Pony price - budgeting

[rugbygirl]

Hello! I’m hoping to get a budget figure for a pony I hope to purchase in the next 12-18 months.

Must be:
Well broke to drive single, but shown or competed is not important. Well broke meaning chimps could drive safely. Chimps.
Capable of being ridden by kids on a lunge line.
Sane. The sanest.
Sound for driving a few times a week arena and outdoor trails.
Suitability for very low level CDE with an adult driver

Prefer a mid sized pony 12-14hh. Could do a little smaller, but no VSE.

Do not require a fancy riding pony. Pony will not be ridden extensively, or at any kind of high level. Sane and kind, able to do pony rides.
Would prefer the pony be at least 7, likely much older.
Some maintenance is ok, but pony must be suitable to Alberta climate. Stall available, but not a heated barn. Dry lot may be doable.

I’m aware that the above description is a valuable pony indeed, so please don’t assume I’m trying to cheap out! I just want a ballpark figure so that I can set up a budget. I’ve never shopped for a pony, and there aren’t a huge number available locally for price comparison. I will likely hire an agent, but before I do that, I want my budget fairly solid and my timeline more concrete.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

[CERT]

It really depends on location and how long you are willing to look. You might want to figure in your travel costs to go see said pony and shipping.

I’ve personally never paid more than $3500 USD for a horse/pony, but I am also painfully aware that I have been super lucky in my finds and also have the skills to “tune-up” what I get in a reasonable amount of time without having to send off for training.

While any breed can have what you are looking for Fjords and Haflingers come to mind first. I’ve owned and worked with both as riding and driving animals. Both breeds have mote “sporty” bloodlines as well as “drafty” ones. Both are pretty hardy ponies originally bred in cold climates (Norway and Alpine Austria).

I know there are a few Fjord breeders in Montana and Alberta:
Canadian Fjord Horse Association Breeder listing by state:
http://www.cfha.org/farmdirectory.html
Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry (USA organization) Breeder Directory by farm name:
http://www.nfhr.com/catalog/index.php?farmdir=1

Canadian Haflinger farms:
http://www.haflinger.ca/about-us/member-farms/

USA Haflinger farms:
http://haflingerhorse.com/new-to-haflingers/member-farms/

While the breeders may not have exactly what you are looking for (depending on if they sell mostly young stock or mature, trained animals), but they should be able to help point you in the right direction.

It sounds like you have a really good idea of what you are looking for, which helps immensely. My shoot-in-the-dark figure would be around $5000 and probably less if you don’t care about a show record. Someone closer to your area would have a better guess.

[rugbygirl]

I am willing to ship, I’d probably not go look in person though. It depends. I assumed I’d end up in the US, even with a crummy exchange rate, I think there’s a lot more for sale with the skills I’m looking for.

I love Fjords, but they are a bit big for this particular purchase. A smaller/lighter Haffie would fit the bill.

The key criterion is well broke to drive. Chimps. That’s my skill and confidence level.

[goodhors]

I would shop with the Amish. Usually lots of ponies for sale after working thru the winter gai in ing experience and skill in various jobs and being ridden too. Not sure where you are but the Clare Auction in Mt. Pleasant Mi, local fairgrounds. It is early in the season with many Amish equines offered. Shipshewana and Topeka Auctions in nothern Ind., both move a lot of a imams weekly and at special sales.

Prices can range from a couple hundred to much more fo hitch ponies. I have NE er found Amis to lie to me BUT you have to ask the right questions and enough to cover needed details. They will let you drive or ride it, harness it yourself at the sales. They publish printed classified booklets which have 6tons of equine ads, maybe make a trip to see selected animals, try them out.

Ask around locally, horse clubs, driving clubs for more local animals. Have to say the driving ones usually go high, even old ones. Not sure they would do well aged, in you severe cold. You are buying brains and reliability fo safety.

Driving Classifieds on Facebook puts up a lot of driving animals. Worth checking out, never know what will show up there!

[rugbygirl]

What are you seeing them go for?

I’ve seen experienced teams offered here for between 5000-10000, but usually drafts or draft crosses. Sometimes a not-fancy, experienced chore team will go for under 5000.

There are not a pile of ponies for sale locally. What would the Amis charge for an experienced driving horse? That’s the opposite end of the country, but I’m not opposed to shopping there. Lots of drivers around here arrange big hauls from the Amish every year, usually vehicles though. I could easily arrange a pony shipment.

[luvmyhackney]

I bought an Amish pony broke to drive but not ride for 250.00. The Amish is a good option but if your not looking in person, vet check. If your interested in a hackney, I know some contacts I could send your way. Not all hackneys are little fireballs, just most. Have you tried classified groups on facebook. I know there are specific ones to driving ponies.

[littlebaypony]

Have you checked out Dreamhorse? That could give you some ideas about prices and a little about what’s out there for sale.

[rugbygirl]

I’ve had better luck with Facebook groups for driving specifically. I value individual input though. Looking through ads…is frustrating.

[red_mares]

There is a big (Amish) pony sale in Shipshewana in June or July. I haven’t been there, but I’ve heard lots of nice ponies go through it. The nice thing about Amish sales is that they have a test drive area set up before the bidding starts.

There is also a regular sale in Howe, IN, the Michiana Driving Horse Sale. They have a facebook page. It is a bit nicer sale than the regular weekly Shipshe sale. The Buckeye sales in Ashland, OH are also good. They may not have a lot of ponies, but are a good place to look & talk to people. It is very likely that someone has the pony you’re looking for back in their barn.

At least in northern Indiana, Ohio area, many “Amish Driving Ponies” (my mom keeps saying she going to start a registry :lol:) are crossbreds of light and heavy horses for 12-14 hands that have good bone, but are not drafty. The guys around there put a fair amount of thought into breeding their driving ponies. Much more than most people would expect.

Amish definition of “well broke” may not be what you consider well broke. Amish well broke is stand, start, tie, go at a trot, and be traffic safe. Steering is often optional. Really, most horses will stay on the road, but not always be so good with actual steering. The transmission may not be what you are accustomed to with an English broke horse. Most Amish horses have 2 speeds - stop & go. If you’re aim is to get to the grocery store, slow isn’t really a concern.

My mother has an ADP. She paid $500 for a black, 5 yro-ish 13h not super fancy mare that was broke. She’s a nice pony, but wasn’t super nice (disposition) - took a while before she warmed up to people. She also Amish broke - stop, go, stand.

I’ve been on the mare, she has been ridden. We give toddler pony rides on her. That said, I don’t think she’s really “broke.” She needs at least 90 days with a real trainer before I’d think about letting a kid really ride her.

In the few years Mom’s had her, she’s had several offers (Amish) on the mare. So for a 8 yro black lady’s pony, marginally broke to ride, you’re looking at $1500-$2500. BTW, the pony is still Amish, i.e., lives in a Amish barn, drives down the road, etc. just happens to have an English woman paying board.

I have seen Amish ponies go for $250. I wouldn’t want to put a kid on them or a newbie driving them. Then again, I’ve been around this community for 15 years - long enough that they will let slip all the holes & quirks in their horses or ponies.:winkgrin:

[red_mares]

I just saw you’re in Alberta. I think one of the Amish guys I know has a brother in Minnesota. It’s not super close, but a whole lot closer than northern IN.

[rainpants]

Too bad you are so far, I know someone free leasing out an equine that would meet your needs right now! (But in Ontario.)

[rugbygirl]

It’s very difficult to find a pony that actually meets my definition of well broke to drive.

I will likely have to shop directly from a trainer. Steering is not optional.

[buck22]

Using a trainer is a good bet. I might suggest subscribing to the CD-L, its a group email list for drivers all across the country. Most people involved in driving at medium to high levels subscribe to it. You can send out a email similiar to the request you posted here and see what kind of responses you get. It reaches a very vast audience.

Signing up is a bit archaic however: http://www.trot-on.com/CDLhelp.html

[rugbygirl]

Thanks, I’ll try the list. I also signed up for carriage driving classifieds on Facebook, it’s bigger than our western Canada group. Lots of hackneys for sale! I laughed a bit, in my world a hackney is kind of an exotic…like a Missouri Fox trotter I’ll have to see if my farrier will grouse too much if I acquire a hackney.

My dream would be to find a broke to death Newfoundland pony, but they are hard to come by.

[CERT]

There are Fjords under 14 hands, but they do tend to average bigger than Haflingers (though I have seen some BIG Haflingers!).

The Troyer Auction in Colorado often has a decent amount of stock run through it and is a bit closer than the Midwest sales. I’m not sure how many ponies go through it, though. http://www.troyerauctions.com

[goodhors]

The local classifieds are printed in The Peoples Exchange in northern IN and southern Michigan. You have a ton of horse ads to check out, have to learn the abreviations of what horse does to understand some. I am not sure on a few myself! Website is

http://peoples.exchange/

You could probably call to get an issue, but will need to pay for postage. Has sale notices, Auctions of horses, farms, equipment. Ohio advertisers use it too.

[Stonewall]

I would contact the Alberta High Country Driving Club. http://www.albertadriving-acda.ca/ or put a classified ad in their website.

Also. The Fraser School of Driving http://www.drivehorses.com/ has a pair of trained ponies for sale.

[Stonewall]

I would contact the Alberta High Country Driving Club. http://www.albertadriving-acda.ca/ or put a classified ad in their website.

Also. The Fraser School of Driving http://www.drivehorses.com/ has a pair of trained ponies for sale.

[Hilary]

Our Haffie came from an Amish breeder in Ohio - we got him at 3 and he was quite well broke to drive. And decently under saddle. He’s a good boy, but he has needed a consistent program to keep him from being, well, a pony.

Chimps could drive him - he stops, starts, steers and very very seldomly is bothered by something. He’s well voice-trained as well, which is very helpful. And he’s lazy. Also helpful for novice drivers. And while we have improved him over the years, he came to us with stop/start/steer/stand 100% there.

He does need a competent leader or he’ll walk all over you. Because he’s a smart pony.

Things like self-loading. Sure he does it. And walks himself right under the chest strap once he’s on. Because he can. But he clips, ties, stands for the farrier, food motivated and loves activities.

[rugbygirl]

Yes. Yes! Your Haffie. I’d rather a little older, but everything else, PERFECT.

I don’t mind character for general stuff. My horses are an interesting bunch that way. I’ll put up with a lot for reliability in the task at hand.

Stops, steers, stands! Stands still through amateur hitching-hour. I’m surprised to hear a 3 year old was that solid, just because I’m not at all familiar with how driving horses come along.