over priced horses? is it just me?

J

JessDoesItBetter

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I'm sorry about this but i just want other peoples oppinions..
im currntly looking for a new event horse, and i want something pretty serious. We have a strict budget of £14000 (can't go a penny over!). Now i'm not a ritch person and to me this is a hell of a lot of money, and i expect to find a horse for this amount that has quite a bit of potential, and all i appear to have seen at the moment are distinctly average horses that have done a few pre-novice runs. So is it just me expecting too much? i Just want a horse between the ages 5-10 that has potential to go far, if not advanced then 2* will do.
 
I'm not looking for a horse but bought Horse and Hound to read on a train journey last week. I couldn't believe the price of the horses for sale there. People seem to be asking a heck of a lot of money for horses that have done very little.
I'll think twice before I threaten to sell my horse next time he's naughty when I see what it would cost to replace him - although if someone would give me that sort of money for him......
 
A few tips;
1. Don't tell people how much you have to spend or everything you see will be £14k
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2. You'd be much better off trying to find a quality youngster and bring it on yourself with training, than to find something that has already been competed....
3. Try a specialist dealer? If you post your location, people on here may be able to suggest trustworthy dealers for competition horses....
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Your not rich yet you have 14,000 to spend on a horse!

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LOL i got that money because my mum was underpaid at work for the last 10 years so we get loads of back pay as compo. we don't usually have that kinda monthey from nowhere
 
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LOL i got that money because my mum was underpaid at work for the last 10 years so we get loads of back pay as compo. we don't usually have that kinda monthey from nowhere [ QUOTE ]


And your mum's giving you £14,000 for a horse even though SHE'S the one that's been underpaid?! What a lovely lady!!!
 
petrol 1997 around 85p per litre - can't remember exactly
petrol now 104p per litre - a 23% increase in price

so it would be reasonable to assume that other costs are increased to reflect fuel/distribution costs. e.g. feed/farrier/vets prices in 10 years

so if costs have gone up 23% in 10 years it would be reasonable for prices to go up a fair bit

it always seems to me that people whine about horse prices and yet expect them to be the same as 20 years ago

last time I bought a horse was 12 years ago - paid £4200 for him as a 3 yr old and he's still happy and sound and does what I bought him for.

I'd expect to pay £5500 to £6000 to get the equivalent horse now with just price inflation - and yet people seem to want to pay no more than 2500 and think that is expensive

the last horse I bought for 2500 was in 1980 and he was the equiv. of the one I bought in 1995 for 4200

so yes 14000 is a lot of money but it would have been 9k 10 years ago and 5k 25 years ago so if anyone has copies of old back numbers of h&H be interesting to see how prices compare - ARE current prices that unrealistic - I don't think so
- I think they are actually realistic when you take into account the cost of producing the horse to age 5 from conception - but then fools breed horses for wise men to buy
 
QR-Blimey if you cant find what you are looking for for 14k I'd give up.... agree with what has been said about getting a youngster though!
 
14k isn't that much for a sound event horse with proven ability and good form though. there's a LOT of horses out there with bad form, dodgy habits etc. the occasional really good one that's for sale (and if they're good, they're usually not for sale!) is sought-after, and you can't blame people for asking what they think they can get for a horse.
i agree with reynold about prices rising, too. i bought a very quality 6yr old ex-sjer to event in 1993 for £7.5k... and she went to Advanced with me. i can't be bothered to work out with inflation what a similar horse would cost now, but a lot more than she did then!
also, don't forget what it actually costs to event. a horse that's done two full seasons of PN and N has already had about £2k spent on entry fees, i reckon, let alone diesel etc etc etc. if that's factored in, no wonder people ask plenty of money for a good one.
 
Got a 16hh rising 10yr old for sale, easy intermediate xc, not a world beater as his sj lets him down sometimes but really genuine and does a smart test. Easily do 2*, been clear round a couple of 1*s
PM me, he's well below your buget!!
 
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LOL i got that money because my mum was underpaid at work for the last 10 years so we get loads of back pay as compo. we don't usually have that kinda monthey from nowhere [ QUOTE ]


And your mum's giving you £14,000 for a horse even though SHE'S the one that's been underpaid?! What a lovely lady!!!

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lol it has to be a carefull sj tho because she wants to sj it, it's really going to be a horse for both of us...but yes she is a lovely lady as she could get herself a fab pure sj for 14k...it's just eventers that tend to be expensive, i agree that the costs of competition are far higher than that of other diciplins and thats proberbly why eventers are so expensive.
 
try helen bell but dont mention how much you have to spend she has youngsters that she schools over cross country courses so she has a good idea of their ability before she sells them on. I think she is based north yorkshire (Thirsk)
 
maybe try Exmoor Eventing, tho looks like for a Novice eventer with points its £15-16k so just over budget but perhaps they might negotiate? they do also have got one possible within budget 8yo Novice points 16.2 bay gelding (Orto) for £12000. And lots of the PN types you mention, but cheaper and one might take your fancy.

http://www.exmooreventing.com

I dont have personal experience of them but they do appear to specialise in what you're looking for although not sure where you are for travelling etc to them

hope this helps and good luck!
 
From what i've seen these days if a horse has done a few PNs then its priced £12,,000.
I've seen a 9yr old advertised for £15,000 and it hadnt even competed!!!! They said it had the potential to do intro...ridiculous!

Still if you really want a decent event horse to go high level then £14000 in my opinion isnt a lot of money. You'd be better producing a younger horse yourself if you have the skill to do so.
 
Yes i know getting a younger horse is an option that i might opt for, but atm im 16 and i was hoping to do some JRN's within the next 2 years, i have already produced my last 3 horses from a young age and i think it would just be nice to get one already done. Although i would definatly look at a nice youngster if i came accross one... Although i agree 14k isn't big money, i still expect something nice, above average and to have some ability.... i was thinking of getting a xc schooled sj/dressage that could event and that way i coukd get something nice for a lil less money.
 
Horses are RIDICULOUSLY over priced at the moment. I am also 16, and am in almost EXACTLY the same boat as you are. Our budget is similar, and in looking for a junior horse i've been told I will need to spend anything between 13 and £22,000 to get a good one, let alone one thats really top of it's class. We just refused to accept that so instead we've begun to look at the lower end of the market for horses much less expensive because of some little foibles that can be corrected, its one of the few ways to avoid the prices. I really think if you persevere you will find what you're looking for. We only in the last week found a lovely horse that jumps 1.40 for a fraction of our budget because he's forward going. Honestly, just keep going with things and ignore anyone who tells you you HAVE to spend so much money on a horse. Save it, spend a sensible amount on the kind of horse who just needs the rider to go places with it. Thats the only way we've ever been able to afford competing like we do. Good luck!
 
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I'm sorry about this but i just want other peoples oppinions..
im currntly looking for a new event horse, and i want something pretty serious. We have a strict budget of £14000 (can't go a penny over!).

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http://www.exmooreventing.com/horses.php?&page=2#

Have a look at K.E.C Serenity and Jimmy in particular - well within budget and look promising.
 
We've been looking, at young dressage horses, and i have to say they are rediculously overpriced for what they are atm!
I Personally would wait untill the spring and see what happens there, or go and look at the performance sales.
We looked at a 4 year old by Dimagio a couple of months ago, that really wasnt correct, and they were asking more for that, than the prices of quality stock going at Brightwells.
Also have you considered looking on the Continent? or perhaps one for lease?
Keep looking, u will find one eventually, but i agree with you about not looking at babies. If you want to do Juniors and Young Riders, you dont have the time to bring one on.
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I don't know much about eventers, but I agree with glamourdoll - what about looking abroad? Germany perhaps? Trakehners tend to event pretty well so it may be worth your while looking at the trakehner verband website or contacting trakehners-international who may be able to help. You may be able to get a really nice trak that doesn't move well enough for top class dressage but which has good bloodlines for jumping/eventing and has been professionally started to a high standard
 
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