The Price of Ponies?!

dianchi

dianchi

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I am currently on the search for a 14.2h pony for a friends daughter, child is quite ambitious and good jockey.

I am amazed at some adverts where pony has no comp experience, no BS record and they still want £5k-with no tack! is this now the norm?

Is it impossible to find a good Jumping pony for around 3k? I don't mind if it has no ring experience at a lower price and equally a £5k pony I would be expecting at least PC if not some sort of BS record?

Or has the world of pony prices really gone up that much?!
 
People are ridiculous when they are selling horses in the UK. Try looking in germany. I've just bought a mare for the price of something lame in the UK. Transort is £500-600 and vetting £200. Everything I rang about in the UK around the £3K mark had injuries, out of work or surgery. I think because the market is poor, people are holding on to anything half decent and just selling rubbish. Problem is owners asking what the horse is worth to them not what it is actually worth.

I also think some sellers try their luck and ask a large price hoping someone with money and no sense will come along!
 
http://www.nfed.co.uk/cgi-bin/class...play_db_button=on&db_id=99073&query=retrieval

This is in Sussex so not much use but looks talented, is a sensible price and tack is included, I think for £3k you may need to think outside the box a bit, anything that shows real talent is going to be over priced the same as with horses, people are unrealistic about "potential" thinking that because the horse can jump one big fence they can ask silly money.

I would look at something that is maybe not being marketed as a jumping prospect, you will waste time on phone calls but if you get the sellers to send a video you should be able to pick something that shows promise to go on.
 
pootleperkin said:
Good ponies seem to demand a far greater premium than horses.....I guess people value their children more than themselves!
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You're right! I've been looking for a decent lead rein pony for my son and the price of anything experienced with a decent competition record has shocked me, I would happily get something unbroken but don't know anyone small enough to break it and don't fancy using my son as a crash test dummy!
 
A friends pony cost £18k back in the 90's, I don't think expensive ponies are a new phenomenon.

I also disagree that people are only selling rubbish, but I suppose it depends what you're after and where you are looking. I do think a lot of people want something for nowt though, these days.
 
Lynsey&Smartie said:
You're right! I've been looking for a decent lead rein pony for my son and the price of anything experienced with a decent competition record has shocked me, I would happily get something unbroken but don't know anyone small enough to break it and don't fancy using my son as a crash test dummy!
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Yet I have been trying to find a loan home locally for an older, experienced lead rein/first ridden pony without success!

We sold a 14.2 pony a while back for well over £5k, he flew through vetting, had a decent BD/BE record, amazing hunter and was a genuinely nice person to do! There were a lot of ponies on the market at the time for similar money, all claiming "potential" with little or no competition record to back it up.
 
I agree Capriole - I think they have always been relatively expensive, but I guess in today's climes, people just expect them to be cheaper. They usually go on actively for ages more than horses though, so I guess you get longer usage for your money!
 
What is this obsession with having tack a rugs included in the sale? Why can't people buy their own flipping equipment ?!! Decent tack and wardrobe costs a bare minimum of £1500...
Sorry but I just don't understand this obsession with including rugs and tack in a sale.. People want so much for nothing :-(
 
DonkeyClub said:
What is this obsession with having tack a rugs included in the sale? Why can't people buy their own flipping equipment ?!! Decent tack and wardrobe costs a bare minimum of £1500...
Sorry but I just don't understand this obsession with including rugs and tack in a sale.. People want so much for nothing :-(
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I nearly always sell with tack included, when selling ponies it is no use the owners keeping it if moving on to something bigger, a well fitting saddle should remain with the animal and can often be worth more if included than being sold on later. The other advantage is that you can get going the day the pony arrives, no waiting for a saddle fitter, not everyone has spare saddles to use on a new horse or pony, as for a bridle that has little value second hand, I have sometimes bought a cheap new one to send with a pony if I have sold it well, the buyers are happy as they feel they have a good deal, the same with a rug or two no need to clean for selling build it into the price.
 
There was a thread on here lately on " What type of ponies " are always in demand..... 14.2's featured quite highly in the responses....
I myself took on a 14.2 well closer to 14.3 a while ago & pony wasn't even advertised - paid over 4k. 8yo, small record but has done lots un affiliated ... am sure if I advertised him I would get well over what I paid for him.
Lots of what you are looking for prob are just bought & sold through WOM like through PC etc.
 
Same applies here! good Lead Reins & first riddens always in demand.. Would be worth looking at someone offering a Lead Rein on Loan & then buying a good first ridden further down the track.
Lynsey&Smartie said:
You're right! I've been looking for a decent lead rein pony for my son and the price of anything experienced with a decent competition record has shocked me, I would happily get something unbroken but don't know anyone small enough to break it and don't fancy using my son as a crash test dummy!
Click to expand...
 
We sold our pony for £4.5k, and he was by no means a world beater - 13.1hh and could only really jump about 3', BUT he was safe, quiet, and easy to do in every way - never ran out or refused, could gallop him in company and then stop easily at the end, would hack anywhere, a small child could load/bath/clip him etc. The safe ones tend to fetch a higher price.

If she's capable and ambitious, going for something a little younger or quirky would bring the price right down.

However, if you're wanting a 14.2hh BSJA pony, you'll have to pay through the nose.
 
be positive said:
I nearly always sell with tack included, when selling ponies it is no use the owners keeping it if moving on to something bigger, a well fitting saddle should remain with the animal and can often be worth more if included than being sold on later. The other advantage is that you can get going the day the pony arrives, no waiting for a saddle fitter, not everyone has spare saddles to use on a new horse or pony, as for a bridle that has little value second hand, I have sometimes bought a cheap new one to send with a pony if I have sold it well, the buyers are happy as they feel they have a good deal, the same with a rug or two no need to clean for selling build it into the price.
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Me too - we had no intention of getting a littlun again as he was outgrown, saddle was made bespoke for him, and all his rugs and stuff were personalised so had no value second hand. So really bordering on worthless. We gave his entire wardrobe to the new people for £250. (saddle, bridle, bit, numnah, boots, travel set and about five rugs)
 
It is entirely true that good ponies are hugely expensive and sought after. Children need to learn and a pony that helps them on that journey is always sought after.

We have supported our elder son through BS ponies and into horses and now our much younger son is starting out. In order to do that - and without us buying top ponies - I have to work two full time jobs. However I am giving him a fun childhood with a shared, family pastime and memories so I do it all with pleasure. I will admit to falling off my seat with surprise however when asked 70k for a novice 12.2hh jumping pony though!
 
The market in France is somewhat depressed you can buy a French Trotter or TB for a song but I am told a local yard have just sold a jumping pony for over 20,000 euros!!
 
I think there is a world of difference though between a 'pony prospect' being ridden by an experienced older child/adult and one that's in the ring, doing the job for an appropriately aged child. I've seen lots of ponies that didn't make that transition.

The price rises again depending on how many boxes the pony ticks.

There are always people willing to pay to mount their kids well and this is one of the few areas I've seen even experienced professionals reach into their pockets. As they say, scarcity breeds demand. The reason people pay for safe, sound ponies that also do a competitive job is there are so few out there.
 
TarrSteps said:
There are always people willing to pay to mount their kids well and this is one of the few areas I've seen even experienced professionals reach into their pockets. As they say, scarcity breeds demand. The reason people pay for safe, sound ponies that also do a competitive job is there are so few out there.
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This. It is simple supply amd demand economics. Ponies are cheeky by nature, and finding the ones which use their sense of humour and native wit to help their young jockey rather than hinder him/her isn't easy - that's before you take any talent and athleticism into account.

I have been looking for a pony for clients not dis-similar to what you describe. We have had real problems finding it despite a budget of 6k or more for the right pony - there just aren't many genuine ones out there. We hope we have found one now (waiting for vetting) and price was 5k, for a pony in its teens. Honestly? I think 3k is unrealistic to tick all your boxes so you will have to either compromise on something or up your budget. Just my opinion.
 
DonkeyClub said:
What is this obsession with having tack a rugs included in the sale? Why can't people buy their own flipping equipment ?!! Decent tack and wardrobe costs a bare minimum of £1500...
Sorry but I just don't understand this obsession with including rugs and tack in a sale.. People want so much for nothing :-(
Click to expand...

Totally agree! I don't want tack when buying as it's very rarely to my tastes and after years of collecting it I have plenty already, thanks. If a pony was offered with tack I'd ask if they'd keep it and drop the price instead!
 
I'd prefer that as well. I'd rather get nothing with the horse/pony than pay for stuff I don't really want. I've got plenty of decent tack already.
Going from what I've seen with others it seems they often come with all the old crap the owners had lying around anyway :p And just because a saddle comes with a pony doesn't mean it fits :D
 
Nice chap below who fits the bill if bigger budget..

http://classifieds.horseandhound.co...terworth/142-striking-bay-gelding-404484.html

And if you were willing to travel to Ireland... I like the look of below... no price listed though.;.

http://www.donedeal.ie/ponies-for-sale/148-not-to-be-missed/5640663

Or this chap but then again am partial to a connie!

http://www.donedeal.ie/ponies-for-sale/147cm-stunning-dunn-purebred-connemare/5622999

dianchi said:
I am currently on the search for a 14.2h pony for a friends daughter, child is quite ambitious and good jockey.

I am amazed at some adverts where pony has no comp experience, no BS record and they still want £5k-with no tack! is this now the norm?

Is it impossible to find a good Jumping pony for around 3k? I don't mind if it has no ring experience at a lower price and equally a £5k pony I would be expecting at least PC if not some sort of BS record?

Or has the world of pony prices really gone up that much?!
Click to expand...
 
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Out of interest, how do you define a good jumping pony, if anyway the pony hasn't got a comp record?

Just wondering because I've got a 14.2hh that I've had since a foal and he's a cracker, we have fun hunting, etc, but never really got big enough for the eventing I want to do (plus anyway what I want to do has changed) so I'm looking to sell him at some point but I was wondering whether I ought to think about getting a comp record on him first/ how important people see that as being? (though I feel like a pony squasher on him if I'm honest and doubtless as a result he'd jump higher with a kid who would be somewhat lighter than me anyway!).
 
slade lays farm often seem to have nice looking ponies at reasonable prices. I have no affiliation with them and havent dealt with them but their ponies often pop up on my fb newsfeed and I often wish I was smaller and younger!
 
Kelpie said:
Out of interest, how do you define a good jumping pony, if anyway the pony hasn't got a comp record?

Just wondering because I've got a 14.2hh that I've had since a foal and he's a cracker, we have fun hunting, etc, but never really got big enough for the eventing I want to do (plus anyway what I want to do has changed) so I'm looking to sell him at some point but I was wondering whether I ought to think about getting a comp record on him first/ how important people see that as being? (though I feel like a pony squasher on him if I'm honest and doubtless as a result he'd jump higher with a kid who would be somewhat lighter than me anyway!).
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By 'well' I mean it jumps physically well, in a way that is safe a easy for a child to ride, and it wants to leave the poles up but isn't so sensitive it will stop or have a heart attack if it does go a bit wrong. Obviously this is a big ask, but we are talking about what people will pay for. Beyond that I might take the individual child into account and what sort of pony he/she would best get on with. The 'best' pony is not always the best pony for every child.

As far as a competition record, I would not advise a pony without one for a relatively novice child. If the pony is being bought to compete I want to know it will do the job. For a more experienced, older child with a budget I might advise taking a chance on a greener animal but only if everyone understands the work and time frames involved. I would also want to see the pony ridden and preferably competed by a child. Making a horse for other people to ride is a particular trick and lots of ponies that are great for adults are not necessarily kid-friendly. I don't really do ponies as I'm very tall but my short friends who do specialise try to get kids on them for marketing purposes when the time is right.

Of course if the pony is large and the 'child' is likely to be a teenager, then I'm less concerned as many teens ride as well or better than many adults.
 
Producing ponies is an art form and that is why the good ones are expensive. The last one I did was a little madam but ultimately a very competitive little mare. I aimed her very specifically at a pony trials market from the outset, we got a fair price for her but everything we did from day one was done with the end goal in mind. I would be expecting to pay £5k plus for a sound, sane pony with a fair jump ( and yes I am glad my pony buying days are done because its so much harder buying for kids!)
 
DonkeyClub said:
What is this obsession with having tack a rugs included in the sale? Why can't people buy their own flipping equipment ?!! Decent tack and wardrobe costs a bare minimum of £1500...
Sorry but I just don't understand this obsession with including rugs and tack in a sale.. People want so much for nothing :-(
Click to expand...

The only thing I can think of is that for loads of (especially) ponies is it a nightmare getting a saddle that fits and I would love the buy a pony with a saddle that already fits properly rather then having to look for another two months after buying.
 
Totally agree, we a fair price for a 12hh pony whom was owned for 4 yrs by a very experienced family that we know. Pony is utterly bombproof , has hunted, can show jump up to 90cms, throws in flying changes when needed, brave xc, pretty enough to show with great conformation, mini me can take pony first or last in a group ride and pony comes back from a flat out gallop at a slight check of the reins. Oh and pony lives out! ! Some people expect to pick up a similar type of pony for nothing and some people we know were shocked with what we paid for her. Personally think pony worth her weight in gold, total mothers dream
and personally i don't think you can pay peanuts for a pony that is going to look after your child

. QUOTE=Baggybreeches;12128099]Producing ponies is an art form and that is why the good ones are expensive. The last one I did was a little madam but ultimately a very competitive little mare. I aimed her very specifically at a pony trials market from the outset, we got a fair price for her but everything we did from day one was done with the end goal in mind. I would be expecting to pay £5k plus for a sound, sane pony with a fair jump ( and yes I am glad my pony buying days are done because its so much harder buying for kids!)[/QUOTE]
 
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Thank you (and sorry for the thread-jack!) My guy is 14.2 so prob more for teenagers but will definately go find a few kids to sit on him to try out :)
 
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