Riverbend Equine Appraisals: well-researched, defensible and appropriate to their markets.
Michigan-based, serving the U.S., Caribbean, S.A., Europe.
Why do you want an appraisal?
Donation For example, you have played polo for several years but you are finished with the sport. The university polo program needs mounts. What are yours worth?
Price in an Unfamiliar Market You saw the perfect event horse for sale in a national magazine in the classified. The asking price seems high. You don't know anything about the east coast. Is that an appropriate price for that horse where it lives and competes? Is that an appropriate price for a similar horse located in your area? You want to make an offer.
Death by Injury Your horse just ran through a fence and was severely injured. You have to put him down. Your insurance company wants to know what to pay you.
Selling in the Right Market Last year you and your trainer found a young foxhunter in Galway. You paid for it, insured it, and await its arrival. But you've found a better one close to home and want to sell the Irish one as soon as it arrives. Where's the best market for that particular horse?
Want the best report? REA provides the most in-depth research and reporting of any appraisal agency. The work is substantiated through record searches and interviews with top vets, riders, breeders, importers and marketers of horses in the U.S. Often with warmbloods, the search might go back to their breeders and trainers in Europe. Tania can touch base with the best in the discipline.
Finding Defensible Value
It's easy to value a car. Open a bluebook. But there are no bluebooks for horses. Getting real prices boils down to research and connections. Getting true values means true comparables - what actually sold at a price - and what horses are sufficiently similar to be of equal value. Only a lifetime horse person with honed research skills, a willingness to call the right people and a superb network of industry specialists can get those values. Don't forget discretion! A client's confidentiality is paramount.
Tania finds defensible values, the kind that hold up in court.
Use the contact form below or email or call:
riverbendfarm@comcast.net 734-904-3106
About Tania Evans It's not easy to find correct values of horses. Tania Evans, owner of REA, has done that for years as a professional appraiser. She earned in 2013 the top appraisal credential, Senior Appraiser. There are fewer than 40 in the U.S. Her reports are based on 50 years in horses as an advanced level eventer; a rated polo player; a foxhunter in several countries; a horse trainer, buyer/seller, coach, mentor, equine event photographer and equine welfare advocate.
As an award-winning, non-fiction writer, Tania Evans has interviewed Olympic level riders, generous philanthropists, veterinarians with specialties, owners and trainers with discipline know-how. While continuing to appraise horses in modern disciplines such as dressage, reining and polo, she currently researches rare breed values.
Some Successes
In 2009, 21 polo ponies died on the field. Tania appraised them for their value as rare, top level, 6-figure, playing ponies.
In 2010, Tania helped a 17-year old 4th level dressage horse find a perfect therapeutic home.
In 2011, a careful rider asked Tania to find a Whip horse with experience in the hunt field. Good Whip horses are not sold often. But Tania found one and it's still whipping in 2022.
In 2012, a farm took on a stallion off the track. While he hadn't won much, he had a terrific pedigree. Tania found a value that helped establish a stud fee.
In 2013, Tania found the replacement value of a family mule that had been killed on the road by a truck. The mule was loved - the children rode him safely for years; he pulled a cart and worked on the farm. He would not be easy to replace.
In 2014. Tania found a donation value for a lovely grand prix jumper who needed an easier life - as a dressage horse.
In 2015, a jumper became a stopper because of medical reasons - he needed an appraisal for his new value.
In 2016, divorce caused a dissolution of a farm. Tania appraised those 26 horses in a way that was fair to both parties.
In 2017, a dressage horse needed a career change - he gained value as a therapeutic vaulting horse!
In 2018 and 2019, among the appraisals were two for a foal and a yearling that died due to surgical complications. Tania found a fair value for the unproven, untested, untrained youngsters. At this age, other factors than “on the day” appraising must be included.
In 2020, the market was down due to covid. A donation appraisal showed the true value of a well-bred, professionally trained polo pony to the University polo program.
In 2021, a divorce required a quick, accurate analysis of two horses. Hired by the husband, Tania wrote a fair report. Response from the wife, “Beautiful appraisal. Thank you.”
In 2022, a Hanoverian dressage horse needed an appraisal while it recovered from lameness. A value was found that included the future expectation of full return to work. “Masterful,” said the owner.