It's interesting how you can learn or discover something new about miniature horses every day. I've been checking out the sale boards recently, just seeing what people post, and I've noticed something that I thought might be helpful to think about. For the new miniature horse buyer, it can be very easy to get confused when you go on a sale board. For example, compare the two ads:

Ad 1-- Great, easy stallion with Buckeroo and Rowdy bloodlines. Champions on both sides of his bloodlines. $750 OBO.
Ad 2-- Great stallion. Sired by Buck Echo and NFC Rowdy daughter. Champions on both sides of his bloodlines. $6,000.

Can you see the difference? In the first ad, you might think, "hey, Buckeroo and Rowdy are both great bloodlines AND as a bonus the horse is cheap! Why is the second horse so much more expensive?" People are not giving away fabulous horses out of the goodness of their hearts--horses are cheap for a reason. Yes, their great-great-great grandfather might have been Buckeroo, but that fact likely won't effect the quality of your horse. Even if Buckeroo is his grandsire, remember even great horses can have a dud once in a while.

At the same time, quality doesn't necessarily have to cost you the big bucks. I've been looking at stallions lately and have seen $25,000 horses that I would NEVER breed to my mares. Sure they have a great name on their pedigree, but that doesn't mean they're going to be the best horse in the world. I've also found awesome stallions with great confirmation, national show wins, and with good solid bloodlines for under $10,000.

Keep these things in mind when you're looking around. A pet quality miniature (one with a big overbite or under-bite or a mare that is barron) runs about $500. Compare that price with what you see on the sale boards and it'll make you think twice about the supposed cheap show horse for a good deal. If all you want is to breed pets, that's absolutely fine! But unfortunately, quality and good immediate pedigrees cost a bit more.