Market for Older Successful Show Jumper

[mika0116]

I should shop in Canada then when I am ready! What province are you in?

I have many recent anecdotal barn mates and former barn mates paying about $15-25k for horses 18-21 who are comfortably jumping over 1m - higher if they’re still rocking around 1.10/1.15.

There is a horse at my current barn who is 29 still teaching WTC lessons. Horse jumped international GP level until 22ish. Another one who is 22 still doing the 1.10s at shows.

It is a crapshoot on their longevity, but at least where I am – a lease of a 1.0 / 1.10m jumper will run you $20-30k for the year anyway…

[BITSA]

The age might be tough on a sale, people want younger horses. I bought a 14 year old last year as a school master and he was considered “old”. I also bought him knowing I’d be the one to retire him, which hopefully any buyer you have will consider. It would make me nervous to sell a horse that age to someone who didn’t plan to retire him. I’d say 20k is not an unfair price depending on how he vets. Honestly, you may be able to lease him for 15k a year doing the 1.0-1.10 is he can be ridden by a kid.

[findeight]

@Mander

Plenty of people do off property leases in my area. I guess YMMV depending on your connections in the area

Sure they do. But, as I understand what OP has shared she does not want to lease this particular horse and have him return at regular intervals, possibly broken or used up. She does not have a trainer to supervise a leaser. Plus she is engaged and working on major lifestyle changes that sound like they involve children, blending a family maybe?

IMO contacting a former trainer and telling them she needs to move the horse is a good place to start. Horses like this that are not prime sale prospects often make great “ word of mouth” finds within a trainers network. Plus, trainer has suitable facilities to present a sale horse, may have more then one horse to show a buyer and can attract multiple potential buyers. Individual seller on private property will find both challenging.

Trainer can also school the horse back up so potential buyer can safely try him over fences. Horse will have a better chance at a good, useful life this way versus getting only a few tire kickers trying him on OPs property as OPs schedule permits. If they show up. Good luck with that.

[dags]

The lack of show record at that age will be the hurdle, because the show record is evidence that the 20 year old can still handle the rigors of training and showing. And even if you explain that the lack of a record was due to you and not him, putting a 20 y.o. back into training & showing after years of light work is still a gamble. You can’t know that he will hold up to the increased workload and all the variables that come with travelling and showing, and you’ll quickly spend a large percentage of his (potential) value just getting him back into the ring.

Leasing, while not what you really want to do, is probably the best answer. Two years of lease fees will net more cash than what you’re likely to get right now. At that point you’ve recouped enough that you can sell cheap to the bestest home that offers up a check. And if he really is a star, he’ll have a line of people ready to pick up his tab each year. Even 3 years at a very cheap 10k/yr would be a great return when compared to what you have standing in the field.

Or lease to purchase, so buyer can get him back in the ring and confirm he’ll hold up without the commitment. But flat out purchase, without spending the $$$$ to reestablish his show record, is a tough sell. People shopping that ~20k market just can’t afford to throw that cash away with a risky purchase that might wash up in 6 months.

[colorfan]

This is what I keep looking for, perhaps a bit older than prefer but horses don’t age the same.

[hoopoe]

As usual I am in agreement with findeight. I would get this horse back with a trainer and have them network a home. This horse sounds like a great deal for a child moving up to first horse off the pony or an AA wanting to step up to the jumper ring from hunter / Eq. A good trainer should be able to see the show record and recognize the potential of this nice horse.

Networking is likely to be your friend here and word of mouth about the availability should go far