Understanding Horse Prices

[KayGee]

Not sure which part of the country you’re in, but saddleseat is booming in my area (Midwest) with prices comparable to dressage. $50k+ for a horse, leases starting at $1k/month (just for the horse), and a nice funnel system with well run Academy programs and camps (unlike dressage).

The coats are eye opening. I can’t imagine spending $3k+ on a beautiful coat that I’ll wear for one season, or even one show, knowing I’ll have to do it again and again. Sometimes multiple coats for one show. The shoeing packages are another regular big spend.

It really doesn’t matter in the end. If one thinks they’re saving money somewhere, it’s just spent in another area. I’ve known trail riders who spent $100k on their dream LQ trailer so they and their $500 kill pen rescues could have all the creature comforts not typically found at a campsite.

[red_mares]

Like anything, depends on what you are willing to spend. If you want to spend $50K on a juvenile pleasure horse, it can easily be done. If you want to spend less than $10K on a pleasure driving horse for an old fart, that can be done as well, it was last week.

No one I know buys a suit for one show, or one season. Even people with money don’t do that. Have I seen some crash dieting so the suit fits? Yep! Many have had the same suit for years. Most kids wear used suits and there is a robust market for them.

I’ve got to buy a set of show harness. I could spend $5K or $6K on a set of Freedman’s. I won’t. It will likely be a used set for ~$1k. No different than buying a high end custom dressage saddle.

[Rosem]

The horses are not overpriced, the value of the dollar is too low. We are in the same stagflation we had in the mid 1970s when we were taken off the gold standard.

[TWH_Girl]

I’m not even sure it’s the prices I mind as much as the damn auctions everywhere!

[Scribbler]

@TWH_Girl

I’m not even sure it’s the prices I mind as much as the damn auctions everywhere!

High end or low end? Ranch pleasure and WB prospect auctions that drive up bidding or meat market auctions?

Auctions are actually a useful way to set market prices and before internet or classified ads even, it was a useful way to gather all available stock in a region a few times a year, and let the market decide.

I think tougher times will mean that the price of quality horses rises to reflect the cost of producing them while the price of problem or unsound or aged horses plummets because fewer people can afford to keep a horse that isn’t in work or has expensive issues. Hay is now $800 a ton here in suburban Canada. It’s doubled in cost since I started back in self board about ten years ago.

[KayGee]

Yep, I think we’re on the same page.

[red_mares]

Auctions are great. You think your horse is worth $15K. Online auction says the horse is worth $5500. Guess who’s right? I bid on horse last month with that situation. It’s still for sale.

[TWH_Girl]

It’s more as a shopper, seeing prospects but they’re too far to meet in person. Or if you meet them, you still may not win the horse. They make it harder to horse shop when looking for a horse who is a partner, not a project or one to flip.

[Scribbler]

@TWH_Girl

It’s more as a shopper, seeing prospects but they’re too far to meet in person. Or if you meet them, you still may not win the horse. They make it harder to horse shop when looking for a horse who is a partner, not a project or one to flip.

Oh do you mean private individuals “auctioning” off a single horse? To highest bidder? Not an organized real auction?

[rulex]

@TWH_Girl

Or if you meet them, you still may not win the horse.

Or if you wanted to do a PPE. Which personally I would like to be able to do when the price tags are climbing into the 5 figures. And nice ranch horse types definitely do at the well organized, reputable auctions.

[TWH_Girl]

I’m actually looking at getting a ranch horse. If allowed, can you share any reputable auctions?

The ones I have seen are all individual people selling through an auction site so it’s really a buyer beware situation. Especially when most of the horses are located 8+ hours away.

[Paint_Party]

For starters, Google “ranch horse production sales” and quite a few will come up. Some may still have last year’s catalog and/or results online so you can get an idea of what’s usually offered and what they sell for.

[clanter]

@TWH_Girl

’m actually looking at getting a ranch horse. If allowed, can you share any reputable auctions?

check for a brood mare that is being culled from the program, personally I know of one that is being removed as “We have attempted unsuccessfully for several seasons to get Fancy in foal”

nice horse, good blood lines $3500 but

" Fancy was trail ridden prior to us purchasing her. We would consider selling her to someone wanting to take time to continue her trail training. Perfect home a must. We don’t mind keeping her".

We know the breeder, have bought three of their horses and everything they said was true about the horses we bought.

[quietann]

I saw that ad. Wish I was looking as that’s exactly what I’d want. I love mares, and in our breed it can be hard to find trained, older, working mares.

[MorganMaresVT]

@clanter

check for a brood mare that is being culled from the program, personally I know of one that is being removed as “We have attempted unsuccessfully for several seasons to get Fancy in foal”

nice horse, good blood lines $3500 but

" Fancy was trail ridden prior to us purchasing her. We would consider selling her to someone wanting to take time to continue her trail training. Perfect home a must. We don’t mind keeping her".

We know the breeder, have bought three of their horses and everything they said was true about the horses we bought.

A total aside, but I have been lingering over that very mare’s photo on and off for days now. But I think I realistically want something a little younger.

[Arlomine]

Um….I think you need to rethink your position, particularly since you say you have not been horse shopping in a long while. Why would the horse prices not reflect the huge inflation and goods and services across the board in this country? Barn owners are closing down all over the place because they simply cannot absorb the increases.
Additionally, the market IS literally what people will pay for what they want. Horses are worth what people will pay for them.
Will there be an adjustment? Hard to say. Prices went up precipitously with the pandemic, and there might be a slight adjustment down. But I doubt there will be much of an adjustment, because Of the rise in goods and services.

[Vyce]

If I ever have that kind of money, this is something I would probably do.

[blue_heron]

I think the price of horses has decreased-- from Holy Batman Expensive to Just Expensive.

I’m not super in touch with the market it sounds like OP is looking for. But my friend just bought a 3.5 year old registered KWPN mare, unstarted but well-bred (both parents had a notable career), sweet and confident, adorable mover, no vices or known issues, vetted clean, from an incredibly reputable breeder-- for 12k. I’m shopping on a budget and super jealous. The general consensus is that she got a steal.

[clanter]

@MorganMaresVT

A total aside, but I have been lingering over that very mare’s photo on and off for days now. But I think I realistically want something a little younger.

the mare should be pretty hardy as the high temps there is below zero F, I am just glade I am not there

We had a mare also of old blood lines who at age 18 ( or 19?) won a championship at a show were the state vets were inspecting the champions and runner ups for drug use… vet escorted the horse from the ring to her stall then accused us switching the horse as they believed the horse could not be older than eight, not eighteen… had to get some one who actually knew the horse to verify the horse before the vet was the one on the paperwork

The mare lived out her life here passing at 29, she was useful until near the end

/

[KayGee]

Agree! Even if just for a year or two…