Pricing your horse: OTTB's

The economy is not so hot right now. Horses are luxuries. A lot of people who are selling right now are trying to get out from under the burden of horse ownership. Very few people are buying. Those that are, are looking to get a deal. Consider yourself lucky if you find a buyer willing to pay half of what your horse would have been worth before the economy went down the proverbial pooper.

Thoroughbreds. I love TB's. They have heart and they are sporty. Sadly, they aren't worth a whole lot unless the have extensive, successful show careers and aren't ancient.

People looking for Warmbloods consider a registered foal or horse by an approved TB dam a lesser horse than a full Warmblood. I certainly don't agree with them, but the market says it is so.

Thoroughbreds off the track are worth even less. People are giving away perfectly sound, green OTTB's. Do not expect people to pay big money for your OT prospect no matter how nice it might be. For some reason, plain bay seems to be very common and undesirable as well. I applaud those of you who can take one of these guys in and retrain them as riding horse, but it's not a venture you can expect to make money on.

I have my own experience to share. Last Christmas I took on a young, gray, beautiful, sound OTTB who was talented beyond belief. I spent a couple months trying to sell him. I actually had a lot of responses to my ads. Dozens in fact, but was unable to find a taker for even $2k. I ended up giving him away as a prospect to an open grand prix jumper rider. I guess she thought he was plenty nice, but still buyers were just not buying.

This is the ad that prompted this blog entry:

Price $10,000
Breed(s) Thoroughbred
Sex Gelding
Height 16.0 hands
Color Bay
Foal Date May 2005
"This guy is a big puppy dog. As sweet as they come. Great mover. Gorgeous canter with a big stride. Jumping 2' courses and getting changes. Very quiet with great brakes. Super smart and willing. Trail rides and fox hunted. Off the track, but I cant imagine this one ever really ran. No track behaviors in any way. He is green but will be easily finished. Ready to start his show career. Eligible everything. Price will increase with training."

A long list on this on reference alone for free off track horses:
http://www.thehorse.com/Horses/Available.aspx

And a long list of adoptive agencies and rehab facilities of OTTB's:
canterusa.org
findanottb.proboards.com
quarterpole.com/ROAN
excellerfund.org
getahorse.org
lopetx.org
midatlantichorserescue.org
horseadoption.com
rerun.org
secondstride.org
tranquilityfarmtbs.org
ottbs-online.com
fingerlakestap.org
leightonfarm.com
friendsofferdinand.org