The horse market right now - Horse Forum - Horse Discussion Forum

peppysan · #1 (**permalink**) 12-22-2009, 09:22 PM

Does anyone else find that the horse market is really slow right now?

I see so many quality horses WITH training in the $1000-$2000 range and even then they have trouble selling. Is it just me? I remember a few years ago people paid asking price for a good horse and $10,000 -$20,000 was not uncommon for a horse depending on the discipline. I am sure it is directly related to the current economy as well as hay prices. What do others think? Are your sale horses selling?

zodie · #2 (**permalink**) 12-23-2009, 03:10 PM

The market right now is completely saturated. Way too many horses to choose from and a lot are lower end and so priced very low. Potential buyers feal they can buy the $500 horse and put the money into training. So the nicely trained animals are not selling like they used to. IMHO the shut down of the meat markets in the US has contributed along with the new "trend" of everyone wanting to rehab a standardbred or OTTB. Love the Standies by the way!

horse99 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-24-2009, 12:21 AM

I agree with Zodie (welcome Zodie!) the maket is for sure saturated. People keep breeding horses to fill a demand that is no longer there and a lot breed low quality horses at that. I didn't really think of the shut down of the slaughter houses but it makes sense. There are a lot more unwanted horses with no where to go... I did hear though that with the shut down of the plants a lot of horses are just getting shipped all the way to Canada or Mexico? Is that true? Can't imagine what a long and painful transport that would be...

joanpeterson · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2010, 12:26 AM

The horse market has not been great for a couple of years now and I don't think there will be a quick turn around. The horse market will come back if and when the economy improves and people have more money to spend on horses.

And I agree that there are far too many people breeding horses that are only adding to the problem. People love to have a baby in the pasture but where is that baby going to go when it is weaned? Same problem exists with cats and dogs.

peppysan · #5 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010, 03:12 AM

Quote:

People love to have a baby in the pasture but where is that baby going to go when it is weaned?

Yup it's so true. I say if you plan to breed a foal, make sure you breed it with the intention of KEEPING it for at least the next few years. If you cannot do that, then don't breed. Seems so simple?

Wonowon · #6 (**permalink**) 08-16-2011, 08:02 PM

Here in BC in order to keep your farm status, you are REQUIRED by the BC government to produce at least one foal per year.

Plus, if you happen to own a rare breed horse, it is expected that you would help to prevent extinction of that breed by producing more. This is a whole story to in itself, as some rare breeds have a hard time putting babies on the ground. So it's never a good idea to stop breeding them.

horse99 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-17-2011, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Plus, if you happen to own a rare breed horse, it is expected that you would help to prevent extinction of that breed by producing more.

I had no idea this was the case. How many are you expected to produce? Even in a time where most people are streamlining their herds?

As for maintaining farm status, are there no other ways to do this? I.e. having chickens or something a little cheaper and easier to feed and keep? I know a friend of mine had a small chicken coop and every couple months they would go for slaughter but she always had the best fresh free range chicken. And I know she had farm status...