What do you class as a project horse?

[Spiritedly]

As title, if you see a horse advertised as being a project horse what do you expect it to mean?

 

[sarahann1]

Its got lots of 'issues' anything from 'its really needing schooled on' to 'it'll try and kill you when you go anywhere near it'.

 

[Mince Pie]

It isn't a horse that you can just get on with for what ever reason. Could need breaking in, a few lessons in basic manners, bringing on, bringing back into work, reschooling... the list is endless.

 

[Victoria25]

Mine was bought as a ‘project horse’ he couldn’t be seen ridden (she hadn’t actually rode him and the person she bought him from sold him as dangerous) and I bought him with an open mind that if he wasn’t rideable would make a good companion horse for my mare. A year on with many ‘you’re being sold’ arguments with him, tears yet moments of pure joy/excitement, he’s slowly turning into a beautiful ridden horse.

I'd expect something like above poster said, unrideable for whatever reason ... pyschological issues, reschooling?

 

[Spiritedly]

Thanks, I've seen a 5 yr old advertised as a project. I have an idea what I think that could mean but I just wanted other people's opinions to see if they tallied with mine. I have asked for more details but haven't heard back yet.

 

[navaho]

I could be any number of things, just make sure you ask all the right questions & go into it with your eyes wide open.
There is a lovely little cob advertised on Facebook as a project, the owner says he plays up when away from home...not strictly true, in actual fact what he does is tries to kill anything you turn it out with. I had the misfortune to have him on trial, i kept him separate from for a week before i decided to try him in with mine, i never seen anything like it, im so lucky none of mine were hurt. Needless to say he was taken straight back to his owner & she then admitted he had done it before, i was so angry that she knew & put my own horses at risk. I should at this point add when i had him on trial he wasnt advertised as a project & i wasnt told of any problems he had either.

 

[YasandCrystal]

I could be any number of things, just make sure you ask all the right questions & go into it with your eyes wide open.
There is a lovely little cob advertised on Facebook as a project, the owner says he plays up when away from home...not strictly true, in actual fact what he does is tries to kill anything you turn it out with. I had the misfortune to have him on trial, i kept him separate from for a week before i decided to try him in with mine, i never seen anything like it, im so lucky none of mine were hurt. Needless to say he was taken straight back to his owner & she then admitted he had done it before, i was so angry that she knew & put my own horses at risk. I should at this point add when i had him on trial he wasnt advertised as a project & i wasnt told of any problems he had either.

God that is horrendous. Why are horse folk so dishonest? I think car dealers are more honest than people selling horses on the whole and it seems private sellers are often worse than the dealers who at least have a reputation to think about.

 

[FfionWinnie]

I thought it meant something an experienced rider might take on for a short time and turn around.

Seems like a new fangled word for don't touch with a ten foot pole going by the other replies!!

People are terrible liars it's true.

Someone I know (nb note I didn't use the word friend!!) was waiting til the nail holes grew out of her completely neurotic Arab endurance horse before selling it as an unbacked at 7yr old.

 

[Archangel]

was waiting til the nail holes grew out of her completely neurotic Arab endurance horse before selling it as an unbacked at 7yr old.

To me project means mucked up.

A special favourite is "ideal project, prefers to be ridden in company if you are lucky, refuses point blank to go out on it's own, you can usually catch it after trying for 48 hours, but really really lovely nature, loves to be groomed and having treats, would suit NH person"

Err no, would suit someone who says "listen big boy, knuckle down and try a bit harder or I'm calling the hunt"

 

[WestCoast]

If you buy this horse be it on your own head . . .

 

[millseysister]

I probably wouldn't want to take on anything advertised as a 'project horse' However I have been riding a pony who was going to be advertised as a project horse (my own horse has been off work) she is now a pleasure to hack out and has come on beyond all recognition in just 3-4 weeks. I think so much depends on what the seller is willing to admit to

 

[Hippona]

Something that needs work...for whatever reason.

My project was bought on the basis that if I couldn't sort him out at least he would look good in the field

Luckily I did manage to sort him....but I did have several WTF have I done moments.....

 

[Waffles]

To me it says "nuts" or "major problems" - if it was a youngster who was genuinely green it would probably say "needs schooling" (though that can also mean "nuts") or "needs bringing on".

 

[zaminda]

I find it often means 'to sharp for me', but there are some genuine ones out there, where people simply don't have the time. I also think people often over horse themselves anyway.
Neurotic arab endurance horse? Sounds right up my street, could join the two I already have.

 

[Victoria25]

Also, dont forget ... a project horse to one person isnt to another.

I got asked a few years back to take someones ex racer out as it had 'issues' always naughty ... blah blah ... I rode it a number of a times for her (made a bit of cash) and gave it her back with a kind 'its not him its YOU' message.

Horse was good as gold but all it needed was a firm hand a kick up its fat backside!

 

[3Beasties]

Mine was bought as a ‘project horse’ he couldn’t be seen ridden (she hadn’t actually rode him and the person she bought him from sold him as dangerous) and I bought him with an open mind that if he wasn’t rideable would make a good companion horse for my mare. A year on with many ‘you’re being sold’ arguments with him, tears yet moments of pure joy/excitement, he’s slowly turning into a beautiful ridden horse.

You give me hope, the horse I've got sounds like it came from similar circumstances and I hope that I am ale to make progress with him and get to where I want to be!

 

[MagicMelon]

Hmm I think of a project horse as one who is unbacked or possibly just backed but is still very green. I dont necessarily assume its a nutter, although I think its age would probably say a lot. A project thats say 10, has had a long time to get issues whereas a 4yo hopefully hasn't and is young enough that the issues can be put right easier.

 

[Waffles]

When I got mine, the guy said "he hasn't been schooled and hasn't seen traffic"/ If he'd said "he's a project horse" I probably wouldn't have gone to see him. When I bought him and took him to the yard I'm at though,people kept referring to him as a project horse.....

 

[Equinus]

I was sold what turned out to be what I would call a 'project'. My own fault, bought him without seeing him ridden, though he was quiet as long as a person just sat and followed the horse in front without touching rein or side. At 11 yo found out he had never been backed, a pet for nine years, then harshly handled by dealers which turned him into a bucker....a good one, but only if asked to do something he doesn't understand. Several hundred quid, a lot of tears and emails to find history, one poor trainer being bucked off regularly (before we knew he had not been backed) and many hours gaining trust, lungeing and longreining, he is now being ridden by a lovely lady who rides problem horses. Hopefully once she has his trust things will move on.......

Apart from this, he is a delight, you can do anything with him, and he didn't bat an eye at first rug/stable/clip/lunge/boots/bandages/travel and is cuddly as you like. We adore him though he is totally unsuitable.

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

To me anything that isnt ready to go. Needs schooling, breaking, bad habits fixing, confidence issues or not quite the full picture yet. Not a bad thing in my eyes, something to spend time with and sell on for someone to enjoy once complete, for some pocket money too

 

[Victoria25]

You give me hope, the horse I've got sounds like it came from similar circumstances and I hope that I am ale to make progress with him and get to where I want to be!

Ahh I’m glad - although not as glad as I was the day he suddenly seemed to understand what I wanted from him.
He raced from 3-7 then had two owners. One for a ladies daughter as a first horse. Needless to say she didn’t stay on him very long. Then another lady bought him for her daughter as project – they were that scared of him they didn’t actually get on him (or so they told me) but after meeting them I very much doubt they did. He’s a big 16.2 but not a typical slim TB type … he’s like a bull with bulging muscles coming from everywhere!
I told them Id give them £300 and I’ll pick him up tomorrow. I could see something in him which sounds ridiculous but just that ‘something’ is all I needed.
Honestly he was terrible, if you brushed him he’d literally snarl/snipe at you aggressively swishing his tail … he’d stand in his box ‘staring into space’ completely ignoring you … there wasn’t an ounce of soul in his eyes … You put a saddle on his back you may as well have stabbed him – god forbid doing your girth up, he’d tank off at a gallop (no way was anyone holding him) doing the ‘starfish’!
As we didn’t know the extent of his chap I got on him at the beginning – I was hurtled into the air within 5 minutes!
So back to groundwork – long reining he wasn’t too sure on but got it literally within 10 minutes. The whole walk on/stop didn’t come naturally and took quite a while. Lunging he loved and thankfully he’s very good/knew all the commands. So we did that summer/autumn then he had the winter off and we ‘bonded’. He now comes for cuddles, comes galloping when I arrive (although I tell myself he’s exciting to see me, I think he just follows my arab who’s always uber excited when mummy arrives) ha and it generally a gorgeous friendly horse to be around.
Ive started him again this spring and worked on the whole ‘getting on’ process which was fun … as you’d put your foot in the stirrup and half way on – off he’d go (but not just a walk or trot) I mean a full on GOOD BYE! Crates in the stable and many weeks of getting on .. getting off later he now stands angelically still when we mount.
This week he’s been out four times and with no trouble/messing about … Im wondering if someone has replaced him????
We actually did our first trot (in a very controlled way on both reins I may add) in the ménage too yesterday – sounds silly but considering where we were last year it’s a miracle.
Good luck with yours and keep me updated, would love to hear your stories with your boy xxx

 

[hannah90]

my mum just sold her pony as a project, 2 years old and hadnt been handled much, would walk on a head collar, good for farrier and things but just needed time and someone to bring him on , from other posts though, i suppose it can vary a lot !

 

[LauraWheeler]

The horrid one was sold as a project pony.
When I went to try him out he was good (If alittle lazy But this was due to him being doped ) Once we got him home we discovered

1. he was agressive with other horses and must live on his own, The only time he will live with another horse is if it's a mare in season, then he spends the whole time mounting her.

2. He was agressive to handle. I couldn't groom him without him biting or kicking me.

3. It took over 1 hour to get one circle of trot on one rein on the lunge as he spent the rest of the time trying to kill you.

4. forget about riding him. Lunging is dangourous enough. If you did try to ride him he would refuse to move, If you tried to make him move he would buck, rear, leap and spin.

5. He doesn't load (Once the dope had worn off) and god help you if you try to make him go in.

6. You couldn't get his feet done. (It took Me and two farriers hanging off him twitching him in various places to get his shoes off)

7. You can't get near him with clippers. He's climbing the walls before you even turn them on.


Luckly I bought him fully expecting problems. I just knew his owner was lieing but couldn't bare to leave him there for someone else to get conned and him ending up god knows where. After alot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears he's turning into quite a nice little chap realy

 

[YasandCrystal]

I would hope anyone advertising a horse as a project horse is being upfront about issues. The ads I am wary of are the :-
- would suit a more competitive home
- only for sale as I am unable to do this horse justice
- only for sale as due to ill health/time I am unable to realise this horse's potential
- I have too many horses

all the above ring alarm bells for me.

 

[Jesstickle]

Hmm I think of a project horse as one who is unbacked or possibly just backed but is still very green. I dont necessarily assume its a nutter, although I think its age would probably say a lot. A project thats say 10, has had a long time to get issues whereas a 4yo hopefully hasn't and is young enough that the issues can be put right easier.

I think today must be JT agrees with MM day. That's really all it means to me. If I were to sell Nitty now I'd say she was a project horse. She's 4, she's green, you can't go out and win anything on her yet or even expect to leave her in the field for a week and get straight on without dicing with death a bit. She's hardly a mental case though.

BH is out of work so you couldn't really try him very well but I wouldn't describe him as a project. I'd say 'needs bringing back to work'. I can get on him after 4 months off and apart from the fact he pretends he has forgotten where his head is meant to go he's totally fine. Within 2 months he'd be back up and running and within three months jumping and generally being his usual uncomplicated self.

I guess the definition changes as they get older perhaps?

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

wow things must have changed. I have never seen a project horse as being a bad horse. I have sold a few as projects, ones I dont have time to get going fully, never a bad horse, just green and needing some work!

 

[3Beasties]

My definition of a project horse is one that has issues and will need time and experience to get over them.

A young/just backed/un-backed horse would not be a project horse to me, it would just be young, green and need bringing on a bit.

 

[Goldenstar]

I thought it meant something an experienced rider might take on for a short time and turn around.

Seems like a new fangled word for don't touch with a ten foot pole going by the other replies!!

People are terrible liars it's true.

Someone I know (nb note I didn't use the word friend!!) was waiting til the nail holes grew out of her completely neurotic Arab endurance horse before selling it as an unbacked at 7yr old.

That's terrible !!!

 

[Cortez]

It means "I can't ride it, but I want you to pay good money to correct all my stupid mistakes and dice with death daily". I LOVE "project" horses (seriously).

 

[Littlelegs]

Generally I agree with mm & jt, but age & price also effect what I read into it. I've had unbacked or green projects, & older ones with issues. I bought a stunning pony who was sold for £300 back when prices were high who was thought of as a dangerous lunatic. All she needed was all the gadgets removing & to be allowed to move forwards. After a few weeks I discovered she had been very well schooled in the past & just wouldn't tolerate the nasty child owner socking her teeth & tying her head to her chest. She was (& still is) a perfect second pony for a friends daughter. She just needed someone confident enough to get on & let her realise no matter what she did her mouth wouldn't be yanked raw. And I've had horses who were also supposedly dangerous, when really they just needed someone competent & confident. With the older ones, its nearly always someone who's overhorsed themselves, true nutjobs are rare.