>>> IMO..one of the biggest reason is that IcePonies are price very high compared to those other breeds.
If you check the prices of Icelandic's NOW, I don't think you can say that. Sure, I think Gudmar said that the price of a trail gelding is about $12,000-14,000 but I have NEVER paid that for one - and I dare anyone to compare any of the $12,000 geldings to Skjoni. (Who will never again be for sale at any price.) We didn't pay nearly that for Skjoni - even including that we had to pay shipping for him twice, since the first crazy hauler went AWOL with him and Falki and, well... some of you remember that awful story... The price of Icelandic's has definitely dropped in the USA in the past five years. You now see riding age geldings for sale in the $5000 - 9,500 range, where they were more like in the $7000-11,000 range when I was first looking. And of course, you'll find older ones going for less, and of course, sometimes some younger, unproven ones might be less too...and there are some who have baggage and issues for a good bit less. I don't think the prices for Icelandic's - IF you consider the actual selling price - is so high now and they may still drop. IF you are talking about paying $12,000-14,000 for a GELDING, then yes, I think that's ridiculous - I certainly wouldn't pay that for ANY horse. But, if you are looking at paying the more realistic going price for the geldings, mares and weanlings, then they are already selling in a range not-so-different from many comparable QH, RMH, etc. It's still not often easy to find a good riding Icelandic gelding at any price, so frankly, I've been surprised to see the drop in prices over the past couple of years. Normally, market demand drives prices, so I guess we can draw whatever conclusions we can from that. And to pay $12,000 - 14,000 for an imported gelding who will an INCREASED risk for SE if brought to much of the USA...well, that's just silly and doesn't show much concern for the horses. But that's JMHO. Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.10/625 - Release Date: 1/13/2007 5:40 PM
