Where to find a decent project pony?

[Rosiejazzandpia]

Hi all,
In June last year I started hunting for a project pony. I found one and was then let down badly by family friends at a local livery yard and decided to wait a while to search again.
Now I'm in a great position to get a project pony. Financially I don't want to spend thousands on a perfect horse, I have a small budget for a cheap project that I can back and school, with the potential to sell on if anything changes or the horse is not ideal.
So, where have you all found your excellent little projects on a small budget?

 

[paddi22]

I get mine off rescue charities. They are usually unbroken, but all so far have turned out to be hardly, bombproof lovely characters

 

[millikins]

Don't know where in the country you are but NFED (Hants/Dorset) usually has nice NF ponies. Check ads 136626, 14.1h £600 or 136413, 13.1hh £500

 

[Rollin]

I have a 14.2hh Shagya ArabxCB who is backed but we did not have the time to devote to her then last year she was off work with niggling problems - not serious (abscess x2, a knock in the field) so her schooling was very stop go. She is a real looker and will be sold for a reasonable price but ONLY to a home where someone will have time to school her on. PM me if you would like photos.

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Don't know where in the country you are but NFED (Hants/Dorset) usually has nice NF ponies. Check ads 136626, 14.1h £600 or 136413, 13.1hh £500

I was going to say NFED too. Great site.

 

[Leo Walker]

Mine came via the dreaded Horse Auctions Online group. I just made sure I got in the car and went and had a look at him before I bought him. He cost me less than 2 months livery bills and so far has been exactly as described and is a bit of a diamond in the rough.

 

[Talism4n]

I'm another one who went to a rescue for my project pony. My current project came from World Horse Welfare, so he's on loan to me which might not work if you plan on selling on later, but does give the option to return them at any point. Of all the projects I've had over the years, he's been the cheapest and the easiest. He arrived unbroken, with limited groundwork put into him, but he's been exactly as described and turned into a really nice friendly, laid back ride and drive. WHW have been great to deal with - plus, I like knowing that if it didn't work out, he has a guaranteed future.

 

[Dave's Mam]

Mine came from a reputable breeder of freeliving Exmoors.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Wrong thread.

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

Thank you all, I hadn't thought of charities and would like to go down this route as I know there are so many charities overrun with horses. I'm looking for for something around 14.2 to 15hh approx and have been searching a lot of Facebook groups so now I know where else to look. If anyone has anything or knows of anything please let me know

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

Mine came via the dreaded Horse Auctions Online group. I just made sure I got in the car and went and had a look at him before I bought him. He cost me less than 2 months livery bills and so far has been exactly as described and is a bit of a diamond in the rough.

I'd like to find a diamond in the rough, seems like you got lucky with your boy

 

[Adopter]

The Blue Cross have a number of youngsters who are all well handled and assessed before being rehomed. You get support from one of their field officers and the security that if your situation changes it can go back and will always be well cared for.

Good luck with your search., there are so many ponies waiting for a caring home at all the rehomeing charities that if you take one on you make a place for another one to be given a chance.

 

[Arianrhod]

Conversely, where do you SELL a decent project pony, that you can be (reasonably) sure you won't end up with someone who's just in it to make money? Sad family circumstances mean I won't now be able to back and train my lovely 14.2hh 9yo cob x pintaloosa mare, but I have no idea how to find her someone who will look after her and love her as I do! I won't ask much for her, I didn't pay huge amounts and I'm not in this for the money as I really don't want to be selling her anyway, but I know it will be difficult to find someone who genuinely wants her for herself and not just to roughly back/break her and then sell her on for a profit.

Without telling me the obvious fact that there are no guarantees in this world, can anyone suggest where I might look for a decent owner for her, please?

 

[be positive]

Conversely, where do you SELL a decent project pony, that you can be (reasonably) sure you won't end up with someone who's just in it to make money? Sad family circumstances mean I won't now be able to back and train my lovely 14.2hh 9yo cob x pintaloosa mare, but I have no idea how to find her someone who will look after her and love her as I do! I won't ask much for her, I didn't pay huge amounts and I'm not in this for the money as I really don't want to be selling her anyway, but I know it will be difficult to find someone who genuinely wants her for herself and not just to roughly back/break her and then sell her on for a profit.

Without telling me the obvious fact that there are no guarantees in this world, can anyone suggest where I might look for a decent owner for her, please?

I take on the odd project pony to bring on properly, prepare for a decent future and sell at a "profit" much of which will not be a true profit if my time was taken into account but I enjoy it, often keep them for 12 months or more to ensure they are well educated and will find decent long term homes, they are never roughly backed and sold for a quick profit but I know I am fairly unusual in taking a fairly long term view.

I would however not really consider an unbacked 9 year old as a good risk for several reasons, 1 has someone tried and failed? 2 are there physical reasons for it to be unstarted 3 will I be able to sell a 10 year old that lacks miles on the clock are the obvious things that come to mind. Finding someone to take her on as their own long term partner is not going to be easy due to reasons 1&2 above plus the majority of riders that are capable of starting a pony will normally prefer a younger one or something that has more obvious scope/ breeding/ potential to go on as a competition prospect, a 14.2 cob x may be lovely but will probably have limitations.

All rather negative for you and I think your best option would be to get her properly started under saddle so she can be tried by potential buyers to give her the best chance of finding a perfect home, as she is I don't think it likely you will attract the type of buyer you want for her unless she is extremely lucky, maybe offering her for LWVTB would be the other option, if someone commits to 12 months and does a good job you then sign her over for a token amount but remain her owner until you are satisfied.

 

[tashcat]

I'm looking at taking on an ex racehorse (which I was tentative about at first because I knew so little about it) but there are plenty around at reasonable rates around the height you're after.

LPL bought an ex-racehorse for £900 and produced him into a smashing horse! So I definitely think that is a good option if you're open to a tb Maybe she'll be along to share her experiences!

 

[Arianrhod]

Thanks for your comments .. in this case, she was a brood mare from a stud farm (she is registered with the BSPS with full breed history), has no physical reasons for her not to be backed and no, no-one has tried to back her yet so not a case of "tried and failed". I do hear what you say that most people will prefer a younger pony, although I understand she's still considered quite young. I hadn't thought about LWVTB - to be honest, I had never intended to sell her at all, she was supposed to be MY project!! - but if that's something that would be a good idea, then great - but where is best to advertise without attracting the 'wrong' sort of attention?

I take on the odd project pony to bring on properly, prepare for a decent future and sell at a "profit" much of which will not be a true profit if my time was taken into account but I enjoy it, often keep them for 12 months or more to ensure they are well educated and will find decent long term homes, they are never roughly backed and sold for a quick profit but I know I am fairly unusual in taking a fairly long term view.

I would however not really consider an unbacked 9 year old as a good risk for several reasons, 1 has someone tried and failed? 2 are there physical reasons for it to be unstarted 3 will I be able to sell a 10 year old that lacks miles on the clock are the obvious things that come to mind. Finding someone to take her on as their own long term partner is not going to be easy due to reasons 1&2 above plus the majority of riders that are capable of starting a pony will normally prefer a younger one or something that has more obvious scope/ breeding/ potential to go on as a competition prospect, a 14.2 cob x may be lovely but will probably have limitations.

All rather negative for you and I think your best option would be to get her properly started under saddle so she can be tried by potential buyers to give her the best chance of finding a perfect home, as she is I don't think it likely you will attract the type of buyer you want for her unless she is extremely lucky, maybe offering her for LWVTB would be the other option, if someone commits to 12 months and does a good job you then sign her over for a token amount but remain her owner until you are satisfied.

 

[Annagain]

Conversely, where do you SELL a decent project pony, that you can be (reasonably) sure you won't end up with someone who's just in it to make money? Sad family circumstances mean I won't now be able to back and train my lovely 14.2hh 9yo cob x pintaloosa mare, but I have no idea how to find her someone who will look after her and love her as I do! I won't ask much for her, I didn't pay huge amounts and I'm not in this for the money as I really don't want to be selling her anyway, but I know it will be difficult to find someone who genuinely wants her for herself and not just to roughly back/break her and then sell her on for a profit.

Without telling me the obvious fact that there are no guarantees in this world, can anyone suggest where I might look for a decent owner for her, please?

Do you have any good local trainers/dealers you trust? I'd consider gifting her to them on the understanding they do what they need to sell her on to a good home. Their risk will be reduced if horse doesn't "owe" them a purchase price as they'll only have to recover the costs of keeping her while they get her to a saleable position. If I'm not mistaken, I think you might not be a million miles from me and might know of someone who could do this if you want to PM me.

Your other option would be a very carefully chosen companion home.

 

[Arianrhod]

Do you have any good local trainers/dealers you trust? I'd consider gifting her to them on the understanding they do what they need to sell her on to a good home. Their risk will be reduced if horse doesn't "owe" them a purchase price as they'll only have to recover the costs of keeping her while they get her to a saleable position. If I'm not mistaken, I think you might not be a million miles from me and might know of someone who could do this if you want to PM me.

Your other option would be a very carefully chosen companion home.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'd be happy to gift her to someone who'd deal kindly with her, unfortunately I don't know anyone myself. Will pm you, thanks!

 

[Michen]

Bought mine from a facebook group direct from Ireland though he wasn't particularly cheap! But as described.

 

[pennyturner]

Don't discount the dreaded Dragon Driving. I picked up a lovely unbacked 6yo Welsh D for £200 advertised on there (and just down the road). He had the usual welsh 'issues', and his owner was terrified of him, but just needed a confident handler to show him the ropes - he was ride and drive within a week.

Just avoid the obvious dealers.

 

[Morgan123]

Where are you based? If the NW please contact me, I work for a small independent charity and we have some nice ones.
If not then Blue Cross, you could contact your local blue cross to see if they know of any (e.g. they have probably been contacted on any given week by at least five people wanting to give up their perfectly nice project pony and they are usually full), and they may also know of independent charities nearer you.

 

[honetpot]

I gave mine away. I have to pay someone to back, I knew the one I had would take more time but he was going to be nice, but he had no a papers, so it would cost far more than I would recoup. So I gave him away to someone I knew and he's now hacking round the village and I hope he's going to make a good competition pony.
I usually by other peoples rejects, but there are so many black and whites about I think people have stopped breeding so apart from NF.
I think you have to be very careful, if its under 14.2 the chances are its going to be sold to a child and if its had problems you do not know if its going to go backwards when its sold on, and you can not say you didn't know. I would rather buy an unbroken four year old and start with a clean slate, then you sell on at five/six.

 

[WeeLassie]

Conversely, where do you SELL a decent project pony, that you can be (reasonably) sure you won't end up with someone who's just in it to make money? Sad family circumstances mean I won't now be able to back and train my lovely 14.2hh 9yo cob x pintaloosa mare, but I have no idea how to find her someone who will look after her and love her as I do! I won't ask much for her, I didn't pay huge amounts and I'm not in this for the money as I really don't want to be selling her anyway, but I know it will be difficult to find someone who genuinely wants her for herself and not just to roughly back/break her and then sell her on for a profit.

Without telling me the obvious fact that there are no guarantees in this world, can anyone suggest where I might look for a decent owner for her, please?

What is wrong to selling her to someone who wants to make money on her? She will then, once broken and riding, probably be sold to a proper home. No different to sending her away for breaking!!

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

What is wrong to selling her to someone who wants to make money on her? She will then, once broken and riding, probably be sold to a proper home. No different to sending her away for breaking!!

Very different to sending away. You send away for breaking, you choose someone reputable, get back a horse who you know will need regular riding and schooling and you put the time/effort in to do that, ending up with a nice horse for yourself.

The problem with selling on to someone who wants to break/sell on for a profit, is that you don't *know* they'll be sold on to a good home afterwards (that "probably" in your 2nd sentence feels like too much of a risk sometimes). There are so so many who will buy cheap, do a very very basic job of breaking in, then sell to someone who has no idea of the amount of schooling needed to make the horse into a nice riding horse, who doesn't have the ability to do the schooling themselves, but who doesn't want to pay someone else to do it or pay for lessons. The horse doesn't progress, schooling goes backwards, or learns bad habits with these people, ends up pulled/pushed/smacked around and eventually sold on again to whoever. Until one day, if it's lucky, the horse ends up with someone willing and able to put the work in. That cycle is not a future many want for their much loved horses.

 

[Arianrhod]

Very different to sending away. You send away for breaking, you choose someone reputable, get back a horse who you know will need regular riding and schooling and you put the time/effort in to do that, ending up with a nice horse for yourself.

The problem with selling on to someone who wants to break/sell on for a profit, is that you don't *know* they'll be sold on to a good home afterwards (that "probably" in your 2nd sentence feels like too much of a risk sometimes). There are so so many who will buy cheap, do a very very basic job of breaking in, then sell to someone who has no idea of the amount of schooling needed to make the horse into a nice riding horse, who doesn't have the ability to do the schooling themselves, but who doesn't want to pay someone else to do it or pay for lessons. The horse doesn't progress, schooling goes backwards, or learns bad habits with these people, ends up pulled/pushed/smacked around and eventually sold on again to whoever. Until one day, if it's lucky, the horse ends up with someone willing and able to put the work in. That cycle is not a future many want for their much loved horses.

Yes! This exactly. My fear is that she will be roughly broken and sold on quickly for a profit, especially if I gift her. I know once a horse is out of your hands it's also completely out of your control where they end up, but I do care very much what happens to her - it's a reluctant sale/parting, I don't want to pass her on in the first place, it's just personal circumstances dictate I have to. It's hard enough without the worry that she'll end up badly treated, hence why I'd like to find someone who's known to be good to their horses.

 

[stormox]

Why is everyone so convinced that no one is able to care for their horses as well as they can? There are many, many very decent people out there who enjoy breaking and schooling, or a project. Whether they make money or not, its very unlikely to be much. As Arianhod is unable/unwilling to break and ride the pony, it makes sense to sell to someone who can. The pony is far more likely to find a happy home then.

 

[Arianrhod]

Why is everyone so convinced that no one is able to care for their horses as well as they can? There are many, many very decent people out there who enjoy breaking and schooling, or a project. Whether they make money or not, its very unlikely to be much. As Arianhod is unable/unwilling to break and ride the pony, it makes sense to sell to someone who can. The pony is far more likely to find a happy home then.

Yes, couldn't agree more ... my original question was, can anyone suggest where it's best to advertise her, if possible trying to avoid the market that would just purely be out to make money.

 

[milliepops]

Best way to find and sell horses like this is word of mouth IMO - so tricky Arianrhod if you don't have lots of contacts in your area.

I was gifted a project, I was quite open about the fact that I probably wouldn't keep her but her previous owner was happy with that as she knew I wouldn't move her on until she was ready. As it happens she turned out to be both too awkward and too talented to part with so I've kept her

When I took this one, I was subsequently offered 3 more but didn't have the room - all through word of mouth.

 

[Arianrhod]

Exactly Millie ... I don't have any problems with someone selling her on later, I would just like her to be treated kindly and backed sympathetically if possible .. as you say, not to be moved on until she is ready. I have only a couple of contacts, dealers I know and trust would be good to her, and I've contacted both already - one isn't interested in backing, well that's fair enough; the other hasn't replied. Past that, I don't know anyone else.

 

[honetpot]

Why is everyone so convinced that no one is able to care for their horses as well as they can? There are many, many very decent people out there who enjoy breaking and schooling, or a project. Whether they make money or not, its very unlikely to be much. As Arianhod is unable/unwilling to break and ride the pony, it makes sense to sell to someone who can. The pony is far more likely to find a happy home then.

I have no issue in someone selling on, I do it myself, but doing it properly there is no profit in it. By its very name a project pony has issues, some may be a quick fix but really to do a pony properly takes two years, and even if it takes six months my the time you factor in teeth,vet, wormers, food and the big expense time there is no real profit. The last one I sold I made over £2,500 gross profit, but I bet I spent that on it so net profit was £0. Do not tell my husband.