people say horses aren't selling, but I can't find one!

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olliesmum

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Can anybody suggest where to look for a really quiet hack for an older not particularly confident rider? Needs to be a gelding around 15 hands, hack alone or in company, no bucking rearing etc. doesn't need to jump and doesn't matter what it looks like and an older horse would be acceptable. Might also consider slight problems such as mild sweet itch or weaving at mealtimes. I wouldn't have thought it would be that hard to find something, but I can't find a thing. We are in the midlands.
 
Me neither!!

I'm looking for a nice all rounder type. But TBH all the horses I have seen are waaaaay too overpriced even in this market!! And I have some experience with valuing horses!

Have you looked on:
Horsemart
Horse and Hound
Horsequest
HorseHunter
Horsedeals?

I think you should be able to find something for what you want. I know I'm having some trouble as I'm very picky!!
 
Snap...I can't find a nice horse with a sensible price tag. See some adds I think read well, but are asking stupid money. Loads down in England but up here in Scotland is just daft.
I want something I can do a bit of everything on, prefer it to have hunted, between 15.2 and 16.2 , sensible, and no older than 10....can I find one that isn't silly money....nope!
Oh yeh, not full TB as they don't cope on our ground, and no cobs....sorry cob fans but yuk. See it is just like hunting for hens teeth.
 
Oscar162 said:
Snap...I can't find a nice horse with a sensible price tag. See some adds I think read well, but are asking stupid money. Loads down in England but up here in Scotland is just daft.
I want something I can do a bit of everything on, prefer it to have hunted, between 15.2 and 16.2 , sensible, and no older than 10....can I find one that isn't silly money....nope!
Oh yeh, not full TB as they don't cope on our ground, and no cobs....sorry cob fans but yuk. See it is just like hunting for hens teeth.
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Sounds like I want exactly what you want! I've seen loads around here but for a stupid amount of money! I used to loan a lovely young gelding who has done nothing except hack with me and I did a dressage test on him once...and the owner wants £4000!!! Ummm....no!
 
This is just what I was after just over a year ago. A sane and sensible low level all-rounder - like looking for hens teeth! Did eventually find my perfect girl. As sane and sensible as it is possible to have without riding a bike, but with buckets of character! Only bit that is different to my ideal is that she would be more acuratly described as a 'potential' allrounder. So far she has taught me an enormous amount and I'm having a wonderful time bringing her on.
Your perfect horse is out there, I reckon they just hide well!
 
Ugh I know, I'm struggling to find anything at the moment too.

Looking at your criteria though I know of one for sale that might fit the bill. I have know personal knowledge of it or its owner, only that my instructor works on the yard where it lives and suggested it to someone during one of our lessons.

He is advertised on Horse Deals, and is a cleveland bay. Suitable for hacking, schooling low level competition and hunting - the down side is a fairly nasty scar on his leg, but he's sound. I think if you search for a cleveland bay in nottinghamshire he will come up.
 
Try being in the north of Scotland. I see horses that are nice and I would be willing to pay around £5000 - £6000 for them as they tick every box, but these people seem to want double that as it has done one or two BE 90. I know of one who has done very little, no more than local showing (small classes) and they are asking £8000, it has schooled round BE90 course, but not competed.
 
I think the problem is ALOT of people want a safe, sensible horse to do low level comps on. And people are willing to pay for it, even more so than a more talented proven horse which is trickier to ride. TBH chances are you will have to pay more than you think - safe horses that can do abit of everything 15.2 -16.2 are like gold dust!
 
olliesmum said:
Can anybody suggest where to look for a really quiet hack for an older not particularly confident rider? Needs to be a gelding around 15 hands, hack alone or in company, no bucking rearing etc. doesn't need to jump and doesn't matter what it looks like and an older horse would be acceptable. Might also consider slight problems such as mild sweet itch or weaving at mealtimes. I wouldn't have thought it would be that hard to find something, but I can't find a thing. We are in the midlands.
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We are also in the Midlands and looking for similar, mare or gelding, around 15.2 to hack calmly alone and in company and do prelim dressage. Nothing under 8 yrs old, to live out with our mares and with no health issues...........anyone?
 
I haven't read the whole thread as about to rush out, so not sure if this has already been said, but my advice is this; find a horse you like, don't pay too much attention to price, go and see them, then make an offer. I have three friends that have all recently sold horses for nearly half what they were asking - they had them advertised for weeks before they even got a call, so were so excited when someone actually came to look! They then accepted silly offers because they were terrified it would be weeks/months and lots more advertising costs before they got another viewing. One friend had her's advertised at £4250 and accepted £2000, another at £3500 and accepted £1800, so it just goes to show it is a buyers market! None of the horses had anything wrong with them, and they both passed vettings, it's just the buyers can afford to be cheeky.
 
I think the reason you cant find alot is because the market is so slow people dont want to advertise and risk not selling and then the horse is in there for weeks and possible buyers may then think there is something wrong with the horse. Thats my situation anyway,
I have settled for putting him out on loan as he is 15 I really thought that nobody would be interested in buying him,
 
Also, have you tried the Blue Cross or World Horse Welfare to loan a horse? I have a lovely cob 14.3hh, 7 year old, who I got from World Horse Welfare. I had to make a donation of £200 for her and buy tack. Although they own her she is basically mine and I can do anything I want with her.
 
olliesmum said:
Hi Katt, I can't find the one on Horsedeals - is it still there?
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Just had a search, I think he must have sold because the ad isn't there anymore. I'm not surprised, he sounded smashing and a great price, my instructor was singing his praises to everyone she knew.

My instructor is selling her mum's horse too but that is smaller than you want. Suitable for an adult but only 14hh, it is a haffie mare, also on horse deals, under east midlands.
 
i found my mare on horsehunter - i had to look out of area, but got her, shes 6, 16.2, clydesdale ID X, hacks past double decker buses and roadworks and skips without even looking at them. She trots over when you call her from the field, hasnt ever jumped as quite green, got her for 1100! bargain? I think? keep looking xxxx
 
Just want to say - Zoeshiloh - dont be cheeky by trying any horses and then insulting the owners with low offers. If you are going to try any, you should always tell the vendor that it is over your budget, and then ask if they mind you viewing and trying the horse. The vendor then knows you may be making a lower offer (they may also hope you may fall in love with the horse and find a bit more money too), but it is so rude not to state your position and to be honest, I would not entertain selling to someone who did not warn me first that they could not afford the asking price. Good luck!
 
I actually agree with zoeshiloh....my boy is on loan with view to buy at less than i wanted for him but, I could see that the girl was competent and genuine plus my horse seemed happy so I decided to give it a try. Fingers crossed still as he is being a handful as he settles in but I am not paying livery costs and rider costs atm which is a HUGE weight of my mind :)

I think the number of "how much" threads on here just go to show how difficult it is to price a horse - you risk being too low and having them written off as "must have something wrong" or too high and having no interest at all :(
 
The trouble is that what you're looking for is what everyone else wants, I sold one two years ago now for just about double what you want to pay but with the added bonus that he would go round a 90 ODE and get a reasonable place if you asked him. He was utterly reliable in his soundness and in his unflappability.

I'm still getting people who knew him ringing me now offering to buy him in the hope that he's been out on loan somewhere.

My other little horse has just sold by word of mouth to the first people to view her.


Have you tried the pony club website or alternatively if there's a trainer who trains for your local pc ask them if they know of a saint that's not quite up to the competitions the child wants to do and is looking for a new home.
 
exracerfan said:
Just want to say - Zoeshiloh - dont be cheeky by trying any horses and then insulting the owners with low offers. If you are going to try any, you should always tell the vendor that it is over your budget, and then ask if they mind you viewing and trying the horse. The vendor then knows you may be making a lower offer (they may also hope you may fall in love with the horse and find a bit more money too), but it is so rude not to state your position and to be honest, I would not entertain selling to someone who did not warn me first that they could not afford the asking price. Good luck!
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Making a low offer isn't insulting, most people price horses in the knowledge that they are likely to have to accept less. If you advertise your horse for £5000 you will know you will probably get offers and are likely to accept £4500.

I wouldn't go and look at a horse that was vastly over my budget, in fact most of the ones I'm looking at are well within my budget as the market is so poor at the moment but just because I can afford the asking price doesn't mean I will pay it. I will offer what I think the horse is worth. To refuse to entertain any offers is cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Most people wouldn't pay the asking price for big purchases, not just horses but cars, and houses too. Most sellers would rather accept a few hundred quid less and sell there horse to a decent home there and then than have the cost of ongoing keep, further advertising and the risk of not finding another buyer.
 
Totally agree with Katt. If you have the horse on livery and or are paying a rider to work the horse while you sell it the costs rocket and a few hundred quid off the asking price is nothing next to the weekly or monthly costs you could incurr holding out for your price, that is unless you are enjoying the use of the horse/ have cheap livery..
 
Katt said:
Making a low offer isn't insulting, most people price horses in the knowledge that they are likely to have to accept less. If you advertise your horse for £5000 you will know you will probably get offers and are likely to accept £4500.
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Thats different to what zoeshiloh was saying, which was don;t take any notice of price. I have only ever sold 2 horses, both fitted the good allrounder tag though, one was a 14.2hh coloured cob, the other was a 16.1hh coloured ISH who was stunning. I wouldn't have, and didn't need to accept offers on either. Horses ARE selling at the moment, regardless of what people say. Good horses, especially the lower price good allrounder types will ALWAYS sell, if they're not and are genuine it's because they're not being advertised correctly IMO.
 
Oscar162 said:
Try being in the north of Scotland. I see horses that are nice and I would be willing to pay around £5000 - £6000 for them as they tick every box, but these people seem to want double that as it has done one or two BE 90. I know of one who has done very little, no more than local showing (small classes) and they are asking £8000, it has schooled round BE90 course, but not competed.
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its absolutely hilarious to think we are looking for the same thing lol - i thought i was the only one. yes here in scotland the prices are to be honest just stupid, i even went to a dealers yard in desperation but walked away from the rubbish they had brought in to theie place.
good luck everyone x
 
Hi oliesmum, I too am looking for that type. Problem I am finding is there are lots of horses around but most seem to be unbacked or just backed and most have never been out and seen life,and even if rideable only go up and down a lane and are unshod. And given that non have been to any parties their owners want waaaay too much money for them!
 
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