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Location: midwest mama | Here's the situation:
I've been looking at finished barrel horses for sale, and I am pretty serious about buying something in the $25,000 - $35,000 price range. I would like an older "point and shoot" that I can go and have some fun on but still be fairly competitive with while my good horse is on "medical leave."
I found a horse advertised that I really like, and happen to have a few friends that know the horse personally and have seen her run. She all agreed that she is a nice horse, is pretty much what I am looking for, and they all encouraged me to go and try her. I have talked with the horse's owner several times.
Here's the problem - every one of these people who know the horse have all told me that she is way over priced for what she is, and that she should actually be priced about $10,000 lower than what she is priced at. Keep in mind that every one of my friends that know her really know barrel horses and I totally respect their opinions. They know what they are talking about. Based on what the owner has told me in regards to her experience and LTE, plus her age (she is 13), I have to agree with them.
I still think she might be a good horse for me, and I think I would like to go and try her, but not for what she is priced at. What should I do? Should I say something to the owner now, before I go and try her, or wait until I try her and then make a $10,000 (below asking price) offer if I like her? I don't want to insult her as she seems to be a very nice person.
HELP! I don't buy/sell horses much, so I need advice on how to handle this.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| Around here 25000. Doesn't buy a true 1 d horse, i would tell her what you want to spend and not waste her time. I'm sure you will insult her look elsewhere. |
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 Saint Stacey
| JMHO but it's not your place to tell someone where to price their horse. You can tell them what your budget is and are they willing to come down. But if someone ever told me where to price MY horse or that it was priced too high...I'd probably tell them to screw off. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| You don't. |
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | Not your place to tell her! Ask her if she is firm on her price, if she is move on to the next horse! I've known people that price them high and don't really care if they sell or not! |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | It's the seller's right to price the price the horse wherever they want. If you are interested in the horse then go ride it. And I would NEVER even consider a horse of that price unless I was allowed to ride it at a show.
Then, if you like the horse, make an offer. The owner will either accept your offer, decline your offer or counter offer. It's really that simple. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Make an offer and leave it at that. Running down the horse to get a lower price on a horse just makes folks angry and will not help you get the horse for less.
I had to fix this because my first post made no sense lol
Edited by barrelracr131 2015-08-19 8:06 AM
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| GLP - 2015-08-19 3:49 AM You don't.
This was my first thought too- |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | SKM - 2015-08-19 5:44 AM
JMHO but it's not your place to tell someone where to price their horse. You can tell them what your budget is and are they willing to come down. But if someone ever told me where to price MY horse or that it was priced too high...I'd probably tell them to screw off.
I agree. It is one thing to ask around about a horse but to have her "friends" undermine her sale is another. Personally I feel her friends have crossed a line in discussing a potential sale. You need to be upfront with seller and stop the behind the scenes chit chat with "friends". Tell her this is what you would be willing to spend on the horse if you like the way she runs Communication is key. Didn't mean to sound harsh but it seems there is lots of behind the scenes yabbering these days about other people's business. This is a business transaction between you and seller. All the extra needs to stop. Jmho |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| all of the comments ditto |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | I agree with most everyone else. The seller puts the price on the horse. That is how much she feels it would take for it to be worth it to sell the horse. If you feel it is too high then shop around don't waste her time. I put a price on my horses that is what I want for them. I am totally ok with people making offers I might except it. I might not. and alot of times I scan the for sale ads and think I might have mine priced a bit high. BUT I don't need to sell them but if someone is interested that is what it is going to take.
If you do officially go try this mare out, don't go in with the attitude she is over priced. Go in knowing what her price is and seeing if you like her for that price. Or a price relatively close to what she is asking. No one should be offended if you are making an offer on a horse but I would be offended if someone started out by saying my horse was over priced by 35%. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | This example may just have shown me why sometimes "Private treaty" is the way for a seller to go. This horse's price has been bandied about and judgments made by other folks and those judgments (fair or not) have a prospective buyer questioning whether they should even go look at the horse. And...say she does go try the horse and loves it...say they are a match in style and personality. What is that worth? To me a good bit. A stellar horse that doesn't click with a rider isn't going to make the times.
I think the OP is letting opinions of others keep her possibly from trying a good horse. You can't fairly say what that horse is worth to you without going and seeing/trying the horse to see how you match up...and form your own opinion. Then get a pre-purchase exam if you find you really like the horse. THEN decide on an offer. And if you buy the horse...if anyone asks what you paid...tell them that's between you and the seller but that you feel you got a fair deal you are both happy with.
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | If you and your friends think the horse is that far over priced then keep looking and dont waste the sellers time. If in fact the horse is way over priced, then she wont sell. The market will tell the seller whether the horse is over priced or not. It's not your place.Keep looking, and if you dont find something in a couple months then see if she's still there. If she's not, then I guess she wasnt over priced like your friends think. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Or you could do like everyone else on here and go look at the horse, lowball your offer, and then come here and complain about sellers who don't understand horses . . .
And then we can wait for the buyer response that talks about sellers that waste their time . . .
I'm teasing truly. I promise you won't be the only person in history who thought a person overpriced their horse. One thing watching a ton of these posts on here has taught me though is that a good horse you mesh with may be worth the asking price or at least above the lower offer you are considering (i.e. you could haggle a little). If you completely and totally click with the mare, you may actually get enough out of her or succeed well enough on her to truly make her worth that anyway.
I remember a girl I helped find a horse. She was a city slicker all the way. She just wanted to go trail ride and do parades on a horse that was absolutely bomb proof. And she wanted a black gelding that was 16.2 hh plus and had a certain look. She knew EXACTLY what she wanted and it was hard to find she was so specific. But we found one, a middle aged police horse about 12 that was absolutely quiet. He was so perfect she even gave the people 1000 over the asking price. She still has that horse and he is the most spoiled happy horse in the universe. She loves him to death and doesn't demand much of him. There couldn't have been a better home for him. If the horse is the right horse, you may feel the same way. |
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 Sorry I don't have any advice
Posts: 1975
Location: Sunnyland Florida |
A horse is worth whatever a buyer is willing to pay. If the horse is definitely priced out of your price range, share your budget with the seller before you try it. I don't think it's right to tell anyone their horse is overpriced because prices vary on the seller's motivation to sell.
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I just sold a horse for my aunt and while I was no where NEAR the prices you are talking about, I was a little offended when someone sent me an email (from the ad that was on BHW) and tried to low ball me by $1,000. I had him listed for $3,500 which was VERY reasonable for his abilities.
I had another gal call me several times, and I spent time with her on the phone talking about the horse, arranged a time for her to come look at the horse, and then a few hours before she was supposed to arrive, THEN she tells me the horse is almost $1,000 more than she can afford and doesn't want to "waste my time" if I can't come down on the price. ...... No, of course you didn't WASTE all my time I spent with you on the phone, or me re-arranging my schedule that week so you could come look at him, and now all of a sudden you can't afford him? I was so annoyed!
I don't think there is any harm to ask if the seller is FIRM on the price. To some people, a good fit or a good match is more important than the selling price. But to others, the price is the price and that's what they want for the horse. If you can't afford that price, then you need to bring it up to the seller ASAP so you don't waste their time.
It's really no one else's business what she has the horse priced at. Sure, you can ask for opinions on those who have seen the horse run and seen him in action, but it's not their decision what he should be priced at.
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| A lot of horses are overpriced in my opinion but you cant tell the seller... they either wont sell them or will eventually lower them. I see it a lot and that irritates me is when a horse is misleading with a misleading price. but thats a different issue |
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 Blond Bombshell..
Posts: 6628
Location: Hill Country of TEXAS!! | If you can't afford her asking price don't waste her time or the horses trying her. It's not anyone's place to say a horse is priced too high or low. Owner set her at a certain price. I'm sure she's negotiable but 10k is a slap in the face. id look elsewhere for a horse originally priced in your range. |
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 The Purple Princess
Posts: 2226
Location: Charlestown, IN | If the horse is in your price range and suits your needs/wants, it's no one else's business what you pay for it anyway. Even if they THINK she's overpriced. She may be worth the $25k to you but not $10k to me for whatever reasons. I agree with everyone else, if you aren't ok with the asking price, don't waste the owners time. |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Anything that is for sale is worth what ever someone will pay. |
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