Overpriced?

I have 2 horses in my stables that at one time were sold - and were presumably at that point "worth" - over £10,000. I paid £800 for one and the other was free :-)
 
I would have thought the answer to whether the horse is overpriced to the buyer, is whether the buyer can exploit the potential.

If they can't, then the horse is only worth tuppence ha'penny to that potential buyer.

So it's not so much about what the horse is worth in absolute terms, but what it's worth to each different buyer.

Somebody who knows that they can exploit and develop the potential that's on show would surely be happy to pay the price.
 
Cortez said:
That was my point: horses are not really subject to valuations since they are entirely luxury items and their value is ephemeral.
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I got it :) I was agreeing with my comment.

In the end, a horse is worth what you want to pay for it- what is perfect for one person is useless for another. I know what would be worth £5k to me as a rider is a very different kettle of fish to what a horse worth £5k to my sister is...
 
Cortez said:
That was my point: horses are not really subject to valuations since they are entirely luxury items and their value is ephemeral.
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They're not entirely luxury items - a horse's intrinsic value is what it is worth as meat ;)
 
Can you imagine what would happen to the price of horse meat if EVERYONE suddenly decided to sell their horse at once?
 
Alexart said:
If you think about it in terms of how much this horse has cost to breed and keep let alone train I think 5k is reasonable, if as others have said it's nicely put together and shows promise - I don't know about anyone else but a horse costs on average 1k a year just to keep so a 5yr old that has potential and has had schooling 5k is perfectly reasonable!!
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Exactly! The market is definitely ***** - and nice horses are selling for less that they should be worth - but a nicely bred youngster who has been properly backed and ready to bring on should be anything from £4,500 - £6,500 - or more!

As an example: back in 2004 I bought a VERY nice 3 yo ID filly from Ireland who hadn't yet been graded OR backed. She cost me £10,000 - it wasn't a rip-off - a filly of the same age, not quite as nice, fetched £2,000 more at auction. Now, I'm selling pure-bred 4 year old fillies, graded, backed and hacking for between £5,000 and £6,000 - and losing money on them because it costs close enough to £2,000 to put the foal on the ground, several hundred for registration/DNA/ID/Microchip, at LEAST £750 a year to raise them, another couple of hundred to grade them - and that's before we start backing them!

Yes, there are plenty of horses being 'given away' - but that's because they have NO particular merits!
 
JanetGeorge said:
Exactly! The market is definitely ***** - and nice horses are selling for less that they should be worth - but a nicely bred youngster who has been properly backed and ready to bring on should be anything from £4,500 - £6,500 - or more!

As an example: back in 2004 I bought a VERY nice 3 yo ID filly from Ireland who hadn't yet been graded OR backed. She cost me £10,000 - it wasn't a rip-off - a filly of the same age, not quite as nice, fetched £2,000 more at auction. Now, I'm selling pure-bred 4 year old fillies, graded, backed and hacking for between £5,000 and £6,000 - and losing money on them because it costs close enough to £2,000 to put the foal on the ground, several hundred for registration/DNA/ID/Microchip, at LEAST £750 a year to raise them, another couple of hundred to grade them - and that's before we start backing them!

Yes, there are plenty of horses being 'given away' - but that's because they have NO particular merits!
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Gah! Don't try and make a business case for goodness sake! This is why I no longer breed horses - utter madness!
 
Never having paid 5k for a horse and never likely to :(:rolleyes: IF I WERE then I would much prefer an unspoilt green youngster than something that had 'been there and done it all' with all the ailments and injuries to go with it. If the horse your interested in had reached its potential and was successful I would be wondering why its only 5k.
 
Im no expert at all but I got a 3 yo for 2k. He is out of a RID by Grade A Showjumper "Secret Rumour". He was then professionally started etc. Everyone thought he was well over priced but he shows a natual talent/ability to jump. Worth every penny and more too me. But I only paid £850 for a 2 yo sports horse and he has paces to die for. I guess its luck of the draw. Th3 first one was what I was looking for and the second was simply by chance.
Is this horse worth 5k to you..?? If yes then buy it...!!!! ;)
 
From everyones responses I think I will ask seller for more videos and arrange a viewing. He does look a nice boy but she hasn't advertised him very well (unflattering pics/videos) so maybe he will show more potential in the flesh :)
 
I'm in the camp that he's probably fairly priced. Good confirmation, breeding would suggest he has more ability up his sleeve and I would expect a good jump on him, properly started..yup think you are there or there abouts.
 
From reading the earlier posts, I would say the original responses were looking at him as a nice RC all rounder - and you can buy a good "made" version for this horse's asking price

If, however, you are looking at him as a potential eventer with a possible career as an event horse, then he sounds about spot on.
 
I brought my mare who is 5yo and has very good breeding Carthago Z lines her Dam was a 1.40m horse, she has been jumped around BS tracks on a ticket.. But is showing massive potential I paid 6k for her... Go with your gut if its something you really want the offer them less it wont hurt. With gelding's i dont look at breeding as it not like yu can breed from them Good luck
 
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I think prices in England are crazy high, I own a filly out of a cavalier stallion and as a 5 year old without having proven herself over here in ireland she's be worth a whole lot more than €1000. Unfortunately she had an accident in the field and Damaged her pelvis, so worthless now.
 
Interesting. We bought a very similar horse for my husband in 2007. Good cavalier lines, lovely paces, character and big jump, but as green as green could be, done nothing, couldn't even trot around the school. We paid £3100 for him. That was the start of winter though, which may have made for a different price than he would have been at the start of summer (dealer did say he was eating her out of house and home!) He probably didn't fully mature until he was seven, nearly eight, but has turned into the most beautiful horse and looking back, had I had it, and know what he was going to become, and how well he suited us, I would have paid double that.

spacefaer said:
From reading the earlier posts, I would say the original responses were looking at him as a nice RC all rounder - and you can buy a good "made" version for this horse's asking price

If, however, you are looking at him as a potential eventer with a possible career as an event horse, then he sounds about spot on.
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Thats exactly it. It really depends if you are going to bring out that potential and do something, and enjoy doing it, otherwise you could get a lot more established horse for that price.
 
It all depends on the individual if he's beauifully put together moves with athlectism and has a natural jump and looks like he's got a good mind I would pay that asking price without giving it a second thought , it would not concern me in the least that the horse had done very little if it was special.
 
If I was currently looking for a young jumper to bring on I would consider that a very good price. Remember too that price has a lot to do with rider ambition and ability. A pro rider would be looking for a horse to potentially take them to the top. 5000 then is not much. Someone who wants occasional shows and to jump at home etc, would likely consider it a lot. To me, the horse dictates. I have a four year old just starting training. He is looking as though he could jump the moon. If someone offered me 5000 (he isn't for sale) I would laugh. Once backed and out competing if he does well he would be worth far more...so price is all relative.
 
Oldenburg27 said:
I brought my mare who is 5yo and has very good breeding Carthago Z lines her Dam was a 1.40m horse, she has been jumped around BS tracks on a ticket.. But is showing massive potential I paid 6k for her... Go with your gut if its something you really want the offer them less it wont hurt. With gelding's i dont look at breeding as it not like yu can breed from them Good luck
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I agree about the breeding comment but there are certain lines which definitely pass confirmation/ability down so I do always look. Cavalier, broadly speaking, tend to show up a lot in good eventers, can be quirky but not nasty. A friend has a cavalier gelding who has a mares mentality. One of the nicest horses I have ever had the pleasure of riding.
 
I bought my Cavalier ISH as a 5 year old for 6k. He had hunted a whole season in Ireland as a three year old, has a lovely temperament and although very green in the school he showed great potential on the flat and over a fence. We paid for potential and at the time it seemed expensive, but five years I've put a lot of work into him and can see he is worth every penny (and possibly more now too!)
 
Are you looking for an investment, to bring on and sell for a profit? If so then I can understand why you feel you want to pay less.

As a mum the price I pay is purely for the fun, opportunities, pleasure and safety I am buying for my daughter and I am prepared to pay more for a horse with a higher value if it can provide them. I have just paid 'over the odds' by anyone else's standards for a well bred pony with potential but no proven record. However with the most fabulous temperament and attitude to work, completely safe and not spooky, so worth it to me, from this alone because I value my daughter's safety and happiness beyond the money.

Ultimately any horse is only worth what YOU want to pay for it, after costs of keeping and production are deducted very few will return a profit in a future sale.
 
spacefaer said:
From reading the earlier posts, I would say the original responses were looking at him as a nice RC all rounder - and you can buy a good "made" version for this horse's asking price

If, however, you are looking at him as a potential eventer with a possible career as an event horse, then he sounds about spot on.
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Thank you that was the view :)
 
Kaylum said:
What are you looking to do with him op?
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Essentially I am looking for a young horse that I can produce myself with a view to do some eventing(BE90 and 100, then possibly more depending on how both me and the horse feel about it)
I am experienced in the schooling up part but as I have only ever ridden for other people I am not an experienced buyer. I am now however in a position to buy my own rather than riding for other people :) I am not necessarily looking to sell the horse on for a profit, only a change in my personal circumstances would force sale.
 
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