Project horses

[blitznbobs]

Just a thought experiment. I see lots of adverts for project horses and to me they usually sound like horses in pain or horses who are unsound (and therefore are in pain) occasionally i see one where it is clear that the person bought a ferrari but could only ride a tricycle with training wheels on but much more of the former than the latter… ive never bothered with them because in my younger days i never had the time and now i have way too many responsibilities to take the risk but do people succeed with them? Or are they as i always feel like throwing good money after bad?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have had a few projects, one turned out to be a highland pony with pigeon toes. A good farrier sorted her out. You can be lucky, but I wouldn’t pay a lot of money for one

 

[Quigleyandme]

Well I’d like to think that, in the right hands, many horses with physical or psychological issues can be successfully rehabbed to lead a pain/fear free and useful life if only as a companion but it takes a willingness to commit and determination to see it through.

 

[SO1]

A lot seem to be youngsters perhaps where people have not had the experience or time to bring them on properly or ex racers or ex brood mares.

I don't think many projects types are over the age of 7 unless they have had an injury and need bringing back to work.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Round here project pony seems to equal an untouched horse or one that hasn't done anything much which would normally be really cheap (pre covid) but everyone is cashing in and charging not much less than a well established one!

 

[tda]

Sometimes tho a project can just be a pony or horse that just doesn't suit the current owner or the circumstances they are being kept in can't it ?
I bought a "naughty" pony, she couldn't do anything with it, he came here and genuinely never put a foot wrong, my OH rode him, my sister rode him, didn't sell him but could have.

 

[Orangehorse]

Its always sad to see, as in most cases something has obviously gone really wrong somewhere along the line.

I heard of someone who made a living buying up "problem" horses but certainly didn't pay much as mostly the owners were glad to get them off their hands.

The toughest she ever had was a much loved horse whose owner had tried everything, pages and pages of what she had tried, but the horse had a terrible bucking habit and the older lady owner couldn't cope with it. It was something that had developed gradually.

New owner tried everything, and she had plenty of experience to call upon, but to no avail and was ready to give up as defeated. Then an old retired vet came and sat by the field for a couple of days and watched the herd of horses. He noted that this horse was rather thin, he was timid and although there was plenty of food available he was always bottom in the queue. He also noted that when he lay down it was a bit awkward and somehow his foot was underneath his body.

He made a guess that this awkward lying position was pressing on a point on the horse's side which made a saddle and carrying the rider uncomfortable. The horse was given extra food and some accommodation was made to stop the pressure and the horse became a good animal, to the extent that it was winning in competitions. The new owner said it had been such a long, long journey that he wouldn't be sold.

So I would say, having heard of other similar stories, that there is nearly always pain involved, but finding it can be hard. Otherwise it is inappropriate handling.

There is a book called "Brain, Pain or Training" by physio Sue Palmer that gives some examples.

 

[Peglo]

I see quite a few adverts saying they have issues with strangers but once you get to know them they are your best friend. I’ve never met a horse who’s scared of strangers so i don’t know if I’d ever buy one as I find that statement a bit stressful. Has anyone come across a horse like this?

 

[ihatework]

I’ve done 4 over the years.

One was a TB dud.

One was a sensitive little cobby type who had reacted badly to nervy owner and they got into a downward spiral. He was super cool and fun to ride, had he been bigger and a little more refined I’d have kept him. He took a little while to find the right home but once he did he was flying.

One was a lovely Irish stamp. Got completely sour and backwards/nappy after being loaned to an agricultural college. Didn’t take long to sweeten him up and sold.

One was an unspoilt big huge young horse just backed with sarcoids and a lot of strengthening up to do. Slightly inwardly anxious type. Turned into a superstar and sold well

 

[ycbm]

My biggest profit was made on a horse like you describe. He was bucking off everyone who rode him to the extent that the yard Pro would not get on him.

I was appalled by the state he arrived in, it looked like they had been under feeding him for quite some time to get him to behave. He certainly wasn't fit to ride. I had him tied in the yard and was only going to test a saddle for fit, but as I approached him with it, he astonished me by groaning loudly. I took it away and turned him onto a steep hill for a month to build some back muscles. He then went from strength to strength, did a BE 90 nicely and made a lovely riding club horse for a teenager as her first horse.

I often wish horses were able to verbalise like a dog.


I've also bought a number who were just over horsing their owners.
.

 

[maya2008]

I see quite a few adverts saying they have issues with strangers but once you get to know them they are your best friend. I’ve never met a horse who’s scared of strangers so i don’t know if I’d ever buy one as I find that statement a bit stressful. Has anyone come across a horse like this?

I have known this in ponies who were once feral. My old NF mare couldn’t be caught by anyone she did not know (sensible to be honest!) and current ex feral ones are funny with strangers. Some of those have had bad experiences in the round-up or transport to market. They have learned that not all humans are good.

 

[shortstuff99]

I see quite a few adverts saying they have issues with strangers but once you get to know them they are your best friend. I’ve never met a horse who’s scared of strangers so i don’t know if I’d ever buy one as I find that statement a bit stressful. Has anyone come across a horse like this?

Yes my old New Forest was scared of strangers as he was beaten in a previous home. He didn't know whether a stranger was going to be nice or not so he chose to avoid until could trust you.

 

[Orangehorse]

I had a pony that was scared of any man, and a recent rescue pony was scared of strangers, she had been living wild.

 

[Snowfilly]

The scared of strangers is common in anything hill or moor born and raised, they get scared in the markets and transport and get worried about new people. They’re normally easy to fix with time and patience - leave them loose somewhere near lots of of friendly people, with other horses who are people orientated and they come around quickly.

About 50% of projects I’ve seen are lame / sick / in pain and some of them are fixable quite easily. A decent farrier and saddle fitter does wonders. Others are lost causes and shouldn’t be ridden.

Another large chunk tend to be big bolshy youngsters who have realised their new owner is terrified of them and they don’t have to do anything they’re told. They’re easy to fix but hard to rehome unless you’re really careful, especially if they’re not very talented or steady - the person who can keep a young bossy warmblood in check probably doesn’t want to just amble round the lanes.

I’ve also seen ‘pony which is perfect for a brave teenager but was sold to a novice 12 year old’ and they just need a new rider and away they go.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I've had several 'free to a good home' they've always come right in the end but can take many years by which time I'm so attached they will never be sold. Sometimes there's no issue at all except that the current rider is over horsed or the horse isn't getting enough exercise or turnout.

 

[Lilly-Mayspookatbags]

I bought a project horse as a first horse.

She was described as “try to have you off” , “quirky” and “not very nice” by the woman that bred her and had owned her for her entire life. They made her a field ornament at 7. Apart from when she was sold for 1 short year then returned.

She wasn’t for sale as she wasn’t worth selling, however when she was a youngster worth a fair bit of brass. I bought her for a value I could afford to loose …

I will never get another horse like her. She has the kindest of eye and turns her hoof to anything. I can put her in any situation and know I’m safe. Stubble, hunting , hacking and beach rides. Schooling she floats. Jumping she fly’s.

She’ll never be a high end competition horse. But she’s perfect for what I need.

I will say , it was not an easy road to get here. No manners , means no beating round the bush. Bit of blood , sweat and tears.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I bought a project horse as a first horse.

She was described as “try to have you off” , “quirky” and “not very nice” by the woman that bred her and had owned her for her entire life. They made her a field ornament at 7. Apart from when she was sold for 1 short year then returned.

She wasn’t for sale as she wasn’t worth selling, however when she was a youngster worth a fair bit of brass. I bought her for a value I could afford to loose …

I will never get another horse like her. She has the kindest of eye and turns her hoof to anything. I can put her in any situation and know I’m safe. Stubble, hunting , hacking and beach rides. Schooling she floats. Jumping she fly’s.

She’ll never be a high end competition horse. But she’s perfect for what I need.

I will say , it was not an easy road to get here. No manners , means no beating round the bush. Bit of blood , sweat and tears.

That is my type of horse! I love a challenge ??

 

[millitiger]

I've bought a few of them over the years.

All 'sorted' except one I bought unseen and when he turned up, I'd never have bought him as his whole body screamed pain and I had him PTS shortly after.

All of the others came round relatively easily with common sense, confident handling and kindness.
Some went on to be good horses for a novice, some were never that quiet but all were nice members of society.

 

[Abacus]

You quite often see horses advertised that have been out of work, and this might be for genuine reasons or medical/behavioural, and if you can’t try them properly it’s hard to tell which. I’ve just taken a sweet horse on trial who has probably done next to nothing for two years and (in the first few days) her only fault is that she neighs a lot to her field mate when ridden - although today for the first time she didn’t do it at all. So far she seems utterly genuine and I believe the owners version of events that led to her being out of work. She is cheap but not stupidly cheap. She’s already responding very well to a little schooling and is unspooky and tries her best. I’m hoping she is going to be one of the good ones. I think in this situation I would want a brief trial, long enough to get them into light work and check that they aren’t unrideable or lame.

 

[Bonnie Allie]

When we started out our competition careers problem/project horses were all we could afford. We had the chronic rearer, the bucker, the stopper, the one that wouldn’t go forward.

All turned into amazing successful show jumpers but ALL had pain and training issues. Our money is always spent on vets, physios, farrier, nutrition, saddle fit - even with our young horses we bring on. If you remove the pain, add correct training it is just so rewarding.

Having said all that my husband is a professional trainer and it’s remark able how folk want to bring him a horse to “fix” but will not first spend the money on investigating pain. He won’t take them on until the pain issues have been addressed. A lot of people still want to believe the horse is somehow conspiring to be naughty or deliberately difficult.

Project horses are rewarding If you have time, money and skill. There are no short cuts.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I bought a pony who had been more or less abandoned in the field my horses were also in. Owners paid for DIY livery and for haying in winter and YO trimmed feet twice a year after trapping him in a corner with several staff. But Owners had not been to see him for at least 5 years. He had been born on the farm (unwanted BOGOF) taken on by YO who backed him and sold to a family who had riding lessons. They lost interest when he became tricky to catch. I felt so sorry for him when I heard his story that I decided to try and catch him. As he just looked scared and lost! I’d have to look up the precise timeline as this was years ago but iirc it took 2 hours on day 1 to be allowed to stroke his neck. 20 minutes more on the same day to be allowed to slip a head collar on and then release. Finally slipped a head collar on, led a few paces then released. Then on day 2 he walked straight over to me. So I bought him for £50, re-backed him and sold him to a lovely local family with their horses at home. He did great with them.

 

[Orangehorse]

There are some lovely stories here. Well done to everyone.

I think any horse or pony ready to be backed should be checked over first, my physio said that 70% of foals injure themselves playing in the fields, falling over, generally messing about and can carry that restriction/pain.

 

[maya2008]

There are some lovely stories here. Well done to everyone.

I think any horse or pony ready to be backed should be checked over first, my physio said that 70% of foals injure themselves playing in the fields, falling over, generally messing about and can carry that restriction/pain.

Anyone backing a horse who has half a clue, will ensure the horse is comfortable in every way before getting on - they need to be able to comfortably accept touch all over, pick up feet, to accept rugs and tack without signs of discomfort, to be sound when lunged or led out…to have that open, happy look about them that shows they are not in pain. Or why would you get on?

And then you keep on checking that it’s still the case, because horses can go from sound to injured in a few seconds, from one day to the next.

 

[Tarragon]

I think that a lot of the "good" project horses are just misunderstood, or a misfit for the environment they find themselves in, or the people they are with.
I think you have to be someone with knowledge, time, experience and facilities for it to work

 

[Leandy]

I hate the term project horse, especially when applied to a green youngster rather than something with actual problems which need remediating. How would you like to be described as a "project" just because you were inexperienced? To me a "project" horse means a problem horse to steer well clear of. In today's parlance though it can mean anything from plain dangerous to a youngster which needs bringing on. So whether they would be worth it to me very much depends on why it is described as a "project" and who by (ie is it the horse which has the problem or actually the owner who has no clue?). I would never intentionally buy other people's problems but a youngster to bring on is right up my street so long as it hasn't been allowed to develop horrible habits already.

 

[scruffyponies]

I think that a lot of the "good" project horses are just misunderstood, or a misfit for the environment they find themselves in, or the people they are with.

This describes most of the scruffies. The right 'facilities' can be just a field and a confident handler.
Some of mine had problems which improve with conservative management (24/7 turnout, barefoot, forage only) or they are uncomfortable doing circles on a surface, but are otherwise 'fit for purpose'. Others have a bad name because they learned to push around previous owners, or been overly reactive to nervous handlers or busy yards.
One was a welfare case, one cryptorchid, one simply too small.

All have given me great joy, with rarely a day sick or sorry.

 

[Abacus]

I hate the term project horse, especially when applied to a green youngster rather than something with actual problems which need remediating. How would you like to be described as a "project" just because you were inexperienced? To me a "project" horse means a problem horse to steer well clear of. In today's parlance though it can mean anything from plain dangerous to a youngster which needs bringing on. So whether they would be worth it to me very much depends on why it is described as a "project" and who by (ie is it the horse which has the problem or actually the owner who has no clue?). I would never intentionally buy other people's problems but a youngster to bring on is right up my street so long as it hasn't been allowed to develop horrible habits already.

I suppose 'project' is very much a blanket term meaning something that needs work before it is fit for a purpose. Which ranges from youngsters to real problems. However I tend to agree - I would describe a young horse as green and needing bringing on rather than a project.

 

[paddi22]

I love project horses and i've probably taken on 20 in the last ten years. Its amazing how many come in described as unrideable or damaged, and it is down to something simple like teeth, saddle or back pain. Or even simpler with just changing/reducing feed, increasing forage/turnout/work. Most have come right and gone on to find jobs as useful horses, with work adjusted to suit their capabilities. but they have cost a lot of money in terms of physios/vets etc. when I get one in it's an expensive process of blood tests/physio/dentist/saddle fitter/nutritionist advice/bit fitter/lameness workups and then whatever bits and pieces they need like hoof boots etc.

we get some in lame, or just off generally, and throwing them in a rough bog field for a year has fixed about 90% of them mentally and physically. i would never take on a project if I could only have one horse in livery as it's too much pressure to get them right and working, but if you have the space/time and enjoy the process they are very rewarding. I have been forced to learn so much about nutrition/correct riding/tendons/ulcers/kissing spine etc. it's a new education every time one with a new problem comes in. it's extremely rewarding when you get them going and competing.

 

[Cortez]

Probably most of the horses I've had over the past 15 years have been so- called projects. I've only had Iberians or Friesians in that time, and a lot of people don't know how to deal with them meaning that there's actually nothing wrong with the horses. Upset, misunderstood Spanish horses are rife.

 

[Winters100]

When I was younger I had several, in fact probably most could have been described as project horses. All came right eventually except for one, who we had PTS as it turned out that she had some sort of neurological problem. Some were not really for me, and were sold on, but I learned a lot doing it.

I think the problem now is that some sellers seem to have an unrealistic idea of price. I know of 2 at the moment, owned by someone for whom they will never be suitable, but for someone knowledgeable and gutsy they could well turn out to be very good. The problem is that when the owner asked me what to do, and I told him what price I thought they might fetch, he said it was impossible, because he needed to at least recoup what he had spent on buying and keeping them. Totally illogical, and never going to happen, especially as they are at livery, so every month this number goes up. He had them in professional training for a year as 6 year olds, and they were coming along nicely, but then he fell out with the pro, and they have been mostly unridden for 2 years. Frankly in his situation I would give them away if the right person came along, but he is not going to do that, so who knows where it ends.