Frodo - 2016-03-16 9:26 AM I'm giving nearly $20 for a 50 lb. bag of feed and $6 to $8 a bale for hay, sometimes more. All this for senior horses that are no longer useful. I wonder how anyone on an average budget(or with children to raise) can afford to own horses. It's become quite an expensive hobby.

Jenbabe - 2016-03-15 4:46 PM


Thankfully it doesn't cost me near that much to care for a mare each year! But I think those costs along with all of the breeding expenses and foal care until it is sold should be what a breeder needs to get back out of the foal (plus some profit!). However, you have to look at the type of foal. For example, if I want a top-notch futurity prospect I better plan on spending some serious money. This foal is going to be an own son or daughter and out of a proven mare. If you're willing to go with a foal out of a less proven mare that maybe isn't an own daughter, then you can expect to pay quite a bit less. And that doesn't necessarily mean one is better than the other, but when you are looking at the odds of getting a top performer, you're obviously going to have a greater chance with the more proven parents, and that's where the higher value comes in. The other thing that should be considered is age versus training level. The futurity prospects that are going to command a higher price will be on track to compete at a high level. And if they fall behind then the value should go down. And I think there's a value drop-off once the futurity years are passed if they aren't finished and ready to head on to the next level of competition. I think the problem some people get into when pricing horses is that they cannot be honest with themselves about what they have. They price based off of what they see others pricing, not what the actual value of their horse is based on age, pedigree, and training/competition level. And as a breeder, I can say there are times when I have more into a foal than what I can justify pricing it at - extra breeding expenses, injury, sickness, etc. So my options are to price it high and never get it sold! Or take my loss and learn my lesson. (And sometimes that lesson is learning that my mare is not going to command a high enough price for her foals to continue attempting to breed for profit.)

Obviously these are my own opinions and experiences!

RunfastNTurn - 2016-03-15 12:41 PM

Well.. I have been looking as I am in the market to buy.. however I have a small budget, 5K or less. I cannot find anything in that range unless it is 20 years old. I see yearlings going for more than my budget.  It is kind of frustrating.... 

 

Just Let Me Run - 2016-03-16 11:35 AM


I'm in Tennessee near Memphis. We have plenty ready to go for $4-6,000 in this area. Only problem is no one is buying. I have an 8 year old ready to be hauled, gelding, cow bred. Priced at $4,500, and I'd definitely take less, but no one wants to offer cash. Everyone wants to trade. I traded him (under contract), but the horse I traded for was lame so that deal fell through ):

stayceem - 2016-03-16 9:06 AM I've felt the same way. I make a decdent paycheck, higher than average but I have to board. With board, living expenses, student loans, etc I am struggling to have enough disposable income to buy. I am not looking for a fancy bred futurity hopeful. Just something bred to be athletic that isnt WILD! HA. As i said in my previous post, there is a gap in the market. Lots of young stock. I cant afford to board a yearling, 2 year old or even 3 year old for 1-3 years before I can actually do much with it. I take great care of my horses but even the saddles, PHT, BOT stuff... I dunno how people afford it!

mtcanchazer - 2016-03-15 6:37 PM   Oh I agree! What I was replying to was about the person that said it took $3000 to keep a mare a year, as it doesn't cost me close to that much, so the stud fee, vet fees, then above those costs are my profit. The $9000 3 year old was just an example of really expensive prospects that don't have any more than 60 days, nicely bred but not own get off anything really special. It gets so frustrating when looking for a reasonably priced, decently bred prospect.

Frodo - 2016-03-16 9:26 AM

I'm giving nearly $20 for a 50 lb. bag of feed and $6 to $8 a bale for hay, sometimes more. All this for senior horses that are no longer useful. I wonder how anyone on an average budget(or with children to raise) can afford to own horses. It's become quite an expensive hobby.

CarrieH77 - 2016-03-16 1:28 PM This is a facinating thread to me.  As a buyer I know breeders have a ton of money into just getting babies on the ground normally.  And when I look at the price of prospects now I don't know how I would be able to afford anything that is even loping the barrels.  I try to find the deals, ones that are behind or may need a little more time on them.  And I have a source for young, reasonably priced well bred young horses that I have been doing lately. It's easier for me to put the money into them gradually than to buy something in a big lump sum.  It's kind of like my own payment plan for a prospect.  I have an Ivory James grandson/daughter on order for 2016.  LOL.  I cannot afford own sons and daughters but there are a lot out there that are still bred well or by more locally known studs than the national ones.  Even advertising costs are huge!  They have to regroup it from somewhere.