Buying A Horse To Sell On?

legyield

legyield

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I'm wondering from those who do it often, what are the rules?
I've seen a nice horse which has come up recently for a very reasonable price who i'll be going to see when i get back in the area (at home for uni at the mo).

If you only intend on keeping for a couple of months do you get the horse vetted? Apparently said horse has been vetted in the past by previous owners. I'd also get horse insured.
I would also have to get the horse tack as he comes without - i've never had to buy a horse tack, as i have loaned for 4 years and they obviously come with. I know i can get some secondhand which isn't going to cost loads - any tips?

Just general info about buying to sell on would be a great help.
 
If your looking to sell id have him vetted for your own peace of mind and if he is sold quickly the customer may be happy to take that vetting which would speed up the sale. Try ebay for tack, while you want cheap it will need to be in good condition or it will spoil the overall picture when someone comes to view the horse.
 
Definately have it vetted,regardless of price,if you think you have a bargain the vetting will prove it(depending on what you want the vetting for of course)!
Buying and selling(quick turnover) is a risky business atm,my friend dropped the price of her horse from £8k which he is well worth to £5750k and still not a single phonecall
crazy.gif
He is now off the market!
 
Please forgive me if I sound a bit patronising but you say you've been loaning? Is this the first horse you've bought? You say it's reasonably priced but are you sure? The market is poor at the moment and unless you're keeping an eye on it it's hard to tell if a horse is reasonable or not. I haven't bought and sold for a while but I wouldn't buy anything I couldn't easily make a grand on as costs mount up. I've found (sadly) that looks are an important factor when it comes to selling a horse on so it helps if it looks good! A proven competition record or good breeding are also a huge help. The best thing is if there's something obvious you can do to add value such as break in (if unbroken) or get some BD points or bsja money. This is a good time of year to buy as in a couple of months time is when people often start horse hunting. I was never a dealer as such but used to buy 2 or 3 youngsters a year to back and sell on as I enjoyed it so much. Selling is horrible though!
 
Thanks. The horse in question is a 15.3hh TB gelding, 10 years old. Sounds like a nice allrounder, has hunted, been out doing dressage, snaffle mouthed. Up for £1k as the owner's finding it a bit tough at the minute.
If the horse seems nice enough then there's always the possibility to keep him longer.
 
Hahaha, that's the problem, sometimes they're too nice! I must admit, I had a nightmare trying to shift TBs but then there are millions of young recently backed ones out there. This guy sounds like he's done quite a bit. If you've got the option to keep him for a bit if you can't sell him and have some fun, go for it! Can't go too far wrong for £1k, you'll at least get it back.
 
i would be v.wary of buying to sell if you have never owned a horse before,sorry.

ignoring that, i never vetted mine when i did it.

always insured.

tack i always had something to fit (tend to have 6-8 saddles at any one time).
for cheap tack, eBay is good.

if you are having to buy tack, rugs, travel stuff etc i cannot see how you are going to make a profit.

presume he will be 11 this year?
have you got transport? as to get him worth any more you are going to have to take him out to shows, xc schooling etc.

how long are you planning to have him before selling?
have you worked out all costs inc. farrier, feed, petrol to yard etc and decided what you want to sell him for?
 
Hi Yasmin, have you thought about how do you intend to add value in order to increase the sale price and over what time period, what sort of rider would then want to buy him and what their budget would be? You need to be a good experienced trainer of horses imo to be able to turn horses over and make a profit, and as someone who has not had full responsibility for a horse before, never mind bring one on, regardless of how experienced you think you are, horses do have a habit of showing up our weaknesses.
 
Sorry, wouldn't even pay that for a 10 yr old TB! They really are worth nothing unless have perfect conformation, BD, BSJA or BE points and poo gold bars.
I can pick up TB's like that for about £300 ATM, your always better off with something with more bone, and cob's will always sell. Your better buying avery green or unbroken cob, putting miles on it then selling that. if you haven't been out doing aff competitions and have the experience under your belt, and a very good eye, you are unlikely to make any money on someones old TB!
 
I'd look to buy a cobby type, prob between 14-15hh, mainly because they usually always sell and suit a wider range of people, eg kids and adults can ride.
I wouldn't get it vetted, thats a risk I would take, but I don't get my own horses vetted, never found it to help so don't do it anymore!
I also prefer to look for something a different colour, as they usually make more money around here.
I would also probably buy something younger, from filly/colt up to 5ish! It really depends on how much you want to make on the horse in question, and what the markets like around you. A TB in my area probably wouldn't be worth that much to start with, usually up for max 600 around here.
Good Luck if you do buy though
smile.gif
 
If anyone could find me a TB, similar to described, at prices mentioned then that'd be ideal!
I'd either keep horse on part livery or living out. I thought he'd be worth a bit more as he's been out hunting/out doing dressage. If i'm honest i have about £90-£100 to keep the horse on a week.
 
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Sorry, wouldn't even pay that for a 10 yr old TB! They really are worth nothing unless have perfect conformation, BD, BSJA or BE points and poo gold bars.
I can pick up TB's like that for about £300 ATM, your always better off with something with more bone, and cob's will always sell. Your better buying avery green or unbroken cob, putting miles on it then selling that. if you haven't been out doing aff competitions and have the experience under your belt, and a very good eye, you are unlikely to make any money on someones old TB!

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Absolute rubbish!

A 10 year old allrounder that has hunted, will hack and school decently and has some competition record has definite value provided it is sound and sane - tb or not!

Yes, you can pick up a fresh out of training tb for pretty cheap, but this horse isn't a recent ex racehorse, its a perfectly nice allrounder and lots of people like tbs. I know I would choose a tb over a cob any day!

Cobs might be easier to sell, but a classy tb is very very nice indeed and certainly isn't worth "nothing."
 
get yourself to leominster...

i bought a cracking little mare there on 18th december for £280..

15.2, great conformation, Anglo Arab, beautifully bred..

sold her 3 days later as a potential Show hack for a damned good profit.

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if you want a Cob, the bottom has dropped out of the market completely as there are far too many out there, therefore picking up anything half-decent isn't easy ATM as there tends to be a vast amount of the recently overbred pikey ponies being desperately offloaded.
 
I do a bit of buying and selling and taking problem horses on to sell.

I recently spent the money you want to spend on a 4yo who had just come out of racing. If you have never worked or reschooled a horse like this I wouldnt do it as with most you have to be very carefull as they can be sharp and have certain habits and hystericalness lol.

With regards to vettings I always have them done. I normally have a 2 stage, with flexions, trot on a small hard circle and bloods. Its always worth doing as if your going to sell on in a few months that the new purchaser will want them to be vetted.

I always insure mine too, just for vets fees.

I have loads of tack so normally something to fit!!

Although if you want to make a profit I really doubt you will with the horse on part livery as that will use up roughly £100 per week. With insurance, vetting, competitions, training and other things on top I doubt your profit would be loads.

And dont ever count that you can make money, on some you do, on some you dont. It can be fun though, although if your like me then you just end up thinking something is really smart and tallented and want to keep it!!!!
 
Absolute rubbish!

A 10 year old allrounder that has hunted, will hack and school decently and has some competition record has definite value provided it is sound and sane - tb or not!

Yes, you can pick up a fresh out of training tb for pretty cheap, but this horse isn't a recent ex racehorse, its a perfectly nice allrounder and lots of people like tbs. I know I would choose a tb over a cob any day!

Cobs might be easier to sell, but a classy tb is very very nice indeed and certainly isn't worth "nothing."

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I agree with you. Theres a big difference between an allrounder and a horse that more or less still a racehorse!
 
I would do it with caution and you need to be prepared for a very quick turnaround to make any money - even if the market is better than it is now. when you look at it the average horse probably costs about £250 a month ALL in to keep on DIY (taking in account your fuel etc too) when you sell said horse, you need to add up how many months you've had it and make proffit accordingly.
 
You are paying livery fees in winter??? - don't even think of buying to sell on a at a profit. Every month you have him you have to sell him for £500 more than you paid. The chances that you will make any money are very slim and the chances of being stuck with him and it costing you a fortune are huge. What if he fails the vet when you come to sell him? What if he pulls a tendon and needs a years break just as you are ready to sell him? What if he colics and has to have a year off to recouperate from the operation to fix him? What if what if what if what if.

Unless you want this horse for yourself leave him alone! He's barely worth more than he is being sold for anyway, particularly if he was in race training when he was two, because he is gong into double figures when so many early-trained horses start to break down.
 

Absolute rubbish!

A 10 year old allrounder that has hunted, will hack and school decently and has some competition record has definite value provided it is sound and sane - tb or not!

Yes, you can pick up a fresh out of training tb for pretty cheap, but this horse isn't a recent ex racehorse, its a perfectly nice allrounder and lots of people like tbs. I know I would choose a tb over a cob any day!

Cobs might be easier to sell, but a classy tb is very very nice indeed and certainly isn't worth "nothing."



I agree with you. Theres a big difference between an allrounder and a horse that more or less still a racehorse!

Sorry but it's true, your not buying in the right place then! I get offered TB's that are alrounders in the age range of 6-14 like this every week for next too no money, but won't buy them! Sorry TB fans but they are walking vets bills, eat lots and the majority are high upkeep and hard work. Not my thing and no way you'll get me buying one.

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/6_yrs_15_3_hh_bay_thoroughbred_surrey/76952

This is one a friend bought to sell on, and look at how much they had to resell for to make a profit! And there was NOTHING wrong with this horse, it was a nice all rounder, just a TB.
 
I have had several ex racehorses over the years and swear by them. If you are carefull in assessing their temperaments and keep away from the loopy, daft, mad ones they are as good if not better to keep than any other breed. The TB has far more brains than most breeds and they learn very quickly to look after themselves.

I have never had lots of, or large vets bills with any of the ones I have had, have not kept them in cotton wool and have done things with them - hunting and BSJA and well as hacking and pleasure riding.

It also depends on what you mean by selling for a profit. If at the end of the day you want to do this for a hobby, and will get experience and satisfaction from it, then regardless of your costs, if you buy and sell for more than you bought for, then it helps pay for the hobby and your enjoyment. However,
you will also have to be prepared to put up with the stress and hastle of selling which can be murder. Only buy the horse if it really apeals to you personally in case you get stuck with it. I know you can pick TBs up for a lot less, but you cant always try them properly and this one is not straight off the track. Good luck!
 
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