Is it just me or is the horse sale market doing really well? I see a lot of high priced horses.
Agreed. Trying to buy a horse, and it seems like prices across the board have gone up by several grand.
Its a good thing though, so not complaining too much :lol:
I would be curious on takes on this as well. I’ve been in the market for a green prospect to do just the local 3ft for over a year and a lot of what we are seeing (granted for a lower budget) is priced on the high end for what it is. I also know a kid looking for a made local 3 ft horse with an okay budget that can’t even find anything to try.
Well, the ask in the ad might not be what they sell for and many more are looking to lease then ever, lease price being based on sale price. But the better offerings (finished horse, sound, showrecord) seem to be moving pretty well at whatever unpublished price the the parties agree to. Don’t seem to be sitting on the market as long.
It’s spring. Prices go up in spring and then down in late fall/ winter.
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Strong stock market + Strong Real Estate Market= Strong Horse Market. But there are deals out there, as scribbler points out timing of the year can be influencer. Kids aging out, going to college, winter coming creates better deals than “show season is starting”. Also if you can hit the big circuits right at the end there are horses that the owners may prefer not to continue to carry or ship home. Better deals in Ocala the first week in April than the first week in January.
It’s very much a sellers market right now. The influx of more show facilities that have made it possible for people to do rated shows year round all over the country I think has really contributed to the change. Now they all have rated show experience. It seems like the market for the $10-20k horse that could win locally and get around in a rated show and maybe get a low ribbon has all but disappeared. We have had a really hard time finding horses like that lately. Local shows in our area are getting few and far between (I live near WEC north) and everything now seems to be $30k+. It seems like the barrier to entry for a 2’6 horse here is now mid five figures, and I’ve competed against plenty of upper 5 and low 6 figures horses in the 2’6 hunters which is BANANAS. It’s gotten a little ridiculous. We see considerably higher prices on jumper ring prospects now too than we did 5 years ago. What’s interesting to note is we’ve also seen an uptick in the number of people looking for leases or leases with options to purchase now, I think that’s a reflection of prices getting so high people won’t plop that much money down unless they’re sure it’s a good fit. I know that’s how I feel about it. There’s been such a swing in preference towards leases and leases with options I’ve heard trainers complain about it also. Sorry the average adult ammy doesn’t have $50k sitting around to drop on a horse…(and then we turn around and complain about how expensive the industry has gotten…come on guys, duh).
At some point, the bubble will burst, and it will be interesting to see how the trainers who have had a nice time selling horses for high (and for some quite frankly inflated) prices fare when the market drops. I think a lot of people will struggle to sell horses when the market changes and suddenly no one will pay $50k for a 2’6 horse.
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Unless you are in Florida where they go up in winter and down in summer. Or near a major year round rated facility running year round that keeps prices more or less stationary year round.
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Yeah the 50k for a 2’6 horse blows my mind.
When I was looking for a 1.20-1.30 horse I had a budget of 40k and found several nice horses going around the 1.20s, locally at SHP / Thermal etc. I feel like the price has doubled and this was 5ish years ago.
Whats the going rate for a 3’6 horse now a days? Leasing isn’t an option for me since I live in the middle of no where, I wouldn’t need sometimes super duper ammunition friendly either.
Even around here market is picking up for ranch/rope/etc horses. There’s a huge auction every month and the top 10 sell for 30k plus. Whole different ballpark I guess.
I agree and don’t think it’s just a US thing. I think horse prices in Europe are up a bunch. I’m looking at a jumper prospect mare. She’s bred beautifully, has had one foal they sold well. Well bc of the foal, she was late in getting started and is extra green (secretly a plus in my book, but still). It will be a bit before she shows in young horse classes. Yeah they want 45K euros and they are not negotiating. I just do not think that’s what things looked like a couple years ago.
I can’t tell if it’s just that people are having to buy the genuinely scopey horses younger and younger bc the made horses are so expensive, or if the sport is getting bigger and demand is strong across the board.
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I’ll soon be in the market for a 3 - 5 year old 1.20/1.30 jumper prospect - no show experience or fancy bloodlines required - and have been told that my budget (low to mid/low 5s) isn’t enough, at least not in the U.S. It’s pretty disheartening.
It’s sad haha. Mine was US bred and a hunter reject, super duper scopey horse. Easily could of gone around local 1.35-1.40. He even had a bit of a show record in the 1.10s, was just moved up to the 1.20s.
There must be a big demand.
I’d be happy if I could jump around the 1.10s right now. I think my best bet for that route is getting 2 or 3 TBs, I’m always eyeing what Benchmark sport horses has.
Im also tempted to get a nice TB broodmare and breed my own, except DH doesn’t allow mares. Still a total shot in the dark breeding and I just feel like so much can go wrong.
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Totally sad! I’m super grateful for the horses I had when I was a junior (one of which I still have now). Based on the prices I’m seeing now, I agree the costs would be close to double today vs. 10-15 years ago. I’m sure there are a ton of really hardworking kids (and AAs) who are simply priced out from being competitive.
Anyway, you’re right that TBs could be a great option, esp. for the lower/mid levels! I have some friends with absolutely lovely TBs (including some that could pass for WBs). For a while I thought I might go this route, but I’m worried about injuries and find that - at least anecdotally - a lot of my friends’ OTTBs aren’t the easiest keepers. You also don’t see a ton of TBs jumping the big sticks these days, and while I’m sure that’s partially because TBs aren’t “in fashion” for the riders at that caliber, but if I’m going to dedicate all my time, energy, and money to one horse . . . I want the safest bet I can have. I’m sure there are 100 super fancy, sound, scopey, and easy-keeping TBs out there that could prove me wrong, but I’m still a bit wary (and at any rate, I wouldn’t trust myself to pick these out from the crowd).
Speaking of TBs, Benchmark just advertised a horse called “Erotic Kiss” and my barnmates and I were giggling over the name. This was followed by a TB advertised in another group called “Van Gogh’s Ear.”
Totally sad! I’m super grateful for the horses I had when I was a junior (one of which I still have now). Based on the prices I’m seeing now, I agree the costs would be close to double today vs. 10-15 years ago. I’m sure there are a ton of really hardworking kids (and AAs) who are simply priced out from being competitive.
Anyway, you’re right that TBs could be a great option, esp. for the lower/mid levels! I have some friends with absolutely lovely TBs (including some that could pass for WBs). For a while I thought I might go this route, but I’m worried about injuries and find that - at least anecdotally - a lot of my friends’ OTTBs aren’t the easiest keepers. You also don’t see a ton of TBs jumping the big sticks these days, and while I’m sure that’s partially because TBs aren’t “in fashion” for the riders at that caliber, but if I’m going to dedicate all my time, energy, and money to one horse . . . I want the safest bet I can have. I’m sure there are 100 super fancy, sound, scopey, and easy-keeping TBs out there that could prove me wrong, but I’m still a bit wary (and at any rate, I wouldn’t trust myself to pick these out from the crowd).
Speaking of TBs, Benchmark just advertised a horse called “Erotic Kiss” and my barnmates and I were giggling over the name. This was followed by a TB advertised in another group called “Van Gogh’s Ear.”
My fancy TB who doesn’t look like a TB and jumps with his knees to his nose, but he’s a total pyscho. I got him for a few hundred bucks, last year he went straight up and over on me. This was in front of my husband, like the 2nd time we all went riding together and I was like “here’s my super great awesome horse” I just remember the look of shock on his face, and on his horses face as we were straight up in the air. By the time I was back on my feet my horse has galloped from the bottom of the 30 acres to the top. This horse has a super duper clean vetting, clean x rays etc etc. So I’ve been in the boat of having not so fun horses to ride
I feel like you just never know what you’re going to get off the track, they can seem fine but aren’t and vice versa. I bought another that has the best brain ever, but not a drop of athleticism in him and he’s off and on sound. I can totally see skipping over some TBs unless they have a true proven record.
There’s a big farm a state over, that breeds some AQHA/appendix’s and they are all jumping around AA 1.20 courses. They have a big colt starting operation as well.
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That’s hilarious - no scope no hope, right? Glad it worked out in the end, at least w/ your first one!
Speaking of non-traditional breeds, I know some anglo arabs that have been very successful in the eventing world. Not sure if you see them in the H/J world much. Interesting about the quarter horses! I’m gonna do a google search for QH jumpers and see what I find.
There were 90 in the 1.30 jumpers in Wellington yesterday. Post WEF
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Since I was crazy enough to buy a horse as a resale project, I’m happy for the demand
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I think I am known on COTH as the crazy APHA/QH lady because I am always advocating for people to buy them has H/J horses. I am always running into ones with great conformation and skill for both jumpers and hunters. Many well put together QH/paints can easily do 1.20. They are usually awesome for Ammys too because they have great brains. I have known quite a few that kicked butt in the hunters, even A rated, but no one noticed they weren’t some sort of warmblood so it wasn’t talked about that they were an off breed.
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I am a huge fan of the (usually) insanely cheap racing appendix. They are well built and have a better brain than the average OTTB. I have one who’s 22 and still built like a mack truck and easily the most athletic horse I have ever owned. If you have decent contacts around the Weatherford TX area, it would be very easy to find one of these magical critters for next to nothing.
