Buying horses/ponies to sell - what do you think of people that do this?

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RuthM

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I used to be a serial owner. I would buy a horse to sell again, buy it from one world, young and with the right physique, work with it then sell it into another world, then do it all over again! I worked in a great place which no doubt helped and didn't do it for profit, they would eat any profit as they'd stay as long as needed to get genuinely right, even a year or two. I could not have afforded to fund having my own and while this way didn't make profit it did work well as a kind of savings account - not as safe but infinitely more rewarding. I never felt it was wrong, loved them all, but then I loved pretty much any horse in my care whether it was owned by me or not. It wasn't a wrench to sell them because I understood it meant I could do it again and I was proud of the difference between where they came from and where they went, I was happy for the horse and content with my small part in it's life.

I'm tempted to go down this line again if my little 'un gets interested in ponies. There's loads of non financial reasons I'd choose it in an ideal world. I think it pays a little favour back to neds, it's a difference stance as a rider to want to be of service and one I'd like her to appreciate and it's a pragmatic way of life (working rather than funding horses). The downside is you don't get to see them as pets, maybe that's an upside too!

Years ago I lived and breathed horses as an industry and honestly was never in the least bit concerned how it looked to buy and sell. I was very open about it, especially when selling because I think buyers smell BS and I can't be bothered with dreaming stuff up!

I'm not sure it's a viable way forward in years to come if munch stays riding. I'm more aware now that sentimentality is highly valued amongst buyers, especially where ponies are concerned. It's not fair on the animal to be any less than straight, it's no reflection on a horse or pony to have been bought to sell, it's a compliment, it means the potential was seen and the reason for sale is it's been realised. I worry that if I did it straight it would put off otherwise good homes because of the way people feel about it.

For a long while yet this is just about my daydreaming, everyone daydreams, it isn't going to happen this year but I like to keep my daydreams in the world of real - much happier daydreaming about what can be obtained.

I'm fully aware that there's a gamble element, know that the wrong purchase can be made, not thinking about it as an income, I have got the t-shirt.

I just want to know how people feel about buying an animal that had been purchased to sell, is it off putting? Do people genuinely think it's wrong? Does it make you think the animal has to have had a dodgy past?
 
I don't think there is anything wrong with it but it may be hard on your child. That would be the thing that stopped me. I had a series of loan ponies wrenched away from me once I had them sorted out by their owners when I was a kid and it was extremely traumatic and upsetting. I wouldn't want to make my child feel like that. I have toughened up as an adult and when I bought two unseen youngsters I was quite prepared to bring them on and sell them if they weren't as described or weren't suitable (one is for my 3 yr old).
 
I think if you are prepared to put time and energy into improving a pony, then why not get a financial reward for it.
 
It may actually be in the best interests of the horse. If a young, or difficult horse is bought by a novice it may develop serious behaviour problems and end up passed from pillar to post getting more and more difficult each time. But with a bit of time and expert work, if that horse becomes a mature, well behaved horse then it is more likely to go to a good home where it stays.

I have no intention of selling my beautiful girl that I bought yesterday, but one thing I'm really clear about is that I'm paying for her to be schooled so that should anything happen to me she can find a 5* home.

Paula
 
I couldn't do it myself, but i would have no problem buying a nice horse that i liked from someone else who had bought it, improved it, and wanted to sell it on, providing they were honest and up front about it, and they had done a good job of it. The one thing that really annoyed me when i was looking to buy, was the obvious dealers who pretended not to be dealers - i just want people to be honest with me & if the horse is right for me i will buy it.
 
maresmaid said:
I couldn't do it myself, but i would have no problem buying a nice horse that i liked from someone else who had bought it, improved it, and wanted to sell it on, providing they were honest and up front about it, and they had done a good job of it. The one thing that really annoyed me when i was looking to buy, was the obvious dealers who pretended not to be dealers - i just want people to be honest with me & if the horse is right for me i will buy it.
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Agreed.
 
I wouldn't have a problem with this, plus enough people buy from dealers, and what you're looking to do is low volume dealing, with the horse in mind rather than a fast buck, which is to be commended :)
 
I've done it quite happily but it has been understood from the word go by my daughter and husband that the pony has come to us so that we can find it a nice home, not that we are in any way likely to keep it. Even then it has been a wrench for them.
 
I used to do this, and I agree that it is a good way of giving a horse/pony the best chance in life. In the heady days when I weighed eight and a half stone (wish I still did) I used to bring on 12.2's as good quiet kids ponies. They all found happy homes, and were easy to sell as they were well mannered and well schooled. It also gave me a great deal of fun. Can't say there was any money in it though!
 
I've technically had 6 projects over the years, one of which will be staying with me permenantly.

I'd make a very bad dealer as I'm less worried about money than I am finding the horse a suitable home.

I get a attached too easily and always cry when they are sold.

I always try to pick types that I wouldn't choose for myself and tend to only buy projects with friends which spreads the care etc. h

However the last one I brought was with a girl that wanted to compete the horse and to cut a long story short I ended up being left with a horse I can't ride one side of and isn't suitable for me due to medicial reasons leaving me with a several £k loss so I wont being going down that route again.
 
Really encouraging replies! I wouldn't consider it unless it was done straight up, openly. I've lived here all my life and have no intention of ever moving so nothing is really worth mucking up for.

I haven't got profit in mind, just something to make it possible if she is keen, ie, they would be welcome to eat the profit. I see dealers as those that make enough to cover keep and give profit, I never sold more than one a year and therefore saw it as a means to have a horse rather than make money.

The reality is I wouldn't force Munchkin into anything but if she wants to do stuff in the horse world, whether I like it or not, she'll have to learn that she isn't going to have it on a plate, a leg up sure, but friends will have more that came easier. The realistic alternative is either (at best) 1 pony and that's your lot till you bring in a wage. Or loaning, which has all the downsides of buying to sell without any control. When I was a kid (young teens) I had loan ponies and honestly believed that all loans were ponies owners could neither ride nor sell and the loanee was expected to correct that then they would be wanted back. On the upside I always knew if I succeeded another pony would turn up pretty quick and there was satisfaction in it.
 
Go for it, if you want to:)

Only 1 bit of advice - make sure that if you have a small child you have 1 pony that is a 'keeper'. This is the childs own pony, does not get sold till they get too large (or even kept on then and a loaner or another small child found to keep pony on at your place) and is the one that they can feel safe & happy on at all times.

My daughter always had 'hers' but also rode the rest when they came in for backing, producing, schooling and sales etc.
Yes, we did have a few tears from her over 1 or 2, but having the security of her own took some of the upset away.

Good luck, its very rewarding to match small children with the right pony :)
 
I have no issue within this in fact I did it myself when I was young . I worked full time away from horses and got young one took them to the ready for BE stage then sold them as I did not have time to do BE at that time.
I think you can sell three a year before the IR can be interested in you.
 
I bought a young mare last year from a lady (who is an AI) who said she had bought the horse the previous autumn as a 'project' while her own horse was on field rest. So she was bought to be sold on.
The lady had put some regular schooling in over the winter, and the mare was just what I was looking for - a young horse with a decent start, which I myself could then bring on further. She has actually turned out to be a little more challenging than I thought, but that's another story! The only downside is that I have no idea of my mare's background before then (I found out she was bought at Leominster sales) so little issues have cropped up as I don't think she has been out and seen anything of life. Cows and sheep were horrifying!
 
I've had quite a few, either unbacked 4yr olds, projects with issues, from either cheap sales or private homes. Profit wise I would have made more with a bar job, but I enjoyed it & got satisfaction from knowing my effort changed them from meat value to a good chance of a happy future. Only had a couple since daughter was born, I'm no longer happy to get on unknown well bred horses in sales car parks to discover why they're dirt cheap. However, my 7yr old has been the first (& only) jockey on her pony, & first jockey for backing a few other tinies. I am seriously considering getting an 11hh unbroken pony in early spring as small but able jockeys are few & far between, & keep doing so with tinies as long as she's small enough. Won't make a huge profit but taking them out & about prior to selling will give her cost free outings. And she'll still have her own.
 
I can't see us having the means to keep two ponies but then Munchkin was born into skint. While she was desperate to start school her BF was able to start a year sooner because it was private school. I don't make stuff up to her so when she asked I explained - they pay, we can't, you'll start next year with your friends. She's never questioned it since. She's lost 1 dog, 2 grandparents and her Dad's moved out in the last 2 years but when she left her play group last week (for good!) they told me she is possibly the smiliest kid in the class. If she dumps riding and wants to do ballet, skate, climb, karate I'll do whatever I can to support her, but in those activities it'll be from scratch and probably boil down to time, a lesson or 2 a week and encouragement. At the moment she's into riding and mud, mud more than riding so my mind does go to how I can help and that I might be able to use things I know to do it. She'll be ok with it.

'Project pony' that sounds loads better than bought to sell! I'd still want to be clear though because it's the reason for sale, one of the most important things to know and one often not dealt with openly.
 
As I child I did this to finance my Show Jumping with my serious pony. I enjoyed it and loved seeing go on to lovely homes. I will probably do it again if/when we have our own land
 
I think it is a sad reality that some would be put off because it's a valid 3rd option for animals stuck where they clearly aren't selling and clearly aren't wanted.

There's a small part of me that thinks those put off may well be less than ideal homes, they might have facilities to die for, time and be well intentioned but if when push comes to shove they have a mentality to disregard individuals that have had less than perfect lives I would still feel concerned re their stickability at the first hurdle, and there are always hurdles.
 
tabithakat64 said:
I've technically had 6 projects over the years, one of which will be staying with me permenantly.

I'd make a very bad dealer as I'm less worried about money than I am finding the horse a suitable home.

I get a attached too easily and always cry when they are sold.

I always try to pick types that I wouldn't choose for myself.
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Same here, I've had about the same number of project ponies which I started to buy when I was at uni and needed something to do over the summer (and I didnt fancy getting a job!). I loved each one of those ponies even though they were only with me for a few months. I loved the challenge of backing them and getting them out to competitions, its so rewarding. I did it for that more than the financial side - by the time I'd spent money on their care etc. I doubt I would have made much if anything anyway. I am also the worst dealer as I am very particular about homes, I went to visit every single one of the potential homes before I sold a pony. I have stayed in touch with all of their owners (and in some cases, next owners!).

I never had a problem selling them. If people asked then I told them they had been bought as projects, dont see why this would put them off. None of the ponies I bought were sticking-for-sale ones, all came through wanted adverts usually from farmers etc. who happened to have some ponies on a hillside they didnt know what to do with (and I could also get them for pennies as a result!).
 
wonkey_donkey said:
It shouldn't put buyer's off but generally it does.
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Yes, it does when small time dealers are doing it.

Cheap horses with various minor health issues ridden in ill fitted tack, with teeth and/or muscular problems never treated because they're seen as unnecessary optional expense.
They're given a few weeks schooling, tarted up and sold on to gullible novices.

These sellers are the bottom end of the market and I find them depressing. Shabby people with sad, defeated horses.

Not to be confused with the owner who takes on an occasional genuine project without the intention of trading in horse meat to fund their hobby.
This type of person usually spends more money in rehabilitating than they ever make from its eventual sale.
 
If you're talking about having one at a time and keeping it for a year or two then I don't really think you would be classed as a dealer in people's minds especially if the pony has been out and about a lot with your daughter on it.
 
Couldn't care less who I buy it off, so long as they are honest.

I have only bought one privately owned horse, the rest were off dealers/people who buy and sell.
 
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