What is a realistic price for a 4 yr old

[Gryfiss]

Ok so I had to have my 6 yr old mare put to sleep on Friday is I'm horseless and gutted . Am I completely mental in thinking I could get a 4yr old warmblood or sporthorse of some sort broken or unbroken with a budget of £1000-1200 in this current market I'm looking for something from 16-17 HH . Or should I carry on saving. Thanks in advance I'm a bit out of touch x

 

[measles]

My advice would be to carry on saving. Very sorry to hear about your mare

 

[ihatework]

Carry on saving. Unless you are incredibly jammy, All you'll get for that price is a continental reject that will keep the vets in business

 

[measles]

Carry on saving. Unless you are incredibly jammy, All you'll get for that price is a continental reject that will keep the vets in business

My thinking but I didn't quite commit to words!

 

[Gryfiss]

Ta looks like I'll keep saving so annoyed I'm going to be without a horse for the summer

 

[Honey08]

You could perhaps get a nice yearling for that. And find something nice to share in the meantime?

 

[foxy1]

You could buy an ex-racehorse for that?

 

[MandyMoo]

You could buy an ex-racehorse for that?

what I was about to say

I doubt you'd get a broken/relatively talented 4yo for your budget - however if you want a REAL project then you could get a yearling or a racehorse for your budget if you look; maybe have a browse online and see what comes up?

but it does completely depend what you're after....I'd keep saving if you want a 4yo that will be showing competing promise/has already shown a bit of promise - otherwise, at that budget, as others said - you'll probably see no end to the problems

 

[muddy_grey]

Keep saving, but keep a look out. I got my mare (only 15.3hh) a couple of years ago for £1700 as an unbroken 4yo and she's fab. BUT they had got here to sell on and then it snowed and they had her for 2 months without being able to start her or without anyone being able to go and see her. I was there before the snow melted and they said make us an offer. She was up for £2500 so I was quite surprised when they said yes

 

[Oscar]

There are a few nice 2 & 3yo on horsequest in the under £1000 section.

Worth hunting around, and making a cheeky offer.

 

[siennamum]

Unbroken - rising 4 you could get something perfectly decent for £1,500 if not a bit less if you have contacts I would say. Mine was that kind of money.

 

[hayleyanderson]

Depends on where you are also, I live in Newcastle, well just further north and horses are much cheaper up here than down south

 

[daisycrazy]

Do a search on horsemart and keep an eye on it from time to time. I've just had a look and plenty of possibilities advertised at under £2k. I searched ages 4 to 7, 15.3 to 17.1, up to £2k. If you sort by price highest then you don't have to scroll through all the tedious unpriced dealer adverts.

E.g.
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/eventers_horse_5_yrs_11_mths_15_3_hh_bay_wiltshire/Horses/271825

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/potential_young_sports_horses_horse_4_yrs_15_3_hh_/Horses/271443

I know these are both 15.3hh, but there are others on there and when the bargains do come up they are snapped up very quickly so worth keeping an eye.

 

[onemoretime]

You could perhaps get a nice yearling for that. And find something nice to share in the meantime?

Good idea.

 

[Gryfiss]

Do a search on horsemart and keep an eye on it from time to time. I've just had a look and plenty of possibilities advertised at under £2k. I searched ages 4 to 7, 15.3 to 17.1, up to £2k. If you sort by price highest then you don't have to scroll through all the tedious unpriced dealer adverts.

E.g.
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/eventers_horse_5_yrs_11_mths_15_3_hh_bay_wiltshire/Horses/271825

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/potential_young_sports_horses_horse_4_yrs_15_3_hh_/Horses/271443

I know these are both 15.3hh, but there are others on there and when the bargains do come up they are snapped up very quickly so worth keeping an eye.

They look really nice just too small I'm quite leggy have been to see a couple today but I would say they would be quite hot so wasn't interested. Not keen on tb feel they don't really suit me I just want something sain if you know what I mean I'll keep saving for now x

 

[snooples]

You could EASILY get an Irish Sport horse for that price especially if your willing to get an unbroken one but Id say even picking up one thats just been started wouldnt be a problem either.
I know buying from Ireland probably isnt an option for you but even adding in dealers fees and transport cost it shoudl still be viable in your price range.

For example this is the third ad on donedeal.ie , its a 4 year old unbroken mare with breeding recorded asking price of 800 euro so less than £675 and plenty more where that came from

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/horses/4864124

 

[Gryfiss]

You could EASILY get an Irish Sport horse for that price especially if your willing to get an unbroken one but Id say even picking up one thats just been started wouldnt be a problem either.
I know buying from Ireland probably isnt an option for you but even adding in dealers fees and transport cost it shoudl still be viable in your price range.

For example this is the third ad on donedeal.ie , its a 4 year old unbroken mare with breeding recorded asking price of 800 euro so less than £675 and plenty more where that came from

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/horses/4864124

Just looked I don't know if I would dare with not seeing one and the chances of getting a ass hole have you had any imported unseen ? X

 

[snooples]

I live in Ireland so dont have that problem!
However I know there are countless dealers in the UK that specialise in irish horses and Im sure someone on here can reccomend one to you.
Plenty of them will let you give them an idea of what you want and your price range and they will specifically look for that on their trips over here!
As I said you will have to factor in their fee and the cost of transport but even then you should get within your budget.
Horses over here are selling for peanuts at the moment, people cant get rid of them fast enough!!
This is of course mainly use to the recession but as everyone knows we have had an awful winter and people arent coping so you might even get an extra bargain right now

 

[Gryfiss]

Have rang a few earlier in the year there wanting around 2750 that's jus walking off the lorry x

 

[HeresHoping]

http://horses4homes.net/portal/en/details/spyridon-1911 - he might grow!

http://horses4homes.net/portal/en/details/curtis-2431 - he also might grow!

 

[pigsmight:)]

There are bargains to be had, but think how much it costs to breed and produce a horse to 4 years old. Now of course there are genuine cases where people are broke etc and just need rid and if your in the right place at the right time you could get yourself a good deal. But realistically someone is making a loss letting a horse go for that sort of money so you have to by synical and wonder what the dodge is. There has been a thread on here where people have suggested that 15- 25k is a reasonable budget for a nice 4yr old :O of course there are vast variations in the class of a nice 4yr old, but still I suppose my point is that you have to try your best to find the best you can within your budget but sometimes a cheap horse isn't all it seems and can really end up costing you more in the long run. Best of luck

 

[snooples]

There are bargains to be had, but think how much it costs to breed and produce a horse to 4 years old. Now of course there are genuine cases where people are broke etc and just need rid and if your in the right place at the right time you could get yourself a good deal. But realistically someone is making a loss letting a horse go for that sort of money so you have to by synical and wonder what the dodge is. There has been a thread on here where people have suggested that 15- 25k is a reasonable budget for a nice 4yr old :O of course there are vast variations in the class of a nice 4yr old, but still I suppose my point is that you have to try your best to find the best you can within your budget but sometimes a cheap horse isn't all it seems and can really end up costing you more in the long run. Best of luck

I wouldnt neccesarily say a horse in 1k to 1.5k bracket would be dodgy, the fact is horses in the UK are just ridculously overpriced.
I got my fantastic horse here in ireland over 10 years ago so in the middle of the boom time when prices were way higher than they are now for the equivalent of less than £2k.
He was a 9 year old 16.2 ISH who had hunted and competed at showjumping and was perfect in every way ( i was only 13 at the time so he had to be bombproof) who I pony clubbed and evented for many years. And there was nothing dodgy about his health either
I think people in the UK are just too used to paying stupid prices and havent questioned it at all.

 

[noodle_]

some right bargains in ireland!!......


might be worth considering ??? more for your money over there??

but how to get back here needs to be considered in cost?

just a thought

 

[pigsmight:)]

Sorry can't quote on my phone snooples, I am sorry if my post came across like that I wasn't suggesting that horses in that price bracket were dodgey as such I was just making the point that why would anyone breed and produce a horse to sell for that sort of money?. I have due to finances always has a small budget and have usually had to deal with the odd problem or just take a risk at auction, it has sometimes worked out and sometimes really not.

 

[snooples]

pigsmight i understand exactly what your saying and about people making a profit off their horses but the thing is in Ireland a lot of horses arent produced by proper breeders, anybody with a mare and a bit of land seem to be doing it just because they can and a lot of people just do it for the fun with no real profit in mind.
and then there is also the case of stallions just living in the fields with mares and they would be popping out foals all the time.
The horses will usually live out all year only requiring hay in the winter so dont really cost that much at all. This usually makes the horses fairly hardy unlike their WB counterparts, horse will then be broken at 3 and hunted and schooled and its at this stage they start costing money and time to be sold.
So thats just some of the reasons why we have loads of horses over here for cheap!

here is another horse i found on donedeal, a 5 year old, broken and on paper he looks great. This would be about the correct prices horses are selling for over here
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/horses/4940868

 

[measles]

pigsmight i understand exactly what your saying and about people making a profit off their horses but the thing is in Ireland a lot of horses arent produced by proper breeders, anybody with a mare and a bit of land seem to be doing it just because they can and a lot of people just do it for the fun with no real profit in mind.
and then there is also the case of stallions just living in the fields with mares and they would be popping out foals all the time.
The horses will usually live out all year only requiring hay in the winter so dont really cost that much at all. This usually makes the horses fairly hardy unlike their WB counterparts, horse will then be broken at 3 and hunted and schooled and its at this stage they start costing money and time to be sold.
So thats just some of the reasons why we have loads of horses over here for cheap!

That does rather suggest the quality in the group you describe may be dubious in view of the random breeding practices? Horses, if looked after properly and bred from good quality stock, cost money to care for (worming, feet, microchip, passport, forage etc etc) and so any which are extremely cheap are for a reason - owner circumstances of course is a possibility, or because they are poor quality, have issues of a myriad of potential types and so on. Cheap horses exist in any location but, and I do know from extensive personal experience, that good quality horses retain value no matter where they are as well.

OP - my original advice remains that increasing your budget will reduce the likelihood of buying a horse what is not what you might have wished. Very best of luck

 

[mperson01]

Have a look on Cheshire Horse, maybe one or two on there that may come close to being suitable. Remember to consider horses up to the 2000 price, even if they seem over budget, if you convince owner that you are genuine and will give horse a loving long term home, they may sell for less. My girl was up 2000, but got her for 1200, and she was exactly what you've described, (warmblood x, 16.1, rising 5)so it can be done.
Thinking outside the box- what about this, http://www.cheshirehorse.co.uk/horses-for-sale-cheshire/ad/2787
Which may (or may not) be suitable for riding in short term, but would produce a nice foal or two to bring on?

 

[snooples]

That does rather suggest the quality in the group you describe may be dubious in view of the random breeding practices? Horses, if looked after properly and bred from good quality stock, cost money to care for (worming, feet, microchip, passport, forage etc etc) and so any which are extremely cheap are for a reason - owner circumstances of course is a possibility, or because they are poor quality, have issues of a myriad of potential types and so on. Cheap horses exist in any location but, and I do know from extensive personal experience, that good quality horses retain value no matter where they are as well.

OP - my original advice remains that increasing your budget will reduce the likelihood of buying a horse what is not what you might have wished. Very best of luck

Ok I understand the stallion and mares in the field might be classed ar random breeding but this obviously isnt the most common breeding method.

When I was saying people do it just becuase they can or for some fun does not imply these people havent put any thought into the stallions and mares they breed from.

In the UK people are just of the thought that an expensive horse = a fantastic horse and sellers Im sure are well aware of this fact and adjusting prices accordingly.

 

[Asha]

Personall id save a bit more, reckon you can get what you for around £3k, so your not far off.

Sorr to hear about our mare

 

[StarlightMagic]

My kwpn was 1200 as a broken in 3 year old, have had him nearly 3 years and no problems with him, showing plenty of talent