I am curious what people have paid and are paying for endurance horses. How much does a horse cost who has done a few 25 milers, will pass a vetting, and carry the average ability rider ? Where are these horses advertised ? What qualities up the value and make one endurance horse more valuable than another (outside of a stellar comp record) ? Do most people create their own or buy one with some experience ? Thanks in advance for the advice !
mine have been from free to $5000. I prefer to start my own from the initial training to competition. Years ago, I used to pick up arabs at the auction, train and resell which I loved doing, now I just ride my own–and an occasional training/conditioning horse for a friend. Have you checked out the classifieds at endurance.net? Craigslist? contacted endurance riders in your state? Trust me, there’s lots of lovely prospects for you out there, most good ones are sold word of mouth, you just need to get your wish list out there so people know about you. I would assume you could get a nice horse that’s done some rides for $2000-$2500 (and of course up from there) and a project or inexperienced horse for next to nothing
The very definition of the breed…Arab, is endurance. No problem with 25 miles…it comes with the breed. I would look for tractability…or experience…for you own pleasure during the ride…lol, they love to go. Never knew one that didn’t…altho, I ‘guess’ there are some out there that don’t?
You can get them at all prices…but you just need to test drive to see what fits. remember, a few rides trains them, too. get with a buddy…you’ll do fine.
good luck, and happy trails!
$1,200 to $500,000 up to 1 million or more if you have a brilliant winning horse that catches the eye of Dubai.
How much does a horse cost who has done a few 25 milers, will pass a vetting, and carry the average ability rider ?
$3,000
Where are these horses advertised ?
Ridecamp, AERC magazine, endurance training websites, endurance breeders websites.
What qualities up the value and make one endurance horse more valuable than another (outside of a stellar comp record) ?
Attitude, ability to take care of itself, soundness, smooth effortless gaits with no interference, bidability, desire to get in front and stay in front but still be rateable by the rider.
Do most people create their own or buy one with some experience ?
Most people start out with what they have in the stable and learn on that horse. Once experienced, they look for a horse that has the ability and conformation and drive to win, or top ten.
Thanks in advance for the advice !
Welcome.
I keep thinking that some day I’ll actually buy a horse, already started by someone else, that is ready to start competing. It’s a dream that never seems to happen! I keep rescuing young unbroke horses, usually cost me in the $500-$600 range, say it’s only until I can find them a good home and find myself riding them. It’s very hard for me to sell horses anymore. It’s a good thing I have such a small place or I’d be very horse poor.
In this area, East Coast, MD/VA area, a sound endurance horse that has begun competing is going to cost closer to $5000. An untested one can run cheaper. Heck, a local Arabian racing facility is asking $5000-$6500 for it off the track horses and they’ve never seen a trail.
Prices in other area’s of the country can be significantly lower.
Bonnie
I go to Endurance.net classifieds and wish I had a few thousand to spend on one of the beauties advertised there. There are lots of horses with the expirience. They can be a little pricey sometimes, but sometimes you come across a deal. If anything it helps you to know what certain attributes you really need and what that is going to cost you. Good Luck!!
Endurance Horse Prices
This is making my wife really happy. I told her that this means my Endurance horses are worth more money than she thought. So if I die she can sell them and rake in the big bucks.
If LD horses are worth close to $5,000, what would a Tevis and Old Dominion 100 horse bring? Of course I would have to be 6 feet under ground and cold before we sold Piper, or General Lee, (who may get to do his first 100 this year)
But she can dream:-)
Paul N. Sidio
Still alive and kicking in…
Spokane MO
I have a few you can borrow Bonnie... we'll have to compare schedules and plan on doing a Sunday ride
…Im off every other… and in Harrisburg, Pa. area.:D:D
Does ectra still hold the rides in the Michaux?
[QUOTE=baldfaceboyz;4648139]
I am curious what people have paid and are paying for endurance horses. How much does a horse cost who has done a few 25 milers, will pass a vetting, and carry the average ability rider ? Where are these horses advertised ? What qualities up the value and make one endurance horse more valuable than another (outside of a stellar comp record) ? Do most people create their own or buy one with some experience ? Thanks in advance for the advice ![/QUOTE]
For a horse with that criteria, expect to pay anywhere from $3000 to $10000, just depending on the seller’s situation, the horse’s experience and training, etc.
Let me preface my post by saying I know nothing about endurance. I would like to learn though.
I know there was a Paso advertised to have finished Tevis this year, they had him priced at $10,000.
For a proven, sound, experienced horse that doesn’t sound bad for a person that wants to take up endurance. It is certainly not priced for an investor/trainer owner to by & sell for a profit.
Since I think it is the rare Paso that can do Tevis, that price is a bit higher than what I would expect the average mid-pack arab to go for at the same level.
I have a 100 miler horse and I paid $1800 for a broke, broodmare history, race back ground (but never raced) but didn’t ahve any real skills. But she had a good heart. If I sold her now, I would probably ask for 5K, but she’s worth closer to 3K (and that’s with 6 months of dressage training on her in addition to being a bomb safe trail, endurance mount who can do 100 miles).
Experience is not necessarily a plus for an endurance horse. You really ahve to consider wear and tear. I like buying a mature horse (7-9 years old) who is all grown up and ready for a job, but wasn’t used much, perferably pasture raised. I like the race horses - they get exposed to so much - and even better if they never raced! LOL. They also weren’t spoiled too much as youngsters and they are ready for a human-horse relationship without a lot of the baggage that comes with a horse that was someone’s “darling”.
BTW - the sale prices I list are speculative only! I have absolutely no plans on selling my mare, after all she is my darling 
Brightskyfarm,
How ya doin? I’m just now getting back to riding after all the snow. One of the problems down here is all the pine trees that fell across the trails and forest roads because of the heavy snow. A group of us locals took a couple of hours on Sun to do some clearing. It took 2 hours to slog along 1.5 miles of gravel road and clear the pines!!! it’s going to be months before I have decent trails to ride again.
No, the Michaux CTR hasn’t been held for years. The Kemerers put on endurance rides in the Mont Alto area of south Michaux Forest for several years but they used a field owned by the local college for their base camp and the college decided to build soccer fields on it. So far the ride managers haven’t been able to find another site for a camp. South Michaux is really great riding and there is a couple of places to camp down there. I haven’t ridden in North Michaux since I came up to your place years ago.
Thanks, 've been offered the loan of horses to use for endurance but I will only keep two on my itty bitty place. I love them both dearly, it’s very hard for me to part with horses anymore. Maybe someday I’ll find the right person of family to loan Mighty Mouse to (never sell). He really should have a lighter rider than me and would be a great kids horse, I just don’t have any kids.
I’ll let you know when I’m finally ready to head up to Michaux!
Bonnie S.
