You know the horse market is crazy when

[spotlights]

@173north

I basically see the per diem as compensating your trainer for loss of income while traveling with you.

I’ve seen and experienced several models, none of which are perfect. Ultimately it’s up to each individual to determine what is fair between client::trainer. I spent thousands of dollars to take my trainer across the country to see horses (…horses I found) only to result in the question “well what do you think?..” Frustrating experience, but that’s a story for another day.

Another trainer I know generally* doesn’t charge for travel fees because they’re often going to look for horses on behalf of several clients. Self-funding the trip eliminates the conundrum of “Jennifer paid for this trip, but this horse would be better for Susie…” so does Susie reimburse Jennifer for the trip? Or do they buy the horse for Jennifer anyway? I like that model because it allows the trainer to look for the best horse::rider fit, rather than feel beholden to whomever funded the trip.

*Generally because I think if the trainer is traveling to x-location to see x-horse for x-client, they charge for the trip.

[olim2005]

That is crazy. Ponies tend to be a little cheaper. Times are changing.

[Blinky]

Are horses being imported currently? I know it is hard to get into other countries to even look but was curious if horses were being bought off videos and shipped.

[Peggy]

@Blinky

Are horses being imported currently? I know it is hard to get into other countries to even look but was curious if horses were being bought off videos and shipped.

Definitely.

[173north]

@olim2005

Ponies tend to be a little cheaper. Times are changing.

I’m casually shopping for a cheap pony prospect and $3500 - $6500 right now in my area might get you a very green, not-too-fancy pony, or a going pony that won’t pass the vet, or any combination of the above.

[TatteredDaydreamer]

It’s still super crazy yet I have a lovely, lovely horse for sale that has a finding on a PPE that will very likely never affect him, and have very little interest. The quest for a the horses with the “perfect” vetting will never cease to amaze me.

[Tha_Ridge]

@Blinky

Are horses being imported currently? I know it is hard to get into other countries to even look but was curious if horses were being bought off videos and shipped.

Sure. I’ve imported two this year.

[Sarah616]

@mvp I haven’t read all of this thread, just happened to see your comment about this sale. I saw a few posts about it on Facebook. The horses were beautifully represented - absolutely Lovely pictures. I’m “Facebook friends” with someone who bought 2 of them and they look lovely.

HOWEVER.

Did you see the high priced horse at the sale? 2017 Friesian Sport Horse gelding… For ONE HUNDRED NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS. $190,000!! Now, it looked like it did lots of tricks, like walking up stairs or something like that. But that is an unbelievable price for that age/breed/etc.

[Event_Horse]

@Sarah616

Did you see the high priced horse at the sale? 2017 Friesian Sport Horse gelding… For ONE HUNDRED NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS. $190,000!! Now, it looked like it did lots of tricks, like walking up stairs or something like that. But that is an unbelievable price for that age/breed/etc.

For that price, it had better know how to clean house, wash the clothes, and cook dinner.

[beowulf]

@Sarah616

Now, it looked like it did lots of tricks, like walking up stairs or something like that. But that is an unbelievable price for that age/breed/etc.

The price gets a lot more believable when you factor in the horse was only four and had a better working horse resume than horses twice its age. I mean, in the video advertisement there was a young rider doing her laundry off of its back… It walked alone down a busy road while logging trucks passed it. It could be ridden quietly by a kid. The upper elite will pay that kind of price for a horse who can be taken out once a week and is unflappable no matter what. That kind of horse is priceless and worth every penny someone is willing to pay for it.

[luvmyhackney]

People are insane on their vetting and expectations for a horse that has been in work yet sound and doing the job. I’ve been listening to a friend complain that she can’t find anything but she’s looking for early teens age experience that requires no maintenance but also wants a mile long show record.

[mvp]

@beowulf

@Sarah616

Now, it looked like it did lots of tricks, like walking up stairs or something like that. But that is an unbelievable price for that age/breed/etc.

The price gets a lot more believable when you factor in the horse was only four and had a better working horse resume than horses twice its age. I mean, in the video advertisement there was a young rider doing her laundry off of its back… It walked alone down a busy road while logging trucks passed it. It could be ridden quietly by a kid. The upper elite will pay that kind of price for a horse who can be taken out once a week and is unflappable no matter what. That kind of horse is priceless and worth every penny someone is willing to pay for it.

But it gets a lot less believable when you learn that the dam was a grade AQHA and see the conformation shots. This horse has the short and sloping pelvis native to both breeds.

As cool as it might be for a kid to stand up on it in a bareback pad, what is that $190K horse going to do that well?

I also categorically disagree that a horse that will pack a rich person around once a week is worth $190K. Someone who has that much money could get a safe horse for much less and share some of their wealth with charities or other people. I mean, is a $190K safe and broke packer delivering 10 times the value of the $19K packer? And that’s still a very expensive non-specialist trail horse.

[beowulf]

I used to feel the same way, FWIW – especially when I have (or had) that horse’s peer sitting in my yard, for sale, for a fraction of that price… But, things are worth exactly what someone wants to pay for it. While I agree that the money is better served donated to charities in a humanitarian sense, it’s their money and us smurfs really have no say how they spend it. It is no different than paying Hermes $600 for a cotton pad that Dover sells for $22.

People really underestimate how valuable a horse that anyone can get on and have a good time with. These horses are genuinely rare. That horse didn’t do “a lot of tricks” and that poster really undersells how versatile a horse like that was at four. That horse was dead broke and worth exactly what someone wanted to pay for it.

[BlueMoonJumper]

@beowulf

People really underestimate how valuable a horse that anyone can get on and have a good time with. These horses are genuinely rare.

You’re absolutely right about this. A few years back I went on a corporate event mandatory fun trail ride. The gelding assigned to me was about the homeliest thing I’d ever seen - stringy, scrawny, head too big, small eyes, unknown breeding. But man - soft in the mouth, smooth gaits, feather light off the leg, sure footed scrambling up the hillsides, all business and knew exactly where it was going. The trail hands even let me gallop on ahead a little bit and all I had to do was form the thought.

That little guy was a Cadillac in a Yugo’s body. If I were wealthy I would have offered to buy him. I still think of him quite often.

[EmilyM]

I agree with this.
In my anecdotal sample set of horsemen and women, the more experience, the more they accept on a vetting.
Also, what you have had to maintain previously and have had success or failure with informs your tolerance for whatever “issues” the PPE illuminates. I guess another point that experience helps.

[tohorse]

I agree. When I first came to NA, there was this gelding at the barn where I restarted riding. Owned by a very nice lady that didn’t have the health to ride. He was kind of lazy, but very uncomplicated and had everything auto. Rare colour and pretty too. I think he had some sort of show record in hunters. Admittedly he could look quite fancy under an experienced rider, but was literally the only horse in that barn that could tolerate packing around my husband. I honestly didn’t enjoy riding that horse all that much because it was just too boring and I don’t like push rides. My eyes popped when I learnt he was bought for SIX FIGURES. Now I’d seen and ridden a six-figure horse before, but they typically jumped Grand Prix That’s the first time I realized there is a huge market for those packer type horses here in US. As long as it’s pretty, sound, auto-everything and tolerates the worst of the worst, it’s probably worth six figures regardless of the actual athletic capability. My husband still talks about that horse BTW and even named a venture after him.

[vxf111]

Sounds like a pretty nice horse, even if not your cup of tea.

[TheJenners]

@vxf111

Sounds like a pretty nice horse, even if not your cup of tea.

It does, as someone who often prefers a lazy ride - it’s easier for me to clean buttcrack sweat off my saddle than it is to clean grass stains off my ass. Just sayin’.

[Against_All_Odds2]

Dead

(But same)

[BalancingAct]

Damn, really? I’d like to get my hands on a few drafts to use as recip mares since I don’t want my show mares carrying.