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[RC] RE selling horses and the sheikhs - Andrea BrrandI'm a bit late in
the discussion but can give a South African perspective.
A number of years
ago the Sheikhs started buying SA horses. They started with the best
athletes, proven 3-5year track records, paid good money.
They performed well on these horses. Over the past couple of years
the buying became silly. Horses with only 3 x 80km rides were bought
for $15 000 plus, anything with more mileage went for close to $20 000. A
few with longer and better track records went for close on $30
000.
Why SA
horses? The rides in SA is generally quite difficult or hard
going, if a horse was sound after doing 3 x 80km rides at a pace of 20km/h+ it
could probably develop into something special. I of course
disagree. People are riding at breakneck speed with 5 year olds, I can't
imagine these horses would last, but for a Sheikh one win on such a horse
probably is good enough.
This has of course
made our market unaffordable. I would buy all your Arabs for $1500!
A 5 year old with good breeding, green, would go on average for at least
$2500. Anything with a bit of mileage and you can double the
price.
How's that
for Emerging market economics!
Andrea
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