Where to find a decent project pony?

[Sugar_and_Spice]

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.

because I've seen the people on livery yards who have bought these sat-on-a-few-times-hacked-a-bit-and-sold-as-broken horses and I've seen what happens to them. The person who sold the horse to them is sometimes capable, sometimes not. The issue isn't "nobody else *can* take care of my horse properly", the issue is whether somebody *will bother* taking care of a horse properly, including it's long term best interests. IME a lot won't, especially if they've bought to sell on, only intending to put 3-4mths work in over the summer and ensuring it's gone by winter and made them a profit. I see it a lot. I'm not saying there aren't good people out there, but you only meet a potential buyer for a short period of time, it's easy enough for them to put on an act/tell you what they think you want to hear. It's not like you can tell the best people just from looking at them.

Arianrhod says it's not about the money, so the best thing for the horse is to send away for breaking properly, find/pay someone to get the horse riding away nicely, then sell (probably at an overall loss, but at least the horse has the best chance of finding a good and long term home).

10 is young-ish in general terms (nobody would actually describe a 10yr old as a youngster), but it's "old" when it comes to breaking in. The issue with whether someone has/hasn't tried to break in before and failed, is that the potential purchaser only has the sellers word for it that nobody has tried before. So with the best people probably reluctant to risk it, that leaves the less competent (who haven't considered the possibility and might not have the skills for a difficult horse) and the uncaring (who will happily lie through their teeth to get rid if they can't cope, with no thought to what happens to the horse after it leaves them). I've lost count of the number of horses bought by well meaning people who fancied a bit of a project over summer who, through lack of time or skill, have ended up selling on again as only partially handled/broken and what if the next owner does the same? And the next? Even if all those owners are well meaning and the horses aren't bashed about in these cases, they're still being passed on so often that IMO it's not fair on them.

 

[Kaylum]

We have a fantastic girl who needs rehoming 14 2 four year old mare winning dressage called Blossom if your in Yorkshire www.hopepastures.org

 

[Ladyinred]

because I've seen the people on livery yards who have bought these sat-on-a-few-times-hacked-a-bit-and-sold-as-broken horses and I've seen what happens to them. The person who sold the horse to them is sometimes capable, sometimes not. The issue isn't "nobody else *can* take care of my horse properly", the issue is whether somebody *will bother* taking care of a horse properly, including it's long term best interests. IME a lot won't, especially if they've bought to sell on, only intending to put 3-4mths work in over the summer and ensuring it's gone by winter and made them a profit. I see it a lot. I'm not saying there aren't good people out there, but you only meet a potential buyer for a short period of time, it's easy enough for them to put on an act/tell you what they think you want to hear. It's not like you can tell the best people just from looking at them.

Arianrhod says it's not about the money, so the best thing for the horse is to send away for breaking properly, find/pay someone to get the horse riding away nicely, then sell (probably at an overall loss, but at least the horse has the best chance of finding a good and long term home).

10 is young-ish in general terms (nobody would actually describe a 10yr old as a youngster), but it's "old" when it comes to breaking in. The issue with whether someone has/hasn't tried to break in before and failed, is that the potential purchaser only has the sellers word for it that nobody has tried before. So with the best people probably reluctant to risk it, that leaves the less competent (who haven't considered the possibility and might not have the skills for a difficult horse) and the uncaring (who will happily lie through their teeth to get rid if they can't cope, with no thought to what happens to the horse after it leaves them). I've lost count of the number of horses bought by well meaning people who fancied a bit of a project over summer who, through lack of time or skill, have ended up selling on again as only partially handled/broken and what if the next owner does the same? And the next? Even if all those owners are well meaning and the horses aren't bashed about in these cases, they're still being passed on so often that IMO it's not fair on them.

Completely agree with this post.

Definitely not suggesting this is the case for the OP (it isn't) but there are occasions where it is kinder to PTS than risk a horse entering into the downward spiral of incompetence and, finally, neglect. There is currently a horse on FB whose owner intends to have her PTS because of injury... she can't keep two horses and doesn't want to pass this one on to an uncertain future. Of course there is now uproar by the fluffy bunny brigade searching for a home for her 'she might come sound and be able to hack' etc etc etc... and sadly there are plenty who would take her and either hope she comes sound or drug her and then sell her on for a price that doesn't warrant a vetting.

SandS your post is spot on. I have backed/broken a 9 yo ex-broodmare but I think I just got lucky as she was a complete doddle and turned into a lovely riding horse. I don't think I would push my luck by trying again!

 

[ycbm]

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 know that there are plenty of people able to care for and ride my horses as a well as I can.

But I don't know how to find the one that won't mistreat him, if it wasn't enough to take references, have a livery come with her, get photos of a fabulous yard and waiting stable, and get a bouquet of flowers in a glass vase delivered the day mine left me - to be starved to the point of emaciation in less than four months.

I will never rehome another 'cheap' horse. I will have it put down instead. One rescue is one too many.

On the other hand, I've taken on three where the owners didn't even ask for a photo of where the horse would be living before dropping their horses off in my yard. All, supposedly, the loves of their owner's lives.

Arianrhod I am another who thinks you need to get the mare broken and sell her then if you want the best future for her.

 

[rara007]

My last one I found on FB.

For my project horse I sold via 'project horse' website, he's now living the life of luxury (YOs horse at a posh full livery) and well within his mental comfort zone. He's had two emergency surgeries (post field trauma!) with them! Other actual ponies we sell to a local pony dealer we've known for decades. Almost all have gone on to find good homes, one they decided to PTS as he didn't 'come right'. They're very experienced and have lots of very light riders! Being into ponies the raw animals are all ultimately very cheap but touch wood we've given a life with purpose to several tricky customers.