What would you price this horse at

[Big Bay Mare]

Hi, long time lurker but first post, so be gentle.

I own a 17’3 hannoverian mare, Rascalion x Deniro lines. She is 15 and was a brood mare until she was 8. Although she is dressage bred I use her for SJing. We were supposed to start competing at 90cm - 1m but Covid got in the way which means she has no record. Been out to clinics and is relatively well behaved. Not much phases her in general. Lovely paces and excellent conformation.

Now to the bad bits. I am a petite lady and she is just too big for me. She can be strong and thinks that she knows best so training at home can be ahem, eventful. She can be marish and down right rude. Goes nicely on a good day though and is Ridden in a snaffle.

I would like to show jump and although she is fun, it is becoming rather apparent that she would probably prefer to be a dressage horse. Not for the lack of ability but just gets too hot to handle sometimes. I have started wondering if I should perhaps sell and buy something smaller and more up to the job.
The problem is, I have no idea what she should be priced at in light of age and lack of record.

I am undecided as she is very much my heart horse so I am in a pickle as to what to do with her. Thoughts and comments would be much appreciated.

 

[stormox]

she would be too big for a lot of people - she might suit a man better.

 

[Bellaboo18]

She's the type of horse I'd put on sales livery tbh and let them price her...

 

[Big Bay Mare]

She's the type of horse I'd put on sales livery tbh and let them price her...

This is what I was pondering too.

 

[mossycup]

5k/6k purely on size....but yeah, tricky one. Potentially too much horse for an older lady wanting to ride dressage, too much horse and probably too old for a young rider wanting to jump, too much horse to be a happy hacker. Basically you need a batsh*t lady who loves a sassy mare and is happy to deal with her shit if she performs ok ?

 

[Jellymoon]

Has she ever hunted? Was just thinking big, quality jumping horses like her are very popular for hunting.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I have just sold a big horse and could have sold him 10 times over.

 

[Big Bay Mare]

??

5k/6k purely on size....but yeah, tricky one. Potentially too much horse for an older lady wanting to ride dressage, too much horse and probably too old for a young rider wanting to jump, too much horse to be a happy hacker. Basically you need a batsh*t lady who loves a sassy mare and is happy to deal with her shit if she performs ok ?

yes I do and I think you are right on the money there. I might quote you in the add

 

[Big Bay Mare]

Has she ever hunted? Was just thinking big, quality jumping horses like her are very popular for hunting.

lack of balls has prevented me from going out although I was going to get ever so slightly intoxicated and give clubbing a little go this coming season. Not that it is in any way comparable, but she has schooled around intermediate fences xc and did not bat an eyelid at the natural fences. She is also brave out hacking and goes nicely in company so this could be something to explore I guess.

 

[mossycup]

Well this is more positive!

 

[Jellymoon]

ooh, sounds like she‘s made for hunting, something worth exploring def. Lot of batshxt crazy ladies and gents on the hunting field! Obv wrong time of year, but you could do some hunt fun rides and see how she likes those...
An option would be to send her to someone who would introduce her to hunting in the autumn and then do sales livery for you...if you can wait that long...

 

[Big Bay Mare]

I am in no rush to sell and know a couple of hunting folk in the area so will speak to them.
Thank you all for brill suggestions!
What would everyone think about selling as a brood mare? Too old?

 

[Lois Lame]

Selling as a brood mare might give the impression that she is not suitable for riding. I think you need to let people know she's not suitable for you, her current owner, but for certain (brave) people she is is suitable. (I wouldn't be one of them.) She sounds great for the right brave/crazy rider. And it sounds like she loves jumping. Someone would love her.

 

[Trouper]

It sounds as if she has quite a lot to give still as a ridden horse. I would be tempted to leave a new owner to decide if they wanted to breed from her.

 

[ycbm]

I was going to get ever so slightly intoxicated and give clubbing a little go this coming season. Not that it is in any way comparable

I think it's traditional to get completely rat-arsed to go clubbing, but you are right, there's no comparison between clubbing and trail hunting.

Got to love a good autocorrect ?

 

[ycbm]

PS I think she could be worth a lot as a hunter to carry a heavy person, especially if you could prove she had the manners and the jump by keeping her till autumn.
.

 

[Big Bay Mare]

I think it's traditional to get completely rat-arsed to go clubbing, but you are right, there's no comparison between clubbing and trail hunting.

Got to love a good autocorrect

?? OMG so funny. Although perhaps the mare would enjoy a night on the tow on the piss ?

 

[spotty_pony]

5k but if she hunts and jumps add a 1 in front of the 5!

 

[Goldenstar]

5 to 6 k but she is a difficult type to price without seeing the horse .
The age is the main issue .

 

[LadyGascoyne]

If she is a well put together, weight carrying type and will hack nicely, do some dressage and pop a few hunt jumps without getting silly, then she’d be exactly what my husband would want to ride. The ones we have looked at are around the £7ish - some have been around £10k but probably a little younger.

If she does hunt and not end up being very hot out hunting (which it sounds like she might), then I would compare her to the some of them that we’ve seen pitched around the £12-15k mark.

If she is big but light then I think it might be a harder sale.

 

[Goldenstar]

15 is late for a horse to establish its self as hunter .
Unless she is extremely easy and settles quickly , she’s only for a younger strong rider for whom hunting manners don’t matter much here we always take two seasons to make a hunter. Their third season would be when we expect them to do the job and some take longer than that to come to hand .
I am sure if she bold and sound someone might well buy her to hunt but she would not make price some as saying here .
The hunters who make the highest prices are younger and have has a good start when young on manners side so they know the job and they usually warmbloods .
It would be complete gamble to buy the horse described when it is not out hunting showing itself doing the job .
If you bought it and hunting caused a complete meltdown the horse would drawing its pension when you got it settled .
I have had three older horses who started hunting late but they all high competition types who had busy lives and seen the world ,hunting for them was a wind down activity one had been an international level driving horse he loved it and did two seasons in his late teens .
All three had been used to being very fit and working hard hunting was step down for them work wise and this would be another worry for anyone buying this mare .

 

[Big Bay Mare]

15 is late for a horse to establish its self as hunter .
Unless she is extremely easy and settles quickly , she’s only for a younger strong rider for whom hunting manners don’t matter much here we always take two seasons to make a hunter. Their third season would be when we expect them to do the job and some take longer than that to come to hand .
I am sure if she bold and sound someone might well buy her to hunt but she would not make price some as saying here .
The hunters who make the highest prices are younger and have has a good start when young on manners side so they know the job and they usually warmbloods .
It would be complete gamble to buy the horse described when it is not out hunting showing itself doing the job .
If you bought it and hunting caused a complete meltdown the horse would drawing its pension when you got it settled .
I have had three older horses who started hunting late but they all high competition types who had busy lives and seen the world ,hunting for them was a wind down activity one had been an international level driving horse he loved it and did two seasons in his late teens .
All three had been used to being very fit and working hard hunting was step down for them work wise and this would be another worry for anyone buying this mare .

Thank you for commenting and sharing a hunter’s perspective. Gave me some food for thought and you are right, she is on the older side and probably too old to produce for the hunting field.

 

[Goldenstar]

folks I meant not warmbloods bangs head against wall

 

[Jellymoon]

Thank you for commenting and sharing a hunter’s perspective. Gave me some food for thought and you are right, she is on the older side and probably too old to produce for the hunting field.

It depends how quickly she takes to it. She may settle straight away and be brilliant or she may not. And I don’t think you can tell what they are going to be like out hunting until you try it. The quietest horses can become fire breathing dragons from hell, and the hottest ones that you never imagine would settle can find it their happy place. You just don’t know until you try. People are only giving their opinions on here, none of us really know, I wouldn’t write it off!

 

[PeterNatt]

Will she hack out by herself. Is she god in heavy traffic? Does she spook?

 

[ycbm]

It depends how quickly she takes to it. She may settle straight away and be brilliant or she may not. And I don’t think you can tell what they are going to be like out hunting until you try it. The quietest horses can become fire breathing dragons from hell, and the hottest ones that you never imagine would settle can find it their happy place. You just don’t know until you try. People are only giving their opinions on here, none of us really know, I wouldn’t write it off!

I agree with this. I've introduced a lot of horses to hunting/ drag hunting. Several ex racers. One would not jump in company. One was fine and one was a superstar. Two cobs, both super. An ISH practically made for the job who pulled like a train unless he was at the front when he only pulled like a 48 ton truck. Two warmbloods, both tricky to hack, one was perfect and the other was absolutely lethal and that is not a joke. A mare who was very dizzy first time out but fine the second onwards.

 

[Big Bay Mare]

Will she hack out by herself. Is she god in heavy traffic? Does she spook?

Hacks by herself and in company (first or last), does not get strong. Not spooky at all and does not give a fog about the heaviest of traffic.