How would you value this horse?

[canteron]

Not selling, but the vet thinks I paid too much so curious (I’m happy with what I paid).
16 year old maxi cob. Nicely put together. Has mainly hacked, done a stint in riding school where she taught novices and advanced. Can jump but has not had much dressage training and is wonky in the school - but willing to learn. No real school canter as yet.
Good in traffic and pretty solid in most situation but has the odd moment (don’t they all).
Known history since she was 4yo.
Came with saddle, bridle and rugs.
Bought as a confidence giving fun horse.

 

[Exasperated]

Not selling, but the vet thinks I paid too much so curious (I’m happy with what I paid).
16 year old maxi cob. Nicely put together. Has mainly hacked, done a stint in riding school where she taught novices and advanced. Can jump but has not had much dressage training and is wonky in the school - but willing to learn. No real school canter as yet.
Good in traffic and pretty solid in most situation but has the odd moment (don’t they all).
Known history since she was 4yo.
Came with saddle, bridle and rugs.
Bought as a confidence giving fun horse.

When you say ‘wonky’, as in, cannot move straight? You need her to be sound enough to happily do the sort of things you want to do, not leg it round Aintree.
Probably c.£4,000 (assuming the tack is suitable), she sounds like she would be a good confidence giver for a good few years, you are happy with her - so that’s all that matters.
Things are simply worth what people will pay, your vet probably doesn’t want that sort of horse - but you do. Enjoy!

 

[greasedweasel]

I’d of gone with £4 - 5k as well

 

[Jenko109]

My initial thought was also about 5k.

Big old honka tonk mare that will look after you is worth that much, even if she is never going to be the competitive type.

 

[AmyMay Again]

I'd go higher. Possibly 5 figures.

 

[nutjob]

If sound and wonky due to lack of schooling / suppleness rather than something physically wrong I'd start at 8k. I spent forever looking for a horse and didn't see anything around the 4K mark that was sound and didn't have some type of behavioural problem.

 

[Roxylola]

Good in traffic and pretty solid in most situation but has the odd moment (don’t they all).
Known history since she was 4yo.
Came with saddle, bridle and rugs.
Bought as a confidence giving fun horse.

All the rest is irrelevant for something you know and trust. Price of she's vetted sound, definitely 5 figures. Unvetted or not totally sound maybe needs a bit of maintenance help declared, probably still over 5k. If I owned a horse like that I'd expect at least that if I were selling. Safe and sane is valuable

 

[Archangel]

£4-5k. She sounds lovely.

 

[Red-1]

I would say that, unless you were hoping to sell on again, the price is now irrelevant! You liked her and bought her.

I saw similar for sale recently, I think it was around 7K. But that one wasn't perhaps as confidence giving as the advert was proclaiming, reading between the lines. I think that one was around 7K, and no I would not have paid that!

But then, I bought Rigsby for good money who had many issues and many people would have said he wasn't work more than a token £1 but he has been the best buy ever!

 

[canteron]

I paid £8k - she passed a 5* vetting and is already straighter with gentle schooling and bodywork. Interestingly someone offered more, but the owners preferred the home I was offering.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts, and yes, I am very happy with her

 

[EmmaC78]

I thought about £5-6,000. If she is safe and you enjoy riding her then the price is irrelevant though.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

I would have guessed about 6k

 

[alibali]

I paid £8k - she passed a 5* vetting and is already straighter with gentle schooling and bodywork. Interestingly someone offered more, but the owners preferred the home I was offering.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts, and yes, I am very happy with her

I was about to comment 8k when I saw your reply. Too many people under- value safe and sound and yet that's what the majority of riders want (or need!). I think you got a bargain and wish you many happy years with her

 

[Widgeon]

In the current climate, if you had the money to spend (which clearly you did) I wouldn't say you overpaid. If she's sound and nicely built she could go on for ages.

Also, in the great scheme of vet bills, you're long term better off spending more upfront on something sound that won't need maintenance for a while, than spending 4K on something with niggles that might cost a fair bit every year to manage for the next ten years.

 

[Cloball]

I don't think you over paid, I had a budget of 5k 3 years ago and I certainly couldn't find what you have without large caveats. A safe confidence giving substantial horse would go for 5 figures so baring in mind the dip in the market and economy 8k is reasonable. A safe hacking horse is pretty priceless in my mind.

 

[Clodagh]

I think you got a bargain. Anyone who thinks they can find a safe, sane and sound horse that can hack on today’s roads for less than £6k is a born optimist.
And what on earth suggested to the vet to proffer that opinion!

 

[ihatework]

I think you got a bargain. Anyone who thinks they can find a safe, sane and sound horse that can hack on today’s roads for less than £6k is a born optimist.
And what on earth suggested to the vet to proffer that opinion!

I just paid £3750 including tack rugs and delivery for one!!! But I did move quick and travel to the arse end of nowhere to view!

 

[FieldOrnaments]

And what on earth suggested to the vet to proffer that opinion!

I was wondering the same and wouldn't use that vet again. I think it's rude.

 

[Jenko109]

I was wondering the same and wouldn't use that vet again. I think it's rude.

I'm sure we will all agree on this.

Very rude, indeed.

 

[Exasperated]

I just paid £3750 including tack rugs and delivery for one!!! But I did move quick and travel to the arse end of nowhere to view!

Excellent! And between your £3750 and OP’s £8000, you’ve both got horses that you can afford, that are doing just the job you want them for, and are thoroughly happy with.
That’s more than many people posting on here could say, so well done!

 

[Kirstd33]

I’d have said 6-7k but tbh honest don’t really think you’ve overpaid if she’s sound and safe and doing exactly what you want to. She sounds lovely and I hope you continue to have a great time together.

 

[Honey08]

Prices seem to have massively risen over the past few years. I’d have said she should have been around £4k, but nowadays I wouldn’t have been suprised if you’d paid £10k. At the end of the day you could afford what you paid and you’re happy with her, and that’s what matters.

 

[ihatework]

I paid £8k - she passed a 5* vetting and is already straighter with gentle schooling and bodywork. Interestingly someone offered more, but the owners preferred the home I was offering.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts, and yes, I am very happy with her

A nice maxi cob will always have a market!
I do find some people can be like ‘well I could get xyz for 8k …. Without really understanding xyz wouldn’t necessarily do the same job!’

 

[HopOnTrot]

I saw an ad early for a 16 year old that sounded perfect, was about to show husband and it’s was priced at low £20k’s.

£8k is a steal!

 

[eahotson]

I think it's non of the Vets business what you paid.He us there to tell you whether the horse is sound enough to do the job,end of.I think you did well to get her for 8 thousand.

 

[Spiderpig2009]

Makes me wonder on the vets viewpoint when I have just paid £3k to have one molar tooth removed from my horse as the insurance doesn’t cover it. The removal went well, not like a previous horse that the countries top dental clinic removed- bust into the sinus and left me with a £7.5k bill that the insurance paid £5k on.

So £8k for a whole horse who sounds lovely is a bargain. Nice horses that suit you are priceless..

 

[skint1]

She sounds lovely! I paid £7.5k for an 8yo of similar temperament, though less experienced- and depending on the source of the wonk I'd say £6k, but probably worth her weight in gold, like mine is

edit to say, £8k is still a bargain for a horse like that, enjoy her... they are not easy to find

 

[AmyMay Again]

I think it's non of the Vets business what you paid.He us there to tell you whether the horse is sound enough to do the job,end of.I think you did well to get her for 8 thousand.

Although, presumably if your vet said they thought you'd got a bargain, you'd be delighted

 

[canteron]

Although, presumably if your vet said they thought you'd got a bargain, you'd be delighted

I have used the vet practice for over 25 years, so I guess maybe the relationship is quite established and while I was a bit surprised he commented on the value, I would prefer them to give me too much info rather than too little.
And he did say he would buy the horse if he was looking, so I guess that was reassuring.

 

[AmyMay Again]

I have used the vet practice for over 25 years, so I guess maybe the relationship is quite established and while I was a bit surprised he commented on the value, I would prefer them to give me too much info rather than too little.
And he did say he would buy the horse if he was looking, so I guess that was reassuring.

My equine vet was fantastic. If he'd made a comment on what I'd paid for a horse I'd have been quite happy to receive it.