When is the best time to sell a hunter?

[Lisamd]

As title really.

My boy is fit and out and about having hunted this winter with the Axe Vale and has hunted in Ireland too. He is awesome, probably the best horse i've ever hunted, totally belies his mere 5 years of age!

If I sold him now he could easily show (was placed in Search for a Star Q in 2010) or compete all summer ready for next seasons hunting, so do people who hunt want something to ride all year or just the winter to hunt them?

 

[L&M]

If you look in the last couple of issues of the H&H there are several quality hunters for sale - personally I would question why they are for sale now when the season is still in full flow, but could be that propsective buyers could try them out whilst still hunting?

I think it depends on how you market the horse. If it was purely for hunting I would say mid to late summer, as Autumn hunting will be on the horizon and always a good time to get used to a new horse. If you think it is capable of another job as well, then early spring as people will be looking for horses for the showing season.

Sounds a lovely type so hope you find it a good home!

 

[QassiaDeTouzaine]

i agree- end of summer, beginning of autumn hunting time seems to be when most folk start looking for a new horse for the coming season

 

[AmyMay]

As title really.

My boy is fit and out and about having hunted this winter with the Axe Vale and has hunted in Ireland too. He is awesome, probably the best horse i've ever hunted, totally belies his mere 5 years of age!

I'd say probably before Christmas. However, if he's been out regularly and is known well by other subscribers then get the word out now for the remainder of the season.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

a hunter will sell best in the autumn, when fit and out cubbing ready for the season.. sounds like your boy is a bit more than just a hunter if he is good enough to show. i would suggest you let every one out hunting that he is for sale, and neighbouring hunts. polish up his flat work and show jumping a little and advertise as good hunter/pot eventer/PC/RC/competion horse. is he 5 this time? would he do BYEH classes? build him a good CV with photos, refs from your masters re hunting. Good luck, current market is slow, but good honest horses that can do most jobs that have manners will always sell.

 

[gunnergundog]

Personally, I am looking now. I want, primarily, a hunter....so now I have another 5-6 weeks when I can see a prospective purchase in the hunting field. Although I will also SJ & XC, those are secondary activities, so if I don't find something now I will wait until October.

 

[Steeleydan]

The hunters I have bought to sell on, I have always sold them at the start of cubbing and sold them well. But I wouldn hesitate to buy a hunter now as A)you can view it out hunting B)You can see its at least stayed sound throughout the season. You could easily buy one in August thats had the whole summer to recover from an injurey sustained during the season and you will be none the wiser.

 

[Herne]

The hunters I have bought to sell on, I have always sold them at the start of cubbing and sold them well. But I wouldn hesitate to buy a hunter now as A)you can view it out hunting B)You can see its at least stayed sound throughout the season. You could easily buy one in August thats had the whole summer to recover from an injurey sustained during the season and you will be none the wiser.

What he said.

The best time to buy a hunter is now. You can see it hunt and it is sound, so if you can get confirmation from the hunt sec that it has been fairly hunted all season, you know it should be the real deal. Anyone can get a horse sound for October.

The best time to sell? Well, now if you can prove it is the real deal as above, then you can charge big bucks to people in the know. Conversely, you can get big bucks out of muppets inthe autumn who have let theselves get desperate for a hunter for the forthcoming season.

 

[huntley]

I am desperately looking now so I can try it out hunting then play with it in the summer. I think either September/October time or now before the hunting season ends. I would never buy a hunter in the summer.

 

[TJP]

I have just bought one this morning and am impatiently waiting for her to arrive. Typical Irish stamp of a mare and I am soooo excited. She has 3 seasons under her belt and is fun fun fun!! My other horses are bred to sj or event and I am more excited about this girl than any of them - she and I are going back to my pony days when anything jumpable was jumped. I was able to try her while the season was going, xc this morning in the mud and gutters and will hopefully be heading out on her next week. Have to go to a wedding this week