I am looking to buy an older trail horse. Im not a begginer but I want something quiet with lots of trail miles already under its saddle. I found a 17 yr old, childsafe,TWH mare that sounds like what I am looking for . The owners are asking $400. I'm going to look at her this weekend. Is $400 too much to pay for a 17 yr old. My boyfriend says its too much for a horse of that age. I dont think so but I want somebody to back me up..LOL Do you guys think that its too much to pay and i am curious to know what a horse of that age and training would go for in your area? I live in south west Georgia.
2007-09-13 15:25:06 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Horses
I know what to look for as far as buying a horse . I have had horses most of my life. I have a younger horse now that I'm selling cause hes too much for me too handle. I did some training as a teen( im in my 30's now) but I have small kids and dont have time to train one nor the desire to be on the back of a crazy one..lol I could get one much cheaper in north GA but I dont want to drive 2 or 3 hours just to look at a horse that I may not want . This one is local and we know the owners. They cant afford to keep her.
2007-09-13 16:08:15 · update #1
No way, that's very fair unless she's crippled as hell, she's got a lot of years on her. Just spend the money to have a vet look her over so you're not getting stuck with something you don't want.. have fun.
2007-09-13 15:30:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I do not think 400 is unreasonable. Believe it or not, if you're just looking for a good trail horse to W/T/C, etc, 17 years old is pretty young! I rode my first TB until he was about 35 and he passed away. TWH are also GREAT horses. Very intelligent, willing, and gentle (of course with horses everything always varies a little obviously). I would definetly recommend you have the owner ride the horse for you (so you can see its conformation, etc.), and then see if you can ride her. If you have the time, maybe even go back a second or third time to ride her because a horse can act different in different times.
Overall, I think that if you like this horse, 400 would be an amazing price to pay! Good luck, i hope she works out!!
2007-09-13 15:39:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Horses are cheap here. at 17 she can still have many miles on her or she could go at any time. It depends on her and on how she has been treated over the years. However you will still pay for a well broke horse and $400 is still a good price for a kid safe horse (too good to be true perhaps). Few such horses can be found for much under $1000. I would have to ask what is wrong that the owners would sell her that cheap. I tell people to figure on paying an extra five hundred to one thousand just for that alone. I got at least three calls this summer alone for such a horse on a listing that specifically said the horse I had was NOT for beginners.
Age is not always a factor in docility. Right now my five year old is riding a 3 year old fox trotter on trail rides. However the three year old fox trotter is very gentle and the two of them grew up together and love each other. She leads her horse around and it stops as soon as she does and never spooks at anything. It was ponied all last season and part of this season (before she started riding on her own) so now has over 500 miles on it. The two do excellent together. So it is possible to get a young docile horse. Just be sure you trust the horse seller.
2007-09-13 15:40:36 · answer #3 · answered by Jeff Sadler 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
age means nothing. its all abotu health.. get a vet good vet check first and dont just go once to look at the horse. the first time on appointment is ok... the next time you go, do so unannounced.. sounds rude i know but you need to see the horse in its natural enviroment when they havnt had a chance to clean her up, work the hell out of her so she's extra tierd or drug her ect. ask to ride her both times as well. you need to take a list of questions with you also in regards to her health, her dailey routine, how they care for her, how often she is ridden, how long she has gone with out riding and how she did the first time back, ask what her quirks are amoung many many other things. Your best bet it to find the trainer 1st then have them help you out. most trainers are anywhere from $250 a month to $500 per month.
keep in mind we have had horses live almost untill they were 40... one at 38 one at 39. they were riden lightly untill they were 32-33. Many, many of the top jumpers are in their 20's before they even get great, and those horses are shown and riden pretty hard and are still just as athletic as the others if not more so.
If the horse is sound, vet checks and her personality ect agress with you go for it, I would expect to pay over $2000 for a good broke older work/trail horse so $400 is great... but alott of time your get what you pay for... ask every question you can think of.. including why they're getting rid of her and why she is so cheap... get that trainers help
2007-09-14 04:11:08 · answer #4 · answered by crystal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like it a good price if the horse in good health. Many horses can live to be 30 +. But, we never know. If the people not want the horse I would buy her for $400 just so she have someone who love her and take care of her for the rest of her life.
2007-09-13 15:58:56 · answer #5 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the horse looks and acts healthy and they have proof of vaccinations and deworming. Yes the horse is worth that and more because she is proving safe to ride if she is:-) safe!
Check out her hoofs and belly and under tail all over.
Ride her and make sure there is no limping!
Not only that you are doing something GREAT by giving this old girl a home. Horses can live a very long time one of mine is 25 yrs old and still going strong! When she eats her food
look to make sure she is not loosing half of it because at this age her teeth should of been floated by now! Or look for her to grab big amounts and swollow another sign of teeth needing some work. Which is cheap to get done:-)
Good luck....OHH please feed a senior pellet feed it so much better for a older horse! Advantage 14 for seniors is great.
2007-09-13 15:59:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
$400 is excellent for that age as long as she is calm and relatively sound.
We just sold a 18 yr old dead broke gelding for $1500 (WI). He is a family's first horse and is loving all of the attention.
Horses can live for many years past 17 if they are taken care of correctly.
Have fun rejoining the world of riding!
2007-09-13 15:57:20 · answer #7 · answered by D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Horses advance into "previous" at distinctive expenses. there are a terrific variety of 18-365 days-previous horses that are healthful, sound, lively, and have years of top of the selection existence ahead of them. There are additionally some horses that are initiating to instruct their age at 18, with issues like arthritis and metabolic alterations linked with getting previous initiating to instruct. plenty relies upon on the care your horse gained in his adolescence. If he advance into thoroughly fed and had solid parasite administration practiced whilst he advance into youthful, if his ft and legs have been dealt with so as that he does not have any degenerative issues like arthritis going on, if he does not have any endocrine issues as evidenced by starting to be an prolonged hair coat, dry flaky dermis, or different themes, the prospect is he will do locate for no less than yet another 4-5 years. My adventure with horses getting previous is that each and each 365 days you get from them after with reference to the age of 24-25 is a recent. some horses make it longer than that, yet many extra do no longer.
2016-10-04 13:09:56 · answer #8 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's cheap for any horse. I would be very careful. When someone sells something for cheap you usually get what you pay for. A good solid, safe trailhorse that's bombproof and childsafe is worth their weight in gold, no matter the age. My 27 year old arab has many more years in him, and he's worth more than $400!
2007-09-13 18:01:03 · answer #9 · answered by gallianomom2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
17 years old is NOT OLD! 400 dollars is a great price for a trail horse. My horse was FREE, not she's sixteen, and she can barrel race, jump, gallop full speed, and do anything a 6 year old can do. If it's what your looking for and you have 400 dollars, get it!
2007-09-14 03:34:13 · answer #10 · answered by chillin' with my horse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds like a very reasonable price, we would pay more than that here on New Zealand for a nice, sound, quiet hack.
I would definately get a vet check done and take a friend with experience, for a second opinion
2007-09-14 00:03:45 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋