Looking for more information on equine appraisals. Mainly, how many horses do you evaluate a month? How long does an appraisal and research take you? Do you see the horse in perspn or work totally online? What do you charge (or give a range)? What do you think is the general level of demand for it?
Thanks for any info!
Search for old threads n this topic. IIRC, there is not much of a market for this work.
That was my gut feeling on it, but didn’t know if it had picked up any recently.
Thanks DarkBayUnicorn. I can certainly answer your questions Glyphica. This question seems to come up every few years so I will copy and paste some of my past responses. If someone asks me a question, they don’t always like the answer I give as I don’t sugar coat things.
Each appraisal is different depending on the circumstances. A good appraiser will look at all information available in regards to a horse. This includes researching bloodlines (if available), assessing conformation and movement, analyzing show records and money won, training history, veterinary history (if available), temperament, breeding history (for mares and stallions), reviewing show videos, etc. What often takes the most time is researching other similar horses that have already been sold in the market. These “comparables” are used to help determine the Fair Market Value of the horse - this is the highest price, estimated in terms of money, that an informed buyer would pay for a particular horse on any given day. A good equine appraiser will often spend a minimum of 10 hours per horse before finalizing their report. Turn around time for an appraisal depends on the appraiser, how busy they are, the complexity of the case and many other factors. Most appraisers advertise that they are able to get an appraisal report done within one to two weeks. Some appraisers advertise longer so it is important to ask.
Be forewarned that not all equine appraisers are created equal. I have seen appraisers offer their services for $50 and others for $1,200. I have witnessed appraisers doing inadequate reports that result in a one page letter stating the value of the animal. As a comparison, most of my equine appraisals are a minimum of 20 pages. A good appraiser puts a lot of time and work into each appraisal.
If an appraisal is needed for a dispute or a lawsuit, in which there is a chance it may go to court, it is in client’s best interest to hire an appraiser who will come out and see the horse in person. In some situations, an onsite inspection may not be necessary but the client would need to speak with their attorney first.
In regards to horse appraisals, it’s critical to understand the current equine market, the overall economy and understand the value of the horse you are appraising. If someone with a Prix St. George dressage horse contacts you, will you be able to value them appropriately? Will you be able to go through show records and video tape and determine what the value should be? Will you know what a proper tempi change or pirouette should look like? What if it is a western pleasure horse that needs a valuation or a Thoroughbred breeding stallion? What about a 3’6" hunter or a cutting horse?
Would you have the confidence to sit on a witness stand and argue the valuation you put on a horse and explain why to the court? And when the opposing counsel asks for your credentials and what makes you an expert to testify to your valuation, what you are going to say? Could you confidently argue your valuation in mediation if the opposing counsel hired their own equine appraiser who comes up with a different valuation?
I watch new appraisers hang up their shingles all the time. More often than not, it seems to be a person with no solid background or credentials. Once they start their business, they eventually don’t understand why they are not getting any business. Unfortunately, equine appraisal certification courses/society’s do a real disservice to the industry by making people think they will make a ton of money doing this. Take a court cases for example. Who wants to hire a nobody and hope to win? I don’t mean to be harsh, just being honest. 
I have been a trainer and breeder for almost 30 years, agent, clinician, certified judge with both Equestrian Canada and USEF and on and on…and what clients tend to look for is credentials. Do I get work? Yes. But I have also spent a lifetime in the horse industry and built up my credentials and reputation to the point that I am “usable” in court cases and can be presented as a credible witness.
I find the largest part of equine appraisals is often doing court cases - disputes, lawsuits, etc. But again, those don’t happen every day. Many of them just tear your heart out and make you feel sorry for the horse. The attorney also expects you to drop everything you are doing and put all of your effort into the case at the last possible second. You have to have confidence and knowledge to argue your values in mediation, people skills and confidence in the court room and need to have a thick skin for many of the heartbreaking cases that walk through the door. You have to be able to work well under pressure, not shy away from conflict or being put on the spot and understand things like the current state of the economy, stock markets, etc. I do get used by the insurance companies…but for the most part, a horse has to pass away in order for my services to be used. Again, that doesn’t happen very often…and most insurance companies already have an equine appraiser on retainer, so can be almost impossible to get your foot in that door if it isn’t already.
Hopefully that answers your questions.
Daventry is 100% correct. The only people I’ve ever known to do this and be successful at it (TWO people) were established in their fields and picked it up as an aside to other things because people kept asking them in particular for it. One works exclusively with racing thoroughbreds and the other with halter Arabians. A lot of their work is for foreign investors, and they both worked as buyers and trainers for decades too. They both consult on court cases and insurance claims as well.
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