I am looking for a step–up pony. The child is currently on a 12 hand pony and growing quickly. My question is about pricing. I came across a 14 hand 10 year old with broad experience. No formal show record just schooling shows. Also unknown breeding. They are asking $24,000. This seems a bit steep for a grade pony with general experience and no show record. Are these the going prices now?
Depends on who has it. I’ve sold ponies like that for more money. They can be worth their weight in gold.
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I doubt you’ll change the seller’s mind about their pony’s price.
There are ponies in all price ranges. I’m sure if you look in yours, you’ll find something.
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Unknown breeding means nothing unless it’s a very young prospect or an animal you are thinking of retaining or selling on for breeding. How has he been doing in the schooling shows? Cleaning up the ribbons all season long under multiple riders or just getting out a time or two and not dumping anybody? What does your kid’s trainer think of his jump, changes, etc.? If the only thing that’s kept him out of rated shows is the current owner’s budget and interests, he could be a steal. Even if he hasn’t done a lot but has a nice jump and a good mind, there’s something to be said for a kid’s pony with a lot of “general” experience rather than a pony that’s exclusively been in show rings its entire life, or sat in the pasture for the last five years because Kidlet lost interest. How much there is to be said/paid depends a lot on your market and how common such ponies are where you are.
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I think the question of pricing, especially with ponies, sometimes has less to do with show record and more to do with how much of a babysitter the pony is. If this large pony is a “seeing eye dog” - safe, honest, never bolts bucks spooks, will jump around while it’s pilot learns what a chip and a flier is, never holds a grudge - and HAPPENS to have lead changes and can jump around 2’6 (or even the large regular height)…$24k is a steal 
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Thank you for the replies. They are very helpful. I will ask for more videos and will ask about specific characteristics like Toblersmom suggested. I am actually looking for an eventing pony and those prices seem to be quite a bit less than hunter pony prices.
If it’s a large large, and it’s safe for a child to event up to Beginner Novice or Novice, the pricing may be fair. Especially if it’s a good mover and capable of turning in a good dressage test. A pony that will safely carry a young rider over cross country fences without getting hot, will take a joke and doesn’t need any maintenence or pro tune up will be an expensive pony. So I guess the real question is, what do you mean by “broad experience?” Does that mean done everything on the local show circuits, hunters, jumpers, eventing, Pony Club, etc? Has it competed in lots of local unrecognized horse trials? Done 4 - H? Hunted? Mounted games? Been a lesson or lease pony for lots of kids? If that’s it’s “broad experience”, that may be better than an A show record for your intended use.
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The pedigree of a pony is not worth much if the animal won’t jump, spooks, bucks or needs a ton of prep for a littler person to ride. Conversely, a grade pony or lesser bred pony that is safe for littler ones, jumps around always, will trail ride or jump natural obstacles, go through water, is sweet to handle and needs few training rides to keep it from getting ponylike and sassy can be nearing priceless. Add in a cute jump and auto changes and you can price it to the moon. That is why so few of these ponies are actually for sale. Most people offer them for lease as they are like gold.
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If you are in Virginia, you can find a safe, sound, odd-sized, not fancy-enough-to-do-the-pony-hunters eventing pony for far less than $24K – all day, every day.
In the other thread, you said you would pass since you could find 5k ponies, like you’ve done before.
I’m sure you could find a new pony for eventing in your price range.
I hope you are not wasting this seller’s time…
In the other thread, you said you would pass since you could find 5k ponies, like you’ve done before.
I’m sure you could find a new pony for eventing in your price range.
I hope you are not wasting this seller’s time…
In the other thread, you said you would pass since youcould find 5k ponies, like you’ve done before.
I’m sure you could find a new pony for eventing in your price range.
I hope you are not wasting this seller’s time…
In the other thread, you said you would pass since youcould find 5k ponies, like you’ve done before.
I’m sure you could find a new pony for eventing in your price range.
I hope you are not wasting this seller’s time…
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You can find better deals than what you are looking for but the price may be appropriate. An eventing pony you dont have to worry about taking your kid xc…that has the stamina, ability and is safe is priceless to me!
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alibi_18 - legitimate question. I’ve just paid 30K for a 2 year old. If it’s worth it, it’s worth it. I asked for a dressage video since the clips are quite short. If the pony really is as advertised, won’t kill my kid and can go up the levels (as appropriate for a pony), then yes, I’ll pay the price. I just hadn’t seen many other ponies in that price range fitting that particular description which is why I reached out to COTH.
In the other thread, you said you would pass since you could find 5k ponies, like you’ve done before.
I’m sure you could find a new pony for eventing in your price range.
I hope you are not wasting this seller’s time…
In the other thread, you said you would pass since you could find 5k ponies, like you’ve done before.
I’m sure you could find a new pony for eventing in your price range.
I hope you are not wasting this seller’s time…
In the other thread, you said you would pass since youcould find 5k ponies, like you’ve done before.
I’m sure you could find a new pony for eventing in your price range.
I hope you are not wasting this seller’s time…
