Prices of Horses in upper tier Western competition

[CRTXLaw]

Hi everyone - This is my first time posting in this forum. I am a jumper and admittedly have little knowledge about riding and competing in western disciplines.

I am working on a business model innovation project relating to purchasing horses and it would be helpful for me to have some ballpark estimates of the prices of horses that would be competitive in the most prestigious tier of Western competition (the equivalent of A/AA shows in hunter-jumper land). If pricing varies greatly between barrel racing, reining, etc. that would be helpful to know also. I am sure there is a big variety, so if you could provide examples based on hypothetical criteria that would be great.

If you were looking to buy such a horse, where would you look? Would you look at local trainers, or at the competitions, on the internet - Facebook/ Dreamhorse.com/some other site? Would you have a trainer representing you as your agent in the purchase?

I would appreciate any info you would be willing to share. If you would like to know more about my project I would be happy to discuss it with you - you can send me a PM.
Thanks!

[clanter]

has to be pretty expens![](ve theses days as 23 years ago I turned down repeat offers in the $100K range for a nice western pleasure horse…one was a blank check

[IMG]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/clanter/FoxieGoldCup1991.jpg)

[CRTXLaw]

wow, thanks for your reply clanter. your horse is stunning.

[goodhors]

The range between performance horses and Pleasure type horses may be far apart because earning money horses can pay for themselves with time. Pleasure, prices will depend on where they win, who can ride them. Reining and Cutting horses can go for unlimited money if mares and stallions. Barrel horses will depend on their skills, speed, where they are performing now, parentage to potentially get much better if a young horse.

Each category can be a “world of it’s own”. Really hard to have averages if you are not in those circles or have the needed connections to find those animals who perform well, at or near the top of the game they compete in.

[clanter]

[QUOTE=CRTXLaw;8107480]
wow, thanks for your reply clanter. your horse is stunning.[/QUOTE]

the funny thing about her she was to have been our kid’s English pleasure horse… we bought her as a long yearling she did everything but English pleasure

[clanter]

[QUOTE=goodhors;8107487]
The range between performance horses and Pleasure type horses may be far apart because earning money horses can pay for themselves with time. .[/QUOTE]

another funny thing about our horse… we do get a check each month because of her. We bought acreage for to be kept on… turned out that we got the $100,000 for the drilling rights and are getting a royalty check for the three pockets of natural gas and one pool of known oil that was under her pasture … we just call the check Foxie’s check

[CRTXLaw]

goodhors - I figured there would be a wide variety. It sounds like reining and cutting horses tend to be the more expensive categories within Western. Is that generally true?

Would you say that Western horses are routinely sold for over $10 k? over $50k? At what point would it be surprising for a horse to be sold for so much?

Thanks for your feedback!

[wonderhorseguy]

Cutting and reining are the top tier. For the best horses, over $100k would be expected. Good western pleasure horses would routinely sell for over $50k. These prices would be for proven horses. I have heard of champion cutting horses getting into the 7 figures. The very best pleasure horses would be in the $250k range.

Any horse competitive at the National level(NCHA, NRHA, AQHA) would routinely sell for over $10k. Local horses will be in the 5 to 10k range.

[propspony]

I would say a western pleasure horse, able to be consistently in the ribbons at congress, would start at 25-30K and go up quickly from there depending on the class…

Reiners and cutters would go for more, I’m guessing.

[clanter]

[QUOTE=CRTXLaw;8107426]

I am working on a business model innovation project relating to purchasing horses and it would be helpful for me to have some ballpark estimates of the prices of horses that would be competitive in the most prestigious tier of Western competition (the equivalent of A/AA shows in hunter-jumper land).![/QUOTE]

If you currently have access to the upper tier hunter/jumper clients than you should be able to access those also seeking the top western horses.

This is almost a chicken/egg project as which would be harder to find; a steady reliable stream of clients or top tier horses? My thoughts are it would harder to locate the steady supply of horses as there are a lot of rich grandparents out there wanting their grandkids to have a step-up in winning national championships

My guess, unless you are well connected the commissions rates paid to the downstream assistant buyers/locators of the horses would have to high enough to make these people willing to work with you.

[Flash44]

Gorgeous, clanter! Which prompts me to comment, you have to also consider that many breed shows have Western classes in multiple disciplines.

[CRTXLaw]

wonderhorseguy - that information is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Thanks everyone for the information and insight. Much appreciated!

[Bluey]

The results of the discipline specific sales are public.
You can access them to see what horses are bringing.
Also Quarter Horse News publishes sale reports and averages, trends, etc.

[CRTXLaw]

Thanks Bluey - where would I find the discipline-specific sales figures?

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=CRTXLaw;8108308]
Thanks Bluey - where would I find the discipline-specific sales figures?[/QUOTE]

You can find them for sales for all disciplines and breed sales also, cutting sales, futurity sales, Congress sale, etc.

Here is one of many, this a reining sale:

http://www.legacysale.com/salehorses.php

Many private sales are priced off what the open market shows that type of horse and breeding ranges for those specific horses.

Then, you can also look on discipline specific sale websites like www.reinersworld.com

[beau159]

As far as barrel horses go, that depends.

If you want the TOP TIER which would be horses that make it to the National Finals Rodeo, well let’s just say that Latte sold at auction for $850,000 last year.
http://allaboutcutting.net/?p=4512

Granted it was a legal mess for Latte, but that was still the selling price.

Any horse who can perform at the level of the NFR is going to have an extremely high price tag, anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000, or more. Really though, a price can be anything as long as there is someone willing to pay it.

For a good rodeo horse for barrel racing (one that wins professional rodeos), the price usually starts at about $50,000 and goes way up from there, depending on the horse’s ability.

When I’m searching for a barrel horse, Barrel Horse World is one place I’ll look for ads, but I also do a lot of word of mouth.

[CRTXLaw]

Cool, thanks. Is is common to buy horses via auction? or on the internet? or are most horses bought and sold when they are personally recommended by a trainer or observed at a competition?

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=CRTXLaw;8108380]
Cool, thanks. Is is common to buy horses via auction? or on the internet? or are most horses bought and sold when they are personally recommended by a trainer or observed at a competition?[/QUOTE]

The better trainers in different disciplines tend to have a list of clients looking for specific horses they go look over and bid on at their sales.

Generally the owners let their trainers do that, although some try their hand at that themselves, for a while anyway.

You really have to train and compete for long to know which horse fits whom and what to aim it for, not many “dark horses” come out of nowhere and win big consistently.

The best horses generally have the breeding and proper raising and training and preparation and the older ones have proven themselves.
Those are known entities and are the ones that are most sought after and bring the highest prices.
Some of those sell before anyone else finds they are for sale, are kept in the best hands to keep promoting that horse and it’s connections.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=CRTXLaw;8108380]
Cool, thanks. Is is common to buy horses via auction? or on the internet? or are most horses bought and sold when they are personally recommended by a trainer or observed at a competition?[/QUOTE]

As far as barrel racing (although I can’t speak for everyone), I would say the vast majority are privately sold via someone who is actively looking to buy and someone who is actively looking to sell. Probably mostly through ads.

Sometimes they’ll go through an auction (Billings Livestock Auction has a big sale every year, and they actually barrel race any of the horses for sale as barrel racers, and rope off the roping horses).
http://billingslivestock.com/horse_sales/horsesalehome.html

And sometimes (if you’re looking for a horse), you’ll see a nice run and go ask that person if they’d consider selling their horse.

In the barrel racing world, there’s not as much dealt with for trainers. Of course, with the big names in the professional world, yes they have students and yes they help them find horses. But I think for most of your “average person” you are looking on your own. And in all reality, the internet has made it much easier to find what you are looking for. For example, with Facebook, my state has it’s own pages for barrel racing events and horses for sale, or people looking for horses.

When I look for a barrel horse, I am experienced enough that I don’t need a trainer to help me find one suitable for me. I may bring someone I trust with me for a second pair of eyes to look at the horse, but I know my riding abilities and know what type of horse is going to work for me, and what I like and don’t like. And if I’m going to be dishing out a chunk of change for the horse, I am definately going to ask about about that person and that horse. Word of mouth is very strong.

In barrel racing, I like to think we are a big family. Most everyone knows everyone else (at least in my area) so if you’re looking for a horse you can usually find one.

[fordtraktor]

[QUOTE=propspony;8107981]
I would say a western pleasure horse, able to be consistently in the ribbons at congress, would start at 25-30K and go up quickly from there depending on the class…

Reiners and cutters would go for more, I’m guessing.[/QUOTE]

This is too low for a horse currently competitive at Congress in pleasure divisions, by a significant amount. Six figures is more accurate. You can get a good yearling prospect for that but the best ones are more.

A local horse is $5-10k, one that can show decently but not be the winner at the small, local AQHA shows in the Novice $10-15k.