>>> well, if the supply increases via backyard breeding and big breed sales, the price is sure to drop similarly. the haflinger was in this place awhile ago, apparently it's not anymore.
Yep. Sometimes it seems that everyone wants cheap horses...but why on earth would anyone want to keep breeding when/if they lose money on every horse? Why would any conscientious breeder travel the continent and invest in good breeding horses, pay the necessary hauling, vet and feed bills, and continue to breed indefinitely, being tied down and losing sleep during foaling season, just to subsidize low-priced horses for others? I can promise you that when you find a trained horse of prime age for under $5000 (any breed), a person (people?) has already lost money on that horse, so your purchase has been subsidized, even if no one wrote you a check for $2000 at purchase time. Granted, that's how a capitalistic market works, and I have no problem with it working that way regarding the sale of widgets, but horses are living beings. When they become commodities, the excess become rehabs, rescues, or go to slaughter - and that's ultimately how we are able to buy trained horses of any breed for under $5000. That's all on a theoretical level to an extent of course, and none of us can do much about the overabundance of grade horses, QH, TB and yes, probably even Haflingers and RMH, and all the other breeds in the world. But, do we really think it in the Icelandic breed's best interest to expect Icelandic prices to be the same as the "commodity" horses...? Don't get me wrong, I've seen some way-overpriced Icelandic's, but seeing a toed-out gelding for sale for $20,000 is one thing - I find that outrageous too - but expecting to see trained, well-conformed, sound and sensible riding horses for $3500 is quite another. If you are wishing for $3500 quality riding-age Icelandics any time soon, all I can say is be very careful what you wish for. Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
