Nah, all were off-site trials of approx 2-4w (the one with the neglected hooves probably didn’t have them picked up for as long as the period lasted). Don’t even know why the seller agreed… I understand that trials are common at some places, but I’ll certainly not allow it. If the buyer wants, they are welcome to come and ride for a week or so, but the moment the horse leaves the property, it’s a done deal, because soo much can happen!
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I hate to say it but I will no longer do leases or trials either. Every horse I have leased out has come back broken, gotten ridden into the dirt on a lease, or died (preventable too) – and all of these people came with glowing recommendations. I would probably still have one of my best horses today if I didn’t agree to lease him out to a rider who was just trying to get riding time but couldn’t afford her own horse.
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Sorry for your loss. 
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I might need some recommendations then. The eventing horse market on the west coast (area 7) is completely insane. I’m waiting to buy for a while, but everything that has ANY BN experience is at least 20k. There’s not much on the market at all and it gets snapped up within the week. Or maybe two.
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Check Midwest, prices are lower on everything out there, esp compared to West Coast. I bought a filly in TN whose “price” probably doubled when she crossed into Washington. Not that she’s for sale, but I wouldn’t be able to touch an equal filly in breeding (much less looks, chrome to die for but would be dynamite in a plain wrapper) for less than $8k and probably closer to $10k. The only thing that seemed higher was the PPE, but is in “horse country” and the vet clinic had three satellite offices and about a dozen large animal vets on staff.
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How much is a flashy, tall horse, coming off a year long injury; schooling up to 2’6” jump courses; completed in one sanctioned USDF @first level show, aged 8-12 years old worth?
Asking price for serious buyers, six figures
He is worth what he sells for. If he sells for that, he is worth it in today’s market.
Unfortunately much sales data is smoke and mirrors. Sellers put up a price and then get bargained down. Or I suppose they could get bid up too. But unlike real estate there is no verified stats on asking versus sale versus official annual tax assessment.
I have long thought that both sellers and buyers can enjoy advertising high asking prices and then privately negotiating down.
Fluffy is “really” a $50,000 horse but the seller let us have him for half that, so huge bargain.
I mean is he the winner anywhere and anyone can ride? Fanciness and easiness are huge factors. Even before the market got crazy I knew someone who had a 2’6 horse who was the winner anywhere with any rider. She leased him for $50k year after year after year. And this was pre-Covid. Don’t underestimate what people have ALWAYS been willing to pay a premium for- safe and fancy.
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No USEF show record or any record over fences; hence ‘the schooling up to 2’6” jumps’.
Only recognized show is one first level dressage show.
Horse appears very pleasant but not really a great dressage mover or showing the rounder jump style of a competitive hunter.
Like would have been a lower 5 figure horse pre COVID, sans injury.
Full disclosure, I’m not a serious buyer for this horse and did not inquire.
If you’re not a serious buyer I don’t know why it concerns you. Yes the market is up right now. Whether this particular horse will sell for that asking price is wholly unknown. I really don’t understand trolling ads just to fein pearl clutching when you aren’t actually shopping. Why do you care what someone else is asking for a horse you don’t want to buy?
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Lol.
Serious buyers only!! IE buyers who have more money than good sense. I have good sense and the means to buy a six figure horse. So…
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Compared to the registered mare I saw the other day for 50k (6y, safe,sane, healthy, Xrayed,showed in 1st level dressage, schooling 3rd,shown in 2’6" hunters and 70cm jumpers),in order to justify this price tag since there’re no other show records this one is 1)either coming from a top 10 bloodline or 2)the seller is delusional (if the price is what they really ask for) … where do you find these adds, it’s hilarious 
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Likely # 2. 
Echo chamber fun times
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Once again, I refer back to the ISO ads, since they don’t have the “price is really bargained down” element. Saw once recently, looking for a safe horse to jump small courses that did not need to be careful or fancy or big, with a proposed price tag of $40kish.
When you say Midwest where in the Midwest? Cause the horse shortage is real in my area and your not going to get a deal. I know a few people who decided to import because prices are redic for young horses. We are not even going to talk about horses with show records.
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…when you schedule a tryout for an OTTB with retraining, it hasn’t got shoes and is footsore when you arrive… but is evidently entered for an A show two weeks from now and the price will go up at that time.
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This sounds very familiar. Do you know the name of this company?
Here’s the announcement of this October’s Auction.
https://aikentrainingtrack.com/horse-sale-and-auction/
The company is “Best of the West.” There’s a link to it in that link.
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Thank you, that is very sweet of you. It was years ago now but if any good can come of it, maybe others can learn from my experience/loss:
IF you lease out or send your horse on trial, MAKE SURE you specify NO HORSES WITH HIND SHOES AND BORIUMS can be turned out with your horse.
I was devastated. I couldn’t believe it was something I had to tell someone at a professional, BNT barn that was well respected. They should have run it by me, the owner, before they turned him out with another horse. They had my number. It was right on his stall card.
I’m fairly forgiving, but I will never forgive that BM for her decision. He was kicked in the stifle by the other horse, the boriums punctured his stifle joint and he had no positive prognosis even with surgery. I put him down on December 24th.
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