Pony prices

[Maginca7]

I have found myself in a very similar position as I did last year - looking for a genuine and fun pony for my daughter to do all things pony club and start eventing. We are not looking for a pony trial pony, just something nice.

Last year everything seemed to be at about £10k. This year most seem to be at £15k? And that’s for something that isn’t necessarily proven or may not have the greatest record. The good ones seem to go immediately and the ones that have a bit of a question mark hang around for ages but with little movement on price.

What do you think is going to happen next? Prices start to come down over the winter? Carry on going up for the good ones and the not so good continue asking the same amount? I’m thinking we need to find a new hobby…

 

[dapple_grey]

I really don't envy you. I found myself in the same position in April this year when, as you say, what I was looking for seemed to be around £10k. Then as soon as the weather got warmer they shot up to £15-18k!

The good ones will always hold their value so it may be worth contacting a trustworthy dealer so that when something comes in you're first in line. At least they have a reputation to worry about and a warranty period.

I'd say it's worth the slog of viewing through winter as you may find people will drop the price to get rid before the worst of the weather hits. Especially knowing how wet and miserable last winter was. Good luck!

 

[Bobthecob15]

I have found myself in a very similar position as I did last year - looking for a genuine and fun pony for my daughter to do all things pony club and start eventing. We are not looking for a pony trial pony, just something nice.

Last year everything seemed to be at about £10k. This year most seem to be at £15k? And that’s for something that isn’t necessarily proven or may not have the greatest record. The good ones seem to go immediately and the ones that have a bit of a question mark hang around for ages but with little movement on price.

What do you think is going to happen next? Prices start to come down over the winter? Carry on going up for the good ones and the not so good continue asking the same amount? I’m thinking we need to find a new hobby…

Personally I don't think you need to spend that much! There are cheaper ponies out there, it depends what you want? Size, age etc... we've been through this the last few years for my daughter, I'm not going to say its fun because its absolutely not! So many people will say anything to sell a horse, even kids ponies. It is actually very shocking.

We bought a 14hh welsh for my daughter in spring, she was on at £7000 but we paid £6300 as she needed a new saddle etc so haggled! She was 12, has done all PC etc and is really a perfect horse for my daughter. Year before we sold our 16yrold 12.2 first ridden for £5800. We got ours from sales livery, owners had already bought the next horse rather than it being a problem to sell on.

If you want a competitive pony for teams that has done everything etc then yes, 10k-15k seems about right. We didn't, we just wanted something fun and safe that can do a bit of everything. If its under 14.2 you want then you can find one for less than 10k.

What size etc are you looking for? 14.2hh attracts bigger money as its the most popular size. The hardest part is actually getting them in the first place as so many skip the adverts and go straight from home to home within PC!

 

[Birker2020]

I know for the size, type, height, breed I want I will have to pay between 13 - 15K unless its of a certain age which would then mean it is reduced in price. This is looking on HQ and sometimes Whickr. I've been looking for the last couple of years to replace my miss sold previous horse and can guarantee that if I get sent a video of a horse at 10k it is almost invariably lame, swishing its tail like crazy, or hollow backed with gritted teeth or it has 'veterinary history which the seller will explain'! Its insane. However I had no idea that a pony would be £15k.

I do think prices are decreasing slightly over the last three or four months and this should stay on a even keel throughout the winter months.

I have found that horses priced at £13k - £15k have a lot less experience/talent than my miss sold horse and my previous horse and yet prices have exceeded the rate of inflation (imho). Some sellers seem to be avaricious and ask crazy amounts for horses that look like hat racks or have 'potential'. It's very much a case of separating the wheat from the chaff.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I have found myself in a very similar position as I did last year - looking for a genuine and fun pony for my daughter to do all things pony club and start eventing. We are not looking for a pony trial pony, just something nice.

Last year everything seemed to be at about £10k. This year most seem to be at £15k? And that’s for something that isn’t necessarily proven or may not have the greatest record. The good ones seem to go immediately and the ones that have a bit of a question mark hang around for ages but with little movement on price.

What do you think is going to happen next? Prices start to come down over the winter? Carry on going up for the good ones and the not so good continue asking the same amount? I’m thinking we need to find a new hobby…

What size you looking for someone on here had a lovely pony looking for a loan home last week I think he was 13.2.

 

[Gloi]

If she's competent, could you get something that needs bringing on a bit. It could give her a lot of satisfaction.

 

[tda]

Fell ponies still seem to be reasonably priced, or a Dales pony if you can find ine

 

[Ossy2]

The query I have is are they actually selling for that price though? I’ve been half looking for a new horse, young dresssge one. Those priced around 15k -20k do seem to eventually sell if they move well, but the ones above that seem to come round on the offerings on FB all the time. I have also seen quite a few adds saying “ now reduced for a quick sale” I’d say the market can’t sustain some of the prices being requested, but equally I think the days of getting a really decent young horse but a few 1,000 are also gone

 

[Mudfukkle]

It's really difficult. The only cheaper way is to buy a youngster and produce it yourself. But that's not really practical, as by the time the youngster is made, the children will be moving onto horses. There's no easy answer, I guess you get what you pay for, as someone has put a lot of work into producing that pony.

 

[exracehorse]

Not sure of height. But I know of an amazing 11.3/12h mini cob. Does everything. Friend selling. Pony Club pony

 

[Birker2020]

The query I have is are they actually selling for that price though? I’ve been half looking for a new horse, young dresssge one. Those priced around 15k -20k do seem to eventually sell if they move well, but the ones above that seem to come round on the offerings on FB all the time. I have also seen quite a few adds saying “ now reduced for a quick sale” I’d say the market can’t sustain some of the prices being requested, but equally I think the days of getting a really decent young horse but a few 1,000 are also gone

No way of knowing.

It's like looking up an item for sale on Ebay, what they ask isn't necessarily what they get!

 

[Maginca7]

We have both become quite demoralised from looking. Have upped the budget (not that I want to spend it) to be able to see what in theory we could get. Have had one fail the vet, one looked like it had ulcers and doubt if it would pass the vet when lunged, really liked one but although seemed very genuine and was nicely produced they still wanted my top budget for a youngster with no record and didn’t want to budge on price. Another one stopped 3 strides out from a filler at its own yard, pretending it had never seen it before.

Looking for between 14hands and 14.2 as don’t really want to be searching again this time next year. Child rides nicely and would consider younger to bring on if genuine but would need the right price tag - will follow the young one mentioned above to see if it comes down in value as winter approaches.

In the meantime we are both exhausted from driving and looking and going to persevere with what we have - like an above poster, mis-sold pony but for a child.

 

[SO1]

There are some nice NF on horsequest that might suit depending on how competive you want to be.

This a little smaller at 13.3 but sounds nice and may take up the leg.

All rounder family/PC/RC Pony

<p>NF x TB x Arab <br /> <br /> Willow is the perfect all rounder who is happy to either step up or step down. <br /> Willow has spent her time doing pony club/NSEA (in previous home for 4 yrs )/ riding club and British eventing for the last two seasons with me. She is happiest competing at...

www.horsequest.co.uk

We have both become quite demoralised from looking. Have upped the budget (not that I want to spend it) to be able to see what in theory we could get. Have had one fail the vet, one looked like it had ulcers and doubt if it would pass the vet when lunged, really liked one but although seemed very genuine and was nicely produced they still wanted my top budget for a youngster with no record and didn’t want to budge on price. Another one stopped 3 strides out from a filler at its own yard, pretending it had never seen it before.

Looking for between 14hands and 14.2 as don’t really want to be searching again this time next year. Child rides nicely and would consider younger to bring on if genuine but would need the right price tag - will follow the young one mentioned above to see if it comes down in value as winter approaches.

In the meantime we are both exhausted from driving and looking and going to persevere with what we have - like an above poster, mis-sold pony but for a child.

 

[Patterdale]

Buy a nice 4 or 5 year old cheap now, send it away for some schooling, then ride it away yourselves. You’ll have plenty change out of £5k and pretty much any young pony with some good schooling could be jumping 80 courses by May.

We had a similar disheartening search, bought 2 four year olds this summer, broke them both then kept the one my daughter gelled with most. It’s been amazing and she has really enjoyed it.

If you get the right temperament, it’s easy.

 

[smiggy]

On the other hand I’m not sure much is selling. I advertised on Horsequest at a very reasonable price and had not a single enquiry in a month !

 

[Bobthecob15]

On the other hand I’m not sure much is selling. I advertised on Horsequest at a very reasonable price and had not a single enquiry in a month !

Gosh that’s surprising! Perhaps time of year, lots of people selling before winter hits?

 

[Bobthecob15]

Reasonable priced ponies do exist…https://www.whickr.com/marketplace/...T0QN0hMQv3t6GiFZqQ_aem_WtzO5BGxwFaV3UrpGr6ByA

 

[Sail_away]

It’s a pain but I’d keep on looking. The right horses do come around, price and quality are not always in direct correlation. With the last 3 I’ve bought, I started viewing, found nothing nice (or sound!) in budget, got thoroughly sick of looking and then found the right horse well within budget, and usually much cheaper than anything else I’d gone to see. The prices are all a bit random. My 2yo was I think 1/6th the price of the original youngster I’d wanted, and just as nice.

 

[WrongLeg]

It's really difficult. The only cheaper way is to buy a youngster and produce it yourself. But that's not really practical, as by the time the youngster is made, the children will be moving onto horses. There's no easy answer, I guess you get what you pay for, as someone has put a lot of work into producing that pony.

Buying youngsters to bring on is what my mother did for me, and yes, by the time my 13.2hh was ‘ready’ to compete, I had grown out of ponies.

But it matters more how much you invest in training the child than invest in the horse.

Now I don’t regret those childhood experiences one bit: it’s given me the experience to buy an unbroken horse as an adult, the freedom not to have to depend on other people to school my horse for me and I can hope to sell a horse for more than I brought it for - which contributes towards upkeep.

 

[asmp]

There are some nice ones on nfed.co.uk. Have you looked on there? Not all are down south

 

[Bobthecob15]

There are some nice ones on nfed.co.uk. Have you looked on there? Not all are down south

Oh that’s where we got ours! NFED! X

 

[Squeak]

I'd thought from the ads I'd been seeing that it looked like the prices were dropping a lot but this was for 15hh+ so maybe it's not the same for ponies.