How much is a horse worth? H&H investigates... *H&H Plus*

In our horses for sale special issue of the magazine, we speak to agents, producers and other equine sellers to find out how they decide what a horse is worth when putting it up for sale...

When it comes to putting a price on a good horse, where do you start? Whether you’re looking for the next Milton or want to enjoy the journey of seeing a super-smart youngster progress from pre-training to Cheltenham, how do those in the business calculate the value of those animals?

“A horse is only worth what somebody is willing to pay,” says leading event horse agent Rachel Wakefield of Uptown Eventing. “There is no true value of a horse. It is like a painting or a house — it is guided by what is on the market at the time. Market value is determined by what a seller believes is an achievable price and what a buyer is prepared to pay, usually after some negotiation.

“We have lots of factors to consider: age, experience, competition results, breeding, the producer, associated production methods, skills and costs, as well as veterinary history.

Lucy Elder

H&H senior news writer

Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.