[kotakando]

Ok, so here it is. I want a project horse, but I can't buy one (not enough $$). So, I was thinking I could try to find someone with say a 2-4 yr. old they are trying to sell or don't have room for or simply don't have time for. I do a free or partial lease with them where I keep the horse at my place and pay for everything except say vet/farrier bills. I would draw up a contract to be sure that everything is clear ad nobody goes back on their word.

I would train and show the horse until the lease ends. I woudl benefit by getting the experience I am looking for, along witht he owner benefiting by having a horse trained and it wouldn't cost them anything except vet/farrier bills.

I have thought about the money issue with feeding this new horse if I pay for feed. We have enough pasture for 3 horses, we have 2 right now and we don't even have to rotate sides and they got along fine last year. As far as grain/supplements goes, I will be working more and should be able to pay for grain. My mare will also be on grain which my parents usually pay for. I will make sure that I get a certain amount of hours per week so I can make enough and set aside a certain amount every month for feed. I also have all the tack I would need for this horse.

I have thought about scheduling too. I will be pretty busy, but I like being busy, keeps me awake. On weekdays I will be working say 4hours a day, and at my job I'm lucky enough to be able to choose my schedule ahead of time so I can work earlier in the day rather than int he evening when I ride. If I work 4 hours a day, say 11-3pm, I will have plenty of time to ride 2 horses and do chores. I will be out of school so I won't have to worry about my grades or homework. On weekends I will be showing and riding, and also working at Rich's (I ride for him) for a few hours on Sat. and/or Sun. Weekends if I am not showing, I won't be working so I can ride then too.

Now, I know that everyone is probably raising their eyebrows and thinking "wow, she's got high hopes" but do you think, honestly if anyone would be interested?

I can answer any questions about my idea, please ask! Also, I woudl really appreciate if someone could help me with the legal side of this, contracts and all.

This is just an idea, I just want to have it completely organized before I make any commitments, or present it to my parents. I will be glad to answer questions you have, and please be considerate. You will be wasting your time if you choose to reply with "meh, good luck" because I am asking for advice and help. And that will no help me at all.

Thanks everyone!

[Grandsgirl2003]

Where are you located?

[Avishay]

Last year I did a 6 mo. lease on a greenie I had been training for awhile. I worked off half the lease with training and paid the other half for use of the horse. I still have my contract on my dad's computer somewhere, so I'll find it tomorrow and PM it to you.

I really liked my arangement, and with luck it will work for you too.

[tapestry]

why don't you just lease a horse at a barn and work off lease with chores? if you can't afford to buy a horse you can't afford to keep a horse.

[Love2TrailRide]

wont u get emotionally attached to the horse? wont u be upset having to give it back after a few MONTHES? I know i would, and most kids would be.

[my_cadbury]

If you already have a horse, how come you want another one? Basically you will be spending money and training a horse, and then you give it back to the owner and it has cost them nothing for a beautifully trained horse. Whats in it for you?!?

[i_luv_moth]

i got a semi project horse,hopefully as a potential eventer.

it cost more then her after 1 year of ownership. We paid $3000 and we've porbbaly spent well over that because shes young.They have to have the proper training,proper gear the WHOLE thing. Now she has turned out to be an eventer but my parents are really set back in the financial department

Then i made the mistake,well not really,of taking on an 8yo project pony.He was kinda ugly,sway back and put together totally wrong. We didn't own him,i just rode him. He turned out to be quite a little jumper.

I tried to plan everything like u to get this pony,but in the end i saw that project horses,though they seem cheap,they end up costing you a whole lot more!

[Stars Of Vegas]

trump and i started a project horse(memba gypsy) we started to ride her and put her over a few jumps, she had this BIG problem of rearing and trust me a clidieX thingy rearing(anyone who has been one one and it has reared WELL dont for staying on) it was reLLY SCARY AND IT WAS ALSO SORTA HARD TO HANG ON, she was REALLY round so it also didnt help there, then when we tried to take her to pc we had problems flaoting her. it wasnt our horse it was a ladies who was scared of her so we tried and she could be good.

i wouldnt take her on again it was to dangerous in the sense that there were holes in the ground as well so it wasnt safe in that aspect.

that is just what we went through if that gives you any idea( not trying to say that its a bad idea, i think its great to try new things) to what we had to do.
im sure all pps on HGS will give you support and help you if you decied to take it on
dont push yourself to hard either by working to much, its not good for you

[jeda_horse]

If you think you are capable of training a young horse and you think you can provide adequate care and time to the the horse, then I say go for it.

Im sure an owner of a young horse will be willing to let you train their horse for free. If they really care for the youngster they may want you to prove you are capable of it before they just plonk their horse in a novice's hands...

Good luck with it...

[kotakando]

Ok, I'm going to try to answer everyone's questions.

First, I am located in Iowa.

tapestry: I have looked into this, but nobody is interested around here. And most barns don't need anyone to do chores. The one barn I looked into, they had plenty of staff and didn't need me.


Love2TrailRide : I want to train for a living, which is why I am trying to get the best start I can right now. I know I will see many horses come and go if I so choose to be a trainer. I will get attached, this is true, but we all have to let go sometime. From the beginning, I will simply have to keep reminding myself that it won't last forever. I ride a couple horses for a local guy, and although I am attached to one of them a lot, she's not mine. I've accepted this, and if I never saw her again I think I would get over it because I have other things that need my attention.

my_cadbury : What's in it for me?! Well, let me see...I get experience, I have a new horse I can learn more from, I can use the things I learn later on with other horses, I will be able to see I've trined not one, but TWO horses (that's semi-sarcastic). Basically, for me, all it is is learning more about training. That's something that means a lot to me, I don't know if you understand that I don't know what your relationship with horses is, but to me learning about training is the most fun exciting thing anyone can ever do.

i_luv_moth : I have all of the gear and tack I need, as far as I know. I've got 3 saddles (western and english), bridles, 2 snaffle bits (eggbutt and dring), saddlepads, SMBs, lunge line, halters, lunge whips, dressage whip and crop. I think the only thing I would get is bell boots, and maybe another pair of SMBs. We have all of the materials to build a roundpen, a good one. Is there anything else I would need?