PLN
My name is Aleksandra Ławniczak and I work as a sales specialist at Equishop. I am a riding instructor and I compete. I have helped clients buy horses, and today I help them choose equipment for their mounts. I own two horses myself, so I know the subject of buying a horse from every angle.
When I started looking for a mare, I had a rough picture in my head of what I wanted. And then I opened the first listings. PLN 9,000. PLN 75,000. PLN 180,000. Three horses, theoretically similar in the photos, three completely different prices. If you are only just starting your search and feel the same confusion, this article is for you. I will explain where to look for horses for sale, how much a horse can realistically cost in Poland and, more importantly, why one horse costs PLN 10,000 while another, theoretically the same but somehow different, costs PLN 80,000.
Key information at a glance
- Horse prices in Poland start at a few thousand złoty but can reach tens or hundreds of thousands
- Price differences come from breed, age, level of training, competition results and health history
- Horse listings can be found on OLX, ehorses, ReVolta, Facebook groups and in stables
- The purchase price is only the beginning: on top of it come transport, a veterinary examination and full equipment
- Where to look for horses for sale?
- How much does a horse cost? Horse prices in Poland
- Where do the differences in horse prices come from?
- What to look out for when buying a horse?
- What does buying a horse look like in practice?
- FAQ - the most common questions about buying a horse
Where to look for horses for sale?
When I was looking for a mare, I used several sources at once. Each has its advantages and limitations.
OLX is the largest and best-known classifieds portal in Poland. You will find a very wide range of offers there: from recreational to sport horses. The upside is the huge database and the ability to filter by voivodeship. The downside is often the quality of the listings: the photos do not always reflect reality and the descriptions can be very brief.
ehorses.com is a European portal specialising exclusively in horses. The listings are usually more detailed, often with photos and riding videos. You will find many horses imported from Germany and the Netherlands, with pedigrees and competition results. A good place when you are looking for a sport horse or one with a specific pedigree.
ReVolta is a Polish platform focused on the equestrian community. Listings here come from people directly in the industry, often with a better-described history and intended use of the horse.
Facebook groups are an often underrated source. There are closed groups dedicated to horse sales in different regions of Poland. Listings are updated in real time, and being able to ask a question directly under the post gives you quick contact with the seller.
The stable is, in my opinion, one of the best sources, especially if you do not yet have much experience. The owner of the stable or the trainer where you ride, or plan to keep your horse, very often knows about horses for sale in the area and knows their history. I found my mare exactly through contacts at the stable. It was a horse that was not formally listed for sale, but the stable owner knew I was looking and simply asked in the right place.
How much does a horse cost? Horse prices in Poland
This is the question that comes up most often. And one that has many answers, because horse prices really are a wide scale.
| Type of horse | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| Recreational horse, older (12+ years), no results | PLN 5,000 - 20,000 |
| Recreational horse, middle-aged, schooled | PLN 10,000 - 25,000 |
| Young horse (3–6 years), backed, no results | PLN 20,000 - 60,000 |
| Sport horse with results at L/N level (show jumping) | PLN 40,000 - 120,000 |
| Horse imported from Western Europe | PLN 25,000 - 150,000 |
| Horse with N/C results (show jumping) or a high dressage rank | from PLN 120,000 |
These ranges are approximate. Prices can vary significantly depending on the region of Poland and the current market situation.
It is also worth knowing that the purchase price is only part of the outlay. On top of it come transport of the horse, a TUV veterinary examination (costing from PLN 500 to 1,500, depending on scope), and if you are buying a horse for the first time and do not yet have equipment, there is also the cost of complete kit: a saddle fitted to the horse's back, a bridle, boots, stirrups and many other accessories. If you need help choosing and fitting a saddle for your newly bought horse, we invite you to our service and saddlefitting department.
Where do the differences in horse prices come from?
When you look at two horses that look similar in the photos, yet the price differs by PLN 50,000, it is neither a coincidence nor the seller's whim. Specific factors stand behind every price.
Breed and pedigree. A horse with a documented pedigree, out of parents with competition results, will be more expensive than a horse of unknown origin. This applies especially to sport breeds: KWPN (Dutch Warmblood), Hanoverian, Oldenburg. Horses with certified pedigrees are a different price category than horses without papers.
Age. Contrary to what you might think, the youngest horses are not always the cheapest. A mare with a good pedigree can be expensive regardless of age. Older horses (15–18 years), even with competition results, start to become cheaper than young ones because of their age.
Level of training and results. This is one of the biggest components of the price. A horse competing at N-level classes that regularly places is valued completely differently from one just starting out. Sport results are documented and verifiable, so it is a checkable value.
Health history. Horses after injuries or with chronic problems are usually cheaper. That is exactly why a veterinary examination before purchase is so important. A horse that is cheap up front may turn out to be very costly to keep if it needs regular treatment.
Temperament. A calm, safe horse with a settled work ethic is valued higher than a horse that is difficult to handle, even if the latter has a better pedigree. In the category of horses for recreational and amateur riders, temperament can decide the price more than breed.
What to look out for when buying a horse?
I don't want to write a full guide in a few paragraphs, because that is a topic for a separate article. But here are a few things I always repeat to clients:
Always go for a test ride. Check how the horse behaves during grooming and tacking up, and try to do it yourself: the owner is someone the horse knows, and with a stranger it may behave completely differently. On the ride, check its responses to various aids. And always go to the test ride with someone experienced who will help you assess the horse objectively. The best choice is a trainer who knows you and your riding, because only they can judge whether this particular horse will suit you.
And one thing I learned from my own experience: do not fall in love with a horse before it has passed a veterinary examination.
What does buying a horse look like in practice?
Before I move on to prices and listings, a few words about the process itself. Buying a horse is not like buying a bike. It is a decision that will affect your everyday life for the next 10, 15, and often 20 years.
Step 1: Before you start browsing listings
Before you even open OLX or ehorses, you need to answer a few questions. What is the horse meant for? Are you starting your adventure with riding recreationally, or do you want to compete? How much time a day can you devote to working with the horse? What is your budget, and does it include not only the purchase but also the monthly upkeep? Where will the horse be kept – have you already chosen a place?
The answers to these questions define the profile of the horse you are looking for. Without this, you may fall in love with a beautiful 5-year-old colt that in no way will suit either your skills or your circumstances.
Step 2: The first viewing
When arranging the first visit, always ask the seller a few things in advance: why they are selling the horse, how long they have owned it, whether the horse has been treated or had injuries, and how it behaves during work and handling in the stable. Also ask whether the horse has a current TUV examination or whether it needs to be done again, and how payment is handled: whether you cover it in full, the owner does, or you split it. It is also worth asking how the horse behaves when left alone, without other horses, and whether it has competed. These are the basic questions worth asking right at the start, and they will tell you more about the horse than any photos in a listing.
On site, observe how the horse behaves even before anyone gets on. Is it calm during grooming? How does it react to tacking up, to having the bridle put on? What a horse shows in hand often says more than what it will show under a rider. Remember that it is worth doing everything yourself: grooming and tacking up the horse on your own to see how it reacts to a new, unfamiliar person. Also ask the owner to get on the horse first, and only mount after them. You will see how the horse behaves under someone it knows before you check how it behaves under you.
Step 3: The test ride
Always ride yourself, don't just watch the owner present the horse. A horse knows its person, knows their aids and habits. With a stranger it may behave completely differently, and that is information you want to have before the purchase, not after.
During the ride, check its responses to the aids, its behaviour when the aids change, during lengthenings or shortenings. It doesn't have to be perfect. The point is to see whether this horse and you can understand each other.
And always take a trainer with you. Not because you cannot assess the horse yourself, but because emotions during a purchase are strong, and the trainer looks at the horse without them.
Step 4: Veterinary examination (TUV)
If the test ride convinced you, the next step is the TUV examination (a detailed veterinary examination carried out before buying the animal). It includes a comprehensive fitness test of the horse, movement trials and X-rays of selected joints. It is an additional expense, from PLN 500 to 1,500 depending on scope, but one bad purchase can cost tens of thousands of złoty in treatment and rehabilitation.
Step 5: Formalities and transport
After a positive TUV comes the time for formalities. In Poland, buying a horse does not require a notary; a sales agreement signed by both parties is enough. Make sure the agreement includes the horse's details (passport, chip), the price and the terms of the transaction.
Arrange transport in advance. If you don't know what loading a horse into a trailer looks like, check our article on safe horse transport.
Step 6: The first days in the new stable
What happens after the horse arrives at its new place is often overlooked, yet it is extremely important. The horse needs time to adapt: new smells, new neighbours, a new routine. For the first weeks, work calmly, without pushing, and observe how the horse functions in the new environment. After this time the horse should already have adapted to the new conditions, and you can move freely on to the plan of action you have set yourself with this horse.
FAQ – the most common questions about buying a horse
What is the minimum a horse costs in Poland?
Recreational, older horses without documentation can be found from as little as PLN 5,000. Sometimes horses are given away for free, but it is always worth checking why someone is giving a horse away for nothing.
Is it better to buy a young or an older horse?
It depends on your skills and goals. An older, schooled horse is safer for a less experienced rider. A young horse requires experience and time, but has a whole career ahead of it.
What is a TUV examination?
TUV is a veterinary examination carried out before buying a horse. It includes a clinical examination, movement trials and usually X-rays. The cost is from PLN 500 to 1,500, but it is one of the best investments you can make when buying a horse.
How do I find a horse for recreation?
Start with OLX and Facebook groups in your region. It is also worth asking at the stable, because owners and trainers often know about horses for sale that are not formally listed.
Does a horse require special equipment?
Yes. Every horse needs a saddle fitted to its back and discipline, a bridle, boots and many accessories. If you are buying a horse for the first time, it is worth including the cost of complete equipment in your budget.
