Re: endurance horse prices

[epicarab@micron.net]

I couldn't agree more with Sandy.  As a breeder who tries to produce horses
capable of show ring and endurance success, it is increasingly frustrating to try
to market these horses.  I really prefer to see my horses in the hands of
endurance/performance people, but the show buyers are usually the only ones
willing to pay a decent price.  I am always astounded when people contact me
looking for a good, broke endurance prospect and tell me they'd like to spend
about $1,000 to $2,000.  It costs me that much to get a horse to a year old, let
alone broke and ready for endurance.  More frustrating is when I hear from buyers
who decided to pass over one of our horses to buy a "cheap" one, only to tell me
later that they spent more getting this horse ready than they would have if they'd
just bought from us in the first place - sometimes having to sell and start over
because the horse just didn't have what it takes.  Whatever happended to "you get
what you pay for"?  Oh well, I'll keep selling to the show people until something
changes.

SandyDSA@aol.com wrote:

> Indeed. And in addition, the sad irony is that show horses command higher
> prices, even while considerably less is required of them. While I can take a
> decent distance horse a turn him into a respectable arena or show horse, the
> converse in rarely true. The horse who cists the owner $8000 or more, say, is
> less likely to see the trail, let alone b dependable out there. Interestingly
> enough, the show horses I see attempting to traverse the great open spaces are
> wrecks by the time they get home. Of course both can - and should - be done
> together but rarely are. So...while that show prospect (based too many times
> on the sire's reputation) is sold for $5000 or better at 2 years old, the same
> quality 2 year old destined for true athletic endeavor is luck indeed to
> command $1000 or more. This is incomprehensible to me. Frankly show horses
> (and we have them - they do both!) should be a dime a dozen while true
> athletes of good breeding should command the higher prices. I would hate to
> have that bargain horse show that he was no bargain - halfway down the road on
> a 50 miler.
> San