Another Haflinger coming soon

[3equines]

As those who have been following the adventures of my ponies may know, I have had the big gelding, Gibson, in m care since just after Christmas '09. The original deal was for me to get him trained to pack and settled down as a saddlehorse in exchange for having my mare, Sweet P, trained to drive. Gib's owner and I swapped horses for awhile, but the weather was too cold and icky during the winter for her to get Sweet P out very much. Then Sweet P had her tail injury, so she has been home with me all spring.

In the meantime, I have been having a blast with Gibson, treating him just like he is one of my own, and those who knew him 'before' and have seen him lately are pretty blown away about what a good, solid, confident horse he is.

Gibson's owner made me a deal. She wants me to spend the summer and fall working with another one of her very green Haflingers (a mare named Shelly), and at the end of that then I will get to own - papers and all - another Halfigner mare of hers named Crystal. The lady has a whole herd of 'evergreen' horses, she is trying to get the herd down to 5 completly broke ponies.

My boyfriend and I discussed this, and we are game on the deal. I might not keep Crystal, but will enjoy putting time into her and finding the right human for her. In the meantime, I will have fun working with another green horse over the summer.

I will get out to my friend's place later this week and get some pics of the 'new' Haffies. BF and I will probably pony them on a ride Saturday to see how their brains work. Crystal has had some professional training and did a bit of trail riding last year, so she won't be a whole ot of work - just needs miles.

[CaddoCinnamon]

Cool 3E. What is Gibson going to do now? Is he going back home? Thanks for sharing I look forward to pics of the new Haffie.

[Petra]

That is very cool. I'm looking forward to the pictures and all the updates!

[lovesfortune]

That's great - looking forward to pictures!!

[carla]

Can't wait! Sounds like a good deal. :)

[Cat]

Oooo...so that means you get to actually play with two new haffies here. One that will have to go back and one that you get to keep. Sounds like an excellent deal to me!


And I just have to...

:worthless:

[Ranger44]

That sounds like a great way to do business. You seem to have a good handle on your plan. It's always fun to travel along with you and your horses (your BF too).

If you don't mind my asking what is one of these halfies worth once it is trained like yours? I looked at a young one when I first started looking for horses and your adventures have given me some more interest. If you don't want to post the price but would still share a PM wold be fine. Thanks.

[3equines]

Well, here's a Haflinger pic but it is just Gibson and my girls - but if you've seen one...

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/adventures%20past/trail%20ridin/100_4143.jpg


And Gibson will be going back home to his Mom this coming weekend. There is a huge ride starting at Gibson's mom's farm, with lots of Backcountry Horsemen people. My boyfriend, and a young kid who's been riding with me, and my friend with the long blonde hair who rode with me Sunday are riding my ponies on the ride next weekend, I will probably ride Crystal (the one I will get the papers for when all si said and done) and my boyfriend will probably pony Shelly (the one we are going to train as part of the trade).

[3equines]

That sounds like a great way to do business. You seem to have a good handle on your plan. It's always fun to travel along with you and your horses (your BF too).

If you don't mind my asking what is one of these halfies worth once it is trained like yours? I looked at a young one when I first started looking for horses and your adventures have given me some more interest. If you don't want to post the price but would still share a PM wold be fine. Thanks.

They are worth between $3,000 and $5000 depending on whether it is a mare or gelding, and the age. A well-trained, bombproof mare that is less than 10 years old is easily worth 5K, the price goes up to the 8-10K range if they are trained to dressage and/or driving single as well. But, they are worth it. The breed is highly regulated so good health, conformation, and disposition are passed to the registered horses. It costs a stud owner $600 a year to keep the breeding stallion registered, so that really eliminates the second-best on the stud side.

A greenbroke Haflinger is worth around 2 to 3k depending on gender and age, they can be sold much higher if the bloodlines are in demand or if they come from proven showhorses. Mine were all valued at the 2k figure when I started them out, and that was a 'good deal' rate since they were very young, well-started mares.

Of course there are Haflingers out there who sell for exorbitant amounts of money, but that is true in all breeds. If I do decide to sell Crystal after working woth her I would probably ask for $4000 because I am not a good businessperson and want the horse to go to a good home, and most good horsey homes have limits on what they will spend on a horse.

[Ranger44]

Thanks for the info. I know there are a couple of breeders around here but I think they use them mostly for driving. So many good ideas and so little funds to make it happen. lol

[Petra]

Wow that is very nice! Horses don't sell very well around here.

I've seen 7yr registered mare broke to ride and drive for $1750 on craigslist.

[3equines]

Here's some pictures of Crystal. She is a chocolaty chestnut.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/DSCF2029.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/DSCF2028.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/DSCF2027.jpg

Here is Shelly, the one I would be training. She is on the right, with the big Bambi eyes

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/DSCF2023.jpg

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz241/susnakela/DSCF2024.jpg

[Petra]

Very nice pictures! :)