How's horse prices over there?

[Noah]

I've got a 4yo performance gelding(cutting/reining/cow horse) that I'm prepping to sell, and I'm interested to see what the market's doing over there.

Six mnths ago, I could've got 4-5K for him... but with the current economy..... not so sure.

What have yall seen?   Thanks, Noah

[txboardog]

really broke horses are still worth somthing but the middle of the road type are a dime a dozen

[Noah]

I heard last sale people were leaving horses tied to other people's trailers ...... rather than take them home and feed them.

[Circle C]

Noah,

   I am going to pick up 5 yearlings and weanlings from my farm this evening. The stud fee on their sire was $2500.00.  The dams are US and Canadian National champions, and I am selling them for 500.00 - 1250.00 just to get rid of them so I don't have to put any more $$ into them.  When the cost of living rises, people cut down on the extras, and in my area this type of horse is definitely and extra.

   Sometimes you just have to know when to fold them, and I think now is the time for me on these horses. I doubt the market will rebound anytime soon, and I cannot justify continuing to feed them without a potential for return on my money.

In my area  i can go pick up 2-3 year olds with 60-90 days and a decent set of papers for well under 1 grand.   Hope the Florida market is better than this area.    Maybe Ocala, there seems to be plenty of money thrown around there for horses.

[Noah]

Ocala's where I'm saling the horse, hopefully I don't have to no sale him... If I can't get 3500 I'll just keep the bugger.

[Mr. HG]

I think Chris and  Txboars are right on we put together kinda foundation and cutting and reining type horses to be shipped out of the country Brazil mostly.Long yearlings around 750.00 to 1200.00  10 to 14 head and I mean nice that price is the same at 2 or 3yrs old with 60 days in them.If you could enter him in a ranch horse competition and do well in it they sometimes have shows and sale so people can see the horse used you could get upwards of 10,000.00 if he has some color roan ,grey ,dun black. and cromed up and made right. Good luck Des

[Bryant]

I agree, Des.  No matter what the ranch horses seem to really stay steady with the market.  Not to mention they make some fine prospects no matter the task.

We have bought seven horses from the Return To The Remuda sale that is put on by the Pitchfork, Four 6's, Tongue River, and Beggs ranch up in Guthrie and have been VERY happy with all.  Just like in dogs, good solid bloodlines and breeding are key.

http://www.6666ranch.com/08Remuda.html

[matt_aggie04]

I have noticed as well that prices are in the ditch but it seems hard to find a GOOD cheap horse.  I have been looking for a B R O K E horse to hunt off that didn't cost nine prices and I have a gelding that is useable but it seems to really hard to find either a horse or a mule that has been used to hunt off of.  I will find one day...........


Matt

[Mr. HG]

A good friend of mine runs the 6s Ron Lane he also personally shows AQHA and placed in the World Show Sr Working Cowhorse the ranch horses they sale will bring more than that horse.Matt a good broke horse wheather he has been hunted off of or not as long as he's broke. Its kinda hard to shoot off a horse you teach them start shooting on the ground at a safe distance pet and say whoa and work him into this is not to hard. You can stuff his ears with tampons to muffle the noise from the gun which really is common practice.Alot of cowboys do this for big rodeos riding young and even sometimes some horses don't like all those noises but it works.Good Luck .Matt you pay for what you get Bryant thats the way to go if you want to just go to work or play and not have to worry about a thing just your own butt those horses know there jobs where they come from if they screw up they have to make it up so they figure it out. Thanks Des

[Noah]

I've never heard of anyone having a dedicated ranch gelding sale over this way, but I'm gonna ask around...

[Circle C]

[Mr. HG]

Noah If a person buys a horse and goes and has a pre purchase exam done they expect to pay more for a good sound horse that someone is going to stand behind. So again you pay and market your animal they way you want to.A person all ways feels better knowing no matter what amount they spend if they feel like its going to work like they want it to. Then if  you are man enough to to stand behind your animal and  help them with the horse it could be rider error and you still answer there questions and help people will pay more. We sale horses and cattle for kids, adult ams and pros and not to pick its mostly women and with a guarantee we have not gotten any back but a few easy questions and we have showed up at a show to help them through their first one.So its all about marketing.2 cents for free

[Circle C]

Des,

  Very good point you made about standing behind a product. 
I think the same thing applies whether you are talking about horses/dogs/etc. With the exception being, that I figure every time you buy something at auction it is buyer beware. Very different from private treaty transactions.   

   People also get wrapped up in what we call "white fence syndrome", just because a place has manicured pastures, and pretty white fences, does not mean they have quality livestock. I went to a well known ranch that produces cutting horses, and some ranch horses, and was heavily involved in Brahman/Brangus/Angus production. Beautiful facilities, sale barn on site, top notch vet clinic site, with 4 full time vets.   Rode around in the truck all day with the foreman, and a BIG binder of registration papers, and I could not find a single horse that I would feed. Much less pay money to purchase.  Des, you know the ranch I am talking about...

   Truth is two of the best horses I have ever owned came from straight up horse traders, selling at the Saturday night horse sales. I think just due to the sheer numbers involved, they come across some real jewels occasionally.
 
    I have also hauled horses for people from the Havard sale several times. http://www.havardsales.com/
Sometimes the horses were junk, other times there were some really nice horses. Used to take a horse to the Saturday sale just to prep them for the Havard sale.  Same horse that might bring 1200-1500 at the Saturday sale, would bring 2500-3000 the next weekend at the Havard sale. The horse did not change, just the venue. Much like white fence syndrome, people think they are getting a better quality product because of where it is being sold, not what is actually being sold. :

[Noah]

I forgot how much I hate sales, I've always done well with private deals, but since I've been out of the training gig for a few yrs, I've lost a lot of exposure.  I think I'll try hitting up some old friends and see if they can move him.

Des, Circle, what's your discipline?  Breeders, trainers, owners?

[Mr. HG]

Noah I personally have 7 horses I was a 4-H kid FFA in high school rodeo team went  to college open rodeoing I love to start colts from western to now dressage. I came from my last place sold a horse  for 2 million he was a halter horse. Now we have horses from 20,000.00 to over 200,000.00. I fit sale horses and fit and condition and rehab and  do repro work we collect ship semen fresh cooled and frozen for horses and cattle.So in saying all that if they are not sound they are not worth .50 a pound if you know what  I mean not in less its a mare or a stallion. I think if you are smart and know how nice your horse is you can private treaty sale him and get what you think he is worth just trying to give you some ideas. Some people want to bragg on what a deal they made and some want to tell you they payed a lot for him hopefully some of this BS helps. Des

[Silverton Boar Dogs]

A good friend of mine runs the 6s Ron Lane

Ron runs the Pitchfork Ranch not the 6's...Mike Gibbson was the manager at the 6's untill about 2 weeks ago, he was let go by Mrs Ann.....

....anyway, Noah, do you have any points or money won on that horse? If he is proven, and the real deal he will bring the money. In my country,Ranch horses are bringing 2,500 and down, show horses 2,500 and up. One of my old customers just bought a NRHA practice horse for 85K, but he is a pretty nice horse.haha

Paul T

[Mr. HG]

I stand corrected he would kill me him or Nikki. Thanks Paul T

[Flatbroke]

you can get a good deal on hop-hippity horse over here.   

[Circle C]

Noah,

    Mandi and I have two very different backgrounds when it comes to horses. Sometimes they blend well/ sometimes they clash.

   I grew up around using horses. If I am going to compete in anything, it is team sorting. Otherwise, I pretty much consider a horse a tool. Something to keep me from walking while getting a task done.

  Mandi grew up with Hunter/Jumper,then transitioned to saddleseat and English Pleasure  dealing primarily in Arabian/Saddlebred/Hackney/NSH  . Showing in local, regional, and national events.
   
    Together we owned about 30 head, a 10 horse show string, and about 20 broodmares. Several years ago we traveled the country buying mares that we felt would nick well with our stud. We produced some nice offspring.  We sold down some last year, and continue to sell down. We are keeping a few choice prospects for future showing, and selling all brood stock. Mandi does not train anymore, unless some one pesters her enough, and shows enough money to make it worth her time. We no longer breed horses. About the only time we really use our horses anymore is to hunt occasionally, and to gather cattle.We spend more time hunting than we ever have in years past, and just don't have the time for the horses like we used to.

[Noah]

Team sorting... I miss doing that, used to have alot of fun before it became a job

Paul, he's got most the pieces but he's just not nimble enough to make anything more than a non-pro.   He's one of those bulky colts that you've got to keep in position or he gets all over himself.   Haida's Pep/Colonel Freckles bred 4yo gelding, 14-2 bulldog.   He'd make a good heeling horse, but he's just not aggressive enough to make a cutter, although he will cut.... you've just got to tell him to do it  

I sold him about 6mnths ago to a cutter for $4,500, but he was an old guy that weighed about 275#'s..... He insisted on using his old narrow cuttin saddle on this broad backed colt for about a wk.... you know what happens when a horse finally get's fed up with you cranking on his back don't you? :   Well the guy calls me up and says he wants to bring him back, so he does(as he limps out of his truck lol) and says "he's everything you said he was,  we just didn't click."  I ran my fingers down his back while the guy was there and the poor colt about fell to his knees   Man I get tired of idiots.

Let me see if I can figure out how to get some video loaded up and I'll see what yall think of this dink...