'Project horses' Your experiences?

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CherryB

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Hi,
I am about to graduate from uni and know its unlikely i will get a full time job straight away. I plan to continue freelance teaching as much as possible but am considering buying a 'project' horse for the summer to work with and then sell on to a nice home when i get a full time job...
i am just trying to find people who have done this, and hear about their experiences? and if you have any advice? i obviously would want to be the very least quits on the finances and hopefully make a small profit...but is this realistic? i am thinking of getting an approx 14.2 quiet type and to do a bit of everything with and sell on as an allrounder. Any replies much appriciated.
 
I've known a couple of people take on 'projects' and sell on, but beware, unless you're very lucky, the chances of you making ANY profit are slim. BY the time you factor in feed, livery, vet/farrier and of course, your time, you're looking at job satisfaction rather than a quick earner. The people I know did it for the experience and one split even on the finances (the pony was a youngster), whilst the other was definitely in the negative, but she did it for the experience.
 
rather than a project, which i would take to meen something with quirks, i personally think theres more money to be made on buying something just broken, (or unbroken) that hasnt done anything, and getting it out doing a bit of everything, at around 14.2 your market will largely be kiddies (im not saying no adults but imo mainly kids.) so if having a comp record and knowing that it is safe and sensible and trustworthy is much more likely to earn you a profit, and be easier to sell then something that has any sort of issues.
 
Can't really help as I ended up keeping my 'project' horse, but will be following this thread with interest as a friend and I are planning on doing more or less what jhoward described this summer as i have 4 months off-got to love being at uni :D
 
think id agree with jhoward, summer isnt very long and ive found with project horses on the whole theres always something that means they take longer to sort out in my case we are on year 2 with one of them

a just backed youngster might be an idea, but again the market isnt moving much at the minute, whether it will be better after summer who knows.
 
I've had several "project" ponies over the years. My advice is set a strict limit on what you want to buy it for and what you want to sell it for. For me, my limit was always £500 which isnt much so you do have to dig about. It's normally bought me a 4 or 5yo, very scruffy (and normally fat) native type off a hillside who's normally had a headcollar on to be held for a farrier and thats it! Remember you can tidy up a pony beyond recognition. I've never bought one who has an issue which needs sorting, I always buy them unbacked as 4 or 5yo's as I find them much easier to do than to "fix" something. Mine normally took 2 - 4 months to back and get out to a few ridden events (show jumping / showing etc.) then sell. I've sold each for £2,500. Probably not much profit made (I did it more for fun) but at least over the summer you dont have to feed them much hard feed and if you have your own tack already etc. its fine. My advice is to NOT go for something "flashy", I found the one pony I had which I could have sold 10 times over was the most laid back, chunky cobby type who'd never be a competition winner but was very safe. So try to go for pure natives etc.

I wouldnt advise buying one who's cheap because of a vice - one of my projects had a vice and was HELL to sell!
 
Thanks for your replies!
If i get one i would like a native type, poss welsh sec D type as in my experience they are easy to do and easy to sell on. I think i would definately do this if i had my own land, but i currently pay livery and am wondering if its going to worth it. Although i am doing it for the experience and for a bit of fun and i dont mind not making a profit, but i cant really afford to be at a loss. I think im just going to see how it goes. if i come across a nice horse ill go for it, if not its obviously not ment to be! xx
 
It depends whether you mean a true profit or just that you get back the money you put in to buy it plus some.

You are very unlikely to make a true profit where all you expenses and your time are covered. But if it is a hobby and you just want to cover the cost of purchase, and livery then you probably could.
 
It depends on the nature of the problem as to weather you could sell it for a profit. True problem horses will not be fixed over night and there is also a risk they could revert back to there old ways once sold to a new owner especialy if it is an unsutable home. I take on problem ponies when i can and have sold a few on. Although i rearly make a profit as a good home is more important as many of the ponies i have had are on there very last chance. My latest one Herbie will be with me forever as he will not be sutable for re homing he's 12.3hh and will never make a childs pony. Lucy was also a problem pony and she is never going enywhere. I think as others have said it is easyer to make a profit with a young horse that is either just backed or not yet broken. There is a risk involved with buying any horse to sell unless you have a buyer lined up already there is a chance you may not be able to sell on for the price you want.
Good luck if you do find one though it's very rewarding when they come right.
 
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