Somehow it's still a shocking number. I don't know if anyone caught the Chronicle of the Horse interview with Robert Dover (June 2009), but they asked him What do you find to be the most ridiculous part of the horse world? His answer: Prices of the horses.
Amen.
clipped from www.dressagedaily.com
AestheteNew!
Name Aesthete Gender Gelding Birth Year 2005 Breed KWPN (Dutch Warmblood) Color Bay Size 16.3 Sire Trento B/ Krack C Dam Unusual Dam Sire Gribaldi Price 400000.00
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Free Rein With: Robert Dover, by Coree Reuter and Robert Dover, June 5, 2009 Chronicle of the Horse
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At least 20 years ago, I knew of a hunter mare that sold for $150,000 and then later was resold for something around $250,000, so, adjusting for inflation, $400,000 just doesn't seem that much in comparison...and for a dressage horse no less. *Sigh*
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mr. Dover. The prices are out of my reach, that's for sure. My philosophy will just be to "buy cheap" and "make expensive" through good training. The gaits may not be "to die for" but the ride will make up for that. *G*
I love love love horses, and spoil my $500 horse. But if I EVER paid $400,000 for a horse, it better poop gold and win me an Olympic medal. Sheesh!
ReplyDeleteAnd a gelding no less! Absolutely no financial value to the horse once he can no longer perform. Crazy stuff!
ReplyDeleteMaybe they can fly
ReplyDeleteGosh, back in the eighties there were lots and lots of Arabians syndicated for millions. My own mare's dam sold for 280,000 in 1985 at the Polish Prestige Sale to the United States!!
ReplyDeleteHowever, in the last few decades horse prices have dropped considerably. I'm wondering if it's supposed to be $40,000, especially since he's so young AND a gelding.
Doesn't 40K seem low for a horse with this pedigree and show record? I agree that 400K seems high for one that is not doing upper level work.
ReplyDeleteThe horse market has been down for the last several years, especially since the slaughter houses closed and the economy tanked. There is an abundance of good horseflesh available with impeccable pedigrees and training to boot. That's not to say there aren't people with deep pockets of money and pricey horses to buy still out there. However, I should think a stallion or mare would fetch higher dollar than a gelding. He has good pedigree but he's not breeding stock so it's basically his show potential that people are buying. What price is a blue ribbon worth?
ReplyDeleteI knew of a woman who purchased a dressage horse in Europe for something like half a million dollars and the horse died in quarantine. She was so devastated that she quit horses and donated all of her tack, supplies, clothing, etc. to the barn where I was riding at the time. She gave us everything including a basket full of eggs. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'd much rather sew a silk purse from a sow's ear. A reasonably priced sow, that is.
See I was thinking "typo" until I clicked the ad. Sounds like they are serious.
ReplyDeleteSure - Ok. We have a regionally showing GP horse @ my barn for 6 figures. In the past we've had others in the 100-250k range. But never 400k. And certainly not for a 5 year old gelding in a bad economy. Someone needs to lay off the pixie stix.
Oh Well maybe someone with more money than sense will buy it.
There was a $400K gelding recuperating at my barn for a while. He was a gelding imported from Ireland. I guess he wins a lot of money competing in hunter derbys.
ReplyDeleteNice horse, but $400K seems a little exorbitant.
I, Fenway Bartholomule, have an estimated current value of about $174,000. This based on FarmWife's statement that I am "worth my weight in gold."
ReplyDeletewww.BraysOfOurLives.com
Riley is worth 50K because that's what I've spent on him. :-(
ReplyDeleteThe horse looks nice but I think they're a little delusional about price. Anyone who's good enough to ride that horse at the level it needs is also knowledgeable enough to buy a cheaper horse and train it up. Looks like a horse aimed at people with more money than sense.
ReplyDeleteI also think Rachel's point about him being worthless in the financial sense after his riding life is up is a very valid point. Frankly I don't even think his performance life will be that long considering they're doing passages and piaffes on him at age 5. That's some pretty tough work for a warmblood that's probably still finishing up his growth. I'm pretty worried about what kind of shape this horse's joints will be in when he hits his teens...
I could envision a "rising star" rider with financial (corporate?) backing using this horse to catapult to the top -- But it's a risky business. If he's THAT wonderful, I suppose they could do cloning...
ReplyDeleteWasn't this the horse that won one of the Dressage at Devon young horse classes (maybe the 3 year old Championship?)? The class title is escaping me as I'm feeling Lyme-y today! I'm pretty sure the trainer, owner, and horse were featured in Dressage Today. Maybe that's where they want to get some expensive buyers from!
ReplyDeleteBut there is no way this horse is going to be sound later. My TWO year old Dutch filly is totally awkward right now. I can't imagine putting someone on her back now, much less putting her into full training.
Definitely more money than sense.
that horse won the young horse championships as a four year old and had outscored all previous horses from prior years. The horse is also probably going to place top two as a five year old and go over to the World's and place well over there. I also wouldn't be surprised to see him on team when he comes about.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, he's worth it to the right investor.
ha.
ReplyDeleteMy friends just sold their 5 year old mare to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia for somewhere between $500,000 and 1 million...
she's a HALTER horse... no even broke to ride.
I'm glad for them but going WTF?
As my fiance always says: Its a GELDING, what happens when he bows a tendon at 8?
ReplyDeleteI love my horses, but I would rather 'make' my horse worth money than pay it to start out with.