How do you decide on selling price?

[eskvalleystud]

I've advertised my daughters 11.3hh l/R f/R 14 yo Welsh A mare for sale as totally outgrown but I do not know how much I should ask for her as she can suffer laminitis if not managed properly. I don't need to sell her but she is standing on the field doing nothing and has alot to offer as she's worth her weight in gold as a kids pony and seems a shame not being used especially as she adores kids and enjoys being ridden. How on earth do I price her with the laminitis factor added in? What would be reasonable and realistic? She is advertised as honest as I can as I want the right kind of home but saying offers invited is not helping from people who are interested

[BB123]

Would you consider a loan?x

[eskvalleystud]

Hi unfortunately not. Have had a few bad experiences loaning so wouldn't do it again

[honeypot]

Its a long time since I was looking for a FR but I saw a lot of rubbish. I would perhaps advertise her at just below the market price and only mention it if someone asks or when they come to view and then negotiate a price if happy you are with the home and how knowledgeable they are. If it was me I would be more worried that the pony was safe and the fact it would be on a diet is just normal for a small pony. I bought one which had obviously had laminitis but it never had it with us.

[kateanne0]

My greatest wish would be for an understanding, loving and knowledgeable home, so that when the time comes to let the pony go, they will find the very best home possible for the pony.

We had a Welsh B that had had laminitis and she was worth her weight in gold she was also in her teens. Advertised her at £2500, this is some years ago, and took an offer on her from the right family. We had quite a few viewers but finally a really lovely family turned up and bought her. To my knowledge she never had lami again and they went on to have a lot of success with her jumping, cross country and dressage. She was with them until the child absolutely outgrew her 6 years later. They also found a very good home for her.

It's finding the right family that is really hard work and having the guts to say 'no' to the people that you don't think would suit the pony.

Don't be fooled as we were when we let our other Welsh mare go to a 'forever' home with a real millionaire! Unknown to us they put her up for sale 12 months later and sold to a child that wasn't competent enough to ride her. Fortunately, the parents phoned us and we bought her back. She didn't leave us again until she went over the rainbow bridge.

[kirky]

What kateanne0 has stated is so very true, you don't know if the "forever home" is correct and the new oweners have every right to sell on.

[eskvalleystud]

Hi I understand that when you sell you have no right what new owner does with the pony. What I want to know is how not to under price her as that is when I find that it's easier for someone who's not invested in a pony to find it easier to sell on but at the same time I don't want to ask too much due to laminitis. Neither do I want to give her away! At the end of the day she is no problem to stay here but for health reasons it's in her best interests to go somewhere that can work her and to have time spent with little kids. I will never loan as 75% of those I have loaned have returned in a state, physically or mentally! much easier for a loaner to not invest in time or money when things go wrong etc. Not saying all loaners are like this as have had a few who cherished the loan pony but had too many who haven't! Pony gets returned and I have to pick up the pieces! And that was after vetting homes, one was on a bhs approved yard and returned like a hat rack.

[gillwales]

I learnt that you can never tell when you sell a pony in particular. I have sold to people who have promised a home for life, so I have let them go cheap, only to get a year later a call from a dealer trying to blackmail me into buying the pony back. I have also sold at sales, and these have usually found wonderful homes. It is in the luck of the draw, do what you think is best for the pony, most really enjoy the attention of a little one, unfortunally little ones grow up and then the space is needed for a bigger pony. What would you be prepared to pay for an older schoolmaster with health problems? Without seeing the pony it is almost impossible to put a value on it, I would pitch somewhere between £400 and £600. Do I need to put a tin hat on? I think it also depends on where you live, where I am it is fairly easy to find ponies of that type, it might not be where you are.

Good luck

[eskvalleystud]

Many thanks Gillwales. They are difficult to come by here but at the same time the buyer is going to have to manage a laminitis prone pony. As she's out of work with Erin outgrowing 2 years ago I've been asked if I'll do loan to buy. Quite wary of loaning and daughter said no as it will be hard enough for her to go get settled in and maybe come back and Erin says if she comes back and we advertise again next time would be harder to part with. The way I feel right now I don't now know if I can part with her since she's happy being field ornament and what if laminitis isn't managed or managed on loan and we have her returned foundered. Dilemma!

[kateanne0]

If you have land and can keep her, that's what I would do. You could always advertise for a little jockey to ride the pony and you manage the laminitis? Win/win maybe for some lucky little jockey's family that can't afford to buy or keep a pony but have a keen jockey and the time to help out?

[gillwales]

I would not loan, personally I would sell her to a family that wants to use her, it can be very difficult having other people coming onto your place and could be a conflict of interests plus a nightmare with insurence.

good luck with whtever you decide

[eskvalleystud]

Have looked into loan at home and insurance to do this plus even with contract if someone was to be injured even tripping up etc I could be sued. Thanks Gillwales you've reaffirmed my thoughts