When is a buyers market just taking the P*ss??

Gosh! I cant believe ppl cant find nice ones for £3500. Friend is going to be advertsing hers for that soon, maybe I should get her to come on here first. Another friend is trying to sell a young but safe/talented 14.2hh for £2750 ono with only one person viewing it!! Two years ago I sold a horse like this within a week for more money, not as pretty or talented either.
 
I would just add that maybe the person ringing you up (your friend) was not thinking that money was a major factor to you, maybe the new potential buyers are lovely ppl who would give the horse a home for life and that you may sacrifice something (money) for this. If I ever had to sell my boy (had him 3yrs) money would not be the deciding factor.
 
saskia295 said:
TBH, I read this bit and thought 'about £3k' so to be offered £3,500 is a good offer, especially in this market. I'd take it!
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I disagree. I think the OP should certainly advertise him for more. If he is as good as the OPs description I think he sounds like a fabulous horse, and people are still prepared to pay for that. There are many people looking for the perfect allrounder, who is easy to do, has a bit of sparkle and is safe and straight forward to compete at local level. It is often impossible to find one without some major flaw.

(.. sitting here typing this with a headache and slight concussion after the latest incident with my bonkers horse - perhaps that's why I feel like I would pay anything right now to have a safer more straightoward horse LOL).

I think an advert in H&H and on places like horse quest will get people ringing.
 
I think much of the confusion surrounding prices is that people have different ideas of what a 'good all-rounder' should do. You say he has done a bit of everything, but not at what level and with what success. If he has showjumped and XCd at 3' with many clears and regularly gets 60% plus in Novice dressage, then he is going to be worth a hell of a lot more than the horse who has popped round a few 2' courses but had a few stops and poles and has got 55% in a walk and trot test! The second type of horse is much more likely to be 3.5k.

Likewise with his showing, is his success at very local shows, has he done things like Search for a Star, Equifest, Royal London etc., or is he County standard and capable of qualifying for HOYs etc?
 
TGM said:
I think much of the confusion surrounding prices is that people have different ideas of what a 'good all-rounder' should do. You say he has done a bit of everything, but not at what level and with what success. If he has showjumped and XCd at 3' with many clears and regularly gets 60% plus in Novice dressage, then he is going to be worth a hell of a lot more than the horse who has popped round a few 2' courses but had a few stops and poles and has got 55% in a walk and trot test! The second type of horse is much more likely to be 3.5k.

Likewise with his showing, is his success at very local shows, has he done things like Search for a Star, Equifest, Royal London etc., or is he County standard and capable of qualifying for HOYs etc?
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Totally agree!
 
I agree that £3000 to £3500 is a reasonable price fro a 9yo with no comp record as such. From the post it didn't read as if the people were taking the p*ss anyway as didn't your friend jsut say they were only looking spend £3500? Hence they didn't actually try offer you that did they?

There may well be similar horses for sale for considerably more but whatyou've got to ask yourself is "are they actually selling?". Even if the ad turns to a 'sold' ad you still don't know what the horse actually sold for.

Some people are duped and will spend daft amounts on horses because it looks nice, had great bredding etc etc etc (more money than sense if you ask me) but the majority of people £3K-£4K is a usual amount for a general allrounder. Personally I wouldn't spend that now but we did buy my 4yo who had some winnings at BN BSJA for £3000 - that was 15 years ago. I think as someone said, it does cost a bit more to buy 'potential' whereas a 9 year old people would expect it to have been there done that.

If you really want to sell then I would look at advertising for the £3K to £3500 but if you're in no rush then sure, try and get a bit more.
 
TGM said:
I think much of the confusion surrounding prices is that people have different ideas of what a 'good all-rounder' should do. You say he has done a bit of everything, but not at what level and with what success. If he has showjumped and XCd at 3' with many clears and regularly gets 60% plus in Novice dressage, then he is going to be worth a hell of a lot more than the horse who has popped round a few 2' courses but had a few stops and poles and has got 55% in a walk and trot test! The second type of horse is much more likely to be 3.5k.

Likewise with his showing, is his success at very local shows, has he done things like Search for a Star, Equifest, Royal London etc., or is he County standard and capable of qualifying for HOYs etc?
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I agree with this totally.

Plus if you haven't done affiliated or qualified for anything it is difficult to prove whether done a bit of everything means three outings to a tiny and very low level local show or means a competitive RC and lots of clinics with placings at a decent level.

All this is very subjective, I've seen ads that sound perfect and the horse is far from my idea of good to do etc Saw one the other day and although it had "done dressage" it could barely trot a straight line, "jumps anything" meant when chased loose jumping, under saddle it was barely coping with 2ft, and every leg had a scar, split, lump or bump. And "Irish draft" seemed to just mean, unpapered but believed to have some irish heritage, doesn't look anything like an ID.

And once a horse is 8 or more, you aren't buying potential, if a horse hasn't been out and done affiliated you wonder why not and think that it may be because it isn't up to it.

Not saying that is you OP but that is what buyers are faced with.
 
TGM said:
I think much of the confusion surrounding prices is that people have different ideas of what a 'good all-rounder' should do. You say he has done a bit of everything, but not at what level and with what success. If he has showjumped and XCd at 3' with many clears and regularly gets 60% plus in Novice dressage, then he is going to be worth a hell of a lot more than the horse who has popped round a few 2' courses but had a few stops and poles and has got 55% in a walk and trot test! The second type of horse is much more likely to be 3.5k.

Likewise with his showing, is his success at very local shows, has he done things like Search for a Star, Equifest, Royal London etc., or is he County standard and capable of qualifying for HOYs etc?
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Very good point!

More detail on exactly what the horse has done/achieved would help to set a realistic price.
 
I agree with TGM, I think it depends on what level of allrounder your horse is.
Also if he is completely and totally safe and able to take a more novice/nervous rider then this will also make him far more attractive.

I have advertised an allrounder for £3500 incl. tack and rugs. He is very easy on the ground, snaffle mouth, very genuine and sweet to ride, cracking little jump. With me he has done a bit of everything at local level, he was 2nd at RC area dressage and last weekend won sj, also placed xc and done sponsored ride. However he wouldn't suit an complete novice/nervous person as he is a little sensitive and can be a bit 'looky' sometimes.
My phone has been ringing off the hook, but I seem to be getting a lot of nervous people wanting robots. There is nothing of reasonable quality that is also completely idiot (for want of a better word, not meant in a derogatory way) proof out there for £3500 - if you have one of those you are laughing.

So in essence, if your horse is completely safe, very reliable with a record at Novice dressage and 3' SJ/XC, RC team material etc then £5000 including tack would be very realistic.

If however you are talking low-key unaff dressage and 2'-2'6 sj then I think £3500 is more about right
 
The more I am reading the replies then the more I think I should have bitten their hand off!! Oh well, have advertised him now, will see how it goes.

Was told though to advertise higher as people will expect to haggle me down, if I had advertised him at 3.5 then someone would have come along and offered 2.5, apparently everyone wants to feel they have got a good deal!!!
 
The more I am reading the replies then the more I think I should have bitten their hand off!! Oh well, have advertised him now, will see how it goes.

Was told though to advertise higher as people will expect to haggle me down, if I had advertised him at 3.5 then someone would have come along and offered 2.5, apparently everyone wants to feel they have got a good deal!!!

I have advertised him genuinely, he has not shown at county level or jumped a 3'6" XC course as I am not competitive but I do have a wall of rosettes in the kitchen from local shows and have been told on numerous occasions by judges he would do well at county level or search for a star. Due to lack of transport I can't get to these events. Seems like I have made a mistake if I wanted to 'up' his value I should have been more competitive! But how does anyone work out the worth of a horse if they are not a dealer or regularly buying and selling horses? This is my only horse and I am trying to make an educated guess at his value. When I look at others of his type at 3.5k they are either very young, have suspect conformation or 'issues'
 
When i bought my mare nearly 2years ago, i got her at a bargain haggled price of £4000 with nothing included so payed extra for her saddle rugs etc. Ive had her up for sale about 2months now and have had intrest in her and a few people out but no-one intrested enough to buy her (or suitable imo) I had her advertised at £3500 at the start knowing the climate etc, now i have reduced her to £3000, obv having to prepare to some haggling aswell so im making a huge loss but right now im more bothered to just find her a good home who can understand her quirks etc which all my intrest has not realised horses are never perfect. Shes done alot of competing and won quite some money in BSJA which i have the record printed off, she is also like your horse and always placed in showing classes, great confo, great to do everything basically except the only major issue really with her is shes not easy loading and wont load in trailer which i understand is a big problem to some people and im struggling right now to find someone to understand that. If i were you, i would have taken their hand off when they offered me that, considering my mare at £3000 is really struggling. I really hope this market picks up :( i envy them people with their own yards/land who i bet are praising this market for allowing them to get some cheap quality horses right now haha! Good luck in selling :)
 
Its difficult to gauge the price right.. get it wrong and you'll have 100's of people ringing you up and leave you feeling you've undersold and too high and you'll fork out on advertising and have no interest (as I have done several times)..

As a general rule I use, up to the age of 3 or 4 I'd use their conformation and breeding to gauge the price, ages 4-7 you can use their potential to gauge price. I'd assume that a 9yr old has been taken to the limits of his potential and base his price on how far up the levels hes been. Youngsters who have done the same as your horse would be worth far more as their showing great potential, older horses that have poor conformation 'but' are good at their job will be worth less than equally tallented horses with better conformation..
 
Haven't read all replies but do think the market is strange atm. I am selling a fab pc allrounder with excellent comp record and am having to reduce his price which is already less than we bought him for 2 years ago. He is the type of pony that normally people would bite your hand off for. I think you have to weigh up his running costs while you hang on for the higher price against the possibility of selling for less.( if that makes sense!)
 
I've just sold a pony for £900 that would have been £1500 eighteen months ago...

My friend has a 15.2 8yr old mare that jumps for fun, and has won all open classes at local level, and won the RC area XC (individual and team) this year. She advertised her at £5ooo and hasn't even had a phonecall! Another friend has a better bred 10yr old gelding that has done absolutely nothing for sale at £5000 and has had lots of people ringing! Theres no logic! I wouldn't even put the two horses in the same league!

Good luck to you. You can try to ask more initially - you can always drop the price... Personally I think £3500 was a great offer...xx
 
It is always dificult to judge when you dont know the horse, but a the horse that you have described should be worth more than £3500 even in the current market conditions.
 
I read the Most Wanted article with a heavy heart as that is what i am trying to find. H+H decription being an over height Connie - precisely what I've recently lost.

Key points were temperament ie it hacks out alone in traffic, size 14.2 - 15.1 and a gelding.

I've spent many, many hours looking at ads. There are far more mares for sale than geldings. There also appear to loads more 15.3 plus than a small horse. These 15.3 and larger horses are frequently cheaper than the smaller ones.

Until you get to the affiliated market, ponies and horses seem to sell on their ease of handling and under the saddle.
 
mtj said:
I read the Most Wanted article with a heavy heart as that is what i am trying to find. H+H decription being an over height Connie - precisely what I've recently lost.

Key points were temperament ie it hacks out alone in traffic, size 14.2 - 15.1 and a gelding.

I've spent many, many hours looking at ads. There are far more mares for sale than geldings. There also appear to loads more 15.3 plus than a small horse. These 15.3 and larger horses are frequently cheaper than the smaller ones.

Until you get to the affiliated market, ponies and horses seem to sell on their ease of handling and under the saddle.
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Well I have one of those for sale. He hacks alone in traffic.
The caveat is I am very very honest with people and under no circumstances would I say he is 100% bomproof in all traffic at all times.
Will he nap for England or try and dump you under the nearest car - No!
Will he feel a bit cautious if faced with a large lorry on a country lane - Yes!
I'm sure people think when I say he is a little looky to hack alone and you need to ride confidently in heavy traffic that I am trying to cover up a lunatic! When in fact I just have a normal horse. You know I would be more skeptical if someone told me a horse never batted an eyelid at anything!
 
Honey08 said:
My friend has a 15.2 8yr old mare that jumps for fun, and has won all open classes at local level, and won the RC area XC (individual and team) this year. She advertised her at £5ooo and hasn't even had a phonecall! Another friend has a better bred 10yr old gelding that has done absolutely nothing for sale at £5000 and has had lots of people ringing! Theres no logic! I wouldn't even put the two horses in the same league!
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How have the two horses been advertised? Are they on the same sales sites? Has the owner of the 10yo used fabulous photos in the ads and perhaps video as well? The 8yo might be a fantastic horse, but if the photos are poor, the sales site badly chosen for the market aimed at and the ad worded badly, that may be why she isn't getting the calls!
 
The answer to the original question - is lots!

I couldn't sell a 4yo who has the scope and temperament to make a top class yet completely safe JA pony, has already competed, & is ready to go training wise - for £5k, or for £4k when price reduced. She's big enough for me to ride, and has the stride length for seniors - so stuff it, I'm going to jump her and have some fun. We'll re-advertise another year, when the market has sorted itself out, and she's worth far more anyway (should be jumping 1m10 classes by end of next year!).
 
TGM, the mare that jumps for fun is on Horsemart, and has five amazing photos and a great advert. Not sure what the other one is on - I just heard that she'd had lots of viewings and a possible sale. The owner will have made it sound wonderful (because she truly thinks that even though its nothing special)
 
mtj said:
I read the Most Wanted article with a heavy heart as that is what i am trying to find. H+H decription being an over height Connie - precisely what I've recently lost.

Key points were temperament ie it hacks out alone in traffic, size 14.2 - 15.1 and a gelding.

I've spent many, many hours looking at ads. There are far more mares for sale than geldings. There also appear to loads more 15.3 plus than a small horse. These 15.3 and larger horses are frequently cheaper than the smaller ones.

Until you get to the affiliated market, ponies and horses seem to sell on their ease of handling and under the saddle.
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Friend has exactly this and cant seem to sell him!
 
Errrm, I have a 16hh irish TB gelding advertised at the moment, he's affil sj, jumping BN/disc, hacks alone in compnay, no hang ups. i had him advertised for £4850 and had 2 calls! So I've dropped his price down to £3600 and had none! Do you think people think he's too cheap?! Really would like to sell him now as bored with him! I've also got a really nice 15.2hh coloured mare who's 13, schoolmistress type but too sensitive for a handy novice, haven't put a price on her advert (just sensible price to right home) and NO CALLS AT ALL! I would take £2500 for her but no joy! ITS MADNESS!
 
natalia said:
I've also got a really nice 15.2hh coloured mare who's 13, schoolmistress type but too sensitive for a handy novice, haven't put a price on her advert (just sensible price to right home) and NO CALLS AT ALL! I would take £2500 for her but no joy! ITS MADNESS!
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Many people (including me) won't call if there is no price on the ad, as they presume it is going to be out of their budget!
 
It's a funny one, as when I put a cheap price up you tend to get lots of numpties ringing and I can't stand it. Even if it say "very sensibly priced"?. I sold one a few weeks ago with out a price on it and had hundreds of calls, although it was a very smart 5 yr old gelding, sold him for £5500 and could have sold him 6x over!
 
natalia said:
Errrm, I have a 16hh irish TB gelding advertised at the moment, he's affil sj, jumping BN/disc, hacks alone in compnay, no hang ups. i had him advertised for £4850 and had 2 calls! So I've dropped his price down to £3600 and had none! Do you think people think he's too cheap?! Really would like to sell him now as bored with him! I've also got a really nice 15.2hh coloured mare who's 13, schoolmistress type but too sensitive for a handy novice, haven't put a price on her advert (just sensible price to right home) and NO CALLS AT ALL! I would take £2500 for her but no joy! ITS MADNESS!
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I would have to agree with TGM, I wouldnt call if there was no price on the ad, i would assume it to be out of budget. As far as your competion horse goes, who knows. Friend advertised hers at £6000 and slowly, slwoly dropped the price (ok she was a bit of a quirky mare) but in the end let her go for £1000!!!
 
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