Young horse training is a difficult thing for many people to really grasp. It seems pretty straightforward, yet so much damage can be done by a trainer rushing a young horse through a program. We see lots of horses that "allowed" things to happen to them until one day it all built up to a boiling point and they "suddenly" bolted/bucked/reared/etc. These things don't "suddenly" happen but are a culmination of horses "putting up" with our requests until they couldn't cope anymore. We work on teaching the horses to try and that as long as they're always willing to try, we will help them understand and cope. Naturally this is easier on a young horse but we have worked a lot with "problem" horses over the years to give them a second chance with solid training. Good training isn't cheap and it isn't fast, but the enjoyment for both horse and rider is priceless!
We are now offering The Horse Project by CSF to highlight our "start/restart" program for horses of a difference background. While we are technically colt starting, we treat each horse as an individual and systematically work them through the training steps towards being an excellent companion and riding mount that's up for anything. This is anything but "breaking" the horses and is a truly remarkable system that results in a confident, happy, and safer mount.
We are now offering The Horse Project by CSF to highlight our "start/restart" program for horses of a difference background. While we are technically colt starting, we treat each horse as an individual and systematically work them through the training steps towards being an excellent companion and riding mount that's up for anything. This is anything but "breaking" the horses and is a truly remarkable system that results in a confident, happy, and safer mount.
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Level 1 Horse
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What is The Horse Project By CSF?
Quite simply, it is a sales program that our farm offers for those with a smaller budget. While our personal focus is on chasing FEI level dressage accolades, we realize that may not be the goal for everyone. Dressage is an excellent foundation for all horses though and our project horses benefit greatly from this training. Similarly we realize how confusing and off putting the search for a good solid lower level horse can be whether going about it with an agent or on your own. You want something safe, you want something you can enjoy, and you want something that will help you chase your amateur dreams of lower level dressage, eventing, jumpers, hunters, or reining. But mostly, you want something you can love, be safe around, and go on meaningful hacks. That's why we love horses, right?
Why Do You Do It?
In 1993, our head trainer Beth bought her first horse. With her budget, she could only afford a horse from a local horse trader. While the horse had several training and behavioral issues, she learned to "repair" those issues and did eventing and endurance with that horse. When she went to college, Beth sold that horse as a horse that was schooling Preliminary eventing and the ideal of buying horses down on their luck and reselling them was born. Beth has over 25 years of experience in working with problem horses. Her "day job" for the past 15 years has had her working annually with horses that are bound for Mexico and she likes to make a difference to a few promising horses when she can. After hours, she's been working with project horses continuously.
Currently we have 5 working students that learn the training program and help with our project horses from start to FEI levels under Beth's watchful eyes. We enjoy filling in training holes, rehabbing horses that normally would have fallen between the cracks, and helping people realize their dream horse doesn't necessarily need to be a $30,000 warmblood in order to be successful in their sport and safe at home. What do You Do In Rehabbing/Retraining?
First we address any health concerns the horses need when they come to us. They are quarantined and placed on our feeding regiment before seeing our farrier and veterinarian. All horses go through a patient but thorough restarting program to assess their issues and repair them as needed. From there, we work on advanced saddle work with the goal of being proficient at 1st level dressage and jumping 2'6" in most cases. A reining foundations program is also available for clients. We alter these training goals depending on the horse's training goals and resale projections. Because we do not take on boarders, all horses in The Horse Project at CSF are treated as our own and enjoy the same treatment as our FEI level horses.
How Do I Get a Horse Project Horse?
There are two ways to get a wonderful Horse Project graduate.
The most common way is to purchase one of our horses on the "For Sale" link. Any of our horses that have been through our rehab/restart program and their current achievements are listed on their pages. Another way to get a Horse Project horse is to purchase a horse in development but already in our possession. These are horses that we have selected for our program and are currently working with. They're not ready to leave our training program just yet, but their eta and pricing will be listed under their listing so you can see the path that they are on. If you get a horse this way, we will tailor our program some to fit your specific basic goals depending on where the horse is in the program. You will be able to meet the horse and get updates once purchased until the pick up date. Finally, we have contacts all over the country for horses that are available as possible projects but it's just not feasible for us to act on all of them. The ones that CSF personally owns have to fit a specific "type" considering our general buyer's market, however we have no problem with finding you the horse of your dreams and keeping it in your price range. Once you contact us, we will figure out what type of horse, what skills, and what price range you are comfortable with. Obviously a bay thoroughbred gelding or mare between 15.2-16.2 hands and 8-15 years old will be easier for us to find in a lower price range than a 16.3 hand 6 year old Hanoverian gelding performing 3rd level dressage at the same price point. This program only works if you are willing to be flexible with some items. We aim to be as transparent about the process as possible so we request that clients are up front with their wishes and abilities but remain flexible with what we find. I Want CSF to Find me a Horse Project Horse! How Do We Get Started?
If it's cheap, it won't be sound.
If it's sound, it won't be cheap. If it's trained, it won't be cheap. If it's cheap, it won't be trained. And so on... Our decades of experience and our rehab program flesh out the soundness and any issues with the horses that we can readily find. Most of the "Amateur Ready" prospect horses are not normally able to have pre purchase exams prior to purchase so there is an element of chance in purchasing horses this way. We have had an extremely good rate of horses that are sound/sane by working with sellers that are up front as well as working with our veterinary partner and local veterinarian. We can provide references to either of these professionals to help ease your mind on the types of horses we do and how quickly they change in the program. You are also welcome to call, FaceTime, or visit us by appointment to talk more about our program, staff, and what you're hoping for in a horse. The goal is a pleasant transaction for us and the client - our goal is happy horses and happy people. Once we are in agreement on what you need training wise, we can get to the fun part: describing your ideal horse! Typically we ask for 1-3 "ideals" and then 2-3 more "I'd likes." Again, if you're looking for a bay gelding 15-16hands tall that is suitable for novices and their family with some white on it's body in the below price ranges, that will be infinitely easier (and faster) to find than a cremello registered thoroughbred with four perfect white stockings and a star/snip combination that can do grand prix dressage someday. We do not guarantee any performance on a horse once you take it home, but we will develop a training program with you to "install" the skills that you wish for that particular horse. We will stay in touch during the process, provide pictures and video, and be available for in person visits or phone calls according to the agreed upon terms. Again, we aim to be transparent but we need our clients to understand the process too :) What Are The Price RAnges For Horse Project Horses?
These are general guidelines. Individual horses may vary slightly in prices based on skills, age, breed, etc:
Amateur Ready Horse - $7,500-$15,000 Level 1 Horse - $15,000-25,000 Can You Help Me Find A Project Horse?
For those clients that prefer to do their own training or have their own trainer already, we are happy to do the legwork to find you leads to project horses. There are lots of horses out there looking for a place to land, so definitely contact us and we'll work out a quote for finding you listings that match your criteria. The cost for this finder service can start from $100 to 10% of the horse's purchase price depending on our level of involvement in procuring the horse for the client.
What if I am Looking For A High Level Competition Horse?
If you are looking for an owner partnership with our FEI rider in order to find, train, or compete your competition horse, please contact us separately or check out our Sales page. We would be happy to help you chase your dreams as well!
Do you take on outside horses for training?
Sometimes. We are normally busy working with our project, show, and sales horses but sometimes we have available time where we can accept an outside horse. The cost is $1500/mo. This is a lot higher priced than other trainers in general, but realize that we aren't slapping anything together and need to correctly provide a foundation for each horse. Also, horses are not on a 30 day schedule mentally so it's hard to project how they're going to progress. Typically, 90 days is needed to start/repair an average horse. 30 days might be more acceptable for a tune up for a dressage or reining horse with no behavioral issues. Finally, we are all about quality and not quantity, so we would rather charge a little more and be able to focus on each horse as an individual.
Currently we do not have the time to address chronic bucking, rearing, kicking, or biting horses but can refer you to trainers that do. Amateur Ready Horse
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