Need help pricing a horse

[dags]

As others have mentioned, don’t think you can guarantee this is a $20+k horse based on the given details. The PPE is probably a gamble and a quoted $4k/yr lease fee leads me to believe we are talking local quality here.

OP would have to be ready to take horse back, keep it in work, probably put it with a trainer, and take their chances on a finicky open market without a lot of cushion in their price. Then pay a commission. And they risk of getting stuck with the horse after all of that.

IOW, I would not be tossing the lease folks to the curb.

[luvmyhackney]

@Madison

Maybe they do treat him like precious gold, and that’s why OP was happy with the arrangement. Maximum value isn’t always the top priority. I took less than market value to sell mine to a kid he was perfect for and have never regretted that for one moment, I still love seeing how much she enjoys him 5 years later!

That’s a very strong possibility. I’m a little salty I looked for basically the OPs horse and couldn’t find it and my budget was 20k. And I do treat them like gold.

[FromTheGalaxy]

Just want to pipe up here and say that just because the leasees may have been paying well under fair market value for the lease doesn’t mean they were taking advantage of OP or that they cannot afford the horse. I was very lucky to be given a similar opportunity on a schoolmaster type and the owner was very negotiable on his lease fee because her biggest priority was a great home. I paid her $2k/year for 2 years for that horse, and he was treated like my own and received all the maintenance and care he could have ever needed. He is now retired with me at my personal farm. So I agree, that sometimes a good home is worth “losing money” on the sale/lease price, and often it’s all about who you know and who will vouch for you to be able to find these kinds of situations.

[CBoylen]

Sell the horse to them for 10k. If they are unwilling to pay this you can almost guarantee you can get it elsewhere regardless of all the variables that make me slightly skeptical of some of the appraisals here. “No effort” is a huge sales bonus to you.
If they aren’t willing to pay it and you don’t want to pull it and put money into getting it sold, up your lease to 4K at the next renewal. Again, you are almost guaranteed to be able to duplicate it elsewhere if they pass, but it’s likely they will pay and then you are funded through that tricky 14-16 yo period where horses either retire or continue to go forever.
You throw big numbers out there and you are possibly on the hook to end up retiring this horse yourself.

[blondewithchrome]

This is great advice. Let’s say you price him at the low end of these estimates - $15k. They’ve already given you $4k of his price. Make it an even 10k and that’s a nice deal, all around!

[triplethreat]

Updating to say that I’ve asked for $15k and they are willing to pay.
For those who care, I bred this horse and am 100% willing to retire him. That was my original plan. I wouldn’t sell him to anyone else, however; there is a line of people ready to give him a home if he were available.
The lease fee was not based on his value, but rather a token of good will since I didn’t have a need for him and this family treats him soooo well. I know he’s happy and they will retire him when that time comes.
I htink these people got a steal of a deal and so do they.
Thank you all for your input!

[vxf111]

Sounds like a good result all around. It’s lovey when that happens!

[blondewithchrome]

Congrats OP! A happy ending and happy family is always such a nice outcome.

[Madison]

That’s a great outcome – there is value in feeling good about the situation, too, and knowing that your horse has a good match and a good home! It doesn’t have to be all monetary value to be a win!

[TatteredDaydreamer]

This is such a great outcome, thank you for updating us! It sounds like a fabulous home!

[luvmyhackney]

That’s amazing! So happy for you and your wonderful horse.

[candyappy]

@triplethreat

The first year was a free lease because COVID and then I asked them what they would be willing to give me yearly and they came back with $2k so they have paid me $4k so far in lease fees.

I seem to have a problem understanding how leases work in the horse world?

Why would the $$ they have paid to lease him the last 2 years be applied to his purchase price if the lease was not originated as a " lease to own" ?

Horse is valued at say $ 15k and they have paid $4k for the pleasure of leasing him these last 3 years but with that lease comes a risk of injury or sudden ( costly) maintenance issues due to use. To me you should be compensated for those years separate from a sales price?

Also their use of him has actually decreased his value by not riding him to his full abilities?

[findeight]

Leases in the horse world are not much different then anywhere else. Its whatever both parties agree to when the lease is signed.

[BITSA]

@triplethreat

A horse I own has been on lease for three years and the folks who lease him want to purchase. I am agreeable but I don’t know what $ I should ask for. The horse is 14 and when I sent him on his way he was a solid adult hunter with a fantastic local record but isn’t really a top rated horse because he has to really gallop to get down the lines but he is honest and safe and jumps amazing from any distance and gets a top hack prize anywhere. In the last three years however he has been playing the role of babysitter of a timid teen and intermediate riding mom and hasn’t jumped over 2’6" so I know his value has decreased. What would you think I should ask for, keeping in mind that this is where he belongs and that I’m not doing it to make $$. Just want to get a reasonable amount for the horse.

If you are the west coast, that hose is 30k-40k easy.

[findeight]

Maybe, if marketed to the right demographic after a pro tune up and if it will PPE. But OP may not be in an area where buyers will pay that and may prefer a known to be caring home.

[NoHopeNoScope]

You remind me of my horse’s former owners. I was 14, and he was 9, when they “free” leased him to me. We paid board/vet/farrier etc, but no lease fee. My parents bought him for me when I was 15 for under $25k. He was worth so much more and took me from a 3 foot children’s hunter rider to the Junior/AO jumpers—he was the coolest/kindest/best horse a kid could ever want. In his mid teens, he’d go from schooling 1.40 with me at home to jumping 2 feet with my mom the next day as she learned how to ride. He’s turning 28 in the Spring, and he is my entire world. His former owners made the right choice selling him to me, and I am sure you did too. That girl will love that horse with her whole heart

[blondewithchrome]

@candyappy

Horse is valued at say $ 15k and they have paid $4k for the pleasure of leasing him these last 3 years but with that lease comes a risk of injury or sudden ( costly) maintenance issues due to use. To me you should be compensated for those years separate from a sales price?

Sure, if OP was looking to make money on the sale. She instead just wants him to go to them and get a fair deal in her mind. I have sold horses to leasers and just counted their lease fee as a payment towards the full price because I liked the kid and the horse was in excellent care. Even if the deal wasn’t written as lease to buy, seller can decide to count the pervious lease fees toward price, or not! Totally her call.

[Weezer]

What a great outcome! I love that you bred the horse and have guided him to a loving home that will hopefully be his forever home. We should all be so vigilant about respecting the lives we take charge of.

[candyappy]

@blondewithchrome

Sure, if OP was looking to make money on the sale. She instead just wants him to go to them and get a fair deal in her mind. I have sold horses to leasers and just counted their lease fee as a payment towards the full price because I liked the kid and the horse was in excellent care. Even if the deal wasn’t written as lease to buy, seller can decide to count the pervious lease fees toward price, or not! Totally her call.

I never said it wasn’t her call?

I was just trying to figure out how people on here explain leases and selling as it seems to be different in every thread I see it on?

I see she did get that price for the horse so that is good.

[blondewithchrome]

You asked why the money would have been applied to the purchase price if they lease hadn’t been originated as “lease to own” and i was simply providing a perspective that the OP can decide to apply the money if she felt like it. Doesn’t really matter what the lease says if she decides to sell them the horse and therefore end/not renew the lease.

Sales and leases are really never one size fits all, so you see all kinds of things happen - just sharing one answer to your question! I agree, there are many different approaches to leases and sales - the horse world is a strange beast for sure.