Transfer Season: How to Buy and Sell an Event Horse This Winter

Event horse prices are high. How to value a horse, find motivated sellers and sell well this winter, using data on 8,000+ FEI horses.

By Samantha Lissington /

November 6, 2026

With the final event of the season ticked off for the majority of us, we enter a new stage in the year: transfer season, when buying and selling event horses moves to the top of the list.

It comes off the back of us all looking ahead and asking ourselves some important questions:

Have we got the horsepower to get where we're going?
Do we need to sell one horse to fund or buy another?
Are some horses better suited to a different job?

Or you might not be thinking any of this, but a message from Rozzie or Rosie on our sales team might prompt a bit of thought into the matter!

Most of us know the gaps in our team, and whether you're looking for a turnover project or a Los Angeles 2028 prospect, it's a relief to suddenly have the time (and mental capacity!) to go and look at horses – something that can be very hard to fit in mid-season.

On the flip side, if you've been sitting on something you'd like to sell, the month of November can bring an influx of buyers ready to view.

1	Event horse prices: what do we know about the market? At the top end, prices are high

Shiny dreams of LA 2028, future U25 championships and ongoing Junior and Young Rider Europeans are giving us all plenty to get excited about. Meanwhile, it's costing more and more to produce horses, and we often feel we couldn't replace what we've got if we sold it.

Good Junior/Young Rider horses are particularly hard to find – horses with the temperament to look after someone less experienced, but the ability to eventually take them around their first Advanced or 4*s, combined with a perfect vetting = a needle in a haystack!

The balance is that we all know horses are horses. A field injury next week could reduce our very expensive athlete/friend to a paddock mate, simultaneously delaying our aspirations by years.

!	(As a side note, those of you without catastrophe insurance – get it sorted!)

Those who have the horse they need, don't need the money and are happy to carry the injury risk are unlikely to sell. For everyone else, there's probably a figure that would make us consider the opportunities a sale could create.

2	How much is an event horse worth? There is no perfect science to pricing

A lot depends on the seller’s motivation.

If you're happy to keep your horse next year, you'll probably need a significant amount of money to part with it. If you want it sold before Christmas, you're likely to price it competitively. That's how two horses of similar quality and performance can end up with completely different price tags. Some people get annoyed by this, but we're dealing with a live animal, more akin to a family pet than sports equipment.

What moves the price?

Level and recent form: what the horse has done in the last 12 to 18 months matters far more than one big result three years ago.

Cross-country record: clear rounds and time faults at the level you're buying for.

Dressage and show jumping: how competitive the horse is on the flat, and how many poles it tends to have.

Age: how many seasons it has left at the top.

Who can ride it: a horse that will look after a Junior or amateur widens the market a lot.

Vet history: often the biggest single factor once you get to a vetting.

The real negotiation is usually the gap between what the seller needs to let the horse go and what the buyer thinks it's worth to them. Nobody is necessarily wrong.

A market valuation gives both sides a fixed point to start from.

What a valuation looks like

Example: a 7 or 8-year-old that has competed at CCI3*-L or above. Our database holds 335 horses matching that profile, and 80 of them have a known price.

Minimum

€65,000

Average

€243,000

Maximum

€839,000

That's the objective starting point. Rideability, vet history, future potential and the seller's motivation then move it up or down.

How we find value

A valuation tells you what a horse should be worth. To know what you can actually buy, you need real prices. Here's how we get them:

Find the comparable horses.

We search the database for horses with a similar performance record to the one you're looking for.

Ask for prices.

Rosie and Rozzie on our sales team contact the owners of those horses to find out whether they'd sell, and for how much.

Compare price against performance.

With both in front of you, you can see which horses are good value, instead of choosing from whatever happens to be advertised.

It works for sellers too. We only put forward horses at prices their owners are happy with, so buyers and willing sellers meet on terms that suit both sides.

£	If you’d like some free information on the market value of your horse then feel free to reach out to Sam on +44 (0)7538 866082. Even if you’re not interested in selling it’s always interesting information to know!

3	Tips for buying an event horse

1	Speed is of the essence. A lot of people wait for life to settle down later in November, but by then the early birds may have got the worm. You also risk horses being turned away for their holidays, which can be bitterly disappointing.
2	You can find value with motivated sellers. A competitively priced horse isn't necessarily lower quality than the expensive comparison down the road. Sometimes the difference is simply how much the owner wants the horse moved.
3	Work out what you can improve. Every horse has strengths and weaknesses. The trick is finding one where you can realistically improve the weaknesses while making the most of its strengths. Be honest about your own abilities!
4	Do your vet homework. Understand the horse's veterinary situation before spending £££ on vettings. If it's been vetted recently, one idea might be to ask the previous prospective buyer if they would agree to share the report or X-rays in return for a contribution towards the cost – this can be a win/win for all parties who benefit from good information at a reduced cost.
5	Expect to compromise. There is no perfect horse! Work out your priorities and what you're prepared to overlook. People who wait for the perfect one instead of making a compromise or taking a calculated risk may be waiting a very long time, and can end up making a desperate decision down the line when they eventually realise they won't ever be able to tick every box.
6	Turn over every stone. There is absolutely no obligation to work with us, but we are effectively managing a continuously updating database of information about the 8,000+ horses competing at FEI level. This means we have a very wide net, and may well have a quick solution with our Lite search: a shortlist of horses from the database that match your brief. For those of you who really want to be ahead of the game then the Complete search is right for you: first access to new information on horses, transparent knowledge on your full list to be able to understand the market and have the power to compare.

4	Tips for selling an event horse

1	If you’re interested in selling, let us know! We're creating trips for clients at the moment, so if you have a horse you'd consider selling, give us a heads up so we can add you to itineraries for relevant clients. Please send price and video to Rozzie at +44 (0)7929 259893.
2	Ask for price advice (no strings attached!). Pricing an event horse is difficult. We can input your horse's metrics and give you a minimum, maximum and average for comparable horses, helping you decide where you sit in the market.
3	Keep your horse ticking over. If you want to sell, don't put it on an early holiday and miss the influx of buyers. There's nothing more frustrating than finding a horse you love only to discover it hasn't been ridden for six weeks!
4	Be organised. Have recent videos, a clear price and relevant information ready.
5	Be upfront and honest - especially about veterinary history. You might put some buyers off, but I personally believe that you're more likely to find the right person if they know what they're getting into before vetting. We all know unexpected things can arise, and that leaves room for negotiation. Anyone wanting a perfect vetting on an upper-level horse may need to be very patient indeed!
6	Know your market. A horse that isn't quite meeting a professional's expectations might be an exceptional Junior, Young Rider or amateur horse. Sometimes finding the right job for a horse is more valuable than trying to sell it as something it's not.

5	Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to buy an event horse?

November, straight after the last events of the season. That's when riders have time to view and sellers are reviewing their teams. Leave it too late and some horses will already be turned away for their winter holiday.

How much is an event horse worth?

There's no single price. Market value is what comparable horses are realistically worth, but the seller's motivation, rideability, vet history and future potential all move the figure. EquiRatings compares a horse's performance metrics with similar horses to give a minimum, maximum and average valuation as a starting point.

Should I share vetting reports when buying or selling?

Sellers who are open about veterinary history tend to find the right buyer faster. Buyers can sometimes save money by asking a previous prospective buyer to share a recent vetting report or X-rays in return for a contribution to the cost.

6	Final thoughts

Transfer season is an exciting opportunity to reshuffle the team, find your next superstar or match a horse with a more suitable job.

The best deals happen when buyers and sellers have realistic expectations. Data can help us make informed decisions and identify opportunities we might otherwise overlook, but ultimately we're still dealing with horses and humans – and that's what makes this market both wonderfully exciting and occasionally completely illogical!

Happy shopping (and selling)!

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