Potential project for me - what's he worth???

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zoon

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I have found a horse that'd be a project for me. I'm willing to take him on, but the owner has asked for what I consider to be too much for him. I want to see what you think. I know these how much posts aren't allowed, but since I want to buy the horse myself and just want to check what sort of offer to put in, I don't see the problem!

He's a 16.2 6 year old Irish horse (exact breeding unknown), appears to have quite a bit of ID in him. He is a lovely colour - very attractive boy. He has nice kind eyes and big honest ears. He is goose rumped and quite long in the back and neck, but has a good shoulder and good legs, although slightly back at the knee. He is lacking any form of muscle as he's been out of work, but has nice paces.

He's been passed around a lot - he's had 4 or 5 homes so far. He was apparently professionally backed and working well, but then sold on. He is good to handle, catch and with farrier, but difficult to box. He also suffers from separation anxiety and seems overall to be quite unsure of everything - probably due to being passed about so much.

He is good to tack up, but his difficulty is with being mounted - he needs someone on the ground to reassure him and still seems nervy when someone is on him. Apparently has never bolted or reared/bucked, but is very unsure of everything. Owner seems to think he needs re-starting. He lunges very well. They are unsure of what has happened to him in the past to make him like this. It's clear that someone along the line is not telling the truth about him - either he wasn't professionally started and working well or someone after that did something to cause his behaviour and that's why he was passed about. His current owner will lean over him and mount him and have a brief wander around, but no more than that and only if someone is on the ground.

If I got him I'd obviously have a 5 stage vetting and get him thoroughly checked over for any physical problems which may be causing his behaviour. I'd also want to send him to a professional to work with him - I'd want to do a good job so he doesn't get passed on again and can stay with me as a forever home.

Since I'd have to throw quite a lot of money at the problem, how much do you think he's worth?
 
£500. if you want to send him to a good professional for a month that's going to cost you at least £600 minimum and then you don't know what they will find!!!
 
Yeah I agree, somewhere between £500-1000. If the owner is desperate to get rid then and he needs to go straight to a professional then he really isn't worth anymore than that
 
I'd also want to send him to a professional to work with him - I'd want to do a good job so he doesn't get passed on again and can stay with me as a forever home.
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You need to think about this very, very carefully. If you can't do the job yourself, or with someone at home with you - then don't buy him. If he is allready anxious because of being moved around so much - yet another two homes, will unsettle him more.

If you think he's worth a go - then £900 tops. But do him at home, so that you two can build up a relationship.

You also need to think about the consequences if it turns out that some of his issues are irreversible. Would it be sensible to pass him on again?? I would suggest no.

Also the fact that he has had 4/5 homes in his short life is worrying. Why?

Unless you have all the tools at your disposal - don't touch with a bargepole.
 
I don't know what he is worth but he sounds like he's in a real pickle and could do with finding his forever home and being able to settle asap :o
 
amymay said:
You need to think about this very, very carefully. If you can't do the job yourself, or with someone at home with you - then don't buy him. If he is allready anxious because of being moved around so much - yet another two homes, will unsettle him more.

If you think he's worth a go - then £900 tops. But do him at home, so that you two can build up a relationship.

You also need to think about the consequences if it turns out that some of his issues are irreversible. Would it be sensible to pass him on again?? I would suggest no.

Also the fact that he has had 4/5 homes in his short life is worrying. Why?

Unless you have all the tools at your disposal - don't touch with a bargepole.
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excellent advice. The owner is diluded if she thinks she'll get 2k!
 
I was thinking hundreds rather than thousands, but figured an offer as low as £500 would be rude and I'd be best to walk away rather than offending owner. But I suppose worst she can say is no!
 
I think its hard to put a price on him just from what you have said.

But agree he would need to be cheap.

I'd do the horse the horse a favour, have him vetted, let him settle down with you, give him 6 months off, re-start him again your self, if you can't do or have the time to see that through, then I think you will either be wasting your time and not doing the horse any favours because then he's not really a project, your just passing him on again for someone else to have a go with.

By the sounds of it, the poor horse at this young age probably doesn't know if its coming or going, if he's very senstive type, he needs time to adjust and settle so he can learn to trust before he leans to understand again.
 
Yeah I know what you mean, £500 is cheap but then he has issues. Put the ball back in her court and maybe ask what's the minimum she would accept. Did you see him advertised?
 
i'm not sure he should be as cheap as £500 as he doesn't really have any 'issues' as such.

i would pay between £1000-1300 depending on his conformation and how much i liked him :)
 
If he has those kind of issues, you have to ask yourself who else would pay£2000 for him?? I suspect no-one. You'd be doing the owner a favour taking him off her by the sounds of it. she's living in a dream world if she thinks she should be able to just go out and buy something else that she can ride with your money, which I'm guessing is her plan. He's not even a mare that could be bred from:rolleyes:.
i'd say between £500 and £900 too.
 
I am currently trying to sell a VERY similar project horse and am not expecting over 1k for him, tbh i would just be happy to find the right person who I know he would have a good chance with :)
 
millitiger said:
i'm not sure he should be as cheap as £500 as he doesn't really have any 'issues' as such.

i would pay between £1000-1300 depending on his conformation and how much i liked him :)
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Totally agree here, from recent experience I believe there is a big market out there for horses in the the 1000-2000 price range despite what people think! You may find she would actually reach those prices if she were to sell openly. I would say an offer around £1000-£1200 would not be seen to cheeky.
 
honestly I would say £1000,
I recenlty sold my boy, who has some similar issues, requires special shoes ect ect and is now 13yr for £1500. This wasn't to just anyone I may add but to a lovely home who had him on a 3 month trial first. I have had friends/trainer selling horses with issues in these price brackets recently.
Its not like he is approaching 10 and still has these issues, my 6yr old mare is still very green and I won't say how much I paid for her:eek: but her prospects are inmense!
 
I agree with what has been said about you doing the work yourself. Sending horses away to a professional is all very well, but you have to be able to maintain the work at home. There is never a quick fix solution, and generally once a horse has a habit/issue it can potentially always raise its ugly head again. I only ever take on projects/work with projects. If you doubt your abilities to work with this horse yourself then I would say do not go any further. Horses with issues need consistency, they need time, patience. They need a guide, someone to keep them in line, but also to instil confidence into them. You have to be that person from day one. I know it is all too easy to feel sorry for these “needy” horses, but it can easily end in disaster.

Another thing about these so called “professional” yards is that you can never guarantee what actually goes on there. Most of these places take on horses to start, and may not be geared up for horses that have issues and need restarting. At times horses that need restarting require more time, and many people try to rush for results. I have seen many horses ruined by these so called professionals, cutting corners to maintain a reputation, by having the horse “sorted out quickly”

His issues are not what I would call “huge” his separation anxiety could take a long time to sort through. He may always have issues here, and may always need careful management. I find horses with separation anxiety do better if they have a one to one with there owner/rider and can build up a rapport. So that they see the rider/owner as a leader, so are less anxious.

As for price, it is a difficult one. Many owners are guilty of overpricing, and holding on to “potential” as worth, . Potentially he sounds like he could make a nice horse. He is still young, is a good type and size. His issues should be easy enough to overcome with time, assuming they are mental and not physical problems. You are taking on a potential risk of the horse never coming right, he may have underlying physical issues that may need a lot of investigation. This is the risk we take with project horses. £2000 is probably what he would be worth with out his issues. His owner may have seen him when he was not so bad and knows how much better he could be. That aside I feel 1000 is a good starting point. Based purely on his age. type, height and issues. He sounds like he could make a nice horse with time.
 
I certainly wouldn't hand all the work over to a pro for a month or 2 and expect a perfect horse at the end of it. I have a good friend who rides and teaches for a living and who I'd trust and who'd work with me rather than do all the work herself. She'd probably come to me as well, but I have been a livery at her yard before a long time ago (when she has rare vacancies!) so that's what I'd hope to do. I'd haveher as guidance rather than getting her to do the work.

I've had quirky horses and youngsters in the past, but never one who has been passed from pillar to post because of issues so I figure he'll be a lot more work than my past horses. I'm up for the challenge though!
 
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