"Parkers Price Guide" for horses???

[marestare]

I am currently virtual horse shopping (the best kind) for a friend (even better), and find myself laughing out loud at the outrageous money people are asking for horses they are selling.

My friend is looking for a nice riding club sort, who can turn it's hoof to a sponsored ride, doesn't need riding every day, doesn't have any scary quirks and is relatively easy on the eye.

I am fully aware that safety and being able to enjoy a nice hack or a day's hunting are as valuable attributes as a competition record, but who on earth would pay £5K for an 7 year old ID X with no competition record who rears if you ask him to hack alone, or £4.5K for a 10 year old cob who "is not yet established in canter" ?????????

I am wondering whether I am just showing my age in expecting to get something that can be ridden in walk, trot and canter, without standing up on it's hind legs, for £5K???

 

[Lippyx]

How much!! That is ridiculous!! I was horse shopping yesterday for a friend. She wants a 16hh+, over 6 yrs old, any sex, any colour, any breed, but lightweight, she had a budget of 3k, and it had to be fairly local (1.5 hr drive) I must have emailed her about 10 horses! I was laughing at some of the prices people where asking for unbacked babies!

I have a budge myself of 2.5k and have found a fair few nice allrounders, locally for less!
Obviously we all know what is on paper is not always what you see, but thats horse hunting for you!

 

[LowenKi]

I think that's ridiculous. I'm not asking much more for my mare who is far beyond riding club quality and is proven at all three affiliated disciplines.