Frequently asked questions

An equine appraisal is an independent, documented opinion of a horse or other equid's monetary value, prepared for a specific purpose — insurance, an estate, a legal dispute, or a sale. Owners typically need one when a value has to be justified to someone else: an insurer setting coverage, a court dividing property, or a buyer deciding what to offer.

Value is built from several factors together: conformation and soundness, training level and performance record, pedigree, age, and recent comparable sales for similar animals in the same discipline and region. No single factor sets the number on its own.

In-person evaluations are available anywhere in the U.S., with most in-person work concentrated in Omaha and the surrounding Midwest. For clients farther out, a document-based appraisal can be completed using video, current photos, veterinary records, and performance history — the same methodology, adapted to available material.

Reports are prepared using USPAP-informed methodology and documented, comparable-sale data specifically so they hold up with insurers, attorneys, and courts. If a particular insurer or proceeding has a specific format requirement, let us know before the evaluation so the report can be built to match it.

Most appraisals move from initial consultation to finished report within two to six weeks. Timing depends on scheduling the evaluation and how quickly supporting records — vet history, show results, registration papers — are available. Urgent timelines, such as a pending claim deadline, can often be accommodated.

Pricing depends on the purpose of the appraisal, whether it's in-person or document-based, and how much supporting research is required. Reach out through the request form with your animal and situation, and you'll get a specific quote before any work begins.

For insurance purposes, most carriers expect a current valuation every one to three years, or sooner after a major change — a significant show result, an injury, or a change in training level — that would meaningfully shift the animal's value.

Yes. A pre-purchase value opinion gives you an independent number to weigh against the asking price, separate from a veterinary pre-purchase exam, which evaluates soundness rather than market value. Many clients order both before finalizing a purchase.

All equids — horses, donkeys, mules, and related animals — across working, performance, and companion roles. The valuation approach is the same: conformation, soundness, training, and comparable sales within that animal's own market.