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 Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
     
Location: Around here somewhere... | SIL asked me what a good price for a kid horse is (she is looking)- I honestly have NO idea, so must ask... What would you pay for a 26yo kid horse? I would think it would be free at that age... |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | For my boys? I would pay $3000 if it was sound healthy and SAFE |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | but I know a neighbor got one through a sale barn for $800 or so that turned out to be perfect. At a sale though, you just can't trust 100%. |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | That all depends on what condition the horse is in, what he can do and if a true beginner can ride him and feel comfortable. I have a 26 year old and a 21 year old for my kids to ride and they would certainly not be free.
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Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | wyoming barrel racer - 2014-01-31 6:41 PM but I know a neighbor got one through a sale barn for $800 or so that turned out to be perfect. At a sale though, you just can't trust 100%.
I got one that was heading to the sale barn for $200, thought I hit the jackpot because she rode like a dream and would have been perfect for my 6 year old son.
Unfortunately, she was very colic prone and she died about two months after we got her. May have been why she was headed to the sale barn, she was not in very good condition and was only 22. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | I would think a truly good kid's horse would be worth the same as a truly good kid's pony, and we all know what those are worth. |
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 Wide Darn Open
Posts: 2141
| I have a 26 year old that I wouldn't sale for anything but if I did she would cost because she still wins local rodeos so if the horse is safe it's worth money especially for a kid. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Some friends of ours bought a 20+ year old retired roping horse for his kids a lot of years ago for $200 and figured if he got even one year with the horse it was well worth the money. The horse lived through two summers and his kids got a great start in horses.....sounds like money well spent to me. I would not hesitate to spend some money on a horse for kids because how do you put a price on their safety? |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | My niece and nephews pony only cost me $200 and she to me was well worth $2500. But they didn't know what they had. And for me, I would pay more for a horse than for a pony just because it's a lot harder to outgrow a horse than a pony!! She got my 4 year old nephew that had a bad experience on a horse that swore he would never ride again to be completely comfortable and is now trotting barrels by himself and we just got her in August. I believe that they are always worth what you would pay for them. If they are perfect and will for your needs then pay the price. That age though I would definitely do a thorough check. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | Ive been looking...IMHO, I wouldn't pay much if it was 26...MAYBE $800 if if it was in jam-up shape. Point is, for $2500-3000, you can buy a nice kid horse that is NOT so old...be patient and look around. Get a younger one, then you can pass it on when your child moves up, and get your money back, unless you just have money to probably throw away. A little younger is just the smarter financial move... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 902
Location: Qld Australia | If you can get one for free, load it up and drive away fast. I would expect to pay anywhere from $1000 to $3000 depending on history and condition.
Of course you can be lucky and find bargains but horses of this description are worth their weight in gold and personally I would be offended if someone expected to pay nothing for a good kid's horse of that age.
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | My answer to this is always the question "What is your child's fun, safety and good start in their riding career worth to you?". |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 836
Location: Southern Pennsylvania | CrossCreek - 2014-01-31 8:54 PM
Ive been looking...IMHO, I wouldn't pay much if it was 26...MAYBE $800 if if it was in jam-up shape. Point is, for $2500-3000, you can buy a nice kid horse that is NOT so old...be patient and look around. Get a younger one, then you can pass it on when your child moves up, and get your money back, unless you just have money to probably throw away. A little younger is just the smarter financial move...
Ditto. We got a nice kids horse for under $1,000. He is pigeon toed and missing teeth (We were told that he was born this way), but is still under 15 years old. He is just a trail horse. However, he listens well enough that he trots through the barrel pattern easily. 
BTW: we expected to pay between $800-1,500 for a basic trail horse for a kid. Our Teespoon is technically a pony (about 14.1 H). He is perfect, but we spent about 2 years searching. We originally bought a miniature pony (This pony was also "priceless". He now has a forever home as a little girls pet. Then, as their psture pet). Then, stepped up to Teepsoon. We sold the pony, but Teespoon is priceless and will stay until he dies.
Edited by SunnyGotMeGood 2014-02-01 10:36 AM
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | My very first horse was a 19 year old quarter horse that had asthma. He had been a roping horse back in his younger years and got passed down the owner's granddaughter to learn to ride on. She needed a step up horse and I needed a start up horse so they agreed to sell him to us (knowing they would always be able to see him) for $500.He couldn't break out of a lope without the asthma (or whatever it actually was) kicking in, so he was the perfect 1st horse. Taught me so much, but we unfortunately lost him after 9 months to colic. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I gave $800 for a 24 year old retired roping horse that was very thin but sound. My little girl was 3 at the time. He's 26 now and a little stiff in this cold weather, but all he needed was some groceries and his teeth attended to to get him back in good shape. He is worth his weight in gold and takes wonderful care of his little girl. |
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
Location: Texas | When my grandpa bought my horse for me when I was a kid he paid $2500, (this was about 15 years ago). The horse wasn't for sale, but it was enough that the man had his kids get off the horse and my grandpa took him home.
I think he was well worth the money, he raised me (and let me get all of my stupid ideas out of my system, and boy did I have some doozies)... then went on to be my son's horse for a couple of years.
I would honestly pay more for a kid horse then I would for a horse for me. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Honestly I think it depends on the area. Here you couldn't give away a 26 year old even if it was still running and winning. Anything older then 20 simply doesn't sell.
Safety of the children is priority but they get attached too and at 26 you know clock is ticking against you. If it was me I'd either see if they'd agree to a lease or I would look for something a bit younger. Lots of great horses out there so it doesn't hurt to look around.
Best of luck. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | My son's pony I got for free from a close friend. He's 33, about 13.3/14.0 tall, 100% sound! never foundered not colic-prone, no health issues, has never bucked, kicked, bitten, struck, given a dirty look and you can ride him bareback, saddled, halter or bridle - he does it all. He will still do pleasure classes and gaming events (obviously at a 33 year old pony's pace). He meets us at the gate wakes as slow or as fast as his handler, has beautiful ground manners, and puts his head basically on the ground so that children can halter/bridle him. He is a 1 in a 1,000,000 guy.
Today was my son's first ride on him. He is 15 months. My son had so much fun that he cried when my husband took him off. I got Gambler for free, but I would pay just about any price for the comfort and knowledge that this pony will give my son. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| I'd price my daughter's at $3000 firm. He will walk through the gate and walk the pattern for her, or run a AAA time in any event at CGA with a confident rider. He scoops up the ribbons in local shows. My autistic niece and nephew can crawl all around him and make as much noise as they want and he's good with it. He hauls well, tolerates ANYTHING, is sound, and perfectly sized for a youth (14 with shoes on). He's 21. Not fancy broke but bombproof for sure. Worth his weight in gold. NOT for sale lol! |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I guess I must be crazy, but I managed to either place (free) our youth horses or sell them really cheap. I had a grade QH/welsh who ran 21/22 poles and open 2D barrels. I think he was 18 when I sold him to a friend for $1000. I knew it was a good home.
The second horse was a reg QH gelding who had issues getting caught. He was just a "different" gelding on the ground but safe under saddle. I gave him back to his old owner when he was 19, who either sold or gave him to a family. They built him a special pen that was easier to catch him in, and they do all sorts of events with him. Again- it was a good home.
The third horse is 18? this year. she's a grade solid paint mare. Has won us tons of youth saddles and buckles, etc.. Her only issues were that she was grade, and she has melanomas on her throat latch. No one would TOUCH her. So we ended up giving her to my friend's little sister. Her little sister always wanted to run barrels but they could never find one for her. Now both daughters ride.
Sooooooo maybe we are the odd ones.. I would like to get the money I am asking for the horses in my sig… but these step up kid horses all went to really special homes so I am glad we gave them away or sold them cheap. |
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Location: Philly | A 26 yo can go downhill fast. Spending any significant amount of money on one that old...well to each their own.
What I've noticed is that you have to wade through the ones where people are marketing them (older horses) as horses that can still be used as a performance horse instead of simply a kids horse (roping/barrel horses where sellers say they can still go so they price them as such)
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 411
Location: Smack in the middle of WA! | I guess I have really lucked out in the ones I have found! First one for my son was a 26 year old quarterpony. We got 3 years out of her and I paid $300 for her. So incredibly kid safe! She was the perfect first pony! My son then moved to a retired rope horse (he had actually been given to me a few years prior to rope on when my horse was injured) and he also was amazing! We had him until he was 29 and his arthritis got so bad he went back to his owners. He was given to me with the understanding that when he was ready to retire his owners wanted him back, and that was about 3 years ago and they still have him! The next one I paid $1500 for and so worth it also! He was 21, super broke and a perfect little 4h horse! I had zero trouble paying that much for my son's safety! Unfortunately after having him about 5 months he got kicked out in the pasture and shattered his olecranon(elbow) bone. Did stall rest for about 4 months and sold him as a lead line horse. Walk, trot stuff was about his limit. By then my son outgrew riding and got more into dirt bikes. This past summer my niece decided she wanted to ride so I pretty much just kept my ears open and found a gem! Pretty sure most would not have taken him but he is so safe and sweet! He's 30 and has done everything! Multiple cutting saddle wins with more than one person, 4h, barrels, trails and roping and a grandson of Doc Bar. He has no front teeth left but has his back ones and does great on his free choice grass hay. He's out in the pasture with all my others and is just a great old man! I guess what I'm saying is they are out there, just put the word out and you will find the perfect one! Price varies so much on older horses and most owners want them to be in a great home that will take care of their needs, however there is no price tag on your child's safety  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | I think it REALLY depends on what you are looking to do with them. An 18-22 year old that is still out running and kid safe can be priced from $2k-$10K. Where as the same horse that is just super bomb proof more of a trail horse they might be able to pull threw the patterns might be $500-$1500. At 26 they are now getting to the point they might go down real quick so I would think free to $1K again just depends on what type of shape the horse is in and what they are still capable of doing.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| casualdust07 - 2014-02-01 9:47 PM
I guess I must be crazy, but I managed to either place (free) our youth horses or sell them really cheap. I had a grade QH/welsh who ran 21/22 poles and open 2D barrels. I think he was 18 when I sold him to a friend for $1000. I knew it was a good home.
The second horse was a reg QH gelding who had issues getting caught. He was just a "different" gelding on the ground but safe under saddle. I gave him back to his old owner when he was 19, who either sold or gave him to a family. They built him a special pen that was easier to catch him in, and they do all sorts of events with him. Again- it was a good home.
The third horse is 18? this year. she's a grade solid paint mare. Has won us tons of youth saddles and buckles, etc.. Her only issues were that she was grade, and she has melanomas on her throat latch. No one would TOUCH her. So we ended up giving her to my friend's little sister. Her little sister always wanted to run barrels but they could never find one for her. Now both daughters ride.
Sooooooo maybe we are the odd ones.. I would like to get the money I am asking for the horses in my sig… but these step up kid horses all went to really special homes so I am glad we gave them away or sold them cheap.
Well, I know who I'm going to call when I need another kids horse! Haha! It's good of you to consider the placement of your older horses.
The two in your signature seem reasonably priced. The 9 year old is something I'd look at if I were in the market for sure. And your yearling looks a TON like my three year old did at that age (Willy Wanta Dash, Merridoc, Jets Payday, Magnolia Bar). I'd price mine at multiple times that now that he's broke nice. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 980
Location: Southwest Minnesota | I always tell people to buy your kids a safe, sane horse and pay the $$ because it is cheaper than an ER visit for broken bones. I bought my daughter a 15 year old gelding for $2500 who was not a fancy anything but did everything. He was a 16.1 hand Paint gelding that you could put ANYBODY on him. He was the epitomy of what you wanted for a safe, sane kid's horse. I sold him to a family member at the age of 21 for their 4 year old daughter for $2000. I could have probably gotten more but was excited to have him go somewhere where he would be taken care of and loved. I would pay plenty for something that my kids could ride safely and learn and be safe on. If you can get one for free, load that baby up, and drive as quickly as you can out of there before those people change their minds. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | Get one that is safe, and that can be done for under $1000. Don't go in thinking that you will get a horse to compete on as they get older. Get one that matches their riding ability. I have two little ones that are 6&8. I let someone fool me into getting a faster horse than what my first one needed. I quickly figured that out and have been trying to get horses to match their abilities.... Only down side is that they out grow horses as fast as they out grow their clothes.
Both of mine learned to ride on horses that were 24+. One was my wife's retired horse and one our local vet let us borrow that was a retired play day horse. |
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My Heelers are Heroes
Posts: 4685
| Must be a location thing because I only had 2 people look at my 19 year old for $2,500. He's sound and healthy and did everything the kids asked him to. |
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Old kid horse?