Could i make a living from horses?

F

Flight

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 May 2004
Messages
385
Visit site
Hi, Sorry if this post has been done before but i'm seriously thinking of trying to make a living from horses. Wouldn't need a fortune, just enough to cover costs of keeping 2 other horses and a bit of spending money. I am a driving instructor at the moment and its just not making me any money. I have my own land and stables but no school at the moment, was thinking about taking on a couple of young horses and backing schooling etc. I am a very experienced rider and have backed horses before and also had a few project horses who have turned out to be fantastic. I know i have the skills but is there any money to be made or would i just end up even more skint than i am now?
confused.gif
 
Any chance of running a project or two alongside your current job? Really don't know what I'm talking about
tongue.gif
But doubt that you could make enough to live off by doing that, unless you had a very cheap source of very good horses.
 
Unlikely.

I don't understand how, as a driving instructor, you are not making money, we see so many learner drivers every day. (Not meant to be offensive there!)
 
There are just too many driving instructors and not enough students particularly around here. Nobody wants to start lessons just before christmas either so got a good few months with not much work. I am looking for a part time office job to tide me over but thats not what i really want to do. I hate having to work, where are all the millionaires who want to give me there money to ride all day lol
 
be very careful. check out insurance. Not just for public liability but in case you are injured and are unable to work. People are so quick to sue these days. I broke horses in for years (always thought that was a stupid term as you dont brake them) for people and bought unbroken ones to back and sell on. Most people are great but it only takes one smart arse that expects you to get a wild not even halter broken big youngster and turn it into a school master within a matter of weeks! Also, there are a lot of people that arent fit to be near a green horse. so they can undo your good work in minutes and then turn around and blame you! I was very lucky with my clients. However I know some very good experienced horsewomen that havent been as lucky. Be careful of taking on horses that have been "started". This usually means they have tried, cocked it up and want you to make it right! The best ones are the ones that have just been taught to lead correctly and tie up with good basic manners. Sorry to sound doom and gloom just be careful! Good Luck
 
forgot to say, do your homework before taking a horse on. That means making sure that the owner is as competant as they claim to be
 
What about taking on a few livery's or something and getting somesort of a school (sorry, that's just me dreaming here! lol)

But as you have your own land, you could think of in the future taking on full livery's or something if you got your yard upto scratch and then taking whatever you could get, i.e breaking schooling, reselling etc etc easier if you could get the income from the livery's.

Goodluck either way.x
 
I wouldn't want to take other peoples horses would just be thinking of buying a couple of project type horses, ones who the numptys have had and spoilt but could be undone with some consistent handling. I've had a bolter, rearer and one that wouldn't let anyone get on it and an ex racehorse who have all turned out great. I think deep down i know its not really the solution i'm after but could be fun.
 
Iv bouoght a couple of sec A's for a couple hundred quid, all ready to be broken in, I wont make mega money, but they are so easy to do, and a quick turn around, people cant get enough 11.2hh ponies
laugh.gif

Especially as I rent 10 acres for £20 a week so they dont cost bugger all to keep
laugh.gif

You should go to the sales?
 
How about starting off with some 14.2s. These would be cheaper to buy and a nice schooled pony is hard to find. A pony would be a lot less to keep as well.

But honestly, I think it is almost impossible to "make a living" from horses especially now, and starting out from scratch.
You have to start very small, and gradually do more and more, and then you turn into a dealer. It is going to take quite a long time to get an untouched or very green animal up to a stage when you can sell it. Of course, some people run one or two at a time and sell them on, while having a bit of fun, and this sometimes keeps them in horses, but they are not trying to live off the work.

Buyers mess you around terrilbly and I keep hearing of people who used to buy and sell and have given up in disgust.
 
Orange horse, thats why I have have sec A's
laugh.gif

Im lucky that Im small enough to back and school them myself
laugh.gif

I eventually want to get C's and D's in to break and sell, we've all got to start somewhere
laugh.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top