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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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