I've found that the horse market is terrible here in La and east Tx. I took a nice filly to a sale in Nov that would ordinarily have brought 2000 to 2500 and she brought 700. Lowest bid I've ever had on a horse I rode through a sale. How is the market other places? Seems if a fellow had the cash and could afford the feed, this is the time to buy up some good stock, cheap. Yes, ya'll can comment on how much mules and jackasses are bringing also.

In my limited experience (!) there are a lot of crap horses out there, and very few good ones. No wonder they are cheap. It seems to be tough to even find a broke horse, much less a good one, but then the good horses ain't usually for sale, are they?! Good, broke horses are bringing big money, because there are so few of them.

From a non-breeder perspective, the pedigree would have to be very well-proven for colts and fillies to be worth anything, IMO. It is just buying a pig in a poke and spending all sorts of money on what MIGHT to turn out to be a good horse.

A guy I bought a round pen from last year was complaining that his fancy bred colts and fillies were bringing next to nothing at the sale. Well, no kidding.

The problem is the horse slaughter ban. The crap used to go to dog food and the French, where those animals belong. The 'killer' price (by the pound) set the floor for the market. Being worth $.40/lb. meant any thousand pound horse/mule was worth $400 on the hoof. So anything that would ride at all would bring more than this.

Now that the slaughter ban is enacted, horses/mules have been bringing ridiculously low prices. Coupled with the fuel prices we had not long ago and the cost of feed still way up there, it's no surprise the market is crap. Yes the really GOOD ones still fetch a pretty penny, but the majority of them don't bring squat.

All I meant by the thread was go to a sale and take advantage. By the time things work themselves out, you could find yourself in possession of some pretty nice horse/mule flesh for pennies on the dollar. That sale had some well broke ranch geldings that went for $2000 or so that would normally be worth north of $5000.

If you want to be crabby because you now see you paid too much for that "new mule", I understand.

quote:

If you want to be crabby because you now see you paid too much for that "new mule", I understand.

Indeed I paid a lot of money for that mule, but she is one of the good ones, and compared to the crap horses and mules I've seen out there she was a bargain! Why they sold her to me I have no idea. I guess there is a class of mule and/or horse riders that want to break and ride the rough stock, but not me! I would never sell her.

We seem to be destined to argue.

This post was to say "hey guys bargains abound right now." And "What is the market like in other pastures?" Not to start another mule vs horse debate. For the record, very few horses/mules are really good ones, just as very few horses/mules are really crap. 95% are somewhere in between. I start between 35 and 50 head a year(used to do twice that). We hope to find a few pretty nice ones each year, and every few years a superstar. Conversely, a few will be absolute dinks, and these are better bred colts than average. For what is required to hunt and trail ride, you'd be a fool (more money than sense) to look for the same caliber animal needed to make a high end performance star.
For your info, I am a high end cutting horse two year old man. Most of my colts are worth more than what Obama wants us to pay per year in taxes. I have ridden many horses worth six figures, a few worth seven. I am not a jackleg moron who lives and looks for wrecks and the rough stuff. I pay close attention to the economics of the horse business, which is what I am trying to share advice on.
If a fellow had the resources, he could buy a few for very little now, ride them for a few years, till things right themselves, and sell the lower half of his string for twice what he'll pay for the whole lot right now.

And go broke feeding them in the meantime. Horses...fastest known path to bankruptcy.

I thought that was a boat- a hole in the water you throw money into.

Finding a "good" horse = finding a credible seller. Some will sell anything, sound or not, to the "dude" buyer.
I expect to pay a fair price. I'm not one of "those", looking for the cheap horse. To all those looking for a $1000 trail horse. What do you think it costs to raise and train one, in $ and time?
Give me several thousand, a green horse and I'll be out of money, a green horse ( worse ) and probably in a cast.

They're certainly being advertised for less (about half) of what they were a couple of years ago, at least around here. I think I will look for one to keep the old one-eyed mare company.

Good grade horses around here are $500-1000. That is for 8-14 year old geldings, well-broke and ready to ride. The horse market is in the tank with the economy, past hay prices (which are around $110-125 ton, down from $200), and a glut of pasture ornaments.

I bought a great 12 year old gelding the other day. I broke him 10 years ago and he has been on a 26,000 acre working ranch every since. These guys paid $600 for him as a colt, $80 to cut him, $350 to break him, and whatever maintainence costs since. I paid them $500.

Horses are being turned loose on the desert and the mtns around here. My buddy went for a ride up the canyon and when he returned there were 2 horses tied to his trailer with a note "We hope you can take care of our horses. Thank You" Vets are charging $180 to put one down and the rendering plant is charging $200 to take themn away. It is a mess.

--Most horses only get worked 10% of what they need to be--

MC,

You're absolutely right, "it's a mess." I've heard about people dumping horses in Nv. also and I've been asked to dump some. That's pretty sad about finding those horses tied to your trailer. Also surprised at the little money people will take just to pawn them off. But guess under the circumstances it's the best thing for the horse.
I've got more respect for trainers and horses and hate to see them treated less than they're worth.
The no slaughter and people trying to take care of rescue horses that are old, ill and require extensive care, is good intention but not practical at all. It's a waste of money, effort and time.
I'll be riding in Ut. later. I've got room for one more.

I get an email almost daily of somebody wanting to find a home for a horse. Most are old horses that people want to get rid of as they buy a new horse, or just unbroke pasture potatoes that people no longer want to feed. But there have been a few younger horses. I helped a friend pick up a 15 year old gelding that a woman wanted to give to a good home. She had lost her job and couldn't afford the horse. My friend needed a second horse for his daughter. So we figured we'd take a chance. Turns out it's a very nice horse. A little underfed and skinny, but well behaved and very nice to ride.

One of the major sales that takes place each February around her was cancelled this year. I suspect because the prices were so low. either sellers decided not to sell or the auction company decided too many no sales and that didn't make enough money to host the sale.

With gas prices down, dairy prices are in the tank, and beef is down, Farmers will have more hay this year, which should bring the prices down on hay and help people afford to keep a few horses.

Oh I'd be really bummed to come back to my trailer and find a couple of extra horses tied to it. I usually have a full trailer anyway. I guess you would have to tie them to a tree or fence post and when you got back to where your cell phone works, call animal control.

The horse market, even for cutters, now has no middle. there is a market for cheap horses and a market for the superstars or potential superstars. The market for a good weekend horse is pretty soft right now.

That's what I've observed also.

Horses in S.Al are cheaper than good dogs.Anywhere from 100-2500...I bought 1 in the Wally pkg lot for 300.00 with all his papers.Cocoa would be a large pony,wife had him gelded.Bought a Class B mini from a girl outside Crestview,Fla for 275.00...Alex,brought him home in an S10 Jimmy...I can't ride due to back/neck bs,but I love horses,so they're great companions...I have 5ac of pasture(needs reseeding)and only buy 1 50lb bag of feed a month.They have hooves trimmed every 6wks.Farrier says they are in excellent health.

Here in Canada, where we still have horse slaughter, prices are going as cheap as $50/horse at the auctions.

My wife shows hunter/jumper competitively and has a Rhinelander, a Thoroughbred and a Paint pony. There's lots of horses for sale between $10K and $100K. The operative phrase is "for sale", cuz nobody's buying them in this market.

"going as cheap as $50/horse"

Interesting. $.05?
You'd think they would be worth more per lb. for dog food.

That's the whole problem. Horse slaughter is now illegal. They are now even trying to put restrictions on transporting them. The slaughter price always set the floor for the market. Any horse was worth $.40/lb. so a 1000 lb. horse was worth $400. If a horse rode at all, even with no papers or frills, it would be worth more than that. Now that horse can't be sold for slaughter and people stop feeding them or turn them lose. Another wonderful example of good intentions (gov't) ruining something that worked fine the way it was.

quote:

example of good intentions (gov't) ruining something that worked fine the way it was.

10-4 0n that. But also the "irrational" horse/animal people.Fact is the best thing IS slaughter or dig a pit and bury 1'000s of them. The burden, in any situation will bury YOU.

I just picked up a nice green broke 3 year old paint gelding for $600. He would have brought twice as much last year. I would have prefered a good mule but good mules are still expensive when compared to good horses.

one of my mares just gave me a fine colt after one of my stallions for nothing.....

best price and present ever

peter

Nice Peter!

thanks NB2

just the first one of 3 this year, the breed is still sought after so still abel to sell for decent money.

luckely we have no slaughter ban in denmark, so that is where some of the bad horses go.

still to many bleeding hearts around so they push for a law change.

peter

When my wife and I retired in 2006, against her wishes, I bought her a Registered Morgan Horse mare and her March 2006 registerable filly colt.

I paid $4500.00 for the two.

The mare was 16 years old at the time, and is turning or has just turned 19, the filly just turned 3.

If I could get $1000.00 for the pair now I would be happy.

I have offered to give them away, and no one is interested.

I look back on that purchase as the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life.

quote:

I look back on that purchase as the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life.

I was just curious as why. Maybe good thought for someone else.
Were they bought to use or just as an impulse. If the mare is a using horse, you paid a fair price. ( my opinion )The filly is where one finds out the "real" value (cost & time )and respect for a trainer, it takes to achieve a "using" horse.

And Peter,
Nice website. Great pics of the horses.

Peter,
I'm not familiar with the Irish Cob. What is the breeds original intended purpose. They appear to be a smaller draft type horse. The only cob I'm familiar with is the Welsh pony, and these look substantially larger. Nice looking horses.

They were bought as a retirement present for my wife, she is a fairly good rider.

Ehere was some intention of breeding the mare to a Mammoth Jack Donkey and getting myself a Morgan Mule for hunting out of the deal.

The mare had been used in Colorado in the mountains for both packing and riding.

My wife tried to talk me out of the purchase, but I was adamant about getting something nice for her for all the stuff she has helped me do over the years we have been married.

They are both good horses, and the filly just needs to be broke and worked with and the mare is rideable and handleable, just needs to be in a situation where someone will mess with her on a regular basis.

quote:

Originally posted by daniel77:
Peter,
I'm not familiar with the Irish Cob. What is the breeds original intended purpose. They appear to be a smaller draft type horse. The only cob I'm familiar with is the Welsh pony, and these look substantially larger. Nice looking horses.

in the states you will know them as gypsy vanner or gypsy horse or gypsy cop. they are small drafts indeed allthough they come in many shapes and sizes. mine range from 13,3-14,3 and their jobs vary from high end dressage to pulling carts and wagons to a bit of show jousting, pretty anything you would want your QH to do they can do, and do well.

NB2

thanks

best regards

peter

another one today


after my stallion scoop this one is almost an excact copy wow



best regards

peter

Horses may be dirt cheap, but I'm damned if I can find a dead broke kid horse, cheap or otherwise in NE Texas. All my kids kind of want to ride......I grew up riding but once I discovered the internal combustion engine, not to mention girls and booze, I was done with horses.......but my 10 year old REALLY wants a horse and I want to get her one but one that she, as a basically new rider can get on without overly risking life and limb......had a cowboy friend of mine, he put the then 9 yr old on his dead broke cow horse (and a damn good one) and she was hooked......so I asked him how much and he said, Fifteen? I said, $1500, that seems kind of cheap for a good cow horse? No.....$15,000.......THOUSAND!......No thanks. Really I need at least 2 kid type horses, one for kids and one for wife.

I bought one for kids and wife, gelding that was barn spoiled ( a little detail we didn't find out until after the fact, of course), they couldn't handle him, wife nearly got hurt bad when he wouldn't answer the reins.......paid $1500 for him, kept him around for a couple of years deciding whether to shoot him or not, I'll say this, he took care of himself for two years, luckily for him, finally sold him for $300 and glad to get it. I'm a helluva horse trader, I am.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Same old story. Lots of horses around but finding one that is REALLY bomb proof is tough or really, really expensive, or not for sale which is more likely.

Got a local trainer looking for a horse. He said might take a couple years!! I hope before I croak!

But I love the mule I bought this year. So you guys are own your own.

Will, Gat,

That's pretty much how it is.

"Good horses cheap?" I'll take one. ( fair price )

Well, I should have researched the market a bit more because, a couple of days ago, I let my wife buy herself an 8-year old gelding for $3,600. And, of course, a new horse needs new tack and saddle, easily another 2 grand. I should have had my wife read the posts on here about the horse market being depressed. Now I'm depressed.

Namibiahunter

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:
Well, I should have researched the market a bit more because, a couple of days ago, I let my wife buy herself an 8-year old gelding for $3,600. And, of course, a new horse needs new tack and saddle, easily another 2 grand. I should have had my wife read the posts on here about the horse market being depressed. Now I'm depressed.

Namibiahunter

Good luck with your horse. If he's a good one he's worth a lot more than what you paid!

Yep, relax. If the horse is sound and she's happy with it, YOUR'RE a WINNER!

If your wife is inexperienced and the horse is very experienced then it was money well spent to have her well mounted (safely taken care of). It takes a lot of hours and miles to make a really solid horse. Those hours and miles are ALWAYS worth something, in any market. My point of the thread was IF you know what you are looking for, there are some really good deals out there right now, same with real estate and other industries. That doesn't mean that everything is a steal. Sometimes you have to pay good money for a good product. Congrats and good luck with your new horse.

Biggest mistake I see people making is buying a horse just because it is pretty, or the right color. Buy one that fills all the boxes on your pro's list and leaves the con's alone, regardless of what it looks like. I can't tell you how many people call me to help them out just after purchasing a new horse. The time to make the advise call is BEFORE you buy the new horse. Good Luck.

My wife took the new horse out for a ride yesterday and I was very impressed with the horse. It responded very well to voice commands, turned well, and stood when it was supposed to. On top of that there are miles of beautiful trails on and around the property where we are boarding the horse. I'm feeling better now.

Now that she got her horse it'll be easier for me to get her okay for my next African hunt.

I'll try to get some pics of the horse on Monday.

Namibiahunter

quote:

Originally posted by namibiahunter:
Now that she got her horse it'll be easier for me to get her okay for my next African hunt.

Think again. While getting the okay might not be hard, if she's anything like my wife, you'll never be able to afford to go to Africa again.

Mine now has three horses. The amount she spends on board, trailering, showing, tack etc. could easily send me on a DG hunt every year.

Just spent some time at one of the local horse rescues yesterday. Diane the gal who has been in the business for 35 years said she gets 10 to 20 calls a week from people wanting to dump their horses. Reasons vary from no money to feed them, to kids dont ride em anymore to kids camp horses left after camp went BK. Has some decent animals and some green yearlings to brood mares..... we are seeing alot of good horses for sale for less than a grand in SW CO. Ever since the economy went south, gas went up and the ban... prices have dropped alot for all horses it seems.....