Selling a horse with sarcoids

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Rachy07

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I've recently put my mare up for sale as I don't have enough time to spend on her as well as trying to bring my other horse back from his tendon injury. I don't feel I'm doing her any justice only riding her 3/4 times a week at best. She's an 8 year old ex-racehorse but she is very easy to do. I've advertised her as a dressage/ROR prospect as she goes very nicely on the flat and has lovely paces. She's also brilliant to hack and handle on the ground.

The only problem is she does have two small sarcoids. One is on her belly and the other in between her back legs. Neither of them affect her work in any way. The vet has looked at them but told me to leave them as they're not causing her any discomfort and aren't changing shape or size. I have put this one the advert as I don't want to mislead anyone.

I put the advert out last weekend and I have literally had one text message and that's it. I'm asking £3000 for her but I have put that the price is negotiable to the right home. I really just want her to go to someone who will love her and look after her. Am I being unrealistic with the price? She's a lovely horse and I'm surprised I've had hardly any response.

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.
 
Personally I think that is far too expensive for the horse you have described with sarcoids. You are absolutely right to tell people upfront as I wouldn't trouch a horse with sarcoids but lots of people will if the price is right.
 
If you put the fact she has sarcoids in the ad as well as that she is an ex racehorse then I am not surprised you have had no interest, that price would probably be fair if she didn't have them and had a competition record of some sort, not for an 8 year old with potential that has not yet been proven for ROR/ dressage.
I usually price on the high side but in this case I would not expect to get over 2k unless she shows something exceptional under saddle, ideally a record and showing jumping ability to at least do BE at the lower levels.
There are plenty of "lovely horses" out there, to get a decent price they need to stand out for all the right reasons.
 
possibly, I'd still be cautious even if they didn't affect the horse!

my friend had a mare that she evented and was very nice, she bought her for £5k and then had to sell her when she had a baby, she wanted £3k but she had a sarcoid too and I believe she ended up accepting about £2k! but it was a really good home, I think that was more important to my friend!

People will be worried about paying £3k, knowing a horse will not be covered by insurance for a sarcoid and they have to factor in the potential cost of future treatment! there is a 5 yr old at my yard who is being treated at the moment, and its costing a grand for the Liverpool cream and the vet to come out and apply it every few days!
 
First of all, she won't care if she only gets ridden three times a week!

However if you want to sell, then yes, I think £3k is probably too much, sorry.
 
I think 3k would be too much, even if she didnt have sarcoids. You say shes 8, 9 next year and is a 'dressage prospect'.....if a horse of that age hasnt won or been placed in prelim and novice, it probably never will. And 'ROR prospect's are 10 a penny!
Has she a jumping record? Any form of competition record? If not, even if she is of exceptional conformation, you are probably looking at 1500-1800 at absolute maximum. But the fact that she has sarcoids will lower the price further, and will put some people off completely.
She wont mind only being ridden 3-4 times a week, a lot of horses are only ridden once a week and are happy.
 
I am not sure how accurate your price is or isn't, but hang in there! I put my cob type mare up for £3.5k had barely no responses for the first 3-4 weeks then I had a massive flurry! Now am lucky to be in the position that I have 2 people both who want her at full asking price. I had been about to lose my nerve and drop the price.
 
Well i have a pony with sarcoids and am loaning him not selling as I feel i still have some say, he would be worth a lot without them, but nothing really with them, a they put people off-rightly so
 
The timing of your ad may be unfortunate too, as everybody is away on holiday, saving up ready to go, or skint after it. You could try leaving it a month and then readvertise but stressing her achievements to date etc.
If horse is getting proper turn out etc then she's probably quite happy about being ridden 3 times a week. Just enjoy her yourself.
 
Market is definitely quiet but I would still say that's quite expensive. I was open to buying a re schooled ex racer when I was looking but for 3k I'd expect it to be a near perfect all rounder with experience in all disciplines.

I have just paid 4k for a warmblood that had sarcoids lasered off 4/5 years ago. I probably paid too much for her but they didn't put me off. If she had them at the time I wouldn't have paid more than 2k, however small/wherever they were.
 
£3k is too much for a horse with sarcoids and no proven performance. That would approx be my budget if I was looking for a horse who is in full health (I know you say they dont affect her but sarcoids would put me off) and had been placed at local shows (would pay more for affiliated).
 
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