Pricing query

So, it's a smart looking well bred horse with a good BE record up to novice / 2* last year. Then sold to new rider. This year it has dropped down to BE90, run once and withdrawn for 2 other entries. Then sent to a sales livery where, at a time when many of us have been unable to buy a half decent sound horse at any price it has been unsold for some months. The price is now substantially reduced from previous adverts. It is yet another horse which I feel very sorry for but if I was still looking I would be getting my running shoes on pdq.
 
PeterNatt said:
If you are looking for a general purpose happy family horse why are you wanting to buy an ex- event horse which is past it's prime and will probably be far to difficult for your better half to ride and control?
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tbh I wouldn’t even consider a BE80/90 horse an event horse - more an all rounder. I would expect most horses to be able to jump 90cm without difficulty.

Mine was eventing PN at 5 years and competed to 2* - he’s by far the easiest horse I’ve ever had. Could not ride him for 2 months and he would still be the same to ride. Jumps out of stride, doesn’t need placed, jumps everything, easy to work with (vets fave horse lol), good flatwork and looks very smart At 17h. But he is an event horse. Paid 6k as a 4 year old for him - I’d imagine if he was for sale in the current market from the breeder he would have been over 10k but less than 15k - always a gamble to buy a 17h 4 year old lol - luckily he never grew any higher!
 
I'm another agreeing that an ex, or even currently, eventing horse is not necessary a difficult horse!
My ex intermediate horse is out on loan and the people on the yard couldn't believe he had evented! He is the most chilled out person. Though he always was until the end of a tough xc when he knew he was the business!
 
Ceriann said:
From the ad (forgot to mention this in my original post) and v recent history (just found) looks like she’s perhaps no longer performing at 90. Done ok at 80 earlier in the year. Not an issue for me unless there is a soundness issue and the price is right.
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How old is this horse? You say teens. There is a big difference between 13/14 and 18/19. I would be cautious of a horse in the lower end of the age range needing to step down to 80 or below. This would be a sure sign of a soundness issue (whether or not they have identified one yet) and I would be very concerned it may not last must longer competing. At the top end of the age range I would be a little less concerned but would still proceed with caution. 80 really is not very big at all and most soundish horses should be able to hop round a course at 80 at pretty much any age if they are still rideable. On the other hand horses stepping down from the higher levels to 90ish seem a more reasonable bet to me. In answer to your query, at least 15k if it is a smart competition horse type. You'd get the same performance in something more cobby etc but maybe lacking speed for a little less I would think. Again it depends how good looking and well schooled a horse you want.
 
Important to remember that horses dropping down levels/jumping height when there is a change of rider is often due to ability/confidence of the rider rather than of the horse. A gap in competition record can also be due to the rider’s circumstances (e.g availability of transport or money) and not always because the horse has been injured. It’s easy to make assumptions.
 
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