The market when restrictions are lifted?

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PigPeppa

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What do you think the market will be like when restrictions are lifted?

Do you think there will be an influx of new adverts?

Will prices be the same as before?

I know it’s guess work but any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Total guesswork here, but the economy has taken/is continuing to take a nose dive. At least short-term, people won't have as much disposable income which normally drives horse prices down, especially for the cheaper/less talented side of the market.

In 2006 I sold a 4yo black cob - nice mover but only just backed and ready to be brought on, not tested across situations and very little experience, no known breeding. £3,800 and could have sold him 3 times over on the same weekend. Two years later, a cob like that was worth £900 at a push. Yet sports horse prices held pretty well during that same period, although they did fall a bit and there were some stonking bargains available from stud farms.

It's hard to know how, exactly, the economy will be affected in the longer term, but I would think for the foreseeable short/medium-term future, horse will be available more cheaply. If people have less cash, they might simply have no choice but to sell, and to sell quickly.
 
Discretionary spending will take a massive hit. It is less about the purchase price and more about operating costs. If you can’t afford to keep a horse you wont buy one.

Predictions that this recession will be worse than the GFC make me scared.
 
There have been only a handful of new adverts over the last few weeks which is understandably due to no travel or vettings.
I wonder if we will see a big influx of adverts when restrictions are lifted or horses will just be advertised at a ‘normal rate’ we would see at this time of year.
 
PigPeppa said:
There have been only a handful of new adverts over the last few weeks which is understandably due to no travel or vettings.
I wonder if we will see a big influx of adverts when restrictions are lifted or horses will just be advertised at a ‘normal rate’ we would see at this time of year.
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I think there are likely to be more adverts than usual, as some people whose financial situation has been worsened by CV19 realise they can't afford to keep their horses. I think some people with multiple horses who were keeping them on a shoestring may want to reduce their 'herds' too after the difficulty of looking after horses during the lockdown plus increased costs. I agree with others that the top end of the market is likely to see the least change, and I really worry that if the bottom end of the market becomes flooded then the number of welfare cases (and/or the number of people asking charities directly to take their horses) will increase significantly. There is also this year's crop of foals, as those due to be sold at weaning are likely to be entering a weaker market.
 
I think there will be a lot for sale eventually as people have taken such a financial hit, whether they will sell or not is another story. But I think some people may be able to pick up a bargain if they have the money to spend on a horse once the lockdown is eased up
 
I honestly don’t know.
I need to move my big eventer on to focus on the young one but god knows what will happen.
I would rather loan / LWVTB him for competition than sell him cheaper into a leisure home though
 
honetpot said:
I have 'sold' a horse. Its like anything it depends how many people want what you are selling and can afford what you are asking.
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I bought a 2yo fell the week before lockdown started. Haven’t been able to bring her home yet though due to restrictions. Seller is moving to Scotland in June so I really hope they relax things a little by then to enable me to bring her home. She was initially going to be a companion for my mare when she eventually came sound but that won’t be happening now
 
Anyone bought a horse recently, seen a tried? Definitely fewer adverts but when I've been looking its been a mixed bag of yes come view and try and no stay away but thanks for the interest, lets keep in contact for after lockdown.
 
Scotsbadboy said:
Anyone bought a horse recently, seen a tried? Definitely fewer adverts but when I've been looking its been a mixed bag of yes come view and try and no stay away but thanks for the interest, lets keep in contact for after lockdown.
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friend of mine bought one this week. Viewed via video call, then when she went up (seller had a private yard) she viewed pony and kept to the social distancing rules. Bought the pony there and then and brought her back the same night

some would say none essential travel (myself included) however as long as all social distancing rules were adhered to then no harm done and some sellers would also follow this way of selling I imagine
 
PictusSweetDreams said:
friend of mine bought one this week. Viewed via video call, then when she went up (seller had a private yard) she viewed pony and kept to the social distancing rules. Bought the pony there and then and brought her back the same night

some would say none essential travel (myself included) however as long as all social distancing rules were adhered to then no harm done and some sellers would also follow this way of selling I imagine
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Good to know I'm not the only one whose buying :D
 
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I think it will be largely unaffected. I’ve been looking for a while now and there are lots of wanted ads and horses being brought unseen. Prices do not seem to have dropped either. Whether this changes in the longer term I’m not sure, only time will tell.
 
It depends entirely on the horse. There were and will still be far to many low end, unschooled horses with poor conformation for sale some at silly prices. Some of these will continue to be off loaded or bought by people without the skills, knowledge or finances to cope.
At the other end of the scale well schooled horses with miles on the clock will continue to be in short supply and will command a good price although some may be unfortunate and end up with less skilled owners who have managed to buy from someone who’s income has suffered a crippling loss. No doubt there will be plenty people who think they’ll be able to buy a 10k horse for 2k and will complain about the unreasonable cost of buying.
 
I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for a while and the only ones that I’ve seen a price drop in are the ones that had been for sale well before lockdown. Hoping the market will drop a bit and we get a bit more for our money! I think COVID will be used as an excuse for why horses aren’t fit though so wouldn’t be buying without a vetting at the moment.
 
I hope they do drop a little as I have been looking for a while for a genuine allrounder, from just backed onwards, and prices just seem to be rising, may be due to no so many being advertised?. One I viewed before lockdown but didn't buy, due to a few reasons, is now 2k more!
 
Scotsbadboy said:
Im having a vetting done on a horse tomorrow. I wouldnt have been able to afford her if she had been out this spring to a few events so if all goes well tomorrow i should have a pretty great horse for not a lot of money!
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Did you go view at the moment? I’m holding off calling people because I don’t want to buy unseen. I just assumed most people wouldn’t be allowing visitors to yards.
 
Scotsbadboy said:
Im having a vetting done on a horse tomorrow. I wouldnt have been able to afford her if she had been out this spring to a few events so if all goes well tomorrow i should have a pretty great horse for not a lot of money!
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My vets aren’t doing purchase vettings at this time.

I feel the market is very limited at the moment, only a couple I would consider viewing. Hoping there will be more come available when lockdown is over.
 
Leo Walker said:
I think there will be a very short term boom with all those people who are desperate to buy now and cant. And then its going to tank. Recessions are very, very bad for horse prices and we are heading for an horrific recession sadly :(
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Didn't want to like, but I agree. I don't think people realise how potentially bad the recession will be, I hope I am wrong on this one though.
 
PigPeppa said:
My vets aren’t doing purchase vettings at this time.

I feel the market is very limited at the moment, only a couple I would consider viewing. Hoping there will be more come available when lockdown is over.
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I don't see how they can while keeping to distancing rules, unless the horse will stand for flexion tests in front with the handler 2 metres away, most are not that easy, stop at the end of the fast work while rider jumps off to get far enough away for the vet to check heart plus several of the other parts they will be too close for comfort or be cutting corners in order to get through the process, they might manage a very basic 2 stage on something very quiet but it is not really the time to be finding out what can be managed.
 
I sell in the riding club/alrounder market and am getting huge interest at the moment. I stick to 14.2hh-15.2hh mainly Connemara’s 4 years plus. Have received deposits on two this week....I’d like to think I have a excellent reputation which helps to, however, I’ve never been so busy with enquiries.
 
I have lived long enough to see horse prices rocket up and and then crash down, in the end it is what someone is willing to pay, and how much the seller needs to sell and what "the economy" is like and how much they cost to keep. I have heard of horses costing thousands which 3 or 4 years later went for hundreds, and nothing wrong with the horse.
 
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