Looking at buying a project horse and I’m trying to decide which market to focus on. I can start colts or I can refine and advance older horses. I’m trying to decide which is the most advantageous route. 1.Buy a well bred 2 yr old to put 90 days and sell as a started 3 yr old or buy an older 5-6 yr old that will probably cost more but is already started and the experience I feel more people are looking (I could be wrong!). I’m trying to be strategic about the amount of time (younger=more time and risk but cheaper or older=less time but maybe less margin there?), the market and profit margin. In a nut shell, if you are only going to take one project horse would you go younger or older? My budget is under $5k. Thanks in advance for your advice!

We breed good quality reining horses. What is your opinion on fitting for the Fall yearling sales versus marketing those horses to individual buyers.

Pricing horses, where to begin and how much is considered appropriate for each horse.

What’s your phone number for future questions?

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My primary concern with doing this is that I am a trainer, but I board my horses- so, I am, at minimum, $600/month down in addition to the purchase price of the horse. If the horse takes 3 months to train and sell, I have to sell that horse for a large amount for the project itself to even be worth it. This is the sunk cost issue I have dealt with. I am looking forward to hearing about how you do it, and would like to know how you are able to turn them around honestly in 30 days.

I know that I can do the training aspect. It is affording the projects out of pocket rather than getting income with clients to support horses on my wallet while they are in my training. As well as marketing certain horses that aren’t the most desirable. Aka I prefer training mustangs even though I grew up training AQHA. Especially when they are easier on the price book compared to a 20 grand Weanling with good papers. But it’s harder to market mustangs even if most of them can be trained to the same level an aqua can if you look for the right one.

Can you give suggestions for taking quality photos or do you recommend always using a professional ?

How can you be successful without your own property? Board is a huge expense and adds a commute time.

1. How do you know when it’s time to sell? 2. How do you get people coming back to buy?

I have a great little red dun Appendix yearling (5/21/23) I’m trying to sell. She is definitely too much of a handful for me. I’ve tried my best to get her halter/lead broke, but she’s still considered untouched. How can I sell her at a good price? Or project price? Both parents are registered mom is JC OTTB and sire is registered AQHA but she isn’t registered as of yet.

The best way to show them once you get them ready.

1.Selling with an online auction verses sell out right? 2.Selling to or finding a potential buyer that is qualified to ride the horse is my largest problem,most all my clients in last few yrs are over 65 an with very little experience with no knowledge of a horse with higher end training with mutible cues.Its very difficult from me not to teach this as i want the horse to have as such knowledge for a better life an understanding of their job.

Time and quality are my biggest concerns. I have a project now, but he’s quality bred and not a quick flip, needs started and show experience, etc… I don’t want to sell animals that give me the wrong name, and doing something quick seems like it would take some luck to consistently get quality.

Where do you find any decent project horses for cheap nowadays? People want $2500 for a grade, unbroke 15yr old. How do you know when to sell?

What are the top 3-4 factors that will make the biggest impact on building a brand? I’ve done social media marketing for personal horses as well as for others and am always looking to keep dialed in and make sure to stay on track of what buyers are *actually* looking for and willing to pay for, not what we *think* they should find important.

In your opinion, what’s the best age of a horse to choose? Say a 4-5 that’s been started in the wrong profession? Or a unbroke 2?

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Do stick to your preferred discipline for projects? For example, if you found a reasonable prospect not suited for your area of expertise would you take on that project? i.e. - you're into western but see a nice warmblood dirt cheap. What measures do you take to ensure the buyer will provide reasonable care and a good life for the horse? How do you stop yourself from bonding with a project horse and loving them?

How to make this happen on a low LOW budget for purchase price when everything is selling for $2,500+. I start colts and can put a great handle on one pretty quickly (when necessary of course) but obviously if I’m buying something unbroke, which is all I can really afford to buy for projects, I’m likely not selling it in 30 days or even 60. Where can we find those diamond in the rough $1,000 projects without them being 1. Feral colts or 2. Horses with baggage.