Prices on Project Horses am I missing something?

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skewbaldpony

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Or are they rather high for horses which, well frankly are not going to sell somewhere else, either they are saying 'oh he's a bit strong' or 'loads of potential but I've done ... nothing' which is fair enough, hence Project Horse, but then loads of zeros?
I think it's a brilliant idea, but people still seem to be expecting to get £££s even when they've admitted the horse is a project?
 
It amazes me, most of them should be free to a good home, or sold for meat money.

Then again, there are fools out there who will buy them
 
Just seen a 4 year old OTT TB with vices for £3,200
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there are some nice youngsters on there, might consider to bring on for one of my kiddos, but they are greener than grass, descriptions to be honest, thinly disguised *neglect*! Unbroken, 'Will need loads of work and patience' etc etc and then it's like two grand?! I'd expect free or three or four hundred quid! I'd pay the three or four for a *registered* basket case LOL. Unregistered, unbroken, untouched for a couple of years ..... ???? .... then they all say, oh but it's ok I've done a bit of clicker training/parelli with him!!!
Lovely but who's going to back him, dear?!
 
i think half of them have paid £x for the horse , things have gone wrong , maybe they've not been able/prepared to spend money on lessons/schooling/veterinary care but then they expect to be able to sell the horse for at least what they bought it for! err heelloooo........
 
I've noticed that they're often quite expensive - sweet nature naps and won't leave other horses - £2750 for example lol.

I find it hard to understand - if they're truely horses with issues the right home should be priority over money and perhaps it is, maybe the prices are high to discourage someone looking for a bargain to bring on and sell (which isn't always a bad thing if they go to someone more experienced) but most owners want to know they'd go to a permanent home.

Also a few advertisers do appear to be very novice - overhorsed etc so perhaps they don't have a clue on pricing.
 
Seems to me that 'project' might imply bringing on and selling, and provided it's brought on well, and sold well, then a good thing too!
Lets face it, the only 'issue' most of them have is the rider! But if you buy something and muck it up, then you don't expect to get your money back, surely? You just need to offload the horse to hopefully a better future.
Strikes me, what most of them are not looking in the face is that often, things couldn't *get* much worse. If it's rotting away from neglect because you daren't get on it, in what way is it worth xthousand £££?!
Has anyone ever placed a wanted ad on there? I wonder if you placed an add saying 'look, good home, will be schooled on professionally and either kept or sold on to another good home, but don't take the micky, £500 is my top price'???!!! what you'd get?
 
You get some interesting responses.
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Everything for people annoyed with their horses to people genuinely looking for a solution to a genuinely difficult situation to people who think they're doing you a favour for offering to sell their fantastic horse which somehow ended up on PHs.
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I think the answer about people wanting their money out of a horse is pretty close to the mark in many cases. Not only purchase price but expenses as well! I also think some people, at least subconsciously, think horses appreciate like houses with time, rather than depreciating like cars. So if they simply keep the horse for a year or so and do anything with it the price should go up.

Also, many people get caught up in "potential" without understanding that in fact what that really means is a horse is meeting or exceeding certain standards at certain points. Just being attractive or even a good jumper is not having potential, the horse has to have the whole package. If something has gone wrong that's a debatable point.

I think some people confuse "green" and "badly behaved". Young horses are not naturally difficult or dangerous (although some are - rarely just because they're green) but since many people don't have tons of experience with lots of young horses they may put problems down to greenness or see greenness as being a problem. Obviously an uneducated horse is likely an easier - and potentially worth more - project than a horse that needs retraining but I'm not sure everyone can make that distinction so they go with the most optimistic view.

There is also the "forever home" issue - I think many people think if they ask big money it will weed out dealers etc. Unfortunately it will also likely put off any knowledgeable person who has the experience and skills to possibly improve the horse.

And I think in some cases it's the natural human inclination to put value on the things we love. Often people have invested a great deal of time, money and emotion in a "problem" horse and they think a) that is worth something in itself and b) the horse has to be something to have been worth all that pain.
 
I think I saw your ad on there, TarrSteps, and thought how good, and sensible it was, everything covered - and I think you're right in all that you say, but I wonder if people don't need to detach a little, and think what might be best FOR THE HORSE! (which might not be best for their bank balance!)
 
Thank-you.
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I would agree but I think even that attitude is short sighted. As we all know, horses are hardly cheap to keep and "problem" horses seem to manage to rack up the bills even more than many of the easier to live with models. The old saw about it costing as much to keep a bad horse as a good one. Plus, what is one's enjoyment and peace of mind worth?

I'd say the same thing about getting help. I've seen so many people finally get to the end of their rope after NOT being able to sell a difficult horse and spend the money on qualified help (not just a professional, someone with specialised knowledge) in order to sell, only to find out they loved the process of "fixing" the horse and remember why they bought the animal in the first place. Yes, it costs but often people are surprised how much progress can be gained spending wisely. It is a fantastic feeling to see someone happily riding a horse they gave up on.

Maybe that's the dream people cling to, that suddenly it will come right.

I think though, by the time the horse gets to PH something drastic has to be done, either to sell or keep. And usually that has to include, as you say, a look at what's realistically possible.

As far as what's best for the horse, I think that's where the forever home thing comes back. People, quite justifiably, don't want the horse to be passed from pillar to post. But a horse that gets "fixed" is going to have a MUCH better life, no matter what - I always joke that good training is health insurance for horses. But I think *insisting* someone keep a horse is asking to be lied to - anyone sensible knows plans change and asking someone not to sell a horse on, ever, is likely to make good people anxious that whatever they do, the seller will think them unworthy. Also, many people who are "good" at difficult horses LIKE the process of sorting them out and getting them into good situations, like a horse halfway house.
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Personally, I really enjoy - and excel - at those initial stages. Even if I wanted to I couldn't keep every horse I sorted and anyway, it's much more enjoyable to see them go on and do well. But if one even mentions selling on then everyone thinks "dealer" and freaks out. But honestly I'd rather see a horse developed and passed on than, say, sold to someone who is even less capable of solving its problems but means well and knows all the right things to say.

However . . . to each their own.
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If people really are getting those prices for those horses and getting them good homes into the bargain, good on them!
 
I put a wanted ad on there once and ended up with a lovely 14.2hh mare for free! She had been too much for her current owner for nearly a decade and yet there was nothing wrong with her really - she was just a clever mare that had learned to take advantage of a fearful rider. I'm sure there are a lot of horses around like that.
It is a really great idea for a site and there are plenty of genuine people who seem to look at it, it's just a shame they don't seem to be the ones doing the advertising. I wish the owners of the site would make some rules about the type of adverts people can put on there. That way the horses that really do need to find a new home (and that are really worth nothing unless they do) have a chance.
 
TarrSteps - I always liked the idea, from childhood (and that's a loooooooooong time ago!),of sorting horses with problems and rehoming them. (I wrote to Glenda Spooner, of the Ponies of Britain, and told her so, when I was 10. She was non too supportive, (I had the wrong kind of address, I think) and years later, when I passed my BHSAI, (and when I was working in Germany, and America), I remember thinking something not very polite, but I digress) and now I have two competent daughters, and the space to sort the odd one out, they are both very good at endless handling, ground work, grooming, even the little one (aged 8) doesn't take any nonsense. We would love to help along the occasional pony - but as you say, we wouldn't ever guarantee to keep it forever!
Vicky and Boris - I agree its a fab idea, and your story gives me hope, maybe I'll put up a 'wanted' ad and see what we get! They don't seem to be over run with 'success stories', do they? Perhaps they should add in some editorial about what to expect, in the real world? I propose TarrSteps should write them a short article (for a small fee?!) to get them started!
 
ive put a horse on thereand i do think that she is worth the money in the right hands...however when i put on there not novice then i mean not novice...however need to change my ad due to the owner being desperate to sell now and just wants shot...
 
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