Thought this post by Bonnie Navin on FB was interesting and well said without getting snarky (as some similar posts do).
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CS3qca779/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Copy-pasted:
HOW MUCH IS A HORSE REALLY WORTH IN 2025?
(Spoiler: It’s usually more than you want to spend and less than the seller swears it is.)
I get asked all the time to look over horse sale or lease contracts—sometimes as a favor, sometimes because people suspect I have “insider knowledge” from years of seeing deals cross my desk. They’re not wrong. I have, in fact, read enough contracts to wallpaper an indoor arena.
The conversation usually goes something like this:
Buyer: “This horse is such a bargain.”
Seller: “You’ll never find a deal like this again.”
And then… out come the car-salesman tactics. “We have so many people waiting in line for this horse.” Translation: If you don’t hand over the check before the pre-purchase exam, we’ll just give it to someone who won’t ask questions.
Even better? Watching someone insist their horse is worth six figures… right up until the exact same type of horse is for sale in someone else’s barn. Suddenly, that one’s “overpriced.”
The truth? A horse is worth exactly what a willing buyer will pay on that particular Tuesday. Not Monday. Not Wednesday. Tuesday.
What started this topic today was the avalanche of “ISO” (In Search Of) ads I keep seeing:
ISO 3’ show hunter, wins the hack, zero quirks, safe for a child, vet perfect. Budget: $35,000.
That’s like posting: ISO new Bentley. Budget: $3,500. Must include heated seats, chauffeur, and free gas for life.
Parents are especially guilty of this—bless them. They’re out there “helping” their kids find the perfect mount without realizing they’re wasting not only their time, but the sellers’, the trainers’, and probably the poor horse’s time, too.
Here’s a quick 2025 reality check:
A nice, sound, ribbon-getting 3’ horse (no quirks, passes the vet) starts at $75,000. Add “hack winner” or “jumps a 10” and you’re into the $125,000–$250,000 range for 3’3”.
The 3’6” division? $250,000–$500,000. From there, you might see prices drop if you factor in: questionable vetting, quirks, special-care requirements, or an age where the horse’s best party tricks involve napping in the sun.
Bombproof ponies and 2’6” packers? Worth their weight in gold. Literally. That means $50,000–$100,000 for the one that wins with your kid, your grandmother, and your neighbor’s cousin on board.
Jumpers? Oh, the wish lists here are magical:
ISO competitive, rideable, junior-safe 1.40m horse. Budget: $50,000.
Right. And I’d also like a beach house in Malibu for $200/month.
Realistically, a solid 1.25m horse for a junior or amateur starts at $125,000. A legitimate, safe 1.40m? You’re north of $350,000—and that’s if you can find one.
Sure, there are “deals.” Sometimes you can get a great horse if you’re willing to:
Buy something that’s stepping down a division.
Adopt one with a few quirks you can live with.
Rehab something that’s a little… crispy in the brain.
But if you’re an agent, your job is to protect your client’s wallet. That means finding the right horse and negotiating the best price. “I’m not here to negotiate” isn’t an acceptable line—it’s literally the job description.
So yes, I laugh when I see the “caviar taste on a bologna budget” ads. And no, the good horses are not being passed around for trial rides like a plate of cookies at Pony Club.
Still, I read them all. Because at the end of the day, horse shopping is equal parts business, heartbreak… and entertainment.
. For some, this is discouraging and surprising when the hunter ring is often the one where people more commonly expect to be outclassed and outnumbered by big spenders every time.