Finachal help

[shadowsmystictopaz]

I have a small herd of about 5 miniaature horses but would like to have morem for a breeding program for my horses. they would be breed for show and also for future breeding stallions or mares. right now i have about 3 mares and 1 colt. the mares that i have are dilutes and his own mommy so i dont like the idea of breeding him to them. he is only 1 at the moment but i have found a mare I have fallen in love with and i need some finachal help wth the miniature horses. here re my questions.

1. how much money do you spend on buying horses a year?

2. how long did it take for you to get the herd you have?

3. how did you afford the horses you bought?

If any of you can anser those questions i can write it down for my mom as i am trying to do research on how much to spend a year on horses and how long it takes for a breeding program to take off. thanks for your help.

 

[Marty]

1. how much money do you spend on buying horses a year?

The least expensive horse in my barn was $1,000. The rest were higher.



2. how long did it take for you to get the herd you have?

6 years. Then there was some tweaking to do, subtracting horses that I didn't want to breed.



3. how did you afford the horses you bought?

I saved and budget very well. I also hit the lottery a few times.



how long it takes for a breeding program to take off.

I don't know. I'm still waiting. Probably never if you think you'll make a profit.

 

[susanne]

Others have said it better, so I've deleted my comments.

 

[Miniequine]

KArla..... :bgrin I couldn't have said it better!

Sounds to me like you are doing research and trying

to learn. That is great!

)

1. how much money do you spend on buying horses a year?

I haven't bought a horse in almost 2 years!! YEa! Mine have produced 2 babies!

2. how long did it take for you to get the herd you have?

5 years ~ and it is not even close to my 'dream' herd! LOL

3. how did you afford the horses you bought?

I still can't justify those expenses! Just kidding... they bring lots of JOY :bgrin

Saved up for what I wanted.

 

[Devon]

Im not a breeder but it seems I got a crazy deal on my horse lol. Everyones least expensive is 1000.

 

[Jill]

A lot of how much it costs to get quality horses depends on how knowledgable you are about what to look for and knowing where to look. I've been into minis since 1998 and my purchase prices have been across the board. I will say that the horse I actually spent the most on to purchase is NOT my best horse. I have bought some for half her price and they are better horses. I've been lucky and when I've decided to sell a certain horse, I've always gotten more than I paid.

As to how do people afford to have horses, and having them / maintaining them is the biggest expense -- NOT the purchase price, I own a financial planning practice and work my butt off as a money manager to support myself and my hobby. Once we start having our foals for sale (2008), it's my hope that the sale of the foals will offset the expenses of the breeding horses. I sure don't plan to have it support me and no plans to "quit my day job."

 

[tracerace]

I waited from age 18 to age 41. I had to go to college, work, get married, work, have babies-stay home, work some more, and then work some more, raise the kids, work some more, and then could finally afford horses. Only took 23 years, and I only have 5. Pretty good, don't you think?

:

:new_rofl:

I afford my 3 horses (doesn't matter the size BTW, they all cost the same to maintain) by boardinng 6 to 7 MORE in full care for other people. Breeding incurs a whole ifferent set of concerns, risks and costs, so I haven't bred a horse yet (some day). But saying that...I am mucking, shoveling, exercising, training and basically being a slave so I can keep the 3 horses that I have. It' not glamorous, but thats how I do it!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

How do I afford them??

Well I do not eat as well as the horses or the dogs- they have a sensible well balanced diet- they also eat before I do!!

I have had an outlay in the last two years of over $15,000.00 buying in three stallions- I do not buy mares.

Before that I had not bought a horse in ten years and I hope to goodness that I never have to buy another as I cannot afford it!!

Seriously, I am looking probably to "tweak" the stallion side- not least of all because Rabbit is 28 this year and he is not immortal.

I have to be realistic.

If the Silver Bay Pinto colt works out, great, if not I shall sell him- it is always the males, |I am afraid, that get changed around.

In your situation I would probably be looking at selling the colt and buying in something that is not related- I am not sure what your objection to "dilute" is but I am happy to breed dilutes- maybe you could give us a bit more information- for example, where do you want to be in ten years time|??

How do you think you will get there??

Have you budgeted for show expenses- if you do not show you will not have a ready marketplace for your foals, when they start coming.

All these things need to be taken into consideration.

 

[Suzie]

1. how much money do you spend on buying horses a year?

2. how long did it take for you to get the herd you have?

3. how did you afford the horses you bought?

1. We probably have spent from $3000 to $10,000 on buying horses every year. Some were deals, some we just absolutely wanted so we tightened our belts and did the investing in the higher priced horse. Sometimes you get lucky. We tend to buy in the off seasons when we can negotiate a good deal. I have had people sell me horses at a good price that they had not planned to sell me, once they realized I could and would give them a good home. Make a plan and stick with it.

2. We have been working on it for about 7 years. Started very slow. However, I have waited nearly 52 years to get to this point. Like most, I did school, marriage, career, children and now grandchildren -all came first -cattle, goats, chickens. Now is my time to play. Our goal here is to create that perfect horse and have some fun along the way

3. I invested well in the stock market to get operating cash. We researched the bloodlines we liked and felt we could breed and sell to help support this venture. We will always probably end up in the hole here. This is a labor of love, not a way to pay the mortgage..,,,I have sold horses much too cheaply sometimes because I knew they were going to a great home and that is where I wanted them to go. If you want to be rich, get in the stock market. You can buy and sell there with no emotional attachment-LOL!!!-Not so with these guys.

I had a very wise Irish grandma. She said picture your dream, REALLY SEE IT in your mind's eye and then work like the devil to bring it to life. Words I have lived by and have served me well. Good luck!

 

[Chamomile]

Karla! You are so funny!! I always love reading your posts :bgrin

How much money do you spend on buying horses a year?

Well that all depends!! Usually between 2-3 thousand dollars, and I think I'm getting a great deal!!

How long did it take for you to get the herd you have?

6 years. I have sold all my original horses, except one appaloosa mare, that I love and would keep just for a pet if it came to that

: So in those years I have "started over" three times! Now I don't have a breeding stallion, I just pay stud fees. That way I can ensure that I breed each mare to the right stallion.

How did you afford the horses you bought?

My horses have to pay for themselves. I am married and the mother of two boys and a stay at home mom. My husband works to pay for the house and the family, not MY horses

: So the way I started is I owned big horses, I sold them all and all my big horse tack and used the money to get started in the minis. I train horses to cart in the summer time and make some side money doing that. I also buy horses low and sell high. usually the horses I get are pretty wild and people don't want to take the time to work with them, or they don't have the time. I work with them and sometimes teach them to drive, then sell them! I also trim horse feet on the side, that pays for my grain! Whew! I'm a busy busy bee.

 

[Fred]

1. I spent maybe a thousand dollars this year and I really don't need any more horses.

2. I am really lucky because it only took me a few years to get the breeding horses I truly want. I am

very very picky and the horses I have MUST first prove themselves in the show ring before I breed

them.

3. Some of the horses I paid on time payments, some I could pay outright and several I worked off {I am

a farrier}. The other thing is I worked for a breeding farm as the farm manager for many years, and I

sold my big horse to pay for the first year I went to Nationals. I asked a lot of questions, watched a

lot of people and make very sure I handle my horses every day. I have :new_shocked: many years

of experience with horses and I still learn new things every day when I stop learning its time to quit.

 

[shadowsmystictopaz]

before i start typing all of this let me eplane that i might get emotinal because my horses mean alot to me and i want to make something out of them.

First of all in the next year i want to get at leased maybe 2-4 more mares and maybe 5 stallions. show the horses that can be shown and get the bares breed. next year after that buy another batch of ares all the mares will be breeding quality and have maybe a show record before getting retired to breed. next year after that same amount of mares and sell a couple babies. i want to keep going at that pace till i have about 20 or 30 mares. the mares will be out of the best breed stallions i can think of and well worth the money i payed for them. what i want is to get a herd that will be appeling to those who might be driving by or might want to buy. right now we habve only 5 of them and barly anyone comes by to come see them. so let me just say that i want my breeding herd to be noticed i want what i have done with them noticed! we live on ten acers and we have the miniature horses out in the pastures during the day so people do sometimes get to see them but they dont really care much it seems like. I look up to some of the people i have meet on lil beginnings let me just name a few. Lost Spoke with dawn and tommy they have a herd i would love to have.

Heather from mulligans run fantastic herd. I also look up to suzy hooper as she is my trainer and helps me with things. i have heard some of your guyes storys about people stoping in there tracks to look at your horses because they see something thats beautiful to look at. it i had any mare or syud that made people do that in my area i would be happy. if i cant do that soon i feel as if i have failed my eforts to fullfill my needs for my horses. for a long time i have felt the need to add more to the herd but since my mom is the one in charge i havent gotten anywhere with that. I know i need to do photo shoots and do adss in the papers and in the miniature horse magazines and i know what i need to do its just she needs to agree and its hard when she doesnt. my dream is to be the best breeder in my area that owns miniature horses. I want to be noticed because thats something I have wanted since the beginning with the miniature horses. I hope you dont mind reading this all i just am expressing what i feel and it makes me feel better in doing so.

 

[kaykay]

I dont think you need to have 20-30 mares to have a farm with a great reputation! My advise is to always go slow and always be thinking ahead 5 years. Buy the absolute best horses you can and promote them every where you go. Really research bloodlines and which ones do best in driving. Also you have to decide what YOU like.

5 stallions is ALOT. That alone could be a huge headache. Remember you can always send mares out to other stallions to be bred and bring in new bloodlines.

Ive only been doing this 6 years and I only have a total of 14 horses. One is a stallion co owned with another farm. I dont ever want more horses then what i can personally lay hands on everyday and do justice to.

Its not the number of horses that count its the quality and the quality you can produce.

go slow and you wont be sorry!

 

[shadowsmystictopaz]

i understand what your saying kay and thanks for that. I dont really like having to send my mares off to outside stallions because you might not know nough about them to know for sure they are worth breeding. i will try my best to go slow and do what i can but i really want things to start going soon so i can feel like i have done something that will fullfill my needs and my horses.

 

[Fred]

Kay is absolutely right , listen to her. ONE stallion is more than enough especially if you are starting out. The farm I worked for had upwards of forty horses at a time, but usually only one stallion. As for driving horses. Better go and watch a few shows and clinics and learn before you jump in. Learn for yourself about movement instead of taking someones word for it. I am fortunate, I know what good movement is but that is because it is part of my job as a farrier. Linda B

 

[stormo41]

I think you should listen to Kay and Linda B. You should start out slow, I would also love to be the best, most well knowen breeder for my area but you know how many horses I own right now? None! I did have one horse about 4...5? years ago but I had to sell him. I know what you mean when you say you have to fullfil a need for you and your horses but turst me when you take your time and do the mental work of reshearch and the phycial labour of a job that earns you the money to buy horses and their pay for their care it is much more fullfiling then rushing.

 

[shadowsmystictopaz]

your very right and thanks for the information. I am disabled i have williams syndrome and so getting a job might be hard for me. if its something i can do in my own home im up for it. i will give my colt and filly a chance in the show ring and breed the colt when he is 3 and when the filly is 3 i will retire her and make her a broodmare as well. one thing i know is that i need to also figure out on what to do with the big horses to. i could sell them to have some money to get another horse but mom is attached to the qh and welsh pony so we havennt sold them. the welsh pony used to be a driving horse but had a crash and has been flighty since. the mare is old has one bad leg and i havent ridden her in a long time so all they do right now is go out to the pasture and stay in there stalls at night. they cou;d be used somewhere and i know that if my mom sells them maybe ift would fix some of the problems. we wont be having any babies this year my mare lost the foal so i am devastated about that so i wont have a baby to sell at all this year. that is unless i could get the mare that i saw recently at double diamond and have her foal out the baby here. these are ideas that i thought up myself but i dont know if they would work.

 

[Lisa Strass]

1. how much money do you spend on buying horses a year?

2. how long did it take for you to get the herd you have?

3. how did you afford the horses you bought?

Not to completely discourage you, but it is extremely hard to make money with horses. I have yet to do it!

1. The amount we spend purchasing horses varies greatly.

2. I got my first miniature horse in 1989 when I was in 8th grade, so I've been building my herd for 18 years. It took me 15 years to actually own a Halter National Champion.

3. My job is what pays for the horses. I had to take a "time-out" from the horses to go to college and worked full-time as a Chemical Engineer for two years before I was able to get back into the horses.

I'm very proud of the herd I've built, but it only consists of 3 stallions, and I really don't have enough mares to do those 3 justice.

I would encourage you to reevaluate your goals. You can do a lot with just a handful of horses. Concentrate on learning all you can, showing the horses you have to their best, and watching for just the right horse to come along. I also think it is worth spending money for a stud fee on a truly National Caliber stallion.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Ok here is my time to be totally brutally honest...

If I had it to do all over again.. I would not have a breeding farm, I have spent thousands on horses just purchasing my most expensive horse (a mare) at Nationals this year.(who I LOVE and am SO PROUD OF)

Truth be told.. I bought into the hmm perhaps I can get them to at least pay for themselves years back when i started.

Truth is when I started adding up vet bills, feed bills, show expenses, farrier bills, promotion, and the hours put into them daily- I wasnt even breaking even - even when selling all my foals for decent money.

Now most of that is due to the fact that as I was in it more and learned more I purchased higher end horses and knew what I wanted and where I wanted to go (except the industry is changing pretty darn fast and improving and it is hard to keep up) I have had as many as 25+ horses and now currently have 12 of those 3 are geldings

We have experienced the severe heart break of losing foals, losing mares as well as of course the joy when it goes well.

Dont get me wrong I think that having and breeding mares and the things we have learned and gained and the sorrow has all been wonderful for my family and all huge life lessons for us. however I think if i could start all over again I would have a few show geldings and call it good.

One or 2 bad years can sure set you back alot when you are looking at making money. Fact is while I am proud of the foals I have produced and how they are improving year after year. I am proud of the fact that my horses can and have held there own at Nationals I am proud of the fact that I am heading in the right direction. I am proud of the fact that many that I have respected and admired have taken notice and told me hey .. you are on the right road you are doing good- However I am also very aware of the fact that there are SO MANY that are much more experienced, so many years ahead of me and truly not only the pioneers of the breed but those that are leading the change and improvement as well.

I do feel I am a small part of that but I have to openly admit that I am not at there level and honestly dont have the drive and edge to get there. I dont have the knowledge they do even after 10 years - I have not yet after 10+ years paid my dues. There is really no short cut there is ways to slide ahead a few spots but in the long run we all have to pay our dues

I enjoy my horses I love when horses we have bred go on to do well for there new owners be it in the breeding shed, the breed show ring or the ADS show ring. However I am not motivated or driven enough to have a barn full of National champion horses nor to try and "make people think" every horse I have will be that or get there.(that IMO is a huge part of being a successful meaning money making breeding farm)Not saying it is a bad thing heck it is all part of the marketing game.

Instead when looking at my horses I can see there pros and cons in what they are as they sit and in who they are and how they do there jobs. I love the horses that show, the horses that are great consistent broodmares and those that are great at just hanging out and being part of the family

I have invested so much time and money and sweat and tears (and yes smiles and laughter) to get where I am today that I just cant stop right now. I cant stop when I am on the right road and headed in the right direction-

but none of that changes the fact that if I could rewind the clock..... I would have a few geldings to show and enjoy and leave the breeding and marketing to others.

So there ya have it a not so late night confession

 

[ponyboi09]

I have a small herd of about 5 miniaature horses but would like to have morem for a breeding program for my horses. they would be breed for show and also for future breeding stallions or mares. right now i have about 3 mares and 1 colt. the mares that i have are dilutes and his own mommy so i dont like the idea of breeding him to them. he is only 1 at the moment but i have found a mare I have fallen in love with and i need some finachal help wth the miniature horses. here re my questions.

1. how much money do you spend on buying horses a year?

2. how long did it take for you to get the herd you have?

3. how did you afford the horses you bought?

If any of you can anser those questions i can write it down for my mom as i am trying to do research on how much to spend a year on horses and how long it takes for a breeding program to take off. thanks for your help.

1. Ha, Well, i dont have a yearly budget. My Step-dad says i cant buy another one for a while. haha. But I currently own 5 minis, and my Step-sister has a gelding. So total of 6. I have spent a total of 7,500 on just my five horses. Oh, and our total profit....well i think we made like $40 once at a fun show. :bgrin

: I dont regret any of my purchases, i feel all of my horses were deals they truely are probably worth more than what we bought them for. Budgeting is a great idea, but the "best quality" horses dont cost the most money, it is all about knowing what u are looking for. So, i would set out a plan of what you think you need to compliment your breeding program.

2. Well, we started in the summer of '04. So i guess about 2 and half years. I am also trying to start a SMALL breeding program. We currently have one stallion, three mares (two are due soon), and two geldings. I am looking to add maybe one or two more mares and then i would be satisfied with producing about 5 babies a year.

3. Well, im 16 and i really did purchase all of my horses on my own. I have worked since I turned 15, and up until i purchased my first horses, i had never spent my Christmas money. haha

:

Will