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Re: [RC] selling horses - Sisu West RanchWe live in a regulated capitalist society. This means that prices are not determined by "fairness" or "cost of production" but by supply, demand, and buyer's expectations.Right now there are enough horses that appear to be good endurance prospects, that the going price is well below the "cost of production". This is very likely to continue. The same thing is currently happening in the airline industry. Airlines are going bankrupt right and left. The difference is that eventually the supply of product (airline seats) will decrease resulting in the surviving airlines making a small profit. Horses are a different situation. Anyone with a mare, who has a stud fee (or even a stud that should have beed gelded) can raise a horse. Since it is a hobby, many do and then wonder why they can't get the "cost of production" plus a profit from the animal. The serious breeders must compete with this, much to their dismay. Now, when you get into some disciplines (like eventing, jumping etc) the buyer's expectations are different. They expect to pay a bunch for the horse, and because they think that only "special" horses from certain dealers, and/or farms can do the job, they will pay much more. Supply and demand still work, but the supply has been limited by trainers, dealers, and others who have convinced the world that only their "special" horses can do that job. Last week the Missoulian had an article about a pioneer woman who was from England. She went broke trying to sell her Montana raised horses in England for Polo Ponies. Her customers could not be convinced that a horse with a brand and the general scruffy appearance that comes from life on the range could be a polo pony. Ed Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower Road Victor, MT 59875 (406) 642-9640 ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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