>>> It makes me angry when people have a horse with complex issues, they ask >>> for the amount they paid for the horse (before it was ruined by them) >>> but then they stress it needs to go to a good home only. Seems like an >>> oxymoron to me.
Boy, you got that right. I think I said this before, but it's probably worth repeating. If what you described about this mare is right $1000 COULD be a reasonable price for her... and for some people, she could prove to be a bargain. If she were closer, I'd go look at her. Frankly, I'd much rather have one that's unstarted under saddle than one that's had hard or rough training, or other bad riding-related experiences, so the fact that she's not started might even be a plus in a case like this. I'm not writing this up to discourage anyone from adopting a problem/project horse. I get more joy from this than from anything I've ever done, and I'm considering upping the ante for my next project. I would ENCOURAGE anyone who feels drawn to this to do it. Just be aware that it can get expensive, and there are no guarantees. No guarantees at all... I am really writing this to the owners and breeders who don't understand how much it costs to rehab/rescue a horse, and how much time and effort. It's just a harsh reality right now, that hauling is more expensive than ever. Just one case study, for those who haven't taken a project horse before from another part of the country: a year or two ago, I could have a horse hauled to NC from Southern California for maybe $900-1200 - I can't remember exactly and the price was always less per horse if I had two or more hauled at a time. Now, I expect it would be at least $2000 - not sure but that's close enough. I've never had one hauled from Oregon or Washington, but that would be a little more. Ok, if no one noticed this halter injury, then that tells me that the mare 1) hasn't had her shots lately. 2) She hasn't had her teeth done, and 3) her feet haven't been trimmed in a while and 4)she probably hasn't been wormed in a while...and maybe none of the these things have ever been attended to. By the time I paid to have her teeth done, the initial series of WNV, EEE, WEE shots, plus rabies, etc., plus a general health checkup, I'd expect a vet/teeth bill of maybe $400-500, but any problem could push that way up. And heaven help us if there were damage/disease from the lack of shots, lack of wormings, etc. She MIGHT be fine. There's a good chance she's fine...but there's a real chance she's not. Ask Janice... So far: $1000 for the horse, $2000 for hauling, $100 or so for the Coggins and health certificate and $500 for the other vet work - no x-rays or lab work, just routine stuff. Add in another $50-60 for worming, and farrier - assuming that she'd stand for the farrier. There's $3500-3800. Assuming that vet bill got her up to date on general health, I still have an unstarted horse, with serious headshy issues, and maybe other issues that we didn't bank on, but if we're lucky, she's healthy and up to date. I'm pretty confident I can work through the head issues, but how many people are willing to, even if they are able to? And how long will it take? One thing we've talked about a lot on this list is the importance of giving horses time to settle into their new homes. If I got that mare, I'd plan on giving her at least three months off, maybe much more, with only the most passive of "daily handling" type training. But, I'd still have to buy hay for her, get her feet trimmed, etc.during her decompression period. I generally do a lot of our pre-saddling training (although not so much this year, with my flu, pneumonia and asthma issues) so I don't have to pay for ALL the initial towards-saddling training. I'd be very surprised if she were ready (REALLY ready) to start towards saddle training in less than six months. It MIGHT be less time, or it could be much longer. In the meantime, the hay, farrier and wormings are still ongoing, so probably another $500 has clicked away. I'm over $4000 now, assuming I can do all the training/rehabbing to this point. And I still don't have a "started" horse. What do professional trainers charge now, for those who don't feel qualified to start horses themselves? Maybe $500-1000 per month generally? I'm sure that varies regionally, but I doubt many people are as lucky as I am, in that I can get professional help on a per-session basis as needed. Most people would need to add, what...? $1000 for a professional to even start a horse? Those of us who do it ourselves (at least partly) can "save" that money or part of it, but most of us are slower than professionals...and as the time is ticking away, that horse is still eating hay. Seriously, even doing as much as I do myself, I'd probably have at least $4500 in this so-called $1000 horse by the time she was barely started under saddle, and that could easily be $1000 more. And I'm assuming that my existing saddles and tack work - someone with fewer horses might have to add in another $1000-1500 for tack. Of course, that can be an expense with any horse, but if the horse has no prior baggage, the chances of actually using that tack is much higher. Ouch. Ok, the horse is finally started under saddle, but still very green...and that horse will never forget the basis for her initial headshyness - she may forgive, but she won't forget. And, I'm assuming that no one made any misjudgments in the horse's readiness for progression at any point, so that there are no human injuries. That's another possibility. So there's potential for medical bills, lost time from work, and maybe having to pay someone to take care of other responsibilities. If this horse were in my neighborhood, this initially $1000, but in-reality-$4500-5500 horse would cost me might cost me $2000-3000 less, and if I could see her in person and spend a little time with her, I'd have a better idea of the gamble I'd be taking. Living where I do, I'd have to take a deep breath and gamble...or pass on her. I've done that a few times, and I've never lost...but if I keep doing this, the odds will eventually catch me. Most people remember in detail how painfully the odds caught Janice two years ago. I didn't write this up to discourage anyone from adopting a problem/project horse. I get more joy from this than from anything I've ever gotten from about anything else, and I'm considering upping the ante for my next project. I can't put a price on that wonderful feeling of satisfaction when I see some progress. I would ENCOURAGE anyone who feels drawn to this to do it. Just be aware that it can get expensive, and there are no guarantees. Karen Thomas, NC
