Advice please - really need to decide which direction to take...

madhector

madhector

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Not really Comp riders, but is sort of related....


The death of little lorry has hit me rather hard, it is going to cost alot to get it going again, money which I just dont have at the moment.


I have been doing alot of thinking and come up with 2 options, but thats as far as I got!


Option 1

Sell Blaze
Get lorry fixed
Sell lorry
Use some of the money to buy another youngster to get going along side Dawn (4yr old)
Put the rest in savings
Concentrate on producing and forget about competing, selling them before they reach the point where they need to compete.


Option 2

Keep Blaze
Borrow more money to fix lorry
Take LGV test (borrowing more money)
Sell lorry and replace with 7.5ton which is more reliable
Work really hard on Dawn (4yr old) and make enough money on her to pay off loans
Carry on competing Blaze and get him moved up to Novice


So, really stuck now as to which to do, I have kind of proven that I am a bit hopeless when it comes to competing (do stupid things and never ride like I can at home) and I do love producing youngsters, but also love going out on Blaze even if I do mess it up
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My lorry has to go though, that is for sure, its just whether I replace it with anything and carry on doing what I love and try and get Blaze up the levels, or give up and concentrate on the babies and actually make some money...


Thoughts?

Thanks
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Whatever you would do, you would still need transport even if you are just producing, as to get any ££ they need to go out a bit
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gosh what a decision to have to make. and im afraid i dont think im going to be of much use! but what ever you decide go with your gut instinct - dont talk yourself around to the "preferred" option because preferred and reality are often too far apart to be practical!
Best of luck with what ever you decide. x
 
Not sure if my advice is the most sensible but Blaze looks like a lovely sort and would be worth even more if you keep hold of him and do a bit more!

I don't think you mess things up - you have done a good job of producing and competing him so far. Could be worth staying with it for the long haul with him and trying to make a quick profit with the other youngster.

Good luck!
 
Option 3

Sell lorry
buy 2nd hand 4x4 and 2nd hand trailer
Compete Blaze to Novice then sell on
Work hard on Dawn and do BYEH
buy a youngster when Blaze is sold

simples
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Agree with Kat B horses are worth much more when they have been out and about, I think no transport is not an option. Word of warning the 7.5T are not nec more reliable we have a fairly new model and has caused nothing but grief missed last weeks comp when the clutch went!
 
I would sell saddle
Sell the pony ( bet you could already make money on her)

Then that should put about an extra £4-5k into your bank account? Then you sell the lorry and buy a 4x4 and trailer.

Definately do not sell Blaze you are doing so well on him!!!
 
But then back to having no saddle and a horse that is a nightmare to fit one on...

Plus would lose alot on it as second hand they instantly drop about a grand.


I dont know, been over and over it so many times, with option 1 there is the possiblity of taking my trailer test at a later date and borrowing 'works' trailer to get youngsters out a few times before selling. Couldnt use it regularly though only now and then so no good for Blaze.
 
I'd look for a cheap 3.5t lorry to buy- they are around, mine is the most reliable thing I've ever known, it's 21 years old, it's nothing much to look at but it only cost 2.5k and it gets me from A to B everytime.
I wouldnt sell Blaze- you really enjoy him and thats what it's all about.

Can you work a few more hours a week somehow- maybe some vening bar work to top up the horsey work? I had to do that for a bit and it just took the pressure off.
 
Can you take in liveries?...
Go and freelance teach, exercise, clip, groom etc etc to make some £
Ride out at a race yard for some extra £
Get lorry fixed and hire it out with driver (you) to people who don't have transport make a little more £
Buy up a whole load of whole sale horsey gear and flog it on eBay, another £ spiner maybe?...

Lots of options which mean you don't need to sell Blaze
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I already ride/teach all day and most evenings, thats my job which is great but it only covers my day to day running costs and competing not fixing badly behaved lorries

edited to add I do take in schooling liveries but due to lack of space can only really take on one at a time, until I save enough to build more stables
 
Are you under 21? There is government scheme for HGV.

I would get another job and see what happened. You can cut back on competing Blaze and get the pony out more if you can. Why the rush to novice? It will be a lot more expensive with all the additional training and competing at BSJA you will need to do for it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Horses go wrong, if you can get a good price for Blaze take it.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is very, very true.

But part of me thinks that if you're trying to get more of a name for yourself then you need to be out competing and proving your worth at the higher levels. Blaze might give you access to that.
 
I work full time and more as it is


Unfortuently not under 21, otherwise that would have been great! No rush to novice, just seems like the natural progression and he feels nearly ready. If I keep him he needs to keep improving and gaining value.
 
Could you not sell your lorry as it is? Could that possibly give you enough to buy another cheap lorry that works?
Dont sell Blaze!
 
Mmm..I think its worth a shot trying to sell it- especially in somewhere like the USA and I dont think you would loose more than £400 on it. Those saddles hold their value extremely well. Especially in the USA they sell like hotcakes and never seem to loose value.
There are 100's of other models of saddles out there and there's got to be something that will fit him that is second hand, only about £400 and lovely to ride in- a saddle that price that is right for him will exist I promise!

Get the pony schooling well on the flat, over jumps, do a few shows and sell it in a few weeks. Once they are doing that youve added £2k to the price you bought her for.

Re; lorries it is luck of the draw- know people that have spent £50k on lorries and they are breaking down every week and are v.unreliable, then you get boxes like Boss that are like a dream! I dont think more expensive means more reliable. Perhaps sell your current lorry and buy another 3.5 ton that is cheaper/the same price and really quiz past owners on its reliability and just hope that they are being honest.

I really wouldnt sell Blaze, do think he is a horse of a lifetime and he will help you achieve all your dreams and ambitions!
 
I dont think so, not sure anyone would want it at the moment



hadnt really thought about getting another 3.5ton tbh, not sure why, think I just figured I really to be able to take more than 1 horse now, and it seemed sensible to get a 7.5ton
 
I'd go with route 2. SO true what someone said above about expensive not meaning reliable - can't even count the number of times our old beddy has trundled past shiny new lorries on the hard shoulder. I think you do get a lot more for your money buying a 7.5t and also would give you more options to compete youngsters/schooling liveries, and if you get your full HGV you could look into driving for people? My old instructor used to drive for a few local polo yards and made a decent extra dollop of money each time. How much do you think your lorry is worth? Could you as suggested sell it broken? If it is very old/not worth much, you might end up better off selling cheap than spending money to fix. Our bedford was £4250 coming up for 3 years ago and has, touch wood, never let me down except for needing a few new tyres! So maybe if you have a half decent little lorry to sell you could make a few pennies by putting up with the minor embarassment of turning up to a BE event in a B Reg Bedford or similar?!
 
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