Raising Horses

[RichZ]

Richard, thanks for the info! It's pretty much what I expected, but my wife really has her heart set on some sort of livestock farming. I have huge respect for your opinion on horses. I know you know what you're talking about.
We already got the chickens, and we have a large garden going to start figuring out what crops we can grow in the future. That will probably be the way we go.
We still love horses and probably will always have some, just to enjoy, despite my ordeals this morning. (See my other post)
As always, thanks for your advise!!

Rich

 

[ERNIEB]

Rich, I've been around horses most of my life. I guess I know a little about them. I've developed a sort of love/hate feeling toward them. My first thought would be find something else. I do not now own any, nor do I want any. But If it's something you really want to do, then I offer this.
You can fill a bookcase with all the books that have been written on this subject, but I think it all boils down to finding a market and trying to fill it. I'll give you some examples that are being done by people I know.
Roping and cutting horses are popular around here, and a good one can bring thousands of dollars. The trouble is that it's not just a matter of training, but something that is "in" the horse. You might start 10 horses, and only one will end up being good enough.
A couple I know buys Thourghbreds that can't cut it on the race track and convert them into hunter/jumpers.
Speaking of Thourghbreds, pinhooking can be very lucrative, but also risky. This is buying colts or yearlings, and selling them as two year olds in training or after a start or two. I know a guy who bought a yearling for $1000.00 and after it won its first start, sold it for $25,000.00
A friend of mine does what I think is the simplest thing. He beeds colorfull horses, Appaloosas and Paints, and sells them as halter or green broke. His customers tend to be first time horse buyers, especially young girls who have rode a friends horse or one they rented, they have read some books and at least think they can train the horse themselves. Because of their flowing manes and tails, I suspect Arabians would be good for this as well.
Well, for what it's worth, there it is.



Ernie

 

[cowboydoc]

Ernie,
Right on all accounts and agree with you. I train and breed roping, cutting, and reining horses so I've got my market. I train them myself so I do pretty good but training for this type of work is typically $500-$1000 a month. Problem is if you have to have some high dollar breeding stock to get the high dollar horses or people won't buy them either.

Just so Rich doesn't get the wrong idea those $1000 horses that turn into $25k ones are like a needle in a haystack. Plus you've got alot of hours and money into even getting one to the track.

You're right you can make money on them but you've pretty much got to be the raiser, trainer, bank etc. all in one or it's mighty tough to turn a buck. You're also right about the 1 out of 10 that really make it. The others are good horses but don't make it to the upper level.

AMEN about a love and hate relationship /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>The small vegetable farmers bring their vegetables into parking lots, etc. on the weekends or specific days of the week and sell them. Nice profit there.</font color=blue>

Nice profit there? That's what I'd heard, too. Some years, I pick up a little pocket change that way, but you won't come close to making "minimum wage." I guess it would depend to a great extent on your location, but the only livestock I've heard of recently that makes money is raising goats, especially Boer goats (if you don't make the mistake of paying a high price for purebred breeding stock).

Bird

 

[cowboydoc]

You're right of course Bird. What I was referring to was that it was something that you at least wouldn't go in the hole on. For farm and ranch businesses I know alot of farmers and ranchers that would take minimum wage. I figured it up about five years ago and I made about 25 cents an hour doing horses after all the bills were paid! But I have alot of land, good horses and cattle and at least I'm not going in the hole. Plus add in that I love it and it's a pretty good deal. But make money, hmmm tough to do that.

 

[Bird]

OK, Richard, I guess we're on the same page./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif A few years ago (1994 to be exact), I saw one of Texas' big ranchers on the TV news one night (Amarillo TV station) when they were talking about cattle prices and he said "You raise cattle for prestige and sheep and goats for money."

Bird

 

[ERNIEB]

<font color=blue>Problem is if you have to have some high dollar breeding stock to get the high dollar horses or people won't buy them either.</font color=blue>
Your right, Richard. These days most Thourghbred breeders use the dosage system. If Your not familar with it it's just a way of giving individual horses numbers, with the hope of predicting the outcome of a mating. It still comes down to what the old breeders use to say. "breed the best to the best, and hope for the best."
The figures you gave for training a roping horse is about the same as a race horse. Or at least for a run of the mill claiming horse.
Pinhooking is very risky. I just mentioned it because it's the only way I've seen that someone became a millionare strictly from horses. At best, a long shot.



Ernie

 

[patrickg]

Just remember the difference between investing and speculating. Following the "contrarian" advice could lead to a higher percentage of profit but I fail to see how the size acreage would permit enough stock to "pay" with exotics (llamas, emus, etc) or even sheep.

You have a minimum of two employees regardless of how small your business is. To make a profit on the low volume you are forced toward high value merchandise (stock). Not what you wanted. I think the boarding idea is a real good start. You don't buy expensive stock. You gain experience dealing with the animals, vet(s), feed store, clients, etc. If later, based on your successful experience and desire to continue with horses, you elect to raise some horses to sell you have gained valuable experience on several areas that caries over into raising and selling. Even the experience with horse owners is preperation for dealing with horse buyers (they are the same people). Doing both boarding and raising/selling is compatible activities and alows for a smooth transition between the two.

Best of luck to you, (carry a significant level of liability insurance)

Patrick

 

[GrantMO]

Rich,

On this subject I'm the novice and my wife is the expert, at least in a couple horse areas. When she is looking at a horse to buy she is always talking about the conformation or making a comment such as "he's a pretty mover." Now, I have an idea what she means by this but I can't see it unless specifically pointed out. What this means is that she can pick a quality horse and if it were left to me I'd come home with a cow-hocked half lame reject. Not really, but you get my point. Even if you don't get into breeding I think it pays to have someone around that can identify a quality horse that will fit your purposes. You meet tons of "experts" among horse people so I'm not quite sure how to find someone who really knows their stuff. A quality vet can certainly check out any horse and he/she may have some people he knows who can advise or Richard might be able to suggest some other ideas.

 

[rf33]

Got to agree with you on all of these issues Doc. Making money on horses is a tough road. I hope that I was not misunderstood in saying that you could make money by raising babies. I really meant the could part... You might also lose money, it depends on many factors, quite a few of which are outside of your control. Boarding is also quite a pain, as you have to allow other people access to your place, and have to take care of horses which are not your own. I was only trying to point out the possibilities as to horses. I think that the other option which was offered of buying babies and putting some training into them and trying to sell them at a markup is really not as viable for a horse newbie.


rf33

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