| What's Your Horse Worth? |
June 24, 2008
by Bonnie Davis
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It's been so hot here in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last couple days that not much riding has been done. We usually stay pretty cool with the 'ocean air conditioning' but a high pressure has halted the ocean breeze and it's been up in the 100's. Over in Livermore where Nic and other horses live it's been up to 105, 107 and higher. So on hot days, usually just finish chores, give horses bathes and put 'em back in their stalls with a couple big muck tubs full of water. (Nic likes to play in water so he manages to splash the water out, make a mess and will even roll in it!!)
About 4 or 5 were sitting around on hay bales watching the day go back and the heat waves rise in the pasture when the subject of what's your horse REALLY worth came up. It got into breeding, looks, bloodlines and what the horse can do because for me, a horse is worth only as much as he can do for me. And that do for me is taking me down a trail -- SAFELY.
Pretty, beauty, color, even breedings isn't important to me. I want a sound horse but as the old saying goes, pretty is as pretty does. And pretty doesn't count a hoot and a holler when going down a rocky 12-inch wide trail with a 500 foot drop off on one side and a sheer cliff on the other!
One of the best trail horses I ever owned was, well, mud fence ugly. Roman nosed. Pigeon toed. Cow hocked but Chip could get my daughter, Becky when she was little, through just about anything and took good care of her doing it. For me, a horse like that has no price tag.
When buying trail horses I always want good conformation but it doesn't have to be perfect, halter show ring conformation. A little toed out, in or roman nose, etc. isn't important to me. I want some good gray matter between the ears!! A horse that thinks for himself and wants to keep himself and me safe.
I've been lucky with my horses. I've had good trail horses over the last 40 plus years and plan to have more in the next 40 plus years. But I've always bought horses first by looking at their over all conformation, their eyes and then how they think. You can tell a lot about a horse when first meeting him (or her) by the way they react or think in a situation you may put 'em in just to see what they do.
And if you have one of those horses in the barn now, why sell 'em? If one is a trail rider and really rides trails you want a safe horse. That trail horse is literally carrying your life on his back in some trail situations. Cliffs, crossing rivers, meeting others on the trail can get really hairy if your trail horse isn't a safe trail horse. And I've found the best way to keep a trail horse a safe trail horse is to expose 'em to a lot of situations and then have a lot of wet saddle blankets to keep 'em that way.
The reason this topic came up is that one person was thinking about selling his horse. He'd owned the horse for 7, 8 years and figured it was time to "move up." My thought, Moving up to what? The horse he owns now is only 12, sound, nice looking, loads, hauls, tends to not like vets but then not every horse is perfect. So if the horse does what you want to do, why move up? Horses aren't like cars or houses or the latest fashion. If the steed does what you want and you have that trail horse-trail rider bond, why move up?
I've ridden some of the same horses for 20 plus years moving up only when a horse is retired and then it's not moving up but moving to a new horse. I rode Sig for 23 years and Bud, 24 before they were retired to pasture. I also don't sell a horse that's carried me through the mountains and down hundreds of miles of trails because I feel they've given their life to me as a trail horse and the least I can do is give them a good retirement life!
I don't think one really moves up if you've got a horse that provides you hours of trail riding, keeps you safe and is easy to handle. After all, a trail horse is a companion, a buddy, a pal, a friend. So why move up or change just because other people are doing it? If a horse is what you want and keeps you safe doing what you want and likes to do it, that horse is worth his weight in GOLD!! Not dollars and cents......
Stay safe and be sure to double check those campfires before heading out!!
Bonnie
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| I drop in to read your blog every week. Each time I read something that hits home. I have a 29 year old horse that was retired about 8 years ago because of a knee problem. He raised my daughter. Some people do not understand why I keep a horse that just stays in the pasture. I know you do. |
| Posted by M Proctor |
| I agree with you! I have four horses (ages 20, 11, 5, and 3) and they've all been loyal to me so I'm going to be repay their kindness, God willing, by retiring them when the time comes to the pastures they've always known, right here at home. |
| Posted by Troy Lynn |
| Thank you for this wonderful article. I work with a rescue and, too often, we see horses that have served their owners well, but got too old, or became boring, and instead of rewarding them for a job-well-done, they get sold and sold and sold until they end up at the sale barn, broken down and worn out. Their end is very sad. |
| Posted by Jeanne S |
| My boyfriend has the 7 yr old perfect horse. He doesn't excel in any one aspect of equestrian sports but does pretty good in all. He is like a decathlon athlete. As we think about moving up I wonder if we would ever have as versatile a pal as Timmy. He jumps, barrel races, trails, trailers, and never has a bad attitude. No, his conformation isn't the greatest but he is definitely a keeper. Forget the QH papers and halter classes...let's ride. |
| Posted by Myswingrl |
| I am lucky enough to own both pretty and sane! My 18 y.o. QH gelding is not only a lesson horse, a trail horse galore, but safe enough for all ages. He will never be sold, and God willing, will be ridden right up to his last days. I am a teacher of high-risk students, and my horse is my therapy! There could never be a value on such a companion.
Robyn G. |
| Posted by Robyn G. |
| I have a 28 year old rescue mare that was exactly what I needed when my wedding was cancelled a week before the date. ( 4 years ago) She was given to me two weeks later, and I owe my sanity to her. She has allergies, and a little attitude, but I love her. She has learned to trust me, and we have a great time on the trail. I look kinda silly on her, as she is only 14'2, but I do NOT care!! |
| Posted by dana |
| Bonnie - you couldn't have said it any better as far as I'm concerned. My Paso Fino sure isn't show quality with his big feet, long nose, etc. but he's gotten me through plenty of tight spots without flinching and that says it all. He'll be retiring soon and I know I won't be moving up but, moving on. |
| Posted by Sheila Craft, Fredericktown OH |
| Bonnie, I just read your article about what is your horse worth? I'm 61 yrs. old and haven't owned a horse for about 10yrs. my last one had to be put down... I have gained some weight and just haven't ridden. Anyway I've been trying to find a good trail horse and I guess my problem is I don't have alot of money.... but trying to find someone that doesn't bute or sedate the horse so he or she seems like your best friend.... and you get them home and their like the hydrogen bomb waiting to go off. I've had such bad luck in trying to find a horse I'm about to throw in the towel. I've been around horses and cattle most of my life and I love horses even though I've been thrown, kicked, drug and bitten. I barrel raced when I was young. But I just want something I don't have to rodeo and I can ride today and not ride for a week or two and then ride again like I just rode yesterday. I can't spend over $2000.00 .... Do you think it's possible to find anything? |
| Posted by Donna Ferrenburg, Twin Falls, Idaho |
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