The problem is- there are LOTS of horses within the 1000-3000 price range- most are nice, well mannered but just not super stars, the horses that have bloodlines in demand and the overall quality to win where-ever you go. Even 4-H shows are highly competetive let alone large open or breed shows. I have two horse in my barn that I wouldn't let go for less than 7500 bucks BUT the market would tell me otherwise. There can be a big difference in what we think our horses are worth ( we are emotionally biased) and what someone else is willing to pay ( just look at auction results) To be realistic, we have to be very honest with ourselves and thats hard to do.

It takes lots for me to step-in on this type of thing but here goes...

Bob (bbsmfg3) it seems you are confused between criticism and constructive criticism, for it is the latter than has been requested.

I wouldn't payany amount of $ for a reasonably trained "quarter" stock TRAIL horse when I could have a good gaited trail horse for the same amount of money and enjoy myself while riding too. (quote)

Where? The "good gaited trail horses" in my area are 2X what the stock types are. Are they better? Some maybe are, some not. I like both, gaited and stock. I'd buy what my wallet afforded and my mind likes. I think the OP was just asking about the market and what she needed to do to sell this mare. Guess we all have opinons.

Crowley:  I meant no offense by my post.  I know you have great gaited horses (we've PM'd), I just don't see lots of them up here.  Stock types are more common, so easier to afford (supply/demand). 

If I said something "off", I apologize.  I meant no offense to anyone.

I also think it depends on your perspective, what I call cheap and you all cheap may be worlds apart. 

Again, sorry for confusion.

That's OK.Guess I was just shoooting off my mouth because I saw a really ugly reply on another thread (not horses) that some people had made to this innocent well meaning person,and I'd just finished firing off about that.Didn't mean to come off like a smart alec.I do that a lot.

Horse market is down here,also.We've also got a really nice horse for sale on Dreamhorse with only about one possibly good sounding response to our ad.He is an excellent well bred blue papered (in the MFTHBA that is 4 generations back of registered sires/dams) gelding that has had professional trail training in the Missouri Ozarks,and will handle just about whatever you want to put him through on a trail.But,hay is scarce,prices down,and we may not be able to sell him.Because we're not giving him away,that's for sure.I understand this girl's dilemma,things are tough and there are a lot of horses out there.

Yeah,I've seen lots of gaited horses that sure weren't trail horses,too,and would jar your teeth out as if you were riding some quarter stock that isn't smooth.Not all quarter stock is rough riding,either.Gaited just seems to be the preference where we ride,is all I meant.Probably not the case elsewhere,but,we ride where else,in the Missouri Ozarks.So that's what we're going to see the most of there on trails.

That's nice for you.

Do you trail ride them and enjoy yourself?

I have Quarter horses and Apps and I trail ride AND I enjoy them.  For me the whole point is not to race down the trail or keep up with the "crowd",  but to relax with my family.  Someone else wants to go fast, fine, good for them, they can go around.   You wouldn't pay for a non gated horse, I wouldn't pay for a gated one.  To each his own.

Terri:  I agree 100% with you.  I like to "smell the roses" too.  I have only had Apps/QH all my 39 years!  Ok, one shetland pony in the mix too:-)

BUT, I will have to defend the gaited ones too.  I'm so impressed to see gaited trail horses going along the trail.  To me, the biggest thing is that you have to ask yourself "what breed is that?"  When I find myself asking that question, that's a great horse, regardless of breed.  What I see in gaited that impresses me is when they can walk along with my QH's and when they want to, gait off nicely!!

Love em both (stock/gaited) 

A good horse is a good horse, regardless of breed.

Up in northern Illinois where Im at, they like to see how fast they can go, that turns off lots of people.  Down south, they ride really nice!!!!  THAT ISN'T always true, just my opinion!

That's good.As I said in an earlier post,there are smooth riding Quarter Horses,and some Apps are gaited.And,not all gaited horses are smooth by any means.I've seen ones with top breeding in several gaited breed associations that look rough riding,and,their riders obviously aren't getting a good ride.

But we ride Missouri Foxtrotters,and most other riders that ride MFT's aren't hurrying down the trail.I do see people riding trails on racking horses,tho,that are obviously ridden in a show ring most of the time,and can't imagine why they want to rack through the woods dodging limbs and working like a fool watching every step their horses take,just to stay on them.

I've ridden Quarter myself.I just prefer gaited especially in my years of age,because I have to have a really smooth horse,and find most Quarter horse riders we have ridden with just can't keep up over a long ride.Our gaited horses naturally outwalk them at a flatfoot walk.I don't see much about gaited horses on this forum.

No offense,Terri.You and I just tell it like it is.

My dad's got a bad back, had to quit riding, but before he did he tried many gated/ungated breeds and finally found that mules were the easiest on his back.  Who'd have thought. 

The smoothest horse I've ever ridden was a paint stud that behaved like a gelding.  You could hold a full cup of "liquid" and not spill a drop at a trot.