The price of horses for sale is a hot topic. It probably always has been but is more apparent now we have social media where a post can reach potentially hundreds of thousands of people in a matter of hours. In the comments section of a post, the price of a horse for sale is as much discussed as the suitability of the horse or tagging of friends who might be interested.
As such, we have a new group of experts in the equestrian industry aka the horse price analysts. They’re typically never asked for their opinion, unlikely to ever buy another horse and are most vocal when they deem a horse for sale as expensive.
I’m not sure if this new phenomenon of unqualified and unwanted price experts criticising the price of a horse advertised for sale is a trend I agree with. However, if you release content into the public domain be prepared for critique, and that rule applies to promoting horses for sale on social media platforms, too.
Last year, when anecdotally the price of horses for sale spiked due to Covid-19, the discussion on horse prices spiked, too. It was then at Whickr we asked the question, if the price of horses for sale is so interesting why has no-one ever tracked prices? Difficult but not impossible and it would be interesting to view the data.
Since then the price of horses for sale and tracking prices has been something we have been exploring, and it is very exciting to announce we have version one of our index tracking the prices of horses for sale online.
How we have calculated the data on horses for sale
Here are some points worth noting before reading the rest of the blog post;
The average price is calculated by summing up all the prices and dividing by the number of horses with advertised prices
If the horse is still for sale in the following month the price will be included in the average for that month, too
The 90% of horse prices number informs us that 90% of horse prices are at that price or lower
The maximum price is taken from the highest price advertised between the 1st of September and 31st of December 2021
The data excludes horses advertised for sale marked as POA
It is also worth noting that the data we have collected on horse prices suggests that the horses advertised for sale online are mostly targeted towards the competitive amatuer market, and less likely to include professional horses that attract much larger price tags.
Let’s kick on!
The Horses for Sale Price Index
We started in September 2021 and so far have collected over 12,355 prices of horses for sale online. We have grouped the prices into; all-rounder horses for sale, dressage horses for sale, event horses for sale, and showjumping horses for sale.
All-rounder horses for sale
With 4,785 prices recorded, the current average price of an all-rounder horse advertised for sale online is £10,091; 90 percent of all-rounder horses for sale are advertised for upto £17,500; the maximum price recorded since September 2021 is £60,000.
Dressage horses for sale
With 1,966 prices recorded, the current average price of a dressage horse for sale online is £13,473; 90 percent of dressage horses for sale are advertised for upto £25,000; the maximum price recorded since September 2021 is £200,000.
Eventing horses for sale
With 2,770 prices recorded, the current average price of an event horse for sale online is £13,127; 90 percent of event horses for sale are advertised for upto £22,050; the maximum price recorded since September 2021 is £80,000.
Showjumping horses for sale
With 2,784 prices recorded, the current average price of a showjumping horse for sale online is £14,104; 90 percent of showjumping horses for sale are advertised for upto £25,000; the maximum price recorded since September 2021 is £100,000.
To recap the price of horses for sale online
Average prices of horses for sale online
- All-rounder horses for sale, £10,091
- Dressage horses for sale, £13,473
- Eventing horses for sale, £13,127
- Showjumping horses for sale, £14,104
90 Percent of horses for sale are priced upto
- All-rounder horses for sale, £17,500
- Dressage horses for sale, £25,000
- Eventing horses for sale, £22,050
- Showjumping horses for sale, £25,000
Maximum price of horses for sale advertised online
- All-rounder horses for sale, £60,000
- Dressage horses for sale, £200,000
- Eventing horses for sale, £80,000
- Showjumping horses for sale, £100,000
Evaluating the data on horse prices
On average dressage, showjumping and event horses for sale are between 30% and 40% more expensive than an all-rounder advertised for sale online.
Dressage, eventing and showjumping horses for sale have a much wider price difference between the average and the maximum prices advertised, suggesting greater variance between the individual prices collected of horses for sale in those disciplines.
The data also suggests that most horses for sale online are targeted towards the serious amateur level. Horses produced with the professional market in mind even as youngsters are likely significantly more expensive than the averages found online, with the very best professional horses in their prime priced comfortably in the millions.
Summary
The prices of horses for sale disclosed in this blog shed light on horse prices with actual data from a meaningful number of horses for sale online.
Competitive amateur riders looking for an all-rounder should on average expect to pay £10,000 but for extra special all-rounders, pay up to £17,500.
Riders looking for a more focussed horse to compete in dressage, eventing or showjumping can expect to pay on average between £13,000 and £14,000 and can expect to pay up to £25,000 for a horse with more quality and potential.
The average price of horses for sale online doesn’t take into account age, breeding, ability and other data points that will also affect the value of a horse advertised for sale. But, what it does do is provide a benchmark that can be helpful when viewing horses for sale.
Speaking from my own experience, as a competitive amateur, without looking at the data I would expect to be paying between £15,000 and £25,000 for a horse to compete, which marries up with the data collected so far.
Hope you found the blog interesting.
