Price of a companion?

[jessykai]

I’m currently looking for a companion horse, I have been offered a lwvtb of a 15 year old retired with arthritis. But, the purchase price is much more than I would have expected. And I want to see if I’m just out of touch! I know horse prices have gone up, but I assumed that was just for rideable or ones with potential etc.

I am looking for a horse, preferably not a pony/too much of good doer as their biggest job will be eating my masses of grass so there’s less for my 2 fat ponies. They must be a pleasant non dominant horse that is easy enough to handle, and live out (can be rugged and given plenty of additional feed if needed). Will stay with me until the end and will be pts not passed on when it is time.

How much would you expect to pay for what I’m looking for?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Well, you'd not be charged more than around £300 +/- from most charities for a rehome.

 

[stangs]

If I were you, I'd just have a look at horses available at local charities. You shouldn't end up paying more than 250

 

[CMcC]

I paid £500 for an Arab x Connie as a companion. It was more than would have expected to pay but (1) she is very pretty and (2) there was potential that she could be ridden again, which she was until she broke again!

 

[jessykai]

I’ve spoken to my local horse rescue charity’s who haven’t got anything suitable. The bigger ones I imagine the process will take too long as I need one fairly quickly.

 

[oldie48]

I've never paid for a companion. If I have put a post on fb i've been inundated with offers and have been able to choose the most suitable with the option to return if my needs change.

 

[silv]

I've never paid for a companion. If I have put a post on fb i've been inundated with offers and have been able to choose the most suitable with the option to return if my needs change.

This, I am sure if you advertise you will gets lots of offers and can choose a suitable one, would go for the long term loan option also.

 

[SEL]

Mine was a freebie - if you ask around with what you are looking for you'll be inundated I expect

 

[nagblagger]

Ask your equine vet..a good source of information.

 

[irishdraft]

I had this same problem last week, lost my riding horse very unexpectedly which left my retired on his own. I phoned all rescues & despite one telling me they had over 300 cob types I was to far away to fulfil their criteria. Eventually got registered with one but I still have to visit twice to demonstrate I can lead & groom. Then looked for a cheap youngster of any type nothing under about £800 utter madness. Eventually found a little horse that a friend had but otherwise a complete nightmare x Hope you get sorted .

 

[Esmae]

Retired polo ponies are often free to good home. I think there is a FB page for them. Have a look there.

 

[nagblagger]

Homes4horses usually have companions. I have never used them but good feedback.

 

[jessykai]

Retired polo ponies are often free to good home. I think there is a FB page for them. Have a look there.

Hadn’t thought of the retired polo ponies, I’m on that fb page so worth asking, although they are usually all at other side of the country!

 

[SantaVera]

Approach charities such as redwings rspca,whw

 

[Lady Jane]

I would have expected a nominal charge - £100? I'm sure if you advertised that you needed a companion and you are offering a lovely home you would get lots of responses

 

[catembi]

I am rehoming a TB, an ISH and a QHxTB, all with PSSM, so not rideable except the ISH who would do extremely light work, and they’re £450 each. NOT advertising…two hopefully have new homes, fingers crossed. Aged 5, 4 and 8, all 15.2-3.

 

[rabatsa]

How about asking a racehorse trainer if anything coming out of training would like a non ridden retirement home.

 

[ihatework]

I would expect to pick one up free or £1 within nanoseconds of asking around.

 

[milliepops]

I would expect to pick one up free or £1 within nanoseconds of asking around.

this. ask horsey friends and put a post on FB and you'll probably get a choice pretty fast.

 

[oldie48]

Just something to think about, for me a companion needs to be able to stay happily in a field on it's own, otherwise you end up needing a companion for the companion. I had an ex polo pony for a while but she was obviously stressed when I took the other horse out, so I returned her. Thinking about it polo ponies and race horses are always in company so might struggle if left on their own. It really helps if both horses have similar dietary needs and will be happy living like the other horse. Finding a suitable companion can take a bit of time and effort. One of my retired horses had acted as companion but I knew it was possible that I might lose him quite suddenly (which I did) so I had a back up plan with a friend who always had something that I could borrow at short notice.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Free.
I saw one on horsemart yesterday, companion forever home, previous ulcers, can't be left alone, priced to sell £1000 ??? Crazy!

 

[scruffyponies]

Why on earth would anyone expect to receive money for something that costs a fortune to keep, can't be ridden, and has a large disposal cost?

Anyone who offers a companion home (loan or buy) is doing both horse and owner a favour. It should be seen that way.

 

[jessykai]

Thank you for all your replies, they are all very much inline with what I was thinking. The owner wants £900 and there’s no flexibility on price. I will still take her on loan, as I need a companion urgently, but I won’t be buying her. And should I find a suitable alternative in the future to buy (for the right price!) I will do that instead.

I would much rather own than loan, for a number of reasons.

I know oldie48 pointed out the perfect companion should be able to be left alone, and have similar dietary needs. Which is usually true, but in my case I need a horse that can tolerate a lot more grazing than my fat pony and my Shetland. Their main job will be to be an efficient lawn mower and graze areas down for the others. I also don’t really need them to be able to be left alone.

 

[smolmaus]

Why on earth would anyone expect to receive money for something that costs a fortune to keep, can't be ridden, and has a large disposal cost?

Anyone who offers a companion home (loan or buy) is doing both horse and owner a favour. It should be seen that way.

I suppose people might want to protect against someone buying to bute up and sell on as a profit? A generous interpretation but possible.

 

[Sprogladite01]

If you have this one on loan, that will give you the time to go through a process with one of the charities my little companion came from Redwings, cost me £50 as a "deposit" on his passport and they delivered him to me. The home vetting process was all done via whatsapp videos and phone calls as we got him mid-lockdown.
It's been extremely rewarding seeing him blossom from a nervous, scared stress head into an absolutely adorable, cuddle loving squishy. Can't recommend enough

 

[Esmae]

Just something to think about, for me a companion needs to be able to stay happily in a field on it's own, otherwise you end up needing a companion for the companion. I had an ex polo pony for a while but she was obviously stressed when I took the other horse out, so I returned her. Thinking about it polo ponies and race horses are always in company so might struggle if left on their own. It really helps if both horses have similar dietary needs and will be happy living like the other horse. Finding a suitable companion can take a bit of time and effort. One of my retired horses had acted as companion but I knew it was possible that I might lose him quite suddenly (which I did) so I had a back up plan with a friend who always had something that I could borrow at short notice.

We have had a few old polo ponies and never have had any problem leaving them on their own. Super chilled.

 

[QuantockHills]

I’m currently looking for a companion horse, I have been offered a lwvtb of a 15 year old retired with arthritis. But, the purchase price is much more than I would have expected. And I want to see if I’m just out of touch! I know horse prices have gone up, but I assumed that was just for rideable or ones with potential etc.

I am looking for a horse, preferably not a pony/too much of good doer as their biggest job will be eating my masses of grass so there’s less for my 2 fat ponies. They must be a pleasant non dominant horse that is easy enough to handle, and live out (can be rugged and given plenty of additional feed if needed). Will stay with me until the end and will be pts not passed on when it is time.

How much would you expect to pay for what I’m looking for?

I paid £30 for my companion from World Horse Welfare... you have to have their insurance, which is actually cheaper than BHS gold, and if you have a rescue from them, they refund you £20 a year! so win win all round!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Why on earth would anyone expect to receive money for something that costs a fortune to keep, can't be ridden, and has a large disposal cost?

Anyone who offers a companion home (loan or buy) is doing both horse and owner a favour. It should be seen that way.

I sort of agree with you, but at the same time I don't necessarily think it's wrong to not want to give away for free. As @smolmaus mentioned there sadly are unscrupulous persons out there who might see it as an opportunity to give it some bute, and sell it on as a riding horse.
There's sadly also persons who simply seem to treat anything they get for free with less care, and respect, so I view a reasonably set pricetag as a way to try to weed out those persons.

But I don't see why anyone would want to pay e.g. £900, or more. Unless perhaps if you live on a very remote island, where there truly only is one other horse available.

 

[laura_nash]

So many people looking for companions want them to be small, good doers and able to be left alone. I would expect people to be biting your hand off for a companion home for a larger, poorer doer, who doesn't need to be left alone.

 

[milliepops]

Yes i have one that could go to a companion home, in the right circumstances, but i would have to find a way to assure myself that there would be no buting up and selling on because the horse deserves better than that. That's basically impossible but charging is an understandable place to start.

Charities don't always get it right either. i have one from a charity that had to be seized from the previous loaner with police presence etc because they weren't looking after her properly.

Re polo ponies, i am actually hugely envious of a HHO friend's polo pony who parks nicely on the lorry as a companion without shouting when the other horse is off doing things... i need on one of those! all my retirees get fomo if they are left on the box.