[skysthelimit]

Have you met my right ankle? My right ankle holds its injury against all TB's from one little, minor, tiny in fact, incident...something about falling off at almost 40mph. I've done the hot horse thing before...no grain for you!!! lol...I'm so silly tonight.~Brit

[tightpaycheck]

I didn't do it this year, but last year I did very well. It seems to me that horses under $1000 are still selling. If you get one for $300, and re-sell quickly for $600 you are doing good. I try not to take anything on that has serious issues, and I start advertising them as soon as I get them. I usually manage to sell them within 2 weeks to a month.

[skysthelimit]

that's a good idea. Do you really get more by buying and imediately turning around and selling? Are you just in a good location? See, i'm in a good location. horses in Cumming/alpharetta go for at least a few hundred more than horses farther north or west of us. It's just how it is...we're in 'rich' country. But the market is very slow....altho you are right about less expensive horses still selling. I plan on turning around less expensive horses. At least to start out. i don't have the resources to pull off big deals yet.~Brit

[tightpaycheck]

Originally Posted by skysthelimit

that's a good idea. Do you really get more by buying and imediately turning around and selling? Are you just in a good location?

I would have to say I'm in a bad location. My thing is that the longer you feed the horse the more you have to get for him. I would rather sell 2 horses in a month for $200 or 300 profit each than try to make $1500 on a horse I need to feed for 3 months. I try to find one that is pretty to look at, and has a good mind. I usually go to a sale and buy something that would otherwise be going for meat, but I try to get a 2yo that hasn't been started, not a broke horse that might have serious issues.
The horse gets another chance at life, I make a couple hundred dollars for 2 or 3 weeks worth of work, and someone gets a started horse at a very good price. It works out for everyone, and it's very rewarding.
If you can start a horse over fences there is money to be made that way, but I can't jump.

[cherazam]

I've thought about doing that before. I would love to do it for most experience gain sake but the money is nice too. I wanted to get say a wp horse thats not in the right disapline and train it in another and then sell it. I would love to do it. But rightnow I dont have the time.

[skysthelimit]

I think that's a great idea. Auction house, here I come!!! I have a neighbor friend who is going to do it with me. She is 15, but she's an old soul and a natural trainer. She's done wonders with her pmu foal. She's all into the parreli stuf. We'll be going at it where I buy the horses and she helps train for a small commission. thanks for the advice!~Brit

[AQHA Hunter]

Like others have mentioned, the risk is in being stuck with a horse. I'd be very loathe to take on a "flip" if I didn't have cheap or free pasture in case I couldn't get a buyer right away. My last mare, I bought very green for $2,500, and sold with WP training on her for $5,000, but that profit got eaten up in board costs because it took forever to sell her. She wasn't just a "for profit" project, so that was OK, but I would have been pretty unhappy with the situation if I'd been trying to turn or a profit or even break even on her. Yet, I'm moving my horse to a place that does full outside board for $120 a month, and I'm already contemplating buying an unbroke 2 year old project in the fall. I think I will locate some cheap pasture too, before I think seriously about going down that road. Just don't tell my husband!

I think it could work pretty well to buy in late November-December, put 120 days on the horse, and sell in March/April. The trick with horses is to be prepared/able to lose money on any project you get into.

[skysthelimit]

I don't pay any board. i only pay to feed my horses, which is awesome. i have the ideal setting for flippig horses.

and I am so telling your husband on you. lol!~Brit

[Blistering Winds]

if you are willing to wait out the market, you might be able to turn profit.

Unfortunately well trained horses are pricing with the non-trained horses.

[BirdieGirl]

Off Topic - BW I think that's the shortest reply I've ever seen you write!


Back to the topic - I think if you buy a cheap horse and turn around and sell it for cheap (like paycheck was saying, buy a $300 horse, then sell it for $600) you can make a small profit...But keep in mind that if you spend what money you have now, and find a prospect that YOU would like to buy for barrels, you're not going to have the money to spend on it because you'll have already gotten your cheap project horse.
Overall it's up to you, but I'd keep saving my money and keep looking.