How to offer a seller less money for a horse than they want politely!

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Mary3050

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Hi Guys,

I need some advice I have been to see a horse . We viewed Tuesday and went for a second viewing today . I really like the horse hasn’t really put a foot wrong but he is a little green for his age. The price the seller is asking is a little high . I took a good experience friend with me who agreed that the price Is high .

I think the horse is worth around 16k the seller wants 19.5k . I would be happy to increase to 18k would you think this is okay to offer. I do really like the horse but I feel the lack of experience is a lot for the price .

I am not really sure how I go about this politely ?

Thanks in Advance
 
"hi [name], I really like [horse] but, given their inexperience under saddle, was wondering if you'd be willing to accept a slightly lower offer than that in the advert, of say, £18k. Thanks and do let me know when you've had a think as they're a lovely horse and just what I have been looking for."
 
Ask them if they would consider an offer. And then state your price and reason. In fact, give yourself a bit of wiggle room and offer a bit lower - but not TOO low as that would be a bit insulting. Subject to vet of course.

And always make it plain that you would also like to see what the vet says. The vet might find something that makes it worth less.

Some vendors pluck a figure out of the sky, just hope that someone will come along and pay it. Sometimes a horse will sell for half what the vendor was asking ...............

Some dealers will never take an offer, they have priced the horse to sell and that is their final price.
 
There isn't a polite way to get a 10 % discount, be polite and courteous to the seller in a face to face conversation offer your 16•5 see if you can settle at 18k or less, snails is good wording but if you start at 18 you'll finish at 19, yes it's cheeky (or some would say rude) to start at 16•5 but gives you more chance of getting him for 18k .dont forget about vetting and if paying a deposit make sure it's fully refundable to you if he fails
 
ycbm said:
There are foals that are worth more, it depends on the breeding and the performance of related horses.
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But this isn't a foal and if it's green for the age they won't be able to , for example, compete in the 5 year old classes.
For that money you can get a well bred horse that's out competing,.yes I know foals can go for a lot more (my farrier sold one of his for £300K!) but this sounds like a horse that's just been left and now it's not that young any more.
 
Sossigpoker said:
But this isn't a foal and if it's green for the age they won't be able to , for example, compete in the 5 year old classes.
For that money you can get a well bred horse that's out competing,.yes I know foals can go for a lot more (my farrier sold one of his for £300K!) but this sounds like a horse that's just been left and now it's not that young any more.
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OK forget that I said foals, there are green horses of any age that are worth as much and a lot more, it depends on the horse, the breeding, and the performance of related horses.
 
Snail said:
"hi [name], I really like [horse] but, given their inexperience under saddle, was wondering if you'd be willing to accept a slightly lower offer than that in the advert, of say, £18k. Thanks and do let me know when you've had a think as they're a lovely horse and just what I have been looking for."
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I think that's perfect.

I don't think there is anything impolite with offering $1500 less when the asking price is $19500.

Good luck!

ETA: But I'd change 'their' and 'they're' to 'his'. :)
 
Personally, I never try and give a reason for a lower offer. My general catch all is ‘I really like your horse and I think I could offer them a lovely home. I’d like to put an offer in if that’s ok with you? I’d be prepared to pay X subject to vet, but fully understand if you’d like to hold out for the full asking price’
 
I’d suggest ‘ Dobbin is a lovely horse , I feel we will make a great team . If you are willing to accept £16.5 I can pay a deposit now and get a vetting booked as soon as my vet can get to you .
I wouldn’t make any excuses for knocking them down , just make a straight offer but make them aware you are a serious buyer .
good luck ?
 
If you don't want to offer the asking price (prices are always there to be knocked down thats why they are priced like that always over price a little). So as Asha says start at 16.5 and when you can work upwards. They will probably go half way with you.

Not many people will be able to afford 19.5k at the moment especially with fuel prices, feed and everything else on the way up.
 
I've had more offers than I have horses bought straight out at full asking price. I am only offended if they knock the horse unfairly to explain the offer. I have often said no though, but it gives me the chance to decide if I like that home enough to forego a higher price from someone else.
 
Maybe we do things differently in Ireland, but everyone adds the 'haggling tax' onto a price - everyone expects the buyer to offer the seller less in the beginning so the price always has about 500 or 1/2K (depending on the value of the horse) so I would always go in with a lower offer - whether its for a horse, saddle, horsebox, car... doesnt matter! LOL! The unwritten rule is that the tax is already added!
 
just say he's a lovely horse and I'll offer X. They will no doubt refuse. Rather than then start haggling ie i'll go up £250 if you come down £250 when they have refused but are open to negotiation say "what about splitting the difference"

I've used that phrase many times when negotiating. It can be done in a friendly, joking sort of way and most often everyone ends up feeling good. (there is no point in upsetting the seller or yourself if you don't have to)

just do your calculations to make sure the "split the difference" figure is what you are prepared to pay.
 
Xmas lucky said:
I really like your horse What’s the lowest price you willing to consider. It’s prevents arguments and it will stop you from being rejected from this horse.
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ycbm said:
When I'm selling I absolutely hate people saying this and I won't answer. I tell them to offer me what they think the horse is worth.
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Coming back to this to explain more. This is what blaggers do when they can afford the horse and think the horse is worth it, but hope to catch the owner in a moment or need or weakness to get it for less money than they know full well it's worth.

I loathe it. Make me an offer of what you think my horse is genuinely worth to you, or leave my yard.
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Sossigpoker said:
A horse is being sold for that money and it's green for its age?
Really?
I can't imagine paying even £16K for a horse that by the sounds of it has done pretty much nothing.
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That is a really short sighted view. The OP hasn't detailed what the horse is. It could be a purpose bred competition horse with endless potential but green in some aspects of its work for its age.

A top class hurdler going chasing for the first time will run 'green' for instance, both the hurdler and the competition horse will be valuable animals and will sell for whatever a purchaser wants to pay for them.

OP, simply make your offer and it will accepted or rejected. The vendor may suggest a mid way figure and you can make your decision.
 
AdorableAlice said:
OP, simply make your offer and it will accepted or rejected. The vendor may suggest a mid way figure and you can make your decision.
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I agree just ring and say ' Thank you for showing me your horse - he is very nice. Would you accept ....' Personally I would start at £15k which allows you to go up and hope to meet half way. Remember you can always go up but not so easy to go down!!

I bought one abroad that was on the market for £20k and after a prolonged discussion I bought her for 10K.
 
Op if a horse is that expensive I don’t think they will take a lower offer. The majority of people who I have seen sell expensive horses have no problem telling people to get lost if they offer anything lower.I probably did what paddy says say it in joking way. In my opinion I don’t understand why people even view a horse if they can’t afford the horse.
 
Mary3050 said:
Hi Guys,

I need some advice I have been to see a horse . We viewed Tuesday and went for a second viewing today . I really like the horse hasn’t really put a foot wrong but he is a little green for his age. The price the seller is asking is a little high . I took a good experience friend with me who agreed that the price Is high .

I think the horse is worth around 16k the seller wants 19.5k . I would be happy to increase to 18k would you think this is okay to offer. I do really like the horse but I feel the lack of experience is a lot for the price .

I am not really sure how I go about this politely ?

Thanks in Advance
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I offered 2K less for my horse. Buyer snapped my hand off. Now I know why lol
Joking apart I think he's worth his weight in gold. It's worth doing if you really like the horse.

I said subject to him passing the vet also as I did with the deposit.
 
It would never occur to me to offer the asking price unless it was undervalued, then I'd be looking to find out why it's undervalued. I always say how much I like the horse, that he/she would have a good long term home with me and then make an offer(agree 16.5K seems reasonable) then expect to meet the price half way between. I always have a maximum price in mind and am prepared to walk away if we can't agree. The only time I paid the full asking price was to my daughter's trainer, on a lovely youngster he'd brought over from Ireland but he kept the horse livery free for a month, gave my daughter lessons without charge for that month and sold the horse on for us (without charge) when she went to uni.
 
ycbm said:
Coming back to this to explain more. This is what blaggers do when they can afford the horse and think the horse is worth it, but hope to catch the owner in a moment or need or weakness to get it for less money than they know full well it's worth.

I loathe it. Make me an offer of what you think my horse is genuinely worth to you, or leave my yard.
.
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I hate this as well. It's the teeth sucking than can with it, and the often completely odd reasons for the offer. It actually makes me less likely to sell to them, and if it's done on the phone, it's even worse. Don't bother coming.
I once gave an offer 50% less than what someone was asking, it was a nice well bred youngster, but backward. I explained why I was offering a lot less, and said that what it was worth to me, and three months later they took that offer.
 
The Irish Draft 2022 said:
In my opinion I don’t understand why people even view a horse if they can’t afford the horse.
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100% but thats not the OP is saying, she was willing to pay it if the horse was at X level but just feels there a little less experience than the price warrants - no harm in that!

But everyone is always looking for a deal either way!!
 
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