Buying a project horse

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showjump2003

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This is just a random idea I have and by no means a definate just yet! I will be finishing uni in May and have always liked the idea of buying a project horse and selling it on. I do realize this is by no means an easy feat anymore what with horse prices ect.

If we sell the cows (which is a possibility) I will have room for another horse (already have three). The sort of horse I am thinking about is a 14 - 14.2hh cobby type?

Just after peoples ideas about what the best type of project horse is and weather it's worth it? I'm not after a huge money earner as I will be working full time as well, I just want something to work on.

The other possibility is that I just get a youngster for myself instead, not one to sell on but we will see!
 
When I finished Uni (many moons ago) I had 6 months before I started my graduate job and I bought a champion trotter to bring on as a riding horse. I bought him for a small amount he was 15hh Standard Bred. Unfortunately, I fell in love with him and three years later he was still with me but I eventually sold him to a good friend of mone who now has him as an unaffil dressage horse. It was one of the best things I ever did and loved it x
 
its easy to think you are making money but think about the whole picture.... livery feed hay vet bills shoeing not to mention the time you put in.... i bought a rising 3 year old welsh c x for little over £200 and only just broke even when i sold him for £2300 as a broken to ride and drive 4 year old. and i keep mine at home.
its good fun but no money in it x
 
Sure. One is my parents cob who I don't ride (although maydo this summer). The other two are mine and won't ever be sold on. They are ridden regularly when I'm not at uni and competed at local level. One is my old pony, had her about 11/12 years and the other is my 15 year old horse who I have had 5 years. Love both to bits, just always wanted to bring a horse on to sell.
 
ahhhhhh i thought you had to exercise them all yourself or something!! then i was going to say what hard work it would be!!

i think project horses are a good idea, as long as you dont get too attached!! i know i would! if you can find something, mayb even a 4yr old cob type to bring on and sell you would probably make a good margain in that, as cobs that are nicely schooled/hack out/do a bit of everything are highly sort after.
 
Blackie was our project horse and will be sold this year. He has been so rewarding, and very easy (a bit too easy as it didn’t prepare for Bodey who is a real youngster). If you want I can PM you the place where we got him from, they sell 3 or 4 year old coloured cobs?
I would say if you have the time and the money then go for it!
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My daughter did this before going to uni - she bought an unbroken black cob from our local gipsy dealer who we know tends to have good cobs, and she broke him and brought him on. We got him for £850 and sold him for £2500, BUT as everyone says, we bought him in the late summer and had the costs of feed and stabling through the winter before he was sold in the late spring.

The other warning is - you're almost bound to get attached, if the horse is a good 'un! Cobweb was an absolute star, and we all adored him; Hanna had to sell him to get some money for uni, but she was in hysterics for about 2 hours when the new owners came to collect him! So beware!
 
It can be fun as long as you get the right horse! Pick something thats not your type, or you could end up keeping it!

I bought a tb last year as a project thinking I wouldnt want to keep him, however I adore him and will stay with us for forever, my coloured I was asked to bring on and sell for a friend but as my own horse died I bought him and my Highland I just couldnt find the right home for so am just gonna loan out....

However previously I have had a few ponies I bought from my friends riding school that I had brought on for a couple of months and rehomed, I only made a couple of hundred on pounds on each of them however it was worth the time and the bruises...!

I now have another TB I have got to school and sell for someone, she is fab but thankfully not the one for me so I won't have any probs selling her on when the time comes...

Anyway, am rambling.... the point is it can be a good thing to do, but you wont make a lot from it and sometimes its difficult to sell them after you have done so much with them - its worth giving it a go though...!
 
mmm i tried this, brought horse in Oct , to sell in Spring time........
This was 2 years ago and he's still with me!!!!!!!!!!! . Good idea so long as YOU can let go of horse.
and guess what i can't!!!!!!!! unless you give me blank cheque and have right sort of home
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he's my avator!
 
Hmmm, maybe I might wait a few months and get myself a young horse that I can fall in love with. Trouble is I won't be ble to afford the sort I want lol.
 
i can't now..... but he was ment to be a spare/something to ride, whilst eventer was off
BUT.............. he's turned into my little twickle toes!!! and turning me into a dressage diva!
 
I do this reasonably often. There are a couple of things I do/think.
If you buy a horse because it's been hard for the owner to sell, then in all likelihood it will also be hard for you to sell. I've known a few people who have bought problem horses as they were cheap and found them equally problematic when it comes to selling them, generally they don't make money. If you can, buy a horse with no issues or problems.
A cheap horse costs as much to keep & school & advertise as an expensive one. I would almost be inclined to buy as nice (expensive)a horse as possible, the returns will be higher and you should have no problems selling it.
Be clear about the market you are selling to. For instance I personally think it's a mistake to buy & sell children's ponies unless you have a child to ride them. People want animals which are proven in their area. So parents will want a child's pony which has been to PC camp & local shows and looked after other children. Some markets are saturated with crap, (small ponies being a case in point) aim for a market where there's a lack of decent animals about. (safe/sensible 14.2s)

Sorry If I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, but I like the idea of bringing on and selling and think it can work well, but you have to be very hard nosed and realistic with yourself.

In your place I would go for either something green which is ready to go out and work for 3 months to get some miles under it's belt, you can make a couple of grand so long as it all goes to plan. Or look for a horse pony which is clearly undervalued (my favorite) or where the owner is desperate to sell a good horse and will accept less than the market value.
I would primarily look in free ads papers though some bargains are to be found online.
 
i would always buy projects late summer/autumn as price do go down. After trying to do this, if i did it next time i would pick of type of horse that is 'not my type' .Unless you buy very cheap and put comp record on them you don't make much money. If you look at lot of dealers, it's all about quick turn arounds!!! so if your time is limited it will take longer.........
 
ive had a bit of a plan to do this as well but i would have to buy in spring and be sold in autumn for me to make any money. I am also rubbish at selling still have the one i was going to sell 6 years ago!!!
 
I did this in the after my A levels summer. I got 2 welsh ponies for free. One was a 7yo stallion and the other a 3yo colt. Got them both gelded. 3 yo was easy peasy and is now a fantatsic driving pony, im trying to sell him at the moment, im not in a rush though and when i sell him i'll make about £1,500 profit (all his keep is free) but its been so much fun and i've learnt loads.

The 7 yo was a different story, i managed to handle him, but one day i could lead him, pick his feet up, groom him, put a rug on etc, and the next day he wouldn't let me nearer him. So i sold him, to a really good home where they had all day to spend with him. I made about £100 on him but did not have fun with him really.

I say go for it, as long as you've got the time and you realise it'll take time. Good Luck
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Good idea to buy a youngster, last years foal maybe. just need minimal handling each day, spring/summer sell on for reasonable ammount, . Ive always bourght ponies knowing I will one day sell them on. sometimes I keep them for 5 years. Sometimes 1 year. But in the mean time you've had fun in the process. You could always stick your money in the bank each week and sit arround and do nothing!!! Good luck
 
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