Another horse question...prices?

Question

okay, this is an update/change:

i found another add the owner placed a few days eariler, and they were asking 2,500 for the horses, hay and tack.

1. yes i know to have a vet check for all horses

2. yes i ride any horse b4 i buy it to make sure it's good for our needs.

3. yes i know horses in my area are cheap.

4. i live on a farm and we grow our own hay/grass on 47 acres, and i know 50 bales is just an extra but if it's good hay, then it's a good deal with hay prices rising.

5. i have 3 saddles (one is a show saddle for sale, but we still own it) and alot of tack already, i would take the tack, no matter the condition, clean it, and then decide if i want to use it or sell it at our local tack store. i'll prob keep it tho.

since they would consider going down to 2,500, what would you offer to start out with(after you went to see the horses)? if i do like the horses for our needs, i wouldnt want to insult the owners. do you think 1,500 is okay to offer to start off with?

Answer 1

Can't hurt to start at $1500 if they are asking $2500. Your plans sound fine and I'd take the tack and hay also. It sounds as if they are just selling their last or only horse plus all his stuff. You can always resell any or all. I have always made a low offer when looking. They should expect it and then counter. This is normal in the horse buying/selling world. If they get insulted, there's always other horses out there, but you have to try...it's a reasonable deal.

Answer 2

I think that would be a decent price to start bargaining with.  You can always go up a little if they don't come down.

Take cash.  People have a hard time rejecting cold, hard cash.

Answer 3

I would not worry about offending the seller. Market is down and they want to sell. An offer is just an offer it doesn't mean they will accept.

Start out with telling them that you don't want to offend them but times are tough and understandably as a prospective buyer you would like the best deal you can get. I would offer half of what they want and simply tell them its what you would like to pay. if they say no, offer a little more. you never know what someone will take. (especially if they like you)

Example:

I recently sold a 3yr old colt to young man that didn't have a lot of money and even had to make payments. I was asking 2500. and he told me he could only spend 1200. and was there anything else that might work for him at that price. he is taking bull dogging lessons and this colt will be perfect for that event. I know his trainer and felt this young man would be a great home for this horse. I let him take the horse. he never insulted me with the offer. an offer is never an insult to me as long as the buyer is not knocking the horse to get the price down. it is just simply what they want to spend or have to spend. Remember the seller can simply say no.

Answer 4

Okay first, I know you realize that you need to ride the horse before you buy it. but ride it at where its been kept. Then ask if you could have a 3 month leese. Because some people say "Oh, this is just a great horse." But it may be some phycotic horse that they drugged up. Make sure you know if the horse is green or broke. What disipline, the costs. Age. Show record. Past owners. Blood lines. Breed. etc..

But i think 1,500 is a good price to start at. (:

Answer 5

i'd start out with that price. u don't really need the tack so that would just be an added extra. i don't htink there is anything wrong with haggling over the price after all sales people do it all the time

Answer 6

Sounds like you've thought this through quite a bit.  Take cash with you and maybe just take one truck.  If you make the deal, you can at least bring some of the hay and tack on the first trip back.