What would you expect to pay?

[Stacey_xo]

Out of interest, what would you expect from a horse to be worth around 6k? This can be in terms of age, ability, schooling, experience etc.

Helping my mother to look for a new horse and we aren’t experienced buyers or sellers and the prices have changed so much over the past few years, her horse who recently had to be PTS cost her 2k 10 years ago. She’s got a budget of 6k but willing to increase her budget for the right horse, but she’s not looking for a world beater or schoolmaster.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Well if she is not looking for anything special , she should find something well within that price range? How is she for confidence? Would she take a project? Sold from the field? Behaviour issues but no health issues?
It leaves a long list of possibilities ?

 

[ihatework]

For 6k I’d expect one of the following:

A middle aged good egg RC horse that comes with a declaration (vice/vet fail)

A mid teens good egg RC horse

A slightly hairy/cobby green 4/5yo off the boat

An average quality/temp 3/4 yo low level competition type

A nicely bred 1/2/3yo in a fugly stage

A very flash young horse with a screw loose that has over horsed whoever is riding it

A good quality TB coming out of racing.

 

[Abacus]

There are probably a few categories:

A good young horse with some potential and no medical history (not world beating but a safe sort)

A good older horse, not necessarily with medical issues - say age range 13+

Something that is a good horse in the most desirable age range (7 to 12) but with a medical issue or behavioural issue

A decent ex-racer that has been brought on a bit and been out and about a bit

(By ‘good’ above I mean it hacks, schools, jumps a bit, loads, good to clip and handle, etc).

This all might change over winter and if financial circumstances get worse for people. 6k should definitely buy you something nice, but not a safe 8 year old that hacks, schools, jumps and competes, without any vices or problems.

 

[Stacey_xo]

Well if she is not looking for anything special , she should find something well within that price range? How is she for confidence? Would she take a project? Sold from the field? Behaviour issues but no health issues?
It leaves a long list of possibilities ?

Well she’s obviously looking for a decent horse but isn’t fussed about a record or a schoolmaster as she’s capable of bringing on a less established horse but doesn’t want a total project. ?
Prices are so varied these days. Essentially she’s looking for something that would be suitable for RC even if it needs bringing on slightly and happy hacking, capable but not too sharp, would she be expecting to pay more for something like that?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I dont think 6k is unreasonable! I think she will get a nice horse for what she wants ?

 

[blitznbobs]

The problem is 6j could buy you a really reliable pony, an average young sports horse, an average old sports horse (no winnings to speak of) A pretty good foal, a nice (but not special) native etc etc etc…

you need to narrow down what you want, and what you want to do with it.

 

[PeterNatt]

I would expect a horse for 6K to be 100% bomb proof/spook proof, hack out by itself or in company in the heaviest and fastest of traffic, go first or last, controllable in all situations, never buck or rear, have no vices, easy to box and shoe, live/graze in a field by itself and if with another horse not have a separation anxiety and pass a 5* vetting.

 

[SEL]

Whereabouts are you? I follow a few of the racehorse retraining yards on FB from when I was looking earlier in the year and their horses are usually sub £6k.

Kimba Stud is another that pops up on FB and they've got a nice little mare that needs producing who has just come up on my timeline. If I was still shopping I'd be looking at her.

 

[SEL]

I would expect a horse for 6K to be 100% bomb proof/spook proof, hack out by itself or in company in the heaviest and fastest of traffic, go first or last, controllable in all situations, never buck or rear, have no vices, easy to box and shoe, live/graze in a field by itself and if with another horse not have a separation anxiety and pass a 5* vetting.

I think that's over £10k in today's market. Prices haven't fallen yet as far as I can tell

 

[Squeak]

I think that's over £10k in today's market. Prices haven't fallen yet as far as I can tell

Agreed, that would be easily over 10k now. The safe and reliable horse that will pass a 5* vetting is worth a lot these days. I think IHW was bang on with what you can get for 6k.

 

[Goldenstar]

I think IHW has it about right .
You can sell safe straightforward RC level allrounders for 10k everyday of the week .
Theres an inexhaustible supply of people who want safe straightforward allrounders .

 

[Leandy]

I would expect a horse for 6K to be 100% bomb proof/spook proof, hack out by itself or in company in the heaviest and fastest of traffic, go first or last, controllable in all situations, never buck or rear, have no vices, easy to box and shoe, live/graze in a field by itself and if with another horse not have a separation anxiety and pass a 5* vetting.

Do you mean wouldn't??

 

[maya2008]

Well she’s obviously looking for a decent horse but isn’t fussed about a record or a schoolmaster as she’s capable of bringing on a less established horse but doesn’t want a total project. ?
Prices are so varied these days. Essentially she’s looking for something that would be suitable for RC even if it needs bringing on slightly and happy hacking, capable but not too sharp, would she be expecting to pay more for something like that?

For that price, an ex racer with a year or two of experience after initial retraining might be a good idea. Cheaper due to breed, but big enough with potential to have fun now.

 

[Leandy]

OP what type, height, age etc does she want?? That would be a better place to start.

 

[mini_b]

I would expect a horse for 6K to be 100% bomb proof/spook proof, hack out by itself or in company in the heaviest and fastest of traffic, go first or last, controllable in all situations, never buck or rear, have no vices, easy to box and shoe, live/graze in a field by itself and if with another horse not have a separation anxiety and pass a 5* vetting.

me too but it would be about 15 years old plus?
Horses like that go for more than 6 grand

 

[Fieldlife]

I would expect a horse for 6K to be 100% bomb proof/spook proof, hack out by itself or in company in the heaviest and fastest of traffic, go first or last, controllable in all situations, never buck or rear, have no vices, easy to box and shoe, live/graze in a field by itself and if with another horse not have a separation anxiety and pass a 5* vetting.

In today's market you might struggle to get your expectations met. I think you are looking at more like £12,000 for all of those things.

Remains to be seen if prices fall this winter due to the cost of living.

 

[Wishfilly]

As others have said, for a decent RC horse of around 16hh, that's safe to hack, you're probably looking at closer to 10k, or some kind of compromise- e.g. a bit older, may not pass a vetting, etc.

Alternatively, depending on her size, she could probably get what she wants if she looks for something under 15hh, and isn't after a conemara. You could get a nice new forest, welsh (but not in a flashy colour) or a cross for that sort of money, I think.

 

[Stacey_xo]

Thanks all for your help it definitely gives us more of an idea of what to look out for! ?

 

[TheBayThoroughbred]

It totally depends on what would be a dealbreaker. There are some things that will automatically drop a horse's price but might not be a big issue for you. I got my first horse at just over £6k because he's a cribber, but he lives out 24/7 with me and so he never does it. Otherwise he's my dream horse, ideal temperament and happy to rip round a cross country course and then do a lazy hack the day after, and had I not known about the cribbing, I would've expected to pay £8-12k for him. Other horses might have had KS surgery, might have quirks that put buyers off, or other things that just makes them less easy to sell, but they're otherwise great horses.

Also I would definitely check out some racehorse rehoming centres, a lot of them are very good and give a very honest and helpful overview of the horse, and if she doesn't mind doing a bit of work with them, you can get an absolutely cracking horse for under £6k.

 

[SO1]

Unlikely to get a new forest of that description for 6K unless older or under 14h they are a rare breed and quite valuable.

.

As others have said, for a decent RC horse of around 16hh, that's safe to hack, you're probably looking at closer to 10k, or some kind of compromise- e.g. a bit older, may not pass a vetting, etc.

Alternatively, depending on her size, she could probably get what she wants if she looks for something under 15hh, and isn't after a conemara. You could get a nice new forest, welsh (but not in a flashy colour) or a cross for that sort of money, I think.

 

[Red-1]

I would expect a horse for 6K to be 100% bomb proof/spook proof, hack out by itself or in company in the heaviest and fastest of traffic, go first or last, controllable in all situations, never buck or rear, have no vices, easy to box and shoe, live/graze in a field by itself and if with another horse not have a separation anxiety and pass a 5* vetting.

Crikey, could you source one of those for me please? I'm not even looking for one, but that sounds amazing. Is it a mechanical one?

 

[SOS]

Please can someone send me these 3/4yr olds that aren’t going to be world beaters but are nice to be around? You will find they are over 10k currently. Or there may be a few around 6k but with severe conformation faults (that even Id notice!) or very unhappy under saddle.

Currently looking OP and I’m getting messed around no end by sellers. I think 6k will get you an older horse with high mileage. Certainly seen lots of retiring hunters well within that budget that would be suitable for hacking.

 

[ihatework]

Please can someone send me these 3/4yr olds that aren’t going to be world beaters but are nice to be around? You will find they are over 10k currently. Or there may be a few around 6k but with severe conformation faults (that even Id notice!) or very unhappy under saddle.

Currently looking OP and I’m getting messed around no end by sellers. I think 6k will get you an older horse with high mileage. Certainly seen lots of retiring hunters well within that budget that would be suitable for hacking.

Once they are backed they aren’t 6k!

I know of a sweet event type 3yo grey mare around 16hh very lightly backed. But now she has been sat and ridden on would be 10 ish, possibly just under