Hi All,
Been in the AQHA a little over year, Daughter has been riding a lovely “novice” horse, but is ready to move into the youth division. Have a what we thought is a healthy budget to purchase a competitive youth horse. Trainer is telling us what we are looking for will cost 200,000 or more. Does this sound crazy to anyone else???
Nope. Good luck on your purchase of a new home you will never live in!
That’s a little crazy, in my opinion.
I’d easily expect 5 figures … but not 6.
Was just looking at an ad from someone I know for a very nice horse that has a lot of AQHA show points for $40,000 which I think is appropriately priced.
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At what level do you want to be competitive? An all-arounder is a very special horse, because it needs to be competitive in so many different things – each of which is pretty specialized. If you want one that is competitive at top shows like Congress and the World, I think the price sounds about right.
mid-5 figures might get you one that is competitive at smaller shows. It might do fewer events or be the kind that will only get an all around if you show in every single thing because it isn’t competitive at all in rail classes.
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$200K sounds right for someone who wants to be very successful at Congress or the Youth World, and wants to buy a horse they see already doing well at that level show. With considerable time spent hunting for a horse that is nice and will pass a PPE, $50 - 75K will get you an English or western competitive events horse, (not the winner in both) for a rider that has some skill at keeping a horse together without just pulling on it’s face, and can nail the pattern… This is for the equitation and skill events like trail, western riding or hunter hack. A top winning western pleasure or HUS horse will be more $$$, because they either have it or not, not much you can improve about their movement (although you can certainly ruin it).
fordtraktor was right, you can win an all-around by showing in EVERY class with a lesser horse, or buying a nicer horse and winning several large classes, and preserving your horse. AQHA is handing out (selling actually) trophies like water, so my opinion is that the all-around is not as big a deal as it used to be.
For your education, and peace of mind that you are being dealt with fairly, spend some time on the various Facebook horse sale pages, like Hunt Seat Horses Group, or Pleasurehorse.com. (the word ‘Group’ has replaced ‘sale’ in the title of those Facebook ‘horses for sale’ groups thanks to Mark Zukerberg). The really pricey horses never are advertised there, but sold trainer to trainer with lots of commissions paid. BE SURE YOU WRITE THE CHECK FOR THE HORSE DIRECTLY TO THE FORMER OWNER WITH THEIR NAME ON IT, and pay all commissions with separate checks. 10 - 15% is fair, split between all involved, not doubled… Be wary of a trainer that offers to handle the entire sale financial transactions.
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A still younger mare, say 6, with currently fashionable breeding that already has earned ROMs (if that’s what they are still doing) in multiple, different events that can be shown by a Youth could be 200k, a gelding will probably be less. Age, parentage and looks also effect that, And it depends on what events. For example if it’s primarily a more pattern or individual working class oriented type it might be a little less then the mostly rail, go around and look pretty classes. They do have to have points in something in a different category then their primary skill set but the primary division has the most effect on price.
Remember trainer will be getting a commission on finding something for you…most aren’t dishonest but more is better for them.
I should think you could find a nicely bred if not superstar lineage gelding under 100k capable of earning points in enough divisions to earn the All Around title. Especially if it has proven to be a successful point earning show horse but has not already earned the title, just needing points in something like Trail or Western Riding to go with the rail points. But if you want to buy a ready made All Around Youth champion horse it’s going to have a huge number of points and that, my friend, will cost you dearly.
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For a winning all around youth horse at the top levels? Easily 6 figures.
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You’ve gotten great input above. It all depends on the level you want to show at. For a local/ regional horse I would say $20-$50k (although this depends on where you are in the country). For a World/ Congress/ major circuit (i.e. Redbud, Big A, Sun, Silver Dollar, etc) champ you are easily looking at over $100k. A horse that has the look, the movement, the training, and the disposition to perform quickly at the top levels for a youth (since they usually only have a couple years to accomplish their goals and don’t have time to develop a prospect) is an expensive animal.
These horses are almost always brokered between trainers rather than advertised outright. This means lots of commissions. Be sure to clearly discuss with your trainer before you start looking what commissions he/she expects and what commissions you expect to have to pay to any other involved parties. You don’t want to be surprised by what anyone expects to be paid after you’ve found the perfect horse.
Good luck with your search!
Don’t forget that the horse has to fit the rider’s skills.
Are you sure your daughter is up to that level of competition, even if you buy the best horse out there?
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I hope I am dead wrong about this, but the $200K figure sounds a bit suspicious to me, unless you asked your trainer to find a horse capable of being in the top 10 at the Congress, Youth World, or be Circuit Class Champion at a major circuit. What raises my suspicion is that some generally successful regional trainers aspire to be seen as equals in the ‘BNT Club’ at the major shows, and buying a top horse for top dollar from one of them is a likely way to enter that circle. Hope that is not the case. If your trainer is already a BNT, then you have to decide if you wish to play at the level they wish to train at, i.e. $$$$ horses that are gifted and very easy to maintain. You should be able to find a really nice horse for less this time of year, as older youth are off to college, and Congress is coming up with a horde of horses for sale.
Thank you all for you inputs. Looking for one that can compete at the Youth World-NSBA etc. Most important be able to excel in trail and horsemanship.
Trail and Horsemanship are related as far as skills of the horse, so is Western Riding and that type of horse doesn’t have to be drop dead gorgeous like the go around the rail looking pretty classes. Horse that can do the more skill oriented classes generally prices somewhat more reasonably. Not cheap mind you but not 200k either. Unless it’s Reining, those get right up there.
$200,000 not a crazy price for a horse to qualify for the World Youth Show or NSBA etc. Don’t forget that it will likely cost you just as much (or more) for all the equipment, trainer, and entry fees hauling to shows to get you qualified to go to the World show etc.
The cost of the horse is just the tip of the ice berg.
Did your kid’s trainer statement that you needed a $200,000 horse was an offhand comment, not really applicable to where your kid is now, or did your trainer meant your kid is ready for that and that is what you need to consider spending for her to be competitive at the top, at that level?
To qualify to participate and go for the all around is not that hard.
You start getting into the pricier horses if you want to make it to the finals.
Even higher if you want to place well there.
Plus, you need to be with a top trainer and have a kid that is talented and passionate and with a terrific work ethic, the kind that gets up 2 hours early to ride, then go to school, do homework and then go ride some more hours, for some years.
Those are the ones that tend to be at the top.
That will be your competition.
A horse that can be competitive there is what you buy when your kid is up there already.
Yours may be, we don’t know.
If it is, I doubt you would be asking that question, you would know by now.
My concern, to buy that kind of horse and expect the kid to learn and ride up to being at the top on the merit of a stellar horse seems to be putting the cart before the horse?
There are not that many of those almost perfect horses, why they are so pricey and in great demand.
I would consider that question carefully, as I am sure you are, why you are asking.
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OP stated they want to compete at the Youth World-NSBA. Those are usually pretty pricey horses and it takes a lot of money to qualify to get to those competitions, not just the cost of the horse. It take hauling to a lot of shows to get points. You don’t always win, so no points, if you do and there are only a few competitors in a class, you can get as few as a 1/4 point. If you need 18 or 20 points to qualify for the World, that takes a lot of hauling to a lot of shows, unless you are lucky to be in an area where there are double and triple judged shows and you win a lot.
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Sure, that is right.
My question was more basic.
Is that wish to go compete at that level a bit like like many kids in English disciplines, wanting to go to the Olympics, or one that is now really competitive and needing more horse?
What is NSBA?
National Snaffle Bit Association
The horse pricing perimeters for the AQHA (largest breed association) is the same as Hunters or Dressage horses: If you shop for a winning hunter at Wellington WEF or at the Devon or Capital Challenge Horse shows, or for a Big Eq horse at the Maclay Finals, it will be more cost per quality than the same horse already winning in fly-over country with a talented regional trainer or amateur/junior owner with no national ambitions, but a horse with all the attributes to win in the big markets/circuits. The extent and depth of your trainer’s network and willingness to beat the bushes on your behalf makes the difference in cost for a top winning horse.
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dam, should have know that…getting into real money to be competitive there. But they pay good if you get a piece of it.
