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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 04/26/2004 12:06:41 PM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. We may not ~always~ have a lot of activity, but when we do, it will be fun. I will put a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I will also develop a ping list for horse threads that are of interest. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
I am hoping this thread will be a fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Yeah, actually, I do think it's a giveaway... $1000 is a pretty baseline price for a saddle horse, at least in this area. You can't find them young and sound for less.... meat packers will pay $800 for a horse that weight I think :~\.
A well-bred well-built horse with the potential to be a jumper or dressage horse would sell for ten times that with better marketing, these racing people usually don't take the time, which is why many find such bargains off the track they can finish and sell.
I've long believed that there is nothing more random and artificial than horse pricing. The same horse can have a lot of different prices depending on who you are marketing ~to~ and how much they think that skill or talent costs, rather than any firm and definable value in the horse.
My pony is a good example. as an green-broke back yard kid pony, I'd not get $400 for her with an ad in the newspaper. As a pony club prospect with no more training, but talking to the right set with a video on the web, she'd be worth $10,000. Same horse, just as untrained, different economy.
Show people pay many thousands for a horse that a trail rider isn't going to think is worth anything. Good trail horses max out at about $2000 here, that's the ceiling on what people will pay for that skill, no matter how excellent the horse.
I don't know Heather or her skill or how much money she has, but if its a first horse and the thousand dollars is an issue, she'll not afford the other startup costs, like tack, boarding, and the other gear she'll need. And if it is a first horse, does she have the skill to take on a two year old?
Did you just spam for the precious hundred post? ;~D
YEs...sorry...I have never been in the position to get one of those, and overwhelming urge hit:).
$1000 around here is pretty high right now for and almost unbroke horse.
Heather is 14. She has some tack, but not an English saddle. She has a saddle like ecurbh. I don't really think her parents will/can board one. They have 4 kids and her dad is a preacher. I think they may have been feeling me out to see if I would board it for her for the price of feed. And I can't do that. What little space I have if I don't have a horse in it I want to keep it open for horses that I hope to ride for others as I am doing now with Reba.
I agree with you that horse pricing has no rules. I'm asking, IMO, top dollar for Harley and won't sell him till I get it. I'm looking to sell him to someone who wants to keep one and not looking to sell it themselves. Like a kid who wants to grow up with the same horse. Even Heather who has experience in jumping says he'd make a good jumper/English pleasure. She makes him so pretty when she rides him. I'm going to borrow my daughters English saddle and take some pictures of him next week with her riding him. I still think he would make an excellent English Show horse. He just moves like one.
Becky
Becky
But I think we are making progress, he's never sweat while at rest like this. And he has started sweating in his flanks while being rode. The vets have told me that it just takes a while if ever for sweat glands to become active again if they have stopped. Maybe his are coming out of hibernation:)
Becky
Look forward to the pics of Harley ;~D
I hope Heather gets her English horse some day! How old is she? I remember well, hanging out at the appaloosa ranch next door, teaching them my own version of dressage in western gear.
14.
That was one reason I asked her mom if she could come ride with me. I had this horse standing here doing nothing, and here is a kid who would sell her soul to ride. Altho I really don't like letting other people ride my horses, I felt I needed to share my blessings. I remember when I named my bike and pretended it was a horse, I know how bad it can be to want one and not have any hope of ever getting one.
Becky
I did start him on a supplement too at the same time, lots of vitamins and minerals. I figured that would help his system too..??? So do you think that in just 9 days it could make a difference? That is what I'm having a hard time believing. His respiration is still higher then the other horses standing around. But he's sweating.....go figure.
Becky
I'd love to return the blessing too, if there were a nice kid around that wanted to responsibly ride Bay I'd love that, and he'd benefit from some regular use with a nice lightweight rider.
Or this pony. I'd build a round pen and buy tack for this pony if there was just a nice kid that wanted a project, but can't afford her own. I am sure there are kids like us and Heather around here too, I just haven't found them.
LOL! I ~felt~ English, and the Western riders thought it looked fancy, whatever it was. ;~D
LOL
Becky
I don't know about Rusty getting better that fast. I'm not at all familiar with his condition. Go figure and good news!
I wouldn't take an off the track horse unless Heather is a very experienced rider. :-) Some (not all) off the track horses can be a little well... nuts. I speak from experience :-) I've taught three of them to go sanely under saddle.
But, 1000 isn't bad at all for an ex TB racer.
She does not have alot of experience. She's a good rider, but this doesn't sound like a horse for her. I'll talk to her mother next week, and let her tell the disappointing facts.
Becky
Oh, I guess I should say, that IMO, $1000, might be "cheap" but it's not "give away". See what I mean. I'm sure the horse is worth $1000, but remember this is a 14 year old and she heard "give away". How do you think she took that:)? What has she told her parents? Those are the questions I'm wondering.
Becky
Yeah - I get what you mean.... 14 is a whole different reality! They're practically giving him away! I'll feed him and ride him every day! I'll work extra after school and... and...
She's lucky to have you, and so are her folks... I hope she gets it someday. It's the healthiest thing for the mind a kid can want to do.
Thought I would just "limp" in and see what's happening. It almost did me in (I'm supposed to be in bed or on crutches) but I went to check to see if I still had a horse. Some nice soul put him in the pasture for me and put up all my equipment.
You'd have taken these hits and falls better as a kid! I feel for ya.... Poor gal. Glad you could limp in.... :~D
Physically I'll heal with time. Mentally is what is playing in my head right now. I need to get back on ASAP. The longer I wait the harder it's going to be. I was even thinking today that if someone held his head and I could get two people to help me up.... Crazy huh? I can hardly walk or sit but I keep thinking about the what could have happeneds and I get scared. I don't like those thoughts. I'm no quitter.
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