Hello, I am currently looking at purchasing a project pony to ideally keep for around a year and resell. I have done this two times so far with great success. My ideal market for selling is the local show crowd, where people often have anywhere from low quality horses in the beginner divisions to very nice horses in the bigger divisions. The pony I am looking at has a very large and noticeable scar that stretches around the front half of its fetlock. The injury was caused from barbed wire but is superficial only. My questions is: should the pony vet sound, would a large and noticeable scar influence your decision to purchase a horse that would likely stay on the local show circuit? The price is very reasonable (less than 2k) and the pony is very cute and a great mover.
Thanks!
It wouldn’t bother me at all. As a matter of fact, my horse has a very similar scar and he had it when I bought him.
It would only factor in if I were looking for the last straw to clinch my rationale to decline the pony.
Not at all. Now, if there was lameness in that same area, different answer, but not a superficial scar.
If you are buying to sell later, to question anything like that as a negative may be a valid concern.
Saying that, our old horse, that passed on healthy and sound at 30 from a misstep out to pasture, that affected his knee, had one such big scar all his life, from an accident that happened as a yearling.
As long as your vet certifies that it is superficial and of no consequence to his soundness, you should be ok.
In an ideal world, what would you hope for as a resale price?
My mare has a large scar from coronet down onto hoof on a back foot- foal injury not dealt with. I bought her as a 3 yo, never been lame, and I touch it up with shoe polish for shows! Certainly did not affect my decision to buy, I am very glad I did.
To buy for myself, no. To buy as a re-sale, possibly.
A gate injury caused one of mine to have a 4-6 inch Nike swoop symbol scar on his side. He went on to be second in conformation out of 12-15 at Devon as a 2 year old and sold in the mid 5 figures.
He’s still competing with his owner. He’s so stunning and a great mover (my profile pic).
My boy was pasture raised and he looks like he was definitely low man on the totem pole. It didn’t deter me from buying him.
If it did, I wouldn’t have bought my new horse (and he wasn’t cheap!). His back legs were covered in scars from the fetlocks up to the hocks, and he has a nasty an noticeable scar on his mouth. I just use the horse spray paint on his back legs when I show to cover them up. Lots of people comment on his mouth, but it doesn’t affect him at all.
nope 
my guy has more scars than markings… one of them looks like a jelly fish.
if they are superficial, it is not a big deal.
My horse had a still-healing injury that was clearly going to scar when I bought him, so a healed scar on a horse that has been in work/sound with it would not be a huge concern.
However, on a resale horse I think it’s fair to expect that the scar is going to get some scrutiny. Most people understand accidents happen; they are going to want to reassure themselves that the scar was from an accident and is not a flag that the horse lacks self preservation.
Not at all, if the pony will be a kid’s pony. Temperment is crucial for reselling a pony, since it can be hard to find a really good pony rider if the pony needs one. If the pony will pack the kid around and get a ribbon on the flat, it has a job for life, warts and all.
^^^^^ This.
For a great child’s pony, It wouldn’t bother me at all.
For a personal horse, Yes. The story of the injury would interest me but I’d likely take a very careful look at the scar and how it might have gotten there. Might make some difference in what I look for in a PPE.
For a “sale horse,” Hell Yes! Here the issue not my standards but the standards of a potential buyer. The scar is going to mean a discount in the price I get; that means I have to plan for a discount in what I’ll pay.
The world is awash in horses right now; I’d likely pass rather than accept the risk of getting stuck with, literally, “damaged goods.”
G.
I guess I am the lone wolf with No because if I have read correctly this is a project pony whose market appears to be most likely entry level or beginner horse owners… they most likely will not understand the injury factor of a horse, it would be sort of like looking at used car someone has taken a knife to driver’s seat… there are a lot of undamaged ones to buy.
One of the best horses I ever owned had a large disfiguring scar on the front of her right front from a wire accident. She had it when I bought her and she never took an unsound step. So no, a scar would not scare me away.
When I purchased him as a coming 3 year old, my guy had (has) a 3-4 inch diagonal scar on his left fore pastern and a rather ugly scarred knot with radiating lines on his left hind cannon. I just had the vet doing the PPE confirm that they were superficial. The purchase price was not any lower because of the scarring. He’s 11 now, they’ve never been a issue.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;8163964]
For a personal horse, Yes. The story of the injury would interest me but I’d likely take a very careful look at the scar and how it might have gotten there. Might make some difference in what I look for in a PPE.
For a “sale horse,” Hell Yes! Here the issue not my standards but the standards of a potential buyer. The scar is going to mean a discount in the price I get; that means I have to plan for a discount in what I’ll pay.[/QUOTE]
I tend to agree with this. Let us remember… there are scars, and then there are SCARS. A big, ugly one absolutely can affect resale potential, particularly in a show horse prospect. Smaller ones are usually no big deal.
I once had an exceptionally attractive (and sound) young horse for sale with an old, ugly, and large scar down one hind leg. Some prospective buyers were scared of it, and others used it as an argument for a lower price. It’s something to factor in for resale projects.
