The horse is close, but logistically a nightmare because it’s across the border in Canada. Since the border is closed, I actually couldn’t go and see the horse so I decided to vet it solely off of video.
When I saw the ad it was for $15k and I considered that bargain basement for a young going Prelim horse. $5k would have set off the alarm bells, you never see that from the reputable dealers unless it’s straight off the track. I think it might have been imported too? To me $15k is easily half price.
Still a good deal but to me not crazy if the horse is a little tough or crummy in dressage or a bit greener for its age. IIRC it was a TB and they also go for less. But yeah a good deal.
My old trainer had a prelim horse that was a tough ride, kind of needed a pro, and topped out at prelim. WB mare. She didn’t sell for $20k and she ended up staying. So $15k seems like a good deal but not a nuts one.
I would say a preliminary horse selling for $15k is probably a harder ride, tops out out prelim or may have soundness issues. Most preliminary horses go for mid to high fives. If fancier and can go higher than prelim, high fives, low six.
I bought a 3 YO unraced TB the week before MD shut down. Maybe not ideal timing, but she was a good deal on a lovely young horse who needs some time to grow up anyway, so a couple of months chilling and eating grass isn’t the worst thing in the world for her. If I’d been shopping for something a little more going, I’d probably be regretting the decision a bit, because I’d be wanting to do more with it.
i have seen a lot of ads on FB for lower-end or back-burner types. I think most with the means to hang on til the market is better are doing it.
I was looking for a horse pre-Pandemic with little success (too expensive or too green) in my budget of under $25K for a 2-2’6" packer hunter type. And I haven’t seen prices get any lower at all in my area (NJ) perhaps because it’s a state where there is still plenty of money? I’ve even contacted trainers about horses for lease and they haven’t even replied. So, post and pre Pandemic are looking pretty much the same to me!
I think there a lot of folks buying right now, and not just OTTB’s.
What’s really interesting (for me) is seeing how the market is still reflecting the desires of the buyers. You still have trouble with smaller horses, chestnut mares etc, but the fabulous moving tall young horses are running out the door in a hurry. A particularly nice OTTB sold in Northern California the other day inside of 12 hours for $6k.
Here’s his jog video so you can see why… and he’s barefoot in this.
https://www.facebook.com/reina.e.gonzalez1/posts/10218912069566974
Overall I think this is a very valuable moment for sellers to look hard at what the market is doing and why. Where can you improve your sales techniques and what mistakes are others making that you can avoid.
Em
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If you are seeing $15k USD then it’s almost $25k CAND. That’s a decent nice horse in Canada where prices tend to be lower than some American areas anyhow.
As far as prices on OTTB, the race tracks are shut down and trainers are taking financial beating so there may be more prospects out there soon.
Different horse. This one was in Virginia, and if I’m remembering correctly, it was Irish something-or-other.
ETA: Found it. The one I saw was an 8 yr old tb with two prelims and it sold. Same seller just listed an 8 yr old Irish horse with prelim experience for lower 5s.
It was a well priced horse but hardly a fire sale the way some people are suggesting. $15k for an 8 year old TB going prelim that might have vetting issues/not be everyone’s ride/is maxed out at that level/has some performance limitations is a good price and a great horse for someone but hardly Sapphire being sold by the pound. I think that was a good seller understanding the market and pricing the horse to move but hardly a sign that prices have plummeted generally.
I am in Delaware and specialize in Ottb’s. We are still selling horses very well. I would say the volume is slightly down from normal but horses are still flying off the market. I can’t keep the big fancy geldings in my barn for more than a week right now. All are sight unseen purchases most with vettings being done and horses shipping all across the country.
I have NOT found more horses being sold off the track or prices being cheaper for horses at the track. None of us who do Tb resales have found that to be the case. I think most people at the track have held onto the horses to keep their day rate if they can.
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TBs running prelim generally do not go for that much less (unless issue)…30-40K is not uncommon. 15K is even cheap for a training level horse. I generally find that once you have them at FEI levels…the cost difference between a WB and TB is a lot less. And if you are selling something that is aimed to go higher…being a full or almost full TB is considered an advantage…especially if they are decent on the flat.
But for the OP…I’ve not been trying to sell as most of my horses. Most are in the 5+ figure range. And that range doesn’t usually sell without people seeing in person…and I don’t need to fire sell my horses, I’m fine hanging on to them for a while. Granted…I’ve bought young stock off a video for low 5 figures…but most people are not willing to do that. Then doing a PPE is also more complicated. But some horses do seem to be selling. I’ve seen a lot of very nice OTTBs that I would have bought if I had room. And yeah, i would have bought off a video and not in person.
I started my search recently as well. Have seen some, but too far away. Really would like to stay within 4 hours of my location. I am also a new Mom, so flying and extensive travel is not going to work. What websites are you using to find sale horses?
Anyone have suggestions on websites for finding horses for sale? I just cannot find any near me.
In the past few years I have really not had any luck outside of facebook. I HATE FB but it’s where people list horses nowadays. Lots of horse sale groups are geographic but many are nationwide/wordwide. i joined a bunch and just check regularly.
I acquired 2 horses since the pandemic started.
I think the market is TIGHT. Horse are selling and selling FAST for good prices. I don’t think sales are at all depressed. I think perhaps some people are holding horses off the market so inventory is a little down and that is adding to the brisk sales. But I don’t see a significant amount of “fire sale activity.”
For the one horse I was specifically looking for the type of horse that might have been a lesson horse in a program that was shutting down. I could not find that for love or money. I needed one for my farmette to mostly be a companion but also be a practice horse type.
I ended up buying one nice greenish show type horse for exactly what that horse would have cost at this time the year prior, from a well known trainer (consignment barn but this happened to be a horse the trainer owned). I have seen her sell many horses so I can confirm this one was priced basically as it would have been but for the pandemic. The sun shines out of her ass, but that is neither here nor there to the topic of this thread. I do just ADORE her.
I got a second one for the practice horse type from a private seller. Her reasons for selling were 100% unrelated to the pandemic.
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A lot will depend on the quality and level of horse you are looking for. There are some great groups on Facebook. Good sales websites include bigeq.com, exchangehunterjumper.com, and warmblood-sales.com.
I purchased a wonderful new guy at the end of June! He was about an hour from me 
The market was tight - lots of buyers looking at the same few horses - and prices were solid.
The horses I looked at were all word of mouth, personal connections through Facebook (friend’s walls, not public pages), Facebook groups, and Warmblood-Sales.
Market is pretty hot in Ontario. I think people are going to the office less so have more time to get to know a new mount.
