How to price

[! Hackinghappy!]

I'm not overly familiar with the current market although my understanding is that it was pretty crazy!

I'm drafting the advert for my mare as I'm becoming more convinced that selling is the right thing to do but she has a couple of issues that will affect her price.

Details -

14.2, 10 year old cob mare.
Fab hacking pony - very calm, laid back and steady.
Easy to do in all ways. Very good doer so weight needs managed.
Will reluctantly school but doesn't love it and is green.
Has mild hind suspensory issues that were treated, rehabbed and is sound but requires remedial shoeing and will limit abilities i.e. no jumping, light schooling i.e. riding club level. May need subsequent steroid injections in the future (but also may be totally fine).
Can be sticky when loading but nothing a bit of practice won't fix.

Good home is much more important than anything else but I know that pricing too low can attract some of the wrong types of people so looking for a reasonable starting point please.

 

[usaequestrian]

$3000-$5000
If she can't jump and has sound issues I wouldn't go higher than that. Can you send her to an aquaintance/someone you know?

 

[Widgeon]

£3-5K sounds about right to me, for a totally solid safe hack who will carry an adult (if she's not too lightweight) I wouldn't be surprised if you did get £5K in the current market, even with the need for remedial shoeing. Can you find someone via word of mouth? I wonder if you might be best off pricing at the higher end and then being willingly negotiated down by the right buyer - perhaps that would help weed out the "wrong types of people".

 

[AmyMay]

I appreciate this is from December, but I’d say £2k absolutely tops, and that would be pricey.

 

[Widgeon]

I appreciate this is from December, but I’d say £2k absolutely tops, and that would be pricey.

I think that would have been true a couple of years ago, but possibly not any more.

 

[AmyMay]

I think that would have been true a couple of years ago, but possibly not any more.

The horse is crock…

 

[Widgeon]

The horse is crock…

I'm not really sure that's fair - the horse appears to have been properly treated and is completely sound so long as she's not pushed outside her physical limits. There are plenty of people who would pay reasonable money for a safe, kind hack that is sound and comfortable with appropriate management. The seller is being honest. I agree it will never be a big money horse, or competitive - but don't undervalue the worth of a safe hack who's a nice person to be around.

 

[usaequestrian]

I'm not really sure that's fair - the horse appears to have been properly treated and is completely sound so long as she's not pushed outside her physical limits. There are plenty of people who would pay reasonable money for a safe, kind hack that is sound and comfortable with appropriate management. The seller is being honest. I agree it will never be a big money horse, or competitive - but don't undervalue the worth of a safe hack who's a nice person to be around.

Exactly. She could be a nice little pony for a 10-9 yr old to hack around as a starter pony. The pony seems safe and honest, and I think lots of parents will pay 4k for a safe and honest starter pony.

 

[Widgeon]

Exactly. She could be a nice little pony for a 10-9 yr old to hack around as a starter pony. The pony seems safe and honest, and I think lots of parents will pay 4k for a safe and honest starter pony.

I think that's true, but 14.2 is also quite a desirable size for a small adult, which makes the market a lot wider. There are plenty of adult riders who don't want to do any more than hacking and a bit of riding club.

 

[usaequestrian]

I think that's true, but 14.2 is also quite a desirable size for a small adult, which makes the market a lot wider. There are plenty of adult riders who don't want to do any more than hacking and a bit of riding club.

Yes, you're correct. I come from the U.S in a hardcore show barn where adults don't often ride ponies unless it is a training ride or hack for when the owner can't come. But I think an adult might enjoy her as well. Maybe a family hacking pony?

 

[Bellaboo18]

Yes, you're correct. I come from the U.S in a hardcore show barn where adults don't often ride ponies unless it is a training ride or hack for when the owner can't come. But I think an adult might enjoy her as well. Maybe a family hacking pony?

It's an old thread but you're assuming the suspensories will stay fine, a big assumption. You're also assuming there's no secondary problems. She sounds ideal for a loan home.

There's so many questions before anyone can put a value on her. When were the suspensories diagnosed? I.e how long has she stayed sound for and how long have the current steroid injections lasted for. The reluctance to school will be pain/suspensories related. The problem won't have gone away but can be managed. That's a lot for a new home, especially a hacking home to take on.

I'd say a loan with view to rehome for a token amount.

 

[eggs]

If someone had come onto this forum saying that they were considering buying this pony I think a lot of replies would be along the lines of 'don't buy trouble - there are plenty of horses out there without physical issues' so it is hard to put a price on the mare.

She may stay sound, she may not so any purchaser would be taking a gamble. I'm not sure she is that suitable for RC activities as she cannot be jumped and doesn't like schooling which does limit the market to someone who only wants to hack. The potential for uninsurable costs (steroid injections, remedial shoeing) could also put a lot of people off.

I agree that you wouldn't want to price too low as the possibility of one of the many dodgy dealers picking her up and then selling her on without disclosing any of the issues would be a worry.

 

[usaequestrian]

It's an old thread but you're assuming the suspensories will stay fine, a big assumption. You're also assuming there's no secondary problems. She sounds ideal for a loan home.

There's so many questions before anyone can put a value on her. When were the suspensories diagnosed? I.e how long has she stayed sound for and how long have the current steroid injections lasted for. The reluctance to school will be pain/suspensories related. The problem won't have gone away but can be managed. That's a lot for a new home, especially a hacking home to take on.

I'd say a loan with view to rehome for a token amount.

Honestly the person owning her seems to really want to sell her. But I would only sell her to someone I already know so I could monitor what was going on.

 

[! Hackinghappy!]

Sorry not been on her for a while but thanks for all the replies.

Sadly pony went slightly unsound again - vets started back tracking on how effective treatment could be/had been so she's now happily retired - glad I didn't sell her as I'd hate to think of her fate otherwise ?

 

[Ratface]

Thank you for doing the right thing for your mare.
I hope you both enjoy her happy retirement. ?