What do you do when you have become really attached to your sale project?????

[cosmos mom]

I took my gelding's full sister in about 8 months ago as some of you might remember. She's really become a little jem! In some ways, she's a much nicer ride than Cosmo (I'm whispering so that he can't hear that!). I know it's time to move her along...mostly because my dear husband finally said "It's time to move her along", but I really feel like she is mine now...I'm having a hard time comitting to putting her on the market. She would make an awesome pony clubbers mount- or really a mount for anyone with a bit of experience (she's easy, but a little sensative!), but I am still so concerned that she go to the right home. You hear so many horror stories. How do you all cope with this? It think it's harder for me with her because she's Cossy's sister and I hate splitting them up. Please talk some sense into me before I end up in the poor house!!!!

[Rienzi]

Half-lease or barn lease?

[mjrtango93]

Well if you have to sell one, decide which one you like more and keep it. Or put them both on the market and see who sells. I always have a side horse for sale and my main horse, but I can't really keep 2 full time. Basically I decide who I like more and if they are a better match for what I want to do they get to stay. I have put everything up for sale before and whatever doesn't sell I keep (granted I liked them all, and they were equally talented but sometimes looks sell to new owners). It hard when you get attached to them, but what else can you do until you win the lottery and can keep them all?

[Jleegriffith]

People ask me this all the time as I have had a few CANTER horses with me for retraining for almost a year. I actually just sold one and I can part with him because I found the perfect home which is all that I ever care about. I will tell you if something does not feel right then I trust my gut instinct but otherwise my feelings are never hurt and I am not sad to see them go when I know the home is right and it means money to fund my showing and personal horses:lol:

Can't say I will not be sad when I sell the horse I am hunting. It is amazing to watch these horses transform themselves from horses that only knew how to race to rocking in their new careers. He is an amazing hunt horse and perhaps what I enjoy about him the most is there is no drama involved. I can actually ride and not think about what I am doing just enjoy myself. I ride a lot of young horses so finding a reliable horse to hunt has made me so happy this dreary winter. I look forward to Sunday's and he just turned into an overall awesome horse. I develop such a partnership with them but I will know when that right person comes along and when they do they will appreciate him as much as I do and it will all be just fine.

Almost all the horses I sell are sold within a 3hr range of where I live and most of the buyers all keep in contact so I never feel like I lose contact with the horses I sell so maybe that makes it easier.

One word of advice would be to write up good contracts and be careful trusting people. Contract are everything when it comes to making sure your horse ends up in the right home and you are protected.

If she really is all that perhaps consider selling one of your's? I have not yet sold one of mine to buy keep my resale projects but I have been tempted. Luckily, most of them are owned by CANTER so I feel obligated to do the job of selling them and not hoarding them all for myself:lol:

[bigbaytb]

yeh...i bought an ottb to resale when my yearling grew up...my yearling is coming 5 and my resale horse has been around for 3 years and not going anywhere. he turned out to be the "it" horse as much as my yearling..so ..there you have it....ugh!:lol: i'm keeping both...hope to do a partial lease on one though...so..in my words..keep em if you can afford it...

[tidy rabbit]

I have one that I am very attached to. I have one that I'm not attached to at all. It's funny how one can totally capture your heart and another doesn't do it for you at all.

If you have to sell one, why not sell Cosmo? Or, worse yet, why not keep them both!????

I know, that's not helping at all is it?

[basil's mom]

I have room for only 2 horses at my barn. One must always be for sale. The money I make off of the sale horse pays for the other horse and the next one. I think of my sale horses like kids going off to college. You give them the best skill you can then let them go. If I had kept my first sale horse there would be several horses that didn't get a chance at another life. If I keep the one I have now that means untold horses that are just waiting for someone to give them the skills to do another job will not get that chance. What I am saying is that when you sell your horse you will be opening a door for another one who just needs a chance.

[cosmos mom]

I have one that I am very attached to. I have one that I'm not attached to at all. It's funny how one can totally capture your heart and another doesn't do it for you at all.

If you have to sell one, why not sell Cosmo? Or, worse yet, why not keep them both!????

I know, that's not helping at all is it?

The problem is that BOTH of them captured my heart!!! I don't think I'd ever sell The Cos- he's my guy. He'll be mine till he dies. The problem is that I see so much of him in the mare (well, they are full siblings!). I really wish someone came a long to lease her, but right now I just don't know of anyone interested in a substantial lease. Financially, I just cant keep both and do either one of them any justice in terms of competition, lessons clinics...I guess I know what I should do, I'm just really sad about it :(

[yellowbritches]

Keep it. :lol:

Unfortunately, that's the truth when it comes to Vernon. However, it is easier for me to sell Paco, who I love dearly, because I have goals, and on paper, Vernon has all the pieces needed to make those goals...Paco, as nice as he is and as nice as he can be, is missing some of the pieces I consider most important. It is still REALLY hard, though, for me to sell either one (I actually did really, really well with being realistic about Vernon for a very long time, it was actually the boss who finally verbalized what we'd both been thinking about).

Having met Cosmo and his sister, even though it was many years ago and they were both such babies, I can totally see being attached to both! You can always list both of them (:eek:), and see which one sells first, and consider it "fate" or whatever when it works out however it works out.

[CookiePony]

I saw this coming when you got her... she is such a little cutie pie and I was so happy you got both siblings. :sadsmile:

You could always advertise her and be very picky about who she goes to-- your husband might find it hard to argue with when you say you have a bad feeling about a particular home. Plus the market seems slow right now anyway. I don't know about others, but it was very slow for me to sell my horse last summer (I wound up practically giving him away to a good home) and my trainer has a nice one in the barn right now that is advertised but has been tried once in four months.

So she can still be your "sale project" but take a looooong time to sell.

I know, maybe this isn't helping. FWIW.

[2869]

I have been really lucky to stay in touch w/every one of my horses that I sold. I don't have any great advice except for go w/your gut when you meet the people and keep in touch. Most buyers usually love to share photos, videos, stories etc. (that I have found anyway).

[webmistress32]

my child and I brought in a sale project last spring and now she won't part with him.

she's put two seasons of eventing and pony club into him and now that she's 16 it makes no sense to force her to start over.

he's come along very nicely and truth be told he's worth more to us in replacement cost than she'll be able to sell him for in this market.

so of course he's staying.

my husband is not surprised any more when he comes home from work one day and "hey what's that horse out in our pasture? do we have *another* horse??"

... oops ...


adding: if the sale horse is an App then I suggest you must keep her ... Appys are to be enjoyed not sold! :-D

[tuppysmom]

and then we have a little cry.

I Have been going to buy new individual halter plates with the name of each horse that we have owned over the last 25 years and mount them on a wall in the barn. I think that would be nice.

[pony grandma]

I have been going to buy new individual halter plates with the name of each horse that we have owned over the last 25 years and mount them on a wall in the barn. I think that would be nice.

I've wanted to do that very thing also. I have quite a few of the name plates collected and want to mount them on some pieces of old barn wood and then hang them with old fencing wire. The names without plates I think that I may burn the names into the wood. And it's shocking to do the tally! So many personalities. I miss them all.

OP I feel your pain. I did a breed two/sell one to keep one deal and now we have fallen for the both of them. One's my daughter's lifetime dream and the other is Daddy's girl (that helps immensely! :D).

What plans if you do sell, bring in another as the next project?

[cosmos mom]

What plans if you do sell, bring in another as the next project?

No- I'll just compete Cosmo and put some money in the bank. When I took Nibbles, It was because she was Cosmo's full sister- a nine year old with no job. I was afraid of where she would end up, so I took her with the intention of giving her a job and moving her along- I pay full board on both horses, so I guess the term "sale project" isn't really true, since I'll spend more money than I could make when all is said and done!.

[WakeRider]

for me, i just have to look at my bank account :eek:

But when I sell horses, I include in the contract that I must be contacted first if the horse is ever to be sold again (this way I have first offer).

It will be very hard, but when you find the right home (listen to that gut!), you'll know that you are doing the right thing!

[chism]

Wait...that's why I have seven horses, don't listen to me. ;)

[scubed]

Many good homes are happy to keep in touch with you. Despite the fact that I sold him and then he has been sold again, I am in touch with and keep the woman I bought him from informed about the OTTB I bought in 1999. I think it is really fun to watch the horse that you started and gave the chance go on to do great things with someone who really appreciates them. So, hold out for a good home, but if you are careful (buyback clause, ask for continuing contact), you should be able to feel really good about her future (and your financial status).

[webmistress32]

that's why I have seven horses, don't listen to me.

I have the same problem. don't listen to me, either.

[tidy rabbit]

and then we have a little cry.

I Have been going to buy new individual halter plates with the name of each horse that we have owned over the last 25 years and mount them on a wall in the barn. I think that would be nice.


Oh! I like that idea. I was wondering what to do with halter plates. THANKS!

[ss3777]

raising hand slowly...........another guilty mommie. I have been helping my father in law with his sale project. Let`s just say I have a new appreciation for his talents and oops, his ad might have expired ;)

We try and kid ourselves, if the right rider.............blah blah blah

My problem is he keeps getting better!!!!!!!

Good luck!!

[GAEventer]

I purchased my "dream pony" in October of '07. When I went to pick her up her owner asked if I'd like to take "big brother" along as a training/sale project. Guess who STILL has, and now owns, big brother?! ...ME :D ! Actually, I kinda of convinced my mother that he's perfect as her trail pony, so she "bought" him-I just ride him all the time!

Seriously though, if you like the mare better than the gelding, I'd keep her and sell him on. I've had to sell a number of my horses, sometimes in cases where I had no choice but to sell them because of finances. I've sold most of them to pony clubbers and young event riders; not one of them has been sold on, and I get to hear lots of wonderful updates on their progress. Don't be afraid to be picky, and take your time, the right person will come along.

[SisterToSoreFoot]

I feel myself sliding into that spot with the Morgan I'm working with now. I am getting really attached, and we are starting to click. In my case, I have no ability to support a horse, so I need to cope with this. I try to think of how happy he could make someone else and how happy I could make another horse. So we'd go from one happy horse and one happy rider to two happy riders and two happy horses. Simple math. I know another horse could make me happy and I know for sure this little Morgan will be someone's dream.

[RoeVee]

add me to the list of the ones not to follow - I put my sale horse ad on 'dreamhorse' - got about 6 calls. Not a SINGLE person got to ride my 'sale' horse - not a single person was a good fit. what are the chances? My husband rolled his eyes - we now have 3 horses. But, I don't get to get anymore 'sale projects'.

I don't know how people protect themselves from not getting too attached. I guess a really strong end goal would help.

[Milocalwinnings]

Put her on the market but subtley.... and if she doesn't sell say "see honey, I've markete her and the market just sucks right now. Maybe we'll keep her til spring:winkgrin:"


I know how you feel though-you really just have to pick which one is "the one" more.

3 years ago I bought an anglo-hanoverian as a project horse. I had a TB/QH gelding at the time as well. The 3 year old was not fully started yet (I sat on her and got her to walk but steering was not good), the TB/QH was out for a previous injury. I had thought he was "the one" and was in love. I specifically bought the anglo-hano. because I *didn't* like her when went to look at her and I figured, hey... if I buy the horse that I personally don't like but is really marketable, I won't get attached! WRONG!!! Time went on and I started working with her more and more and found out how very wrong I had been. She was "the one". Perfectly. She'd do anything for me, was very athletic etc... I loved her. My BO who initially loved her when we went to look at her ended up not liking her so much because she had a "kiss my a$$ attitude" at times- but I still adored this mare. She became very sick and I had to do alot of treatment type things with her and I realized then how much more I liked her than my gelding. I actually told my parents that if she made it, I was going to keep her and that if I couldn't keep them both then I'd sell my gelding. She unfortunately never made it so I never did get to see how she'd progress much undersaddle (I had her for 4 months and did a lot of groundwork with her since she was still growing) but she was the type that would kick butt in anything. Fabulous dressage horse and I could totally see us flying around an XC course having a blast.:sadsmile:

[Flying Hippotamus]

I got a soon to be 5 yo OTTB filly(via COTH of course) for a sale project and wow she is just special. And she is a cousin of my 11 yo gelding. My gelding, Viggo, can be a total pain in the butt, like he seriously has mental problems. When we go to a shows people stop and watch us because, well, we ain't boring. But I've learned to work around things with him and he is just an incredible mover. I dream his canter as if I am part of him. But this filly she is sooo green but so willing and so damn sensible. Everytime I get off her I tell Viggo he should be ashamed of himself. We put her through a jumping shoot and man she just figured it out so quick; went from tripping thru to looking like an equitation horse in just 4 tries. I joked if she can go for a hunter, her price just doubled. But I don't want her to be a hunter waaaa...
And then well the filly and I had a bonding experience together. I will have to write the whole story out sometime but we were hit by a car. So I guess I just have to find the right person for her then maybe I could sell. Also I keep telling myself if I sell her I would use the money for one of those adult camps, like the Philip Dutton one since it's close by. Man, sell my soul for a week of heaven...

[NancyM]

When you put a REALLY nice one, one that you have formed a special relationship with, one who goes the extra mile for you when you just think it, up for sale, you are doing someone else a favour. When the right person comes along, and recognises the quality of the horse, you are allowed to have a tear or so, for your loss of such a special horse. It is a special horse because of the work you have done with it, you have "created", shown the horse "the way" to salvation and it's future. The horse's future is separate from your own. There is no guarantee that either of you will be happy, healthy and well cared for forever, no matter what you choose to do now. But you make the best decisions you can, given your situation at the time. Put both horses up for sale, keep the one that does not sell, if you must sell one. The person who buys one of them will be thankful for your lack of selfishness by selling them the horse of their dreams.