[iloverains]

Hello,

I want to have a business/job in the horse industry, but we all know it's hard to make a profit out of horses... if you don't breed.

anyway, I want to save or buy really cheap horses, healthy and a good ish weight (that's why I'm thinking straight OTTB's)

So, has anyone bought horses and trained them to jump/dressage etc in around 10 weeks/70 days?! and made a somewhat profit?? I know it'll benefit my riding and knowledge, but money wise

p.s. I'm a experienced rider, and have had horses since I was 7 also know TB's quite well thank you!!

 

[DandyLonglegs]

If you're getting OTTBs straight from the track, they'll probably need a period of time to just chill out and get their heads back on straight before any retraining can be done. My OTTB was off for a year but that's a bit extreme. I'd say you should probably give them at minimum a month to just hang out, eat and be a horse, then see how they're acting. Three months is probably more standard but I'm not completely sure of that. Of course the nice thing with OTTBs, at least in my experience, is that they're smart and they learn fast.

 

[iloverains]

yes, sure will give them a break! thanks for the tip

 

[DandyLonglegs]

I only mention it because it'll cut into your 10 week/70 days. However, if you can find one that's already been rested (maybe from a local rescue) you'll probably be able to turn them around pretty quick. I've never done it myself but it sounds like a fun project!

 

[MyBoyPuck]

The woman I bought mine from had trained him off the track after giving him some down time. She had him very nicely started within 4 months riding him an hour 5 days a week. Most TBs are very smart and learn quickly.

 

[iloverains]

Yes thank you I work at a racing stable, and he doesn't sell them until they have had a month break, so I was thinking of getting them, there cheap and healthy! But I really want to save the ones in need, so I'll make sure they have a break if they are straight OTTS

and MyBoyPuck - that's great thank you

 

[Kayty]

Well I hope you are an exceptional rider and trainer - there are multitudes of people who try to turn over ottb's. By the time you add up the costs for feed and general care, you are making very little profit unless the horse is absolutely brilliant with potential to make a top level mount in say showing or eventing. Otherwise, TB's are a dime a dozen and most riders who would be looking for a nice one, will just pick one up straight off the track for free.

 

[IquitosARG10]

....I would advise AT LEAST 6 mos of let down time....

 

[iloverains]

Kayty - Well, I've trained heaps of horses, from sale yards ponies, to OTTB's and I can ride - I won State sporting and formal gymkhana last year, and qualiflied for state horse trials (Eventing) but, the horse was lame during state ): also went to nationals for gaming and compete prelim eventing on a regular basis

but yes, I agree, and I've made a program/schedule and with the amount of feed I give my Frisian warmblood and some extra cost of fuel time tack etc. etc. I will have to sell the horse for only $4000 with a $1000 profit I also have a training program as a guide, all depends on the horse though!

 

[MudPaint]

It depends on where you are and the trends. TBs are athletic and can lend themselves well in most any english discipline... but like said, they're a dime a dozen and most people who may take on a green TB may really be inclined to look at a straight OTTB. However, Warmbloods are becoming readily available and trendy... because they're less reactive, they tend to attract your Amateur riders more than a TB.

What you need to consider is your local market... do you have an area where people are competing heavily in english discipline events? Are they mostly local level or upper level? Are you conveniently located?

Where I am, there is mostly small shows where the horses are just well trained trail horses, retired pros, or experienced riders getting a green horse ready without losing it's eligibility. We also have 3 tracks in a 2 hr drive, so TBs are nearly as common as the QH. Big venues however are at least a 2 hr drive, as are the major metro areas. Though I show eventing and would love to flip TBs for that purpose... economically a good trail horse with some rings skills is what sells around here. I still advertise them further south and have sold horses there, but it's harder... takes coordinating on my and their ends.

As for costs.... 1000 doesn't cover much over a 70 day time period unless you have your own farm. If you're boarding or renting, you need to consider that in your costs.

Start small and build your reputation. You will need to network, know who to call when you have a particular horse in your hands, and have a niche. For example, people come to me when they're looking for a good athletic trail horse. I don't have time to buy and sell right now, but I still haunt sales and know people I'd call... you need to be one of those people (figuratively speaking).

 

[iloverains]

Thanks heaps Mudpaint! I've got my own property, and I'm in QLD, Austalia, and TB's are selling pretty well! heaps of competitive SJ and Eventers wanting a trained horse, not one to train!

and thank you again!

 

[BellsTouchofClass]

Hey iloverains,
I wish you the best of luck in your journey! I have been retraining OTTBs for about 5 years now and it's not that easy. They are amazing horses, very smart and quick to learn. But it will definitely take you longer that 10 weeks. Like everyone else said, they really do need between 3-6 months down time. I give mine 6 months at the least. I have shown one of my OTTBs in the AAA circuit and at Grand Prix level, and she did very well. But it was extremely hard to do. They need someone very confident to help them succeed.
Good luck with your venture!! I wish you the very best =)

 

[iloverains]

Hey iloverains,
I wish you the best of luck in your journey! I have been retraining OTTBs for about 5 years now and it's not that easy. They are amazing horses, very smart and quick to learn. But it will definitely take you longer that 10 weeks. Like everyone else said, they really do need between 3-6 months down time. I give mine 6 months at the least. I have shown one of my OTTBs in the AAA circuit and at Grand Prix level, and she did very well. But it was extremely hard to do. They need someone very confident to help them succeed.
Good luck with your venture!! I wish you the very best =)

Thank you very much!! Yes, now that I really really think about it, defiantly need more then 10 weeks. I'm very confident, practically have no fear, except spiders /:

I would love to get them up in the 1.50m but I was thinking of selling them just at 1m with potential to go further. I guess I just have to get one and see how it goes!

 

[Oxer]

I will first say, the type of training that goes in to a meter fifty horse is something that takes lots and lots of time. Years, even.
You're money will be best made in brave, and polite, 3 foot to 3'6" jumpers and hunters. My trainer gets a couple of them off the track, for free, and then gives them a solid 120 days under saddle and on the ground. It's a lot of work. Best of luck to you!

 

[Endiku]

I just don't see a fresh-off-the-track OTTB being able either mentally or physically to handle completely learning all of the ground training,basic riding, AND jumping training without atleast a few very dangerous gaps in its training or turning it into a spaz in only 70 days.

OTTBS must be treated like brand new two year olds. And in reality, with 60 days of Professional training for one of those you can really only expect a good 'go' and 'woah, and some very basic walk trot and possibly canter skills. Not a show-ready performance animal.

My OTTB, Noah- was brought off of the track last year. I gave him about two months of down time in the pasture to be a horse, then started him. He's about 9 months into his training now and walks, trots, canters, woahs, flexes, disengages, sidepasses, backs, and is learning flying lead changes- but this is almost a year of training. I would never of expected him to jump only two months after getting him, as he was still a spastic, nervouse animal with no sense of direction and no respect for the bit or leg signals.

Add that to the fact that OTTB prices aren't all that great, and I really just dont see this as being a feasable option.

 

[iloverains]

I will first say, the type of training that goes in to a meter fifty horse is something that takes lots and lots of time. Years, even.
You're money will be best made in brave, and polite, 3 foot to 3'6" jumpers and hunters. My trainer gets a couple of them off the track, for free, and then gives them a solid 120 days under saddle and on the ground. It's a lot of work. Best of luck to you!

defiantly not aiming for 150cm!! and the horses will already have had a few months break. Thank you anyway. will post on my progress.

 

[iloverains]

I just don't see a fresh-off-the-track OTTB being able either mentally or physically to handle completely learning all of the ground training,basic riding, AND jumping training without atleast a few very dangerous gaps in its training or turning it into a spaz in only 70 days.

OTTBS must be treated like brand new two year olds. And in reality, with 60 days of Professional training for one of those you can really only expect a good 'go' and 'woah, and some very basic walk trot and possibly canter skills. Not a show-ready performance animal.

My OTTB, Noah- was brought off of the track last year. I gave him about two months of down time in the pasture to be a horse, then started him. He's about 9 months into his training now and walks, trots, canters, woahs, flexes, disengages, sidepasses, backs, and is learning flying lead changes- but this is almost a year of training. I would never of expected him to jump only two months after getting him, as he was still a spastic, nervouse animal with no sense of direction and no respect for the bit or leg signals.

Add that to the fact that OTTB prices aren't all that great, and I really just dont see this as being a feasable option.

Thanks for the opinion, I work at a racing stable and will be getting those horses, as I know them, and before I work them they will have a few months break

With the first one I will train I will have to see what I can do, who knows how long it's going to take to get them to the level I want.

Thanks again! and TBs are selling pretty well here.

 

[Kayty]

QLD must be pretty different to SA then on the TB front. Down here, sure they sell well... if they're under $1500 and even that is a bit steep. Any professional riders looking for an ottb around here will either buy straight off the track, so they can train it how they want, or they buy it from another professional that will instil absolute correct basics in said horse, and they can just continue on from there.

There's stacks of young kids down this way that try to make money off turning over ottbs. 99% of them rely on daddy's wallet to pay for everything and they make a loss anyway. Unless you have an incredibly special ottb, money making opportunities in turning them over are few and far between.

 

[maura]

I'm in the US, not in Australia, so things may be different where you are, but there is very little profit in the scheme you're proposing here. The difference in the price of an OTTB fresh off of the track as opposed to one that's let down and had 60 days retraining is $500 - $1000, no where near enough to make this a profitable scheme.

Even when the market here was much better, it was very, very difficult to flip horses for a profit in the 3 - 6 month time window. You might make money on one, break even on two and lose your shirt on the fourth and be unable to sell it at all. That fact of the matter is, the real value is added to a horse when it's finished in a discipline, not when it's started. And that takes lots of time. Many, many horseman are capable of doing the first couple of months of foundation work corrrectly, far fewer are able to bring the horse to the next stage of training.

A better business plan might be to get a few animals with real athletic potential, and plan on keeping them for a year or longer, and start them on their competitive careers. You will have more time and money invested in each individual, but the market will be much better for a horse that's going to entry level competitions than a 60 day wonder.

 

[Saskia]

but yes, I agree, and I've made a program/schedule and with the amount of feed I give my Frisian warmblood and some extra cost of fuel time tack etc. etc. I will have to sell the horse for only $4000 with a $1000 profit I also have a training program as a guide, all depends on the horse though!

This is my opinion, if it helps. I'm Australian, and this is what I think. I wouldn't buy a OTTB for $4000. I know few people who would, and the ones that would go for that much would have to be exceptional (for hacking) or very experienced (like an ideal pony clubber). People interested in competing probably won't go for a TB, or if they are serious, will train it up themselves, or buy from a known trainer. Pleasure riders may get a TB, but they wouldn't want to spend that much, nor would the average pony clubber. To sell a horse with only two months training you would need to (ethically) sell it to an experienced rider, but I don't think an experienced rider would spend that much on an OTTB.

Who is your target market?

It's a decent idea in theory, but I really think it practice it doesn't work out so well. Even if you work out all the costs, it might take a month or two just to sell the horse, which seriously eats into your profits. If the horse gets injured, again vet costs could completely take up your profit. If you make $1000 profit, you could work that out at 65 hours worth of work at about $15 an hour (low wage). But having a TB for approx 70 days you'll likely put what, two hours for riding and care per day? That is about $7 an hour for the work you do if you sell the horse quickly, and if there aren't any extra costs.

For that price, you can pick up a real nice, well rounded and well trained horse if you look around. And I have known people who buy their own OTTB for $300 off the track, and train that themselves. I just can't see a lot of people paying $4000 for what you are offering.

Yes, you see adds in Horse Deals etc. for horses like this - but just because they are advertised at that price, and for sale, doesn't mean that they are sold for that much, or that they are sold at all. By all means try it - you may be successful, but don't count your money just yet, and be prepared to fund the horse for a longer period if needed, or take a loss.