When appraising an automobile there is a very specific protocol to be followed. From the year, the make, the model, the number of miles, etc a “bluebook” value is set and your vehicle is published for sale according to those standards. What are the standards for placing a value on a horse?

It is my belief that an Arabian horse is worth “what the buyer or seller will pay or sell it for.” Here are a couple examples to support that theory;

1} An Arabian Stallion wins an important title, shortly thereafter an offer is made on said stallion for 1 million dollars. The offer is turned down. Does that mean the horse is “worth” 1 million dollars, or more because the offer is turned down? Lets say another horse (same age, sex, similar pedigree) is “scored” or “appraised” for more than the “1 million dollar stallion” on the same day and sells for $100,000. Was the horse that scored/appraised higher worth a million or more? The answer is no. The horse was worth what the buyer and seller wanted to pay or sell for.

2} A filly is priced by its owner at $15,000. Said owner is in severe financial despair. Buyer offers $10,000… seller refuses feeling that $15,000 is very low considering her impeccable pedigree and obvious quality. A couple months later, the same filly is seen by the same “buyer”. The filly is now owned by someone who is financially secure. The new owner states that the filly is not for sale. The buyer insists that they must have her… the new owner places what he believes to be an outrageous price on the filly… $200,000. The filly is sold. Is she worth $15,000 or $200,000?

When we are asked to help place a value on a horse, after evaluating its quality, pedigree and record, our first question to the owner is, what is your motive? Are you in a position that you need to sell and how severe is that need? Do you need to sell in order to feed your heard, or breed your next foal, or promote your program? Or, is this a horse that fits your program and may produce valuable foals for you in the future. Can you afford to show it and have it promote your program? Obviously pedigree and quality play a very important role in marketing a horse, but as seen in the previous 2 examples, it does not always dictate the end price.

It is my experience that purchases in Arabian horses is very highly motivated by emotion. Like art, an Arabian often speaks to one individual very differently than it does to another.

So, again I ask, how does one “appraise” a horse?

(average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Author: Riyan Rivero

Website: http://www.equineimagecenter.com

Other posts by Riyan Rivero

Riyan Rivero is a lifetime member of the Arabian Horse Industry. The daughter of author Jo West Lauter (JL Hardesty), an amazing wealth of knowledge and incredible asset to the Arabian Breed. Riyan has lived a life surrounded by the best in the breed both in horse legends and amazing horse enthusiasts since the early 70's. Riyan and Ricardo Rivero own Equine Image Center, a marketing and training facility based in Scottsdale, Arizona, responsible for marketing some of the Industries top show horses including, QR Marc, Arbiteur, Regal Actress, El Tino, and many more up and coming superstars.

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