I would have to guess the big eq horses. I mean, some of them go out for lease for six figures, what would it take to buy one?
Dressage has some expensive horses too, but I think it’s more important to have a “fancy” horse in H/J, raising the average by a ton. Definitely agree that eventing is one of the cheaper sports in horse cost.
A dreamhorse search for 150 miles from my zip code, $50,000 and up, came back with dressage and hunter horses, and one hunter pony.
What I found strange was that more than half of the results didn’t bother to put a picture with the ad, despite asking so much for the horse.
The most I have ever spent on a horse was $3750 for an event prospect. I have only bought young horses, so my numbers are probably low.
[QUOTE=ReSomething;8197281]
They just absolutely do not have posted prices for saddlebreds out there for easy comparative analysis, that is for sure. Used to be when the auctions were running people would post hip prices on the saddlebred forum trot.org but that’s dead, not even archived information, so there is no real public pricing out there.
The bulk of ASB change hands at auction or trainer to trainer sales, not on Dreamhorse IIRC.[/QUOTE]
True, but there is enough gossip in ASB land to get a feel for prices. Also Facebook replaced Extended Trot for listings. The prices at Tattersalls or Roberstson’s sales haven’t been good for years. They had a few pricey horses, but overall not many. I recall a harness horse bringing a million a few years ago & it was almost scandalous.:lol:
Back when had the saddlebreds at WIHS it very clear that their idea of an expensive horse is not what H/J people consider an expensive horse. OMG, my horse is so expensive he can’t be in stall in the street! Umm, hello, most of those horses stabled in the street are 6 figures easy. Inside stabling went to FEI horses, so they were all high 6 figures or more.
[QUOTE=Fergs;8195614]
I always thought the H/J people had the most expensive horses until I went to the Arabian show in Scottsdale – those people have crazy money.[/QUOTE]
I have to respectfully disagree with this statement. I lived in Arizona for 6 years, and was pretty involved in the Arabian scene there. Yes, some of the horses go for five figures, and at Scottsdale show there may be one or two horses that are sold for 6 figures, but it is nothing like the Hunter/jumper scene.
A good friend of mine sells a lot of horses in Ocala in the winter. I’ve visited her a few times where we go around with clients looking at horses, She calls a cheap horse something in the $40-50k range, and most of the horses she sells are well over $100k- and $250k is pretty average. Lots of her buyers are children, or adult amatures, and it is not uncommon for her to sell 2 or 3 horses to the same person.
Back in the 80’s, when Arabian prices were greatly inflated, yes they sold for similar amounts, but the bottom dropped out on that a long time ago, and now a well trained show arabian with a proven record at Scottsdale and Nationals (with three +++ after their names) would probably be in the $50-75K range- at the highest.
Just my two cents.
“but I consider that a business”
OP no disrespect intended but anybody that buys a racehorse as a “business opportunity” will surely be disappointed. People should buy a racehorse strictly for the fun and sport NOT to make money. That being said the possibility of making some money, a lot of money, lifestyle changing money is FAR greater than any other type of horse ownership. Bar none.
For this discussion I understand why they should not be included.
The Arabian “market” crashed and burned BIG time more than 10++ years ago. A lot of people lost a LOT of money. It was a “silly business” to begin with. They were basically buying “paintings”. As long as there were a lot others that wanted that “painting” the prices escalated. When the market collapsed it was quick and dramatic. The “upper level market” is a fraction of what it used to be.
The non-racing QH market/business is hard to “gauge” because it is the largest breed registry in the world. I would think the “average” person can have fun without having to spend a lot of money. The few that bring big money are just that, “the few”.
I know a lot of people who are into “carriage horses” and that requires a lot of disposable income. Just to “play with”. I have friends that are into competition carriage horses. That requires much more.
Even though Lexington KY is more known for TBs the Saddlebred sport is pretty impressive also. When I lived there I had several friends who were very well known and respected in the discipline, sport, business of. A friend of mine was William Shatner’s trainer and farm manager. Those horses cost big money. Especially considering there is little to no prize money. Captain Kirk was a pretty down to earth guy and a good rider. Being a “Trekie” since childhood it was kind of cool but strange to hang around with him and horses.
IMO and experience H/J, Grand Prix is probably the most expensive on average for the “average” rider/owner. My brother in law is a pretty well know H/J trainer and he buys and sells low to mid 6 figure horses all the time. As do a number of others I personally know. My mother “scouted” a lot of H/J horses in the 70s and 80s for the “names”. Base price for a “greenie” $10,000+++ in those days.
IMO right behind H/J if the average person want to be competitive are Eventers. I am talking about people/horses that have a better than average chance of being amateur competitive. Plenty of “canter cuties” to be had for very little money. But the “smart money” should spend a few more thousand and buy from a reputable “re-school” trainer. IMO and experience they will save a lot of money in the long run.
I don’t know anything about dressage horses and or the market. Doesn’t interest me.
[QUOTE=Appsolute;8195654]
A number of horse sports can get some pretty crazy prices for a competitive horse… $100,000 ha chump change to these people! (I STILL remember a girl at my jr. high - 7th grade - back in the 1990’s - got a $95,000 hunter for her Bday)
The 4 Most Expensive Horses in the World:
[I]Most Expensive Dressage Horse: Though the exact sale price was never disclosed, in 2010 sporthorse breeder Paul Schockemöhle bought Moorlands Totilas for somewhere in the ballpark of $9.5 million to $15 million [next article lists him as $21M)
Most Expensive Showjumper: Palloubet d’Halong, a Selle Francais sired by Roderigo Pessoa’s mount Baloubet du Rouet, was sold to Jan Tops, a trainer for the Qatari equestrian team, for $15.2 million in October 2013.[/I]
The Most Expensive Horses Living, Perhaps
Beyond the TBS, we have:
A Jumper - $11.3M
A Cutting horse - $10M
Now - I realize most of these are breeding stallions.
Jumper Prices Soar - this article talks about the increase in prices…
“You have people buying horses for $2 million to $3 million for their kids to ride,”
I have heard of hunters selling to ammies in the $600,000 range (and I am sure higher!). Also dressage horses for ammies over the half a million mark. Some of the imported (already competing at four star) horses selling for BIG prices.
I am not familiar with the prices that Arabians or western (cutting, reining) are going for these days. I do not think WP would be at the top of the list (having known people that did well at “congress” - on horses that were VERY reasonably priced compared to a top jumper or hunter).[/QUOTE]
I don’t know about “those lists”.
I totally agree with # 1
The “second list”
Well, I stopped reading and completely dismissed the article and the author when I came to # 4,
“The Green Monkey – current worth at $16 million”.
This article was written in 2014. The “monkey” sold as a 2 year old for the “reported” $16 mil in 2006! The operative word being “reported”. As we all know he didn’t come close to living up to expectations on the racecourse. Retired to stud shortly thereafter in FL for a fee of $5,000 I believe. At the same farm of the people who sold him at auction. Where he struggled to get mares. In 2014 his “current worth” maybe $10,000 and I doubt anyone would give that. He’s not even listed in the Blood-Horse Stallion Directory.
[QUOTE=MissAriel;8195638]
I know a woman shopping for a Saddlebred for her daughter to show in Eq. apparently $100K-200K is not unheard of.[/QUOTE]
A friend of mine followed a 4 yr old half brother to her horse back from the ring at Lville and was standing in the aisle admiring him while she listened to the owner politely turn down 4 million for him. Some of them get crazy money, and all in all, the competitive ones are 6 figures.
But whomever mentioned Arabians… I’d say that is where the big bucks are. Or were.
[QUOTE=red mares;8198206]
I recall a harness horse bringing a million a few years ago & it was almost scandalous.:lol:[/QUOTE]
Wasn’t it Sultan’s Santana who first broke a million? Someone will have to remind me though, I think he was syndicated.
#3 - Annihilator is a 1988 pacing horse, unless there is a show horse with the same name and sire. 
I doubt he is currently worth 20 million and still an excellent show horse at 26 years old last year! :lol::lol::lol::winkgrin: He also won a whopping $11,771. I wonder if they have him mixed up with Nihilator; another son of Niatross who was named 1985 Harness Horse of the Year and the first STB too win over $3 million? But again if still alive way too old to be worth that kind of money.
#7 - Highbrow Cat wasn’t sold so much as his frozen semen was if memory serves.
#10 - Mystic Park. Was a heck of a horse back in the day, but I’m not sure how a 35 year old stallion (if he was even still alive at the time of writing) could be worth $5 million. And what the heck is with the picture of a dressage horse anyway? :lol: Also his last registered owner is Ulf Hjorten of Sweden.
#12 - Pine Chip. Another great standardbred, but again old so not likely worth $4 million. 24 at the time that article was published. Exported to Sweden in 2001.
Undoubtedly hunters average the most in my opinion. They can easily start in the 6 figures for something competitive on the A or AA scene. Eq horses are high dollar as well. Jumpers can still be expensive but not like a hunter (especially if you are buying something green).
ETA: I am saying overall market, not just based off of several high dollar horses.
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