Yet another 'how much?'....

[soloequestrian]

Just read the 'how much' thread below and given the eye-watering prices mentioned I'm interested to know for mine. I recently posted asking the best time to sell and everyone said 'now' so I am considering it. I've never sold before and have only really bought projects so totally out of touch.
The horse is 16/16.1hh bay gelding, 10 years, fashionable warmblood stallion (at least in these parts - north of Scotland) out of a TB mare. He had 2 year off before I got him due to previous owners poor health. He has nice paces and is great to hack alone (I would think in company too, just haven't done it), he is green and lacking confidence in the school. He has a nap that is frustrating but not dangerous - we are working through it and he is improving - he only does it under certain circumstances that I was able avoid to get him fit - now I am deliberately putting him in those circumstances so we can work through the problem.
What would you ask for him and where would be best to advertise?
Many thanks.

 

[ihatework]

Tricky.
Personally, I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable advertising a half done project for decent money. I’d be worried of comeback and realistically the type of people that would be good for him aren’t going to be paying the silly money.

If you need to sell I’d advertise around 4K and filter out the dross.

It’s a bit against you being up in Scotland, being nappy, being 10 and having achieved not a lot.

If you don’t need to sell, I’d be inclined to iron out the nap and get a record on him. Stand more chance of finding the right home that way.

 

[Littlewills]

Tricky.
Personally, I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable advertising a half done project for decent money. I’d be worried of comeback and realistically the type of people that would be good for him aren’t going to be paying the silly money.

If you need to sell I’d advertise around 4K and filter out the dross.

It’s a bit against you being up in Scotland, being nappy, being 10 and having achieved not a lot.

If you don’t need to sell, I’d be inclined to iron out the nap and get a record on him. Stand more chance of finding the right home that way.

Except this bubble is about to burst. The horse will almost certainly be worth as much now as it would be in 6 months time with the quirk ironed out.

 

[paddi22]

getting a record on them is always useful, but the costs do add up for entries/diesel/time etc and there is no guarantee the record will turn out to be good.

 

[soloequestrian]

Yes, at the moment he is a nice hacking horse with potential to do more. I'm totally undecided about when to sell and I'd want a good home for him as opposed to the maximum money possible. I'm not sure if that's more likely to happen in a strong market as now, or if I've got a better chance waiting until the spring when things may have settled down again...

 

[Sail_away]

I think the trend right now is for ready-made horses - at least from what I’m seeing - or youngsters. Yours would be a ‘project’, perhaps here in Surrey you could make 8k right now if he’s pretty and otherwise straightforward but if you’re looking for a good home I would wait. He stands a better chance of a good home if he’s got a bit more of a CV and is vice-free.

 

[SusieT]

What can he actually do? All the first post says is that is a 10yr old warmbloodxtb who will hack along but also naps?

 

[soloequestrian]

His forte is hacking - he enjoys it, he is forward and alert but not silly spooky, he will happily walk trot canter either away from home or towards and he will walk home on the buckle if that's what you want. We're just getting back into the school after a summer of hacking to get his muscles working the right way - he was very upside down when I got him but now he is starting to be more comfortable working through his back. We're just really walk trot and lateral work in the school at the moment to get his confidence up. He is great to handle, fine with his feet, with the vet and dentist.

 

[paddi22]

I'd stick an honest ad up and see who bites. a good looking horse with breeding can make people look at it. a good happy hacker who is also good to handle is always a useful horse too. otherwise you're paying for him over winter, and there's no guarantee shows will be running in spring anyway. I've a similar project and I'll just be aiming to get her ok with basic flatwork, popping a 80s jump and hacking and then she will be ready for a new home. I hadn't seen the horses age until now, and since it's 10 I can't see the point spending money on entries, at this stage it will just hopefully be a nice all rounder. you kind of have two markets going for: the happy hacker one and then the one who will appreciate the breeding and paces and probably won't be put off by the napping.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Does he have potential to do low level dressage/showjumping? If he has competition potential you might be able to market him as a potential RC/ lower level horse sort for a lower price. There are plenty of people happy to take on a sane project for competitions.

Otherwise, I'd be tempted to try establish him as a reliable happy hacker- iron out the napping and in an ideal world take him to some sponsored rides and possibly TREC. Or at least, getting him getting hacking solo and in groups reliably . I appreciate that might be really difficult in CV times though.

Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[webble]

You probably need to give a bit more info, what's he like hacking with others? What potential does he have in the school? Could you do some online dressage tests? They are fairly cheap and would be another point to mention, can he jump?

 

[soloequestrian]

Lots of good ideas here, thank you. I'd say he has quite a lot of potential for dressage if I can sort the nap out - he gets really worried in the school and that's when it most often appears. He stops and stamps/paws which isn't too bad when you're out but digs big holes in the school! He is getting better though and if I can catch his attention early on he'll work quite well. I'll have to put my brave pants on to try him to a fence - haven't jumped for a lot of years.... maybe it would be fun though.
Still interested in prices for him, whichever option is being recommended.

 

[EventingMum]

In July / August I was looking for a 16hh + riding school horse, not a cob, for our more capable riders and most I viewed only had basic schooling (and I mean basic walk, trot and canter nothing more) and would pop a small fence. Three I viewed were going for £5-7k in the central belt of Scotland. None had any sort of a record and all needed further education to do the job I was looking at. A year earlier I would have expected them to be about the £3k mark maximum.

 

[SusieT]

have to say a 10yr old who hacks and can walk and trot in school isn't worht a lot imo, especially if not a dobbin ie can nap - I'd be thinking 2k -2.5k max. breeding means little me in a 10 yr old gelding. sorry.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Lots of good ideas here, thank you. I'd say he has quite a lot of potential for dressage if I can sort the nap out - he gets really worried in the school and that's when it most often appears. He stops and stamps/paws which isn't too bad when you're out but digs big holes in the school! He is getting better though and if I can catch his attention early on he'll work quite well. I'll have to put my brave pants on to try him to a fence - haven't jumped for a lot of years.... maybe it would be fun though.
Still interested in prices for him, whichever option is being recommended.

I appreciate I havent tried to horse shop in current times, but I wouldn't pay more than £2k for either a project or a nappy hacking horse, particularly one of his age.

If you could get hacking miles on him (in company and solo) and he was proven bombproof, good on roads and good in open spaces, then you could ask more - but if he remains a bit nappy, or turns out to be spooky or not 100% in traffic then I think around the £2K mark assuming he's sound and there's no reason for his behaviour shown.

I'm sure he's a lovely, lovely horse but the problem (for me) is that on paper a two year gap for a ten year old doesn't sound great for a horse that sounds a bit sensitive and still only has 'potential' rather than proven form as either a low level all rounder or established happy hacker. Honestly, at ten, I'd expect a horse for sale for any non-project money, to have either fulfilled or be proven to be on it's way to fulfilling it's potential.

Like I say, he's probably a lovely horse but may not command a high market price. I of course, could be well out in my estimations!

 

[chaps89]

There are people out there who would pay a premium for a horse who is enjoyable and safe to hack.
Personally I'd love something like him, I like a bit of a project and enjoy schooling on but hacking is what I love so having something safe, forward who enjoys going out new places as a starting point would be perfect.
Does he box up and travel then hack ok in new places? Can you get him onto some sort of sponsored/pleasure/hunt ride at all? Can you really put him through his paces with traffic/scary situations to confirm how 'bombproof' he is (important if his main job is hacking)?
Pre-Covid times I'd expect to pay approx £3-4k for a fun, safe enjoyable hack so long as the nap is manageable and he's a generally nice horse to have around, no vices or quirks. From what I can tell in the current market, horses seem to be fetching 50-100% above their normal price.

 

[ihatework]

And the OPs had him over a year and if he were an obliging type I would completely expect to have solved the napping issue and have had him capable of a reasonable prelim.

In this silly market that doesn’t mean someone won’t buy him for more than he is worth, but I’d advise you protect yourself against comeback by putting in writing any issues, because a more novice buyer will just jump in without hearing what you are saying

 

[Rowreach]

What I'm reading is that he's 100% as a hack, but in particular circumstances in the school he stops and paws the ground (anxiety/insecurity), which is a long way removed from napping in any other form.

There are loads of people out there who are good, experienced riders who want a fabulous hacking horse and are perfectly capable of working through what the OP is describing. I wouldn't underestimate the value of a good hack, when there's plenty of expensive horses out there that you can't ride outside of an arena.

Let's not forget too that there is no opportunity atm for getting horses out competing, and I wouldn't count on there being much going on next year either.

OP I'd test the water at about £4.5k, be up front about the quirks, and see what interest there is.

 

[cauda equina]

Could you find out what he's like out hunting? If he's sensible that would give him a much wider appeal

 

[SusieT]

There are lots of super hacks I would pay more for - unfortunately in my experience horses like the OP describe are not often the perfect hackers or quality hackers we think of when we think of an 'expensive' hack - who are responsive, sensible and forward.
Often the ten year olds who cant canter in the school and have a bad habit have a reason for it, or are poorly conformed/poor paces etc and a bit wooden to ride, not saying yours is OP but most horses described as you have are not premium budget horses ime.
More miles on, fun rides, hunting etc and thats another story

 

[Littlewills]

I dont like to mention it, but a warmblood with issues with anxiety and not cantering is a prime candidate for PSSM2 so I'd want to rule that out first although they will usually still pass a vetting with it undiagnosed and treated sadly

 

[RHM]

I personally would price him at £3.5-4K mark as he stands. The best way to increase his value in my opinion is :
A - get him completely bombproof out hacking and I mean stick your granny on levels!
B - get him hunting
C - get him experience in your chosen discipline. (Quite difficult at the moment!)

Personally if he was mine I would trust him with someone who is an experienced hunter and get some miles on him. I have recently bought a mare, ISH, very well bred but not exceptionally talented- RC level horse, with melanomas. And she was advertised for £7k because she was an exceptional hunter (i did do some serious haggling but still!)