more updates :)
 
Thank you for all your positive remarks! At the end of the day, these horses have cost more than most 'sports horses' to breed - stud fees are usually in the many £1000s and they receive top class care all their racing lives. I personally see no reason why they can't excel at any other sport, TBs are after all the ultimate equine athlete following many years of selective breeding. So long as they are handled correctly and managed/fed right! It makes me sad to see TBs in terrible condition advertised on Facebook for £500. Seems a long fall from their early life :-(
 
I paid 550 for my tb mare but she was a bronco'er! haha If I was to sell her now I would sell her for 1500ish as there are no issues and she has done a bit of everything!
 
Lovely to see your update
TB's are such smart horses, and so athletic - it is such a shame that their value has dropped and many of the people buying them are people who don't appreciate (and don't need!) these qualities. Good on you for vetting nice homes and sending them on to a useful life. Not having livery costs is the clincher that makes it viable as a sideline business... I bring on youngsters (not just TB's though the current one is) and sell them after 3 months or so, but I really do it to pay my costs, so that having a horse is free for me (if all goes to plan!!)- not having livery costs would see me in a profit. Your two look lovely - though falling into the trap of keeping on of the first two is dangerous!!! :-)
 
sportsmansB said:
Lovely to see your update
TB's are such smart horses, and so athletic - it is such a shame that their value has dropped and many of the people buying them are people who don't appreciate (and don't need!) these qualities. Good on you for vetting nice homes and sending them on to a useful life. Not having livery costs is the clincher that makes it viable as a sideline business... I bring on youngsters (not just TB's though the current one is) and sell them after 3 months or so, but I really do it to pay my costs, so that having a horse is free for me (if all goes to plan!!)- not having livery costs would see me in a profit. Your two look lovely - though falling into the trap of keeping on of the first two is dangerous!!! :-)
Click to expand...

Yes I mean I don't have any aspirations to make a living out of it, but I really have my yard to fund my habit - income is just over breaking even so my horses (4) are kept pretty much for free. And buying and selling 2 or so a year is partly for fun and hopefully for a nice little bonus! Haha yes I know, keeping 50% isn't a good start! But I have other non-TBs too and the one I'm keeping is actually going to spend winter with his other mum down the road so I won't have to look after him :-)

My day job is PR so I'd love to do something for the PR of the racing thoroughbred if I can!
 
I have to say that I was another person who couldn't be paid to have a TB.

However a friend got an ex-racer (already retrained) and he has just been fantastic. He has done everything she has asked of him without complaint and although he's had the odd moment, it's no more than any other horse might. Her confidence was at rock bottom and he brought it all back.

So I guess if I could find a little-un (don't like bigger than 14.2hh!) I'd be willing to try particularly if somebody had done a lot of the work beforehand.
 
I'm rubbish at prices but I think you should offer borders at both stages to cover a wider group.
Obviously if a raw horses didn't sell initially then just keep upping it's price at work is increased.
Maybe a blog with regular updates about each horse would be a good idea.
 
those 2 horses look fabulous - you have obviously done a great job with them. I love TBs but am too old now to cope with one, but if I was going to get one I'd come to you OP! :)
 
My husband bought a horse at the Ascot sales in August. Well after the main sales we went round to see the ones that had failed to sell and this one was going for meat so the guy sold him for his meat value - £350. He is 11. He's amazing its a couple of months later, he has the most lovely extravagant paces, he's super easy, really cuddly, he puts his head in your arms and all in all we love him. So there is a whole series of preconceptions set on their heads, and we saved him from the meat factory
 
I had to delete one on my sale page free to good home, was 10 i think and had raced and p2p very successfully but was gelded so basically no use to them and was ready to slow down. I sold my tb for £250 but he was 15 and had not done much with me for 5 years, and unknown history before that.
 
Simbacat said:
My husband bought a horse at the Ascot sales in August. Well after the main sales we went round to see the ones that had failed to sell and this one was going for meat so the guy sold him for his meat value - £350. He is 11. He's amazing its a couple of months later, he has the most lovely extravagant paces, he's super easy, really cuddly, he puts his head in your arms and all in all we love him. So there is a whole series of preconceptions set on their heads, and we saved him from the meat factory
Click to expand...

I love a happy ending, well done your Husband!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top