How Much Should I Offer on This Horse?

4755 Views 31 Replies 16 Participants Last post by SilverMaple, Oct 9, 2017

KristenTyler

Discussion Starter · Oct 7, 2017

Hi everyone. I'll try to keep this as short but detailed as possible.

A month ago I met a quarter horse at the barn I was leasing a horse at and fell in love with him instantly. He was/is a rescue horse who was about 250lbs under weight at the time and being used for lessons. I asked the owner if I could buy him that very day and she said she wasn't ready to sell him, but she let me do a full time lease on him.

For the past month I have been putting weight on him (paying for all of his supplements), paying full boarding fees, visiting with him daily, taking lunging and riding lessons with him. I'm just so in love with this horse. He is a good sound horse, but he does need some work, and really needs his topline built. He's also covered in scars from whatever crappy life he lived previously.

I was at the barn the day he got his teeth done, and the vet came out as well. The vet says he is in his late 20's, has a tumor in his mouth, a cluster of tumors on his penis, as well as a couple of tumors on his bum. The owner believes he is actually in his early 20's, but as a buyer, wouldn't I go by what the vet is telling me?

In any case, the owner wants to sell him right away now and she is asking $2,500.

I am really only prepared to pay between $1000-$1500 for him.

I'm very new at all of this so I was hoping to get some advice before I make a counter offer to her. I'd like to have some knowledge in my hands to say "he is worth xxx amount." I am wondering if my counter offer price of $1000-$1500 is reasonable given his condition and age?

I'm sorry if any of this is confusing, it's a weird situation but the owner (who is also the owner of my barn) Is a good gal and she does care about this horses well being, but I also don't want her pulling a fast one on me, assuming that my novice horse purchasing experience can be taken advantage of.

Thanks for any help!

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· #20 · Oct 8, 2017

KristenTyler said:
He was/is a rescue horse who was about 250lbs under weight at the time and being used for lessons. she let me do a full time lease on him.....For the past month I have been putting weight on him (paying for all of his supplements), paying full boarding fees

So you've been paying for the privilege of paying all of his expenses, including board....

KristenTyler said:
The vet says he is in his late 20's, has a tumor in his mouth, a cluster of tumors on his penis, as well as a couple of tumors on his bum.

the owner wants to sell him right away now and she is asking $2,500!

I wouldn't offer $250 for this horse, much less pay $2500. The tumor in his mouth will eventually cause difficulty if it continues to grow. Large Vet Bill.

The tumors on his penis also have the potential to cause problems with his being able to urinate, resulting in bladder infections and possible kidney damage. Huge Vet Bills.

I'm betting the vet check was also the 1 year adoption check -- which is why she was unwilling to sell before. Note: My rescue wasn't officially 'mine' for a year.

She's suddenly willing to sell after the vet discloses the information above; she's seeing the same thing I am. Vet Bills. She's also seeing YOU. Someone with hearts in the her eyes and cash in her wallet and thinks she can off-load a problem and make a profit at the same time.

I'd drop the lease, let the BO start picking up the costs, etc. and see if the price comes down. At the same time, I'd offer to take the horse off her hands if, a) she can prove she's met the rescue/adoption time rules and, b) if she'll take what the horse is actually worth - which is nothing.

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm being cruel, but a horse of his age and condition probably isn't going to be usably sound for more than 5 years - and you'll be lucky to get that. After that, you have the expenses of an aging pasture ornament. Board, feed, vet, farrier, etc.

I know that you love this horse, but the BO doesn't. She just wants to make back whatever monies she's already spent. That isn't your problem. You need to look at what the future will cost. That $1000-1500 you say you can afford is best held onto for this one's vet bills, or a different horse.

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