Should i buy a project horse?

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Loulou2002

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I am looking to buy a tb thats either raced or didnt make the grade to bring on and sell later on. I'm not talking mega money, just for a bit of fun and to take out with the other horses to a few shows. I've done this before and done well but the market is so difficult at the moment. We have our own yard so no livery costs but i dont want to get stuck with something until next winter!
 
The market for ex-racers isnt good and they really arent for everyone so you would have to do a pretty special job and get some really decent results under its belt for it to end up being worth your while.
 
There is a lot of girls at my yard with Ex racehorses and they all seem lovely, not sure how long it took them to calm them down, they do seem prone to injury though?
 
I'd have a good look at ads before you take the plunge. There are tons of ex-racers on the market at the moment and most are at fairly low prices. As said above, unless you can get some good competition results I suspect you might find it difficult to make a profit - especially as you're likely to have to spend more on e.g. feed and shoeing than you would on other types.
 
You'd do better to buy a green cob and turn him or her into a safe happy hacker. That's what a lot of people want these days, and they would always sell whatever the market conditions.
 
ISHmad said:
You'd do better to buy a green cob and turn him or her into a safe happy hacker. That's what a lot of people want these days, and they would always sell whatever the market conditions.
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Was going to say exactly this. I have done a few projects in the past and the ones that get snapped up are the cobs and if they are quiet enough/have seen & done enough fetch a good price. TB's need to be capable of doing alot before you can make any real money plus no where near as easy to bring on as a quiet but green cob.
 
ISHmad said:
You'd do better to buy a green cob and turn him or her into a safe happy hacker. That's what a lot of people want these days, and they would always sell whatever the market conditions.
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Definitely! Cob or decent MW type. Avoid TB's if you want to make a profit!
 
I totally get what you mean about the cobs.....done a few of those too but wanted something i could do a bit of competing with to take out with the others. Ive had tb's to sell but not for a couple of years and was just a bit worried about the market at the moment. The last one i did went on to event and do a bit of hunting. Really unsure....dont want to end up with one more to muck out next oct! lol
 
Loulou2002 said:
I totally get what you mean about the cobs.....done a few of those too but wanted something i could do a bit of competing with to take out with the others. Ive had tb's to sell but not for a couple of years and was just a bit worried about the market at the moment. The last one i did went on to event and do a bit of hunting. Really unsure....dont want to end up with one more to muck out next oct! lol
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Any reason you can't take a cob or decent MW type out competing with the others? Ok, maybe not straight away, but even to do smaller classes?

Yes, most people want a safe hack, but good, solid all-rounders with some comp experience are still selling best IME :)
 
no your right i could,but was thinking i might have to pay more for a decent middle weight to start with and i get offered tb's sometimes.
 
I'm a TB fan.

I have currently four project equines.

TB that i have decided to keep as she is amazing!!
NFxCob decided to keep as mum loves him too much to sell!!

Not doing too well so far at selling them...!!! :rolleyes:

A Welshie that is on loan with view to buy so that is progress on keeping them all.
A NF Part bred that will be for sale after so boot camp.

If you find the right TB then you'll make money, if you decide you can let go.
Got Bug for £900 been offered £4500 for her but i can't let her go.:rolleyes::D
 
ihatework said:
Definitely! Cob or decent MW type. Avoid TB's if you want to make a profit!
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Echo 100%
Loulou2002 said:
no your right i could,but was thinking i might have to pay more for a decent middle weight to start with and i get offered tb's sometimes.
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Which is why you get offered them, they don't make enough profit to make the effort worth while

Find one inbetween, maybe one unbacked that you can start from scratch. Just because its a cob type doesn't mean you can't compete on it!
Its def where the money is, good safe, hardy horses especially ones that have competed a bit
 
Thank you sammii819 glad i'm not the only one that does things like that! i usually want to keep them lol. think i'll have to have a think about this. Last one i did i made 2600.00 profit but i know the market is so different now
 
Loulou2002 said:
Thank you sammii819 glad i'm not the only one that does things like that! i usually want to keep them lol. think i'll have to have a think about this. Last one i did i made 2600.00 profit but i know the market is so different now
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your right the market is so so different. It seems to be flooded with TB. Friend had one that had done BSJA and done quite well. He struggled to sell it for £2000
 
I think TBs are more a long-term project, especially ex-racers. They ought to be treated as complete babies and ideally turned away for a while before they begin life anew.

A 14.2hh type little cobby thing which could do PC with a child or RC with an adult who hunted and does it all sweetly would be worth an absolute fortune- one 13.2hh version in our PC is selling for £4k!
 
I'ts a nice idea, and would be a nice project, but I don't think you will make a lot of money. Even well schooled ex-racehorses sell for a heck of a lot less than similar horses who have not raced. Not that there is anything wrong with the horses, but for many buyers I think it is a turn off.

There is a new ex-flat racer recently arrived at our yard. He's super, well schooled, lovely to ride, hacks, is jumping nicely, 6 years old, sound, nice confo. The girl paid only £900 for this horse! Remove the 'ex-racehorse' tag and he would have easily sold for 2 or 3 times that probably?
 
I personally think you'd do better buying a project pony of some sort, backing it and bringing it on. There's always a market for nice native competition ponies and you can get quite decent prices!
 
Id like to think that if I sold my ex racehorse (the bay in my sig working in the school) that I would make a profit. I brought her for 800 having done nothing. Now she has won and been placed out at dressage, been very well placed in a young dressage horse of the future quallifier (almost bloomin qualified for the Badminton champs!!) She has been out showjumping and has xc schooled round complete BE100 courses and has done a fair amount of Novice fences too.

The List 1 judge that judged the young horse class came to find me after the class to tell me how much she thought of her just as a potential young dressage horse. A fair few of my trainers think she will go very far eventing, esp if I can ride her like less of a pleb!! Or sell her to someone good!!!

I guess it boils down to if you want to have fun and do what you enjoy doing at the same time as making some money. I wouldnt of enjoyed doing a safe cob as much as I have done having her with me. Yes she would be less valuable than if she hadnt of had her illustrious racing career of 2 whole bumper races (lol) But I think shes good enough that if I did want to sell her, the person that would want her would not be phased by the fact shes done 2races.

I suppose I got in a pickle as she was only meant to stay for 6 months tops, now its been a year and Im planning to BD her and go out BE next season. Im also wondering what her babies would look like if she did a few good seasons out eventing, so not so much of a project for me!!!

Also I suppose I havent tried selling her, so maybe she is only worth 50p!!
 
Loulou2002 said:
no your right i could,but was thinking i might have to pay more for a decent middle weight to start with and i get offered tb's sometimes.
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If you know what you are looking at and feel confident enough in the environment the go to your local sales, you will pay peanuts for a decent MW or Cob there. I wouldn't touch TB's at the moment TBH, unless I had acres of land and all the time in the world for their market price to pick up. If you want a faster turnaround you want the MW/Cob 15hh - 15.2 allrounder type. If you don't feel confident looking at the sales and you don't know anyone who could accompany you, then perhaps another post on here asking if someone could go with you.

Good luck :)
 
ISHmad said:
You'd do better to buy a green cob and turn him or her into a safe happy hacker. That's what a lot of people want these days, and they would always sell whatever the market conditions.
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^^ This! There isn't much of a market for Thoroughbreds (especially ex racers) and their value is always lower than cobby types no matter how good they are.
 
SnowJumping Superstars said:
^^ This! There isn't much of a market for Thoroughbreds (especially ex racers) and their value is always lower than cobby types no matter how good they are.
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Yes the market for a ex racer is less than a cobby, sane and sensible type for sure.

I do disagree with the bit about a cobby type always being worth more than any TB no matter how good they are, thats a bit of a big generalisation!
 
Vickijay said:
Yes the market for a ex racer is less than a cobby, sane and sensible type for sure.

I do disagree with the bit about a cobby type always being worth more than any TB no matter how good they are, thats a bit of a big generalisation!
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It may be. But in most cases it is true!
 
I think ex racehorses are getting better for sale if they are good with all the new ROR classes people are wanting to compete in thoses classes. We train derek shaw racing and have a couple of fantastic ones available at the moment a mare who as well as racing had previously sj hunted fantastic on the roads and stunning. Sorry but its TB all the way for me
 
ex-racers are fine, as long as you know what you're looking at. I've had experience with ptp and NH horses on the track, but I've never bought one.

I am looking in to getting an ex-racer for myself as a project, but I'd never by one to sell on to someone (unless it was really spectacular, and I mean REALLY) as there no market for them, and hasn't been for some time, especially this time of year.

You could end up with something completely knackered from racing, with all sorts of problems. Their pelvis could be shot, as could their legs, as could there back, alot of them have badly underdeveloped muscles on one side as they are only raced one way on the track, the list goes on. They do take some wear and tear these Tbs. This along with stable vices and just generally mental habits from dealing with the stress of racing.

I have brought on and sold alot of horses in my time, and if this is your first or you've only done a few and YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO SORT OUT ANY MEDICAL (or non) ISSUES it may have. Don't get one.

I am a fan of TBs myself and I'm not saying they are all bad, the good ones are really good! However, there are alot more bad ones out there.

Also, they are no quick turnaround, they ideally will need to be turned away for a period of time, then it is a long old process trying to correct what is already installed in their brain.

So unless you really know what you're looking at, and can deal with the consequences if it does go wrong, I'd have a good old think!

If you're keen on a tb, I'd start with a crossbreed, possibly with a welshy or something more grounded! Alot of people are more keen on tbx's :)
 
ISHmad said:
You'd do better to buy a green cob and turn him or her into a safe happy hacker. That's what a lot of people want these days, and they would always sell whatever the market conditions.
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Totally agree, I have lost count of how many times I have been asked if Fany is for sale, she isn't and never will be. 14-2hh weight carrying bombproof hack. I paid a lot for her and have been offer nearly twice that. If I had my own yard I would be buying heavier cobs and bringing them on , bombproofing them and selling them on. There is a dealer who has done really well out of doing it.
FDC
 
Loulou2002 said:
thanks lyndseyshaw....i may be mad but think i'm going to have a go!
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LouLou, If what you want is a bloody good challenge that is rewarding then go for it, but if you want a financial yield of any type then go for the cob/ MW or TBx. Go with what your heart says but don't hope for big pennies with a TB ATM, it will just leave you with a sour taste in your mouth and possibly a hole in your pocket ;)
 
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