At a glance
How to read- Identity
- Confirmed
- Level
- Ad ~0.70m
- Price
- No ask · fair range $30,345–$42,126 · worth a call
No asking price on file — get a number from the seller before you go further.
What to do next
Share with your trainer before you go further
Mixed signals in public data. Send this link and ask: “Is this horse worth a phone call?”
- Send this report to your trainer and ask whether it is worth a call or trial.
- If your trainer is interested, ask for a recent show video at your target level.
- Get a clear asking price and what is included before you wire anything.
Lee Hill Melrose — Horse Scouts buyer research USEF #5221236 · SMOKE TREE DRAGON TAIL x LEE HILL HOLLYWOOD · 15yo Price: no ask · fair $30,345–$42,126 Identity: High confidence Report: https://horsescouts.pro/r/lee-hill-melrose?detail=full
Is the price fair?
No asking priceSimilar horses: $30,345 – $42,126 · mid $35,700. Ask the seller for their number.
Currently for sale
$20,000–$60,000
Asking prices of 125 comparable listings (context, not value)
Estimated value
$18,000–$54,000
Adjusted for this horse's record (-10% vs. band)
| Performance vs. level & win rate | +5% | USEF pony division on file — fence height inferred from size division when available; Strong USEF win rate (38%) |
|---|---|---|
| Age / runway | -15% | Mature (14+) — short competitive runway |
Estimated value weights the horse's show record, rideability, age, and typical ask-to-sale gap. Decision aid, not a certified appraisal.
Fair market band
$30,345–$42,126
Based on comparable listing asks and show record — not sold prices or a certified appraisal.
We do not have an asking price to compare.
Budget beyond the purchase usually includes: PPE / vetting, shipping, sales commission (if you use an agent).
Similar listings in this band
- VE Meredith — $4,500 · 2'3" or 0.7m
- Greymeadows Crawford — $50,000 · 2'3" or 0.7m
- Mango — $15,000 · 2'3" or 0.7m
USEF pony division on file — fence height inferred from size division when available
Market context
Priced from: BIGEQ (125)
- 8 similar listings in our sample.
- Asking prices run $4,500–$125,000.
Before you call the seller
Three questions to start — open Full research for contact info and the full checklist.
- Book a pre-purchase exam (PPE) with a vet you choose before you buy.
- Ask about past injuries, surgeries, or ongoing maintenance the vet should know about.
- Why is the horse for sale, and can you ride or trial the horse in person before you commit?
Does the ad check out?
ReviewSome items matched and others still need confirmation. Walk through the rows below with your trainer.
| What the ad says | Public records | Our read |
|---|---|---|
| USEF #5221236 | Same horse in USEF | Checks out |
| Sire: SMOKE TREE DRAGON TAIL | SMOKE TREE DRAGON TAIL | Checks out |
| Dam: LEE HILL HOLLYWOOD | LEE HILL HOLLYWOOD | Checks out |
| Jumps 0.70m | No show record at this height | Ask for video |
| Asking price | Fair range $30,345–$42,126 | Fair range only |
Is this the right horse?
High confidenceUSEF #5221236 and pedigree match the ad · chip …357311. Confirm microchip and papers match the horse you inspect.
- Born
- 23 May 2011
- Age
- 15 years old · USEF foal date
- Breed
- WELSH/THOROUGHBRED
- Color
- CHESTNUT
- Sex
- M
- Sire
- SMOKE TREE DRAGON TAIL
- Dam
- LEE HILL HOLLYWOOD
- U.S. registry #
- 5221236
- Microchip
- 981020011357311
International record (FEI)
cross ref sire SMOKE TREE DRAGON TAIL · dam LEE HILL HOLLYWOOD · verify on data.fei.org
Video
How long can you ride this horse?
This horse is 15 years old. If sound, you might get about 2–4 more years of useful jumping at this level.
Do not count on moving up much higher — buy for what you get today. Useful-years estimates follow FEI show-jumping age profiles: peak performance commonly occurs around ages 10–15, with many Grand Prix horses active into the mid-teens and beyond when sound. At 15, buyers often accept age-appropriate imaging change if the record shows continued competitiveness. [5][6]
Vet & pre-purchase exam
Sport-horse literature treats a pre-purchase exam (PPE) as a risk assessment — not pass/fail. Radiographic findings are common in sound jumpers and must be read in context of age, intended use, current performance, and price [1][2].
Before you buy, book an independent sport-horse vet you choose. Share this report so the exam can target gaps between seller claims and public records.
- Baseline PPE: soundness exam, flexions, and imaging scoped to price point and intended use [4].
- Fetlock remodeling, hock arthritis, prior joint maintenance, and moderate radiographic change are frequently observed at this stage.
- The key question is durability: has this horse stayed in work despite these findings?
- Radiographs alone are weak predictors of future performance — clinical soundness and recent results matter more.
- Ask for injury history, surgeries, joint maintenance, and any prior vet records the seller can share.
About 57% of prepurchase exams document at least one potentially prejudicial finding — presence alone does not predict future unsoundness [2]. Mild gait asymmetry is also common and may not correlate with clinical lameness [3].
Sources for vet & age guidance
- van Hoogmoed & Snyder (1999). van Hoogmoed LM, Snyder JR. Prepurchase Examination of Jumpers and Dressage Horses. AAEP Proceedings, 1999.
- Equine Veterinary Journal (2024). Equine Veterinary Journal. "Prejudicial Findings During Prepurchase Examinations," 2024.
- University of Utrecht (2022). University of Utrecht. Movement Asymmetries in Horses Presented for PPE and Lameness Evaluation, 2022.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Merck Veterinary Manual. Prepurchase Examination of Horses.
- FEI Facts and Figures (2020). FEI Annual Report 2020 — average registered horse age 9.85 years; Jumping athlete demographics and age distribution.
- FEI / Bristol University longevity research. FEI Sports Forum (2026) — ongoing FEI–Bristol research on career longevity, competition intensity, and retirement factors in Jumping horses.
Horse Scouts summarizes published sport-horse veterinary literature for informational purposes only. It is not veterinary, legal, or financial advice and creates no legally binding obligation. Consult your own veterinarian before any purchase decision. See our Terms of Service.
Show record
Prize money
USEF prize money on file
Last competition
795 - Short/Long Stirrup Htr-Cross Rails O/F · Placed 1
Usage rate
39 starts, active 4 of the last 12 months
Goes for
Some amateur/junior mileage; rest in open divisions
Eliminations / retirements
Completed all 39 starts on record
- 39 USEF class starts · 15 wins (38% win rate) · sire SMOKE TREE DRAGON TAIL (no YOB on dossier — set identity.yob for full career range)
Comp show records are still loading — this page refreshes automatically.
U.S. record (USEF)
confirmed 39 USEF class starts · 15 wins (38% win rate) · sire SMOKE TREE DRAGON TAIL (no YOB on dossier — set identity.yob for full career range)
Last competed: Jun 21, 2026
| Date | Class | Placing | Rider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 2026 | 795 - Short/Long Stirrup Htr-Cross Rails O/F | 1 | BEATRIX RAJKOWSKI |
| Jun 21, 2026 | 796 - Short/Long Stirrup Htr-Cross Rails O/F | 1 | BEATRIX RAJKOWSKI |
| Jun 21, 2026 | 797 - Short/Long Stirrup Htr-Cross Rails O/F | 3 | BEATRIX RAJKOWSKI |
| Jun 21, 2026 | 798 - Short/Long Stirrup Htr-Cross Rails O/F | 3 | BEATRIX RAJKOWSKI |
| Jun 21, 2026 | 799 - Short/Long Stirrup Htr-Cross Rails U/S | 1 | BEATRIX RAJKOWSKI |
| Jun 21, 2026 | CHCH5 - Short/Long Stirrup Hunter - Cross Rails CHAMPIONSHIP | 2 | BEATRIX RAJKOWSKI |
Ask the seller
Contact
- Location
- Marengo IL
Full question checklist
This report summarizes public records only. Always verify answers with the seller, your trainer, and your vet before you buy.
What the seller says Pasted ad text · tap to expand
🧀 Cheezit — Lee Hill Melrose 🧀 USEF 5221236 The sweetest small pony is looking for her next little rider! ❤️ Cheezit absolutely loves teaching the tiniest riders the ropes. She is an excellent starter pony—kind, trustworthy, and the winner in the crossrail division. She’s the type every barn loves to have for helping little riders gain confidence, learn, and have fun along the way. 🌟 Small pony 🌟 Wonderful starter pony 🌟 Loves the little ones 🌟 Crossrail winner 🌟 Auto lead changer 🌟 Sweet, experienced & ready to teach Located in Marengo IL.
Advertised around 0.7m — not fully verified in public records yet.
Seller statements are unverified until USEF, video, and your own inspection back them up.
Similar horses for sale 8 listings
Comparable listings span $4,500–$125,000 — price reflects age, show record, bloodlines, and seller positioning, not jump height alone.
| Horse | Age | Price | Level | Days listed | Win rate | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VE Meredith | 15 | Lease $4,500 | 2'3" or 0.7m | 3 days | — | View |
| Greymeadows Crawford | 15 | $50,000 | 2'3" or 0.7m | 80 days | — | View |
| Mango | 15 | $15,000 | 2'3" or 0.7m | 24 days | — | View |
| Maranatha Sweet Chariot | 14 | $30,000 | 2'3" or 0.7m | 61 days | — | View |
| Arnaby Cassanova | 16 | $55,000 | 2'3" or 0.7m | 2 days | — | View |
| Rosmel's Fairy Glow | 16 | $125,000 | 2'3" or 0.7m | 65 days | — | View |
| Lone Star | 17 | $40,000 | 2'3" or 0.7m | 65 days | — | View |
| Play with Fire | 15 | $85,000 | 2'6" or 0.75, 0.80m | 77 days | — | View |
Find prior listings abroad Search for prior European listings
No European source price on file yet. Use the links below to find the origin listing — then we can compute the dealer spread.
Search for prior listings abroad
European producers often post sale ads on public Facebook Pages that Google indexes. These two searches are usually enough to find the origin price.
What we could not verify3 gaps
Use these if your trainer wants detail — not a reason to panic on their own.
- No confirmed ClipMyHorse horse profile — use the search link for possible videos and verify identity.
- No asking price on file — we show a fair range, not a deal verdict.
- No asking price captured — we cannot flag overstatement against a seller number.
Sources & import costs
Where we looked
| Source | Status | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. show registry (USEF) | confirmed | 39 USEF class starts · 15 wins (38% win rate) · sire SMOKE TREE DRAGON TAIL (no YOB on dossier — set identity.yob for full career range) | Open |
| International registry (FEI) | cross_ref | sire SMOKE TREE DRAGON TAIL · dam LEE HILL HOLLYWOOD · verify on data.fei.org | Open |
| Pedigree (HorseTelex) | no_match | No row matched sire/dam | Open |
| German national results (equi-score) | skipped | No equi-score URL and no European show footprint to search on. | — |
| Show video (ClipMyHorse) | no_match | No confirmed ClipMyHorse horse profile for "Lee Hill Melrose" — open search by name; videos may appear (verify it's the same horse). | Open |
Import costs & logistics
U.S. show jumping relies heavily on imported European warmbloods (KWPN, BWP, Holsteiner, Oldenburg, Selle Français, and others). The listing price is often only part of the investment — veterinary, transport, quarantine, customs, and insurance can add roughly 10–30% or more to landed cost [3].
Estimate for this horse
This listing appears to be in the U.S. — no international import is required for domestic delivery. If you source from Europe instead, use the categories and illustrative totals below as a planning guide.
Typical cost categories
| Category | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-purchase exam (PPE) | $1,000–$3,500+ | Independent vet exam before purchase — not part of shipping but essential risk management. |
| Export testing & documentation | $500–$3,000 | Health certificates, blood tests, and government export paperwork (varies by origin country). |
| International air transport | $10,000–$25,000+ | Largest logistics cost — shared vs. private stall, route, and season affect pricing. |
| Quarantine & federal inspection | $1,000–$5,000+ | USDA port inspection and quarantine length depend on origin disease status (often 3–7 days for EU geldings). |
| Customs & import brokerage | $500–$2,000 | Specialized equine brokers coordinate USDA, customs entry, and airport logistics. |
| Ground transportation | $500–$3,000+ | Seller to export airport, then U.S. arrival port to your barn. |
| Mortality / transit insurance | 1–4% of value / yr | Many buyers insure during transport; annual mortality often scales with horse value. |
Illustrative landed totals
Planning bands — actual costs vary by origin, sex (CEM rules for mares/stallions), route, and broker.
| Purchase price | Typical import stack | Est. landed cost |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $12,000–$20,000 | $62,000–$70,000 |
| $100,000 | $12,000–$25,000 | $112,000–$125,000 |
| $250,000 | $15,000–$35,000 | $265,000–$285,000 |
Evaluate landed cost, not purchase price alone, when comparing to U.S. comps or judging resale potential. Ask the seller for export readiness, quarantine port, and who coordinates USDA paperwork.
Sources for import & logistics
- USDA APHIS. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Importing live equines — permits, port inspection, and quarantine requirements.
- US Equestrian. USEF. International travel for horses — health documents, quarantine ports, and planning timelines.
- Aguilera (2020). Aguilera M. Global Horse Trade in the United States: 1981–2013. Society and Animals — documents the shift to European sport-horse imports in U.S. jumping.
- Kingston Stables. Kingston Stables. EU→U.S. all-in shipping guide (flight, papers, USDA quarantine) — industry planning benchmark.
Comparable metrics
Market sample: 125 similar listings · median $40,000 · interquartile $20,000–$60,000.
Comparable listings by marketplace: BIGEQ (125) · catalog 2026-08-10.
Report date: 2026-08-29. Pricing uses BIGEQ (125) listings (catalog: BIGEQ · 2026-08-10 · HJx · 2026-08-10 · ProEquest · 2026-08-10).
Automated buyer research from public records — not a pre-purchase exam, veterinary opinion, or guarantee of seller claims. Verify identity, price, and soundness with your team before you buy.