How much would YOU pay for a happy hacker?

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MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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Just wondering really, and discussing with friends at the moment, what people would be prepared to pay for a good happy hacker.

By "happy hacker", I would be describing a horse/pony as follows:-

- Horse or pony, native/cob type, or TB/WB cross, or whatever. But not pure TB or WB.

- Good in ALL traffic, no iffs or buts, including farm stuff, lorries, buses, and cyclists.

- Nicely mannered, goes first or last in either a large or small group without problems and could therefore be safely taken on a pleasure ride for instance

- Will hack solo happily without napping.

- Nice soft mouth and doesn't pull

- Good to shoe, do, clip & load

- No nasty issues like bucking, tanking, or rearing

- Safe, sane, and sensible sort, but nicely forward going and not a total plod

- Doesn't have to jump, doesn't have to win prizes in the showring, a few odd lumps, bumps or blemishes acceptable as long as overall soundness not affected

So what sort of maximum price would people be prepared to go up to for a horse like this??

Just trying to get some idea of what people would be prepared to pay........
 
From what I've seen, where you live affects the price far more than the quality of horse.

In Surrey that type of horse may cost 3-4K.

In Staffordshire that type of horse could be bought for as little as £600...
 
I wouldn't buy one for myself but have sold a few and also helped clients purchase similar, usually they are in the £3k bracket, one or two are over a few under depending on the individual, if they are straightforward they are easy to sell and hard to find, I don't think I have ever sold one for under £2.5k and at that price there will usually be a slight if or but.
If looking with clients I would expect them to budget at least £3k and be prepared to go towards £4k for one that ticks all the boxes, I would also expect the search to take a while, the last person took 4 months to buy as it was winter and there was very little about, she ended up spending over £3k for a 14.2 that ticks all of your boxes and has a really good but not required jump on him, his flatwork is the weakest link but not an issue for the owner who just wanted to hack safely and do fun rides.

Just to add people don't always value a happy hacker, possibly even less now than they did years ago, I sold a lovely 15 hand allrounder many years ago to a hacking only home, he was very very safe but also good fun, for £6k nowadays he is unlikely to achieve any more than that as a competition/PC pony, prices really have stagnated in the mid levels.
 
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That type of horse is priceless to some - I have one that fits the bill 100% but can also go Xc, win at novice dressage and look after your grannie. I didn't know those extra bits when I bought her so I bought her as a happy hacker because that is what she was used for. I paid under 3k but she's priceless now (to me anyway). I think the horse you describe is worth 2-3k to anyone who wants a safe hacking horse.
 
Probably 5k if it really was safe as houses, no issues and not a plod. That would be my top end. Easy, ready to go horse sells - bit like a turn key house lol

If you compromised on some bits then probably around 3.5k. Eg. If had a hard mouth and was bad to clip, or even the odd Buck if horse is excited.

Tbh you shouldn't need to clip a happy hacker so that isn't really an issue or selling point
 
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I wouldn't pay anything as I'd expect to pick up something that hacks cheap as chips if I were so inclined.

That said a good reliable sound hack I wouldn't expect to sell for less than 2.5/3k, and might even try my luck for more.

Going back a few years I had an ex racer I was hoping to being on for eventing. Pretty sweet horse but dull as dishwater, wouldn't fancy a decent fence on it and really wasnt the brightest spark.

I got 4.5k as a happy hack, and that was me being very honest about his capabilities. I got lucky with that one!
 
Personally, £1000-1500, but I am in central Scotland and seem to have a knack for finding cheap, bargain allrounders who are bombproof hacks and decent RC competition horses.
 
More than I have. I'd expect to pay £3-4K for that sort of horse. Instead, I've just shelled out a little over £1K for a 4 year old with the potential to be the type that you've described.
 
Probably 2-3 k as it's only a happy hacker. For that, it'd have to be good looking and comfortable to ride - if I'm doing 5 hours in the saddle, I want nice action.

For what I'd call a hack, it needs to be doing more than you listed - good to open gates, cross water, go up and down all sorts of terrain including beach, moorland and rough tracks. Jumping up to 1.00m is non negotiable, in case of fallen logs or walls, and there must be established rein back and lateral work for getting out of tricky situations. Must stand to be mounted from anything, and lead well in hand for bits that are too bad to ride. Must be sound enough to do 30 miles in a day and pull out again the next.

That's a true hack to me, and I'd pay 6k without quibbling. They are very hard to find though!
 
A 'made' happy hacker is worth much more than a 'potential' happy hacker, which is fair enough. When I was younger, I was happy to do the making, but not any more.

My 16.1hh 10 yo newbie IDx mare is a saint, good in all traffic, moves well and has jumped to 1.20m with a para rider. Of course she wasn't cheap, but is worth every penny to me.
 
For what you describe, an absolute minimum of £2.5k - and the more extras it brings to the party, the more I'd expect the price to increase. True happy hackers are rare - a lot of horses are actually pretty rubbish at it, one way or another - no brakes, too ploddy, scared of deer/pheasants/wheelie bins/Pokemon, won't hack alone ...
 
I have never paid more than £2k but I don't want to jump and I like big heavier horses. The trouble with buying bombproof ponies is that parents will, rightly, pay a fortune for a pony that is safe to allow a child to have fun on
 
For the horse you like you pay what it takes. I've been told I paid too much but to me Kev is priceless.

Kevin is a Clydesdale X , 17 hh,

Sold as bomb proof, sound, sane and sensible. Passed stage 2 vetting.( although how the vet got his feet up I have no idea) clean limbs.

The rest was dodgie ....steering minimal, stopping interesting , turning optional , would not stand to be mounted, would not pick up feet.

He was pleasant and gentle to handle and miles to big for me .......

But I sat on him and I felt safe and happy. So I paid the price asked because to me he was worth it and to be frank I don't care what "they" think, now there is not enough money in the world to buy this horse.

Six months on, teeth done, up to weight, handled correctly, schooled, he is going well. I'm hacking happily, he is a star. I'm having lessons and doing intro dressage, he is getting nearly 70% scores. He steers, he stops, he is balanced even on a 10m Circle ( this from a horse that could change the rein across the diagonal at trot) He stands at the mounting block and lifts his feet and places them in to my hand.

Did I pay to much......I don't care!!! :D : £2500

If you like that horse just buy it!!!
 
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Well this gives me hope I might find a lovely loan home for my lad if need be. I have a wonderful gorgeous lad who has had some issues with his feet, currently rehabbing those but I'm not sure he will come back to eventing happily. He is a wonderful hack, ace in all traffic, not a plod, happy to go first or last, does water/gates/bogs etc spent hours exploring the new forest as a youngster. He won't ever be sold so price irrelevant but good to know people do look for these horses.
 
Depends a lot also on height and age but I'd expect to pay £3-4K.

There are things you don't put on the list but you would want when you really think about it- nice paces so it is comfortable to ride, a good length of rein and nicely put together etc for the pleasurable ride and longevity they hopefully bring.
 
I bought one that did everything, and I mean everything, foot perfectly. She was amazing. I paid 500 quid for her because she was 16. I'd pay a hell of a lot more for her again as a 5 yo.
 
I'd budget £3k if wasn't time precious and could wait for the right one. I can see how they easily go for £4-5k if they have half decent looks and the right age.
 
We have paid £3500 including tack and rugs for one. We had loaned him the previous nine months and he had taught my brother to ride, would hack alone or in company and just would adapt to any rider.
100% worth it
 
I wouldn't discount TBs or WBs as happy hackers. I tried a TB for loan once and only didn't take her because she was sold before I tried her (loaner was unaware!). She was amazing to hack! Haven't hacked a WB, but have known others who do. As for what I'd pay? Anything up to £4k. As it happens, my two cost £550 for both of them. Bargains!!
 
When I look at a happy hacker I don't mind if they've retired from a busier life and have a bit of wear and tear going on. I don't expect miracles 100% bomb proof etc but I don't want a nutter, or something that pulls like a train or goes everywhere snorting and sideways, I'm old and tired, I got nothing to prove and I just want to chill out when I ride.

I feel it's hard to put an exact price on this, it would depend on the horse, if the horse had arthritis or other issues that required management I would expect that to be reflected in the price.
 
I sold my 17yr old WB/TB dressage schoolmaster as a happy hacker for the £3-4K range. He looked good, was fab in all traffic/situations in company and on his own and was exceptionally well schooled. He's been with his new owner for over 2 years now and she adores him. she didn't even bother to have him vetted. I really miss him as a hack but not as a dressage schoolmaster!
 
I paid £3500 for a mare who had done absolutely nothing but hack, but when trying her out she didn't blink when a coach came flying round a corner doing 50+mph. Schooled her up a little and sold her for £4250.
 
Any horse is worth as much as someone is willing to pay but a horse who really and truly fulfils all of the above is probably worth around the 4-5k region. Realistically I'm probably never going to have that sort of spare cash floating about so I have to put up the the odd quirk.

My previous horse very nearly fits what you describe but he had a thing about air brakes and large vehicles (would freeze in their presence) and could get a little strong on grass (That said I did once pull him up and aim him sideways as a roadblock in 2 or 3 strides from canter because my friends horse behind was trying to sod off with her... was always worse for pulling when behind other, slower horses though). You really could take him anywhere with anyone and ask him to do anything though. He cost me about £2k over 10 years ago now.

Current horse can be a bit nappy alone, isn't 100% convinced about tractors passing on narrow roads and thinks that many many everyday objects are out to get him and has quite a spook on him. He quite happily does TREC, goes on pleasure rides, goes to the beach, opens gates, crosses bridges, pops a fence and when I actually bother to ride him properly can do a nice dressage test and apparently doesn't mind helicopters taking off and landing in the next field (went XC schooling and another rider was unlucky enough to need the air ambulance) and is generally considered a fairly reliable hack now. I wouldn't put a total novice on him without a lead rein though unless they fancied being merrily carted off up a field cos they won't stop leaning forwards and have forgotten all concept of rein contact as he has a nasty habit of doing precisely what his rider has asked for even if the request is silly (He's erm caught me out with this a few times myself) He cost 2.5k
 
Hard for me to say really, because I have a horse and a pony that fit that description and they were both freebies... though I did produce them myself so it's not like they were ready made! I was offered 2000 for my mare, though she's certainly NOT for sale, if she was I wouldn't ask any less than that, especially as she is also a good jumper.
 
Snowfilly said:
Probably 2-3 k as it's only a happy hacker. For that, it'd have to be good looking and comfortable to ride - if I'm doing 5 hours in the saddle, I want nice action.

For what I'd call a hack, it needs to be doing more than you listed - good to open gates, cross water, go up and down all sorts of terrain including beach, moorland and rough tracks. Jumping up to 1.00m is non negotiable, in case of fallen logs or walls, and there must be established rein back and lateral work for getting out of tricky situations. Must stand to be mounted from anything, and lead well in hand for bits that are too bad to ride. Must be sound enough to do 30 miles in a day and pull out again the next.

That's a true hack to me, and I'd pay 6k without quibbling. They are very hard to find though!
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Goldenstar said:
For me ,it would have to move well so 6k ish .
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6K is also what I had in mind. I need a horse to be comfortable and balanced, as I get no pleasure whatsoever from hacking on a lump with no balance. I have pleasure from the horse lifting his back and moving correctly. I like to go up and down the gears within the pace.

For this, the starting point, with all the stipulations OP put on as well, of riding in company/ 100% traffic etc, would be 6K. The horse may only be destined for happy hacking, but to give that feel it would be able to compete if the owner so wished.

For a horse that is not really balanced or built to be naturally so, but that has little go, so it is safe, then under 3K.
 
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I think the trouble is that many horses are advertised as 'happy hackers' because they are not able to do other jobs due to soundness issues, so these horses are usually quite cheap.

However, the type of horse you describe is a different kettle of fish, and most horses fitting that description would also be capable of doing some local dressage, low level jumping, hunting etc. So although you may want 'just' a happy hacker, you are actually buying a horse that has the capability to be a low level all-rounder, which obviously pushes the price up.

I would agree that around 3-4k would be a reasonable figure for that type of horse in the South East area (if it was 100% sound with no quirks or issues), price obviously increasing if the horse is smart looking, with good paces and a bit less if the horse is odd-looking with a funny gait, for example.
 
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