It's very tough to price minis, especially for myself.
I do not have a big farm name, but I use the best bloodlines easily available to me. What I mean by that is that I don't own a stallion, currently, but i will not send my mares very far from home (as in a few hundred miles is the most), as it is very expensive and a bit distressing/worrisome for me to do, particularly if there is a weanling involved to go with.
It cost me one year, about $3500 to get a beautiful black filly on the ground. Took three years, too.
I doubt I could sell that mare (she's my black mare, Lailah) for more than that in the current market, though I was told at one time that she would command about $7000 in a big name farm sale, that was a few years ago, now, and of course riding on the coattails of that big farm name. Her daughters have brought fair prices, but right now, I have had NO inquiries on the one I have, even at less than they went for.
Next is the fact that I sell geldings, not colts. My husband made a snide remark that the one I am currently selling would not sell even if I put $100 on him, and that made me feel terrible. He's really worth at least a few thousand, IMO, though it's tough to have to hang onto him long enough for someone to think so, since it will involve waiting until he's three or four and old enough to compete in performance classes/driving. This horse has won some nice titles even as a young colt, and has great potential, there is nothing really "wrong" with him although he's an "Over" horse and for some reason here in the NW, it seems like nobody wants to buy R only for a decent price.
And so, you have my dual (well, the gelding's gone over) registered, nicely conformed, perfect bite and their direct parents are all good in that dept., too horses being difficult to sell for pet prices when I invested show and breeding quality money into their breeding. Some might not like my quality of horses, or the color, etc., but I put a lot into them from before they were even born, keeping their dams healthy, and inspecting the sires that I am using for temperament and correctness in all the places that count. It's hard to choke down a comment like above when there are thousands invested.
It hasn't been too bad in the past as the "hobby" afforded itself and I felt like I was making a difference in offering well-bred horses to people at a fairly affordable price (compared to a similar horse from bigger names/more promotion), but it's getting so it's going too far backward with the cost of showing, fuel, and then the discouragement I feel in looking at the mountains of very low-quality horses going to auctions simply because we're all overbreeding.
I firmly believe that 2009 will be my last foal crop. I have two mares in foal, one is to a multi-national Champ that sold recently for $28,000, though the foal will be red, an unpopular color. I had hoped it would be a filly I could keep to replace the dam, as this will be her last foal, but now I hope it's a colt I can geld and move on.
The difference in price is highly arbitrary and dependent on so many conditions. Sometimes people sell very good horses for very low prices because of circumstances beyond their control. That always scares me because I like to know where my horses go, and it's less likely if I have to "fire sale" due to space. I refuse to do that, even though I could stand to move some in the next 12 months, when the 2009 foals will be needing their own stalls. Instead I will make accomodations for them and hopefully both myself and the new owners will be very pleased with the arrangement.
I apologize for this being so long, I just think it's a good thing to read, and anyone that knows me knows that I will fully disclose every of my horse's shortcomings prior to sale, and I am fully open and honest about all of their backgrounds as I do not want a horse going to a home where they would be unsuitable, that would be so unfair for the horse as well as purchaser.
All the above being said, I'd invite any inquiries privately on my sale horses if anyone has any opinions on what they thought my particular sale horses were truly worth. Even if you're not looking, it would be interesting to me what your observations were (even if you're not in my area, the NW), or suggestions.
Thanks!
Liz