How much is the highest you would pay for a horse?

Question

Any horse...

Answer 1

Right now probably only about 5,000 but I'm not rich and snobby like some horse owners and i don't have perfectly trained horses, so i guess i wouldn't know!!

Answer 2

That would depend on the horse, how much money I had available to spend, and what the horse would be used for.

I spent $1400 and $1250 on my horses. They were unregistered grade horse, one only green broke, but sound, healthy horses and the first horse was a great bombproof pony. I think those were fair prices for them, at least at the time. In the market now they'd probably sell for less.

For an average trail/pleasure horse I don't think I'd pay more than $2,000, preferably not more than $1,000 if the horse wasn't registered and dead broke.

If I were showing competitively, it'd be worth it to spend more on a good horse with some talent and miles in the show ring. I think anywhere from $5,000-25,000 is completely understandable depending on what level the horse is showing and winning at. Not that I'd ever be able to afford that (lol) but hey, if you want to win the Daytona 500 you can't expect to buy a Kia and compete against a more expensive, specialized vehicle. Occasionally you can find a diamond in the rough but that takes a skilled eye and is always more of a risk.

For a good breeding horse... well, in most cases if you're spending LESS than $5,000, I'd be asking questions as to whether or not the horse is actually breeding quality.

Answer 3

Right now, probably $2000. I can find a great horse or a horse with huge potential for that much money. Granted, I'm not as picky as others, but the horses I own now cost me $120, $800, and $600. My husband and I plan every purchase, and don't buy hastily. He wouldn't even let me take in a free horse last summer....he was sure there was something wrong with it if it was free. I prefer buying low-priced unbroke horses and training them myself. Wouldn't spend a lot on any horse, because extra training or special bloodlines don't mean a whole lot to me. I'd like a good safe pony for my little girl to learn on, and would probably pay quite a bit, but not more than $2000.

Answer 4

It depends on what you want to do with the horse. If you want to compete, you'd buy a good competition horse with sound conformation, preferrably one that's already competed and shown talent for that career, it'd cost quite a few thousand dollars. If you just want a horse for general riding (trail rides, the odd show) I probably wouldn't pay more than $1,000.
I paid $1,500 for my 3 year old Arabian pony from his breeder, and I know he's a bargain. His sire is Trincada Strike, a champion Arabian pony here in Australia, multiple supreme champion ribbon winner in harness and halter classes. My boy's dam has produced a number of showhorse foals that have won championship ribbons, and her only daughter won her Arabian pony class at the Australian championship years ago. I only paid $1,500 for my boy as he was a gelding( he was a weanling back then); as a colt he would have been priced at $4,000. More if he'd been shown. At the moment, he's the most expensive horse I've bought.
Of course, I didn't have a lot of money saved up at that point. I'd only buy a horse that I could afford to pay for without borrowing any money from anyone, and only then if I had the finance to ensure that I could adequately take care of his needs.

Answer 5

The most i have ever spent on a horse is $700. I was willing to pay $1500 once for a nice gelding. I use my horses for trail and for show. My show mare now was free and i just paid a very very low adoption fee on a rescue mare who is perfect for barrels. Granted that i do barrels for fun, im not looking to be famous or make money off of it. If i really got into it i would pay $5000 at the highest and feel guilty doing it when i know theres so many homeless horses hoping to avoid slaughter that would run barrels for me.

Answer 6

Love this question! I love seeing the price ranges and the philosphies behind the answers.

But the real answer (for show horses) is....It costs just as much to feed, shoe, haul and show a cheap horse as it does an expensive one. It may cost even more to train and vet the cheap horse.

So the best advice I've heard for show horses is, buy the best horse you can possibly afford, because your expense of keeping them is the same, and your possibility of success is (usually) higher if you buy the horse with the training, bloodlines and temperament to excel in what you want to excel in. In most breeds and disciplines, that usually translates into a more expensive horse.

Then, get insurance!

Answer 7

It would depend on the horse and what I wanted him for. Any top level performance horse in the events I show in can run anywhere from $10,000 up to $100,00. If I had unlimted resources, I would not mind paying top dollar for a first rate horse. If I just wanted a lawn decoration, maybe $500 -$1000.

Answer 8

I'm looking for a Doma Vaqura horse (usually ridden with no legs) that is sensitive to my weight aids, smooth as glass, schooled in Haute Ecole basics, sane and sweet and agreeable to all my problems and special devices for my disability, bombproof, and smart/ talented enough t continue learning and training fas as long as we live. I lifetime partner I can depend on and cart around the world with me. It's a lot to expect of a horse!! Also has to lie down so I can get on. Gotta pass US blood tests too. :-( Don't care about papers or breeding

For this, I'd pay 12,000 Euro plus 10,000 to bring him to the US. $30,000 Which I'm still saving for!

Answer 9

My mom and I discussed this last night. She would be willing ot pay up to about 60,000. Umm...it really depends on what the horse if for. I'm about to pay $20,000 for a horse for jumping. That's really cheap in the horse world today. Then again, I have $300 ranch horses that are great and I love them. What ever you need them for i guess.

Answer 10

Depends. Probably $20,000 for a seasoned well manered show horse (western pleasure), $15,000 for a 1D-2D barrel horse, $5000 for a trail/open show/all around horse.

I paid $1,500 for one of my horses and $2,000 for the other.
One had a 'minor' bucking problem and the other is still in training.

*(Yeah, there's not really such a thing as a minor bucking problem. He only bucked every so often, but when he did he got the rider off, or he'd keep going until he did.)*