Hmm possibly a horse? How much are they about a month?

[ranchhand]

Having more than one BYC ID is not against the rules.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
If you have questions about another BYC member, it would be better to hit the report button and post your concerns there.

Your assumptions about the OP are completely off the mark, by the way. Let's consider the matter closed and get back on topic. Thanks!

 

[bobwhitelover]

Quote:
Well i showed charlie at this barn it sorta like a friend of ours barn. SHe owns 15-20 acres There is pretty nice fencings its all elictrical. THeres a outdoor arena but no indoor i can ride next door and use their indoor arena though. CHarlie is almost like a lease i cna ride him whenever he already knows me VERY well such as he me around when he normally doesn't do that for his real owners. This stable is a nice stable nothing fancy but its a good size all the horses are kept in the paddock unless you want a stall.

If I recall you live in Wisconsin. I live in Michigan. If you plan to ride AT ALL on any day the weather isn't perfect--especially being a novice--you do need an indoor arena. Trust me, we get the same snow, wind, rain, blizzards, sleet, freezing rain that you do. While I have ridden outside in 20 below and in a foot of snow, the indoor arena makes riding in winter MUCH easier.

If this Charlie is almost like a lease, I would suggest you keep riding him under supervision of his owners and take lessons. You're young, please do not be in a rush to get a horse. I began taking lessons at age 6, began small shows at age 10, A-rated shows at age 14, my first horse at 19. I'm sure others on this board will tell you their ages--that will be older than 19--when they got their first horse. Often times, life gets in the way and it's very common to wait until your late 20s after family and career are established before getting your first horse.

My boyfriend--who is 41--wants to get a horse. Financially, he's not ready. Riding ability, he's not ready. He has permission to ride a few different horses out at the barn which he does to get more practice. And I insist that he learn more beyond riding. He's learned to safely get horses out of the pasture and turn them out, groom them, saddle and bridle them (both English and western), bathe them, he watched the farrier trim hooves the other day, he helped me and my daughter at the county fair this morning with her pony. He's asked me lots of questions about tow vehicles and horse trailers, fencing and housing. He's been at this since May and, no, he's not ready for a horse yet.

Relax, ride the horses you can. Believe it or not, not everyone gets the chance. There are TONS of kids your age who would love to have the opportunity you've been given. While you may bemoan your lack of a horse of your own, please look at it another way.

YOU ARE LUCKY TO RIDE

Again, not everyone gets to do this. I was given a chance to show Arabians at rated shows in high school. I took advantage of it. None of the horses I showed were my own, but did I learn? You bet I did. It made me a better rider and made me ready for a horse of my own when I got older. This of this time as prep time for then.

We may sound harsh on here, but few children are lucky enough to grow up with horses of their own.

Yeah i think i am going to just ride Charlie my Friend is going to give me lessons or i could go next door and take lessons there but they are quite spendy. My mom said if i saved up maybe next yr we could get one. Haha i still look on CL and dream of my future horse lol

 

[flitter]

I have three horses that are an answer to a long held dream and I love having them but I say wait a year. Ride Charlie, take lessons, learn how to care for him and if the boarding is self care... go out everyday for a month in the winter and again as it thaws and care for him, feed him, clean his stall or run and then think about it again. It's not just the money invested, it's also the time... everyday, all weathers, whatever you might feel like (sick or healthy). Good luck! It's worth it but sometimes in mud season with a migraine headache or a cast on the leg it is a struggle!

 

[lockedhearts]

While , right now , in the economy, horses themselves are not expensive and sometimes free. Upkeep is not free. We have our own property and we breed and show. I go through 10 bags of feed for the grown horses a week @ $12.00 per bag. 3 weanlings go through 6 bags of Equine Junior per week @ 19.00 per bag. I just bought 25 bales of hay yesterday @ 4.50 per bale, that lasts me a little over two weeks.
My farrier charges $25 to trim , $45 for front shoes and $70 for shoes all around

Wormer is at least $8.00 per tube ( I worm mine every 3 months and the babies every month for their first year)
Shots, I buy the bulk ones at $100 + for 10 dose vial (I buy two at a time)

Shavings, well I am lucky to get them free, but it takes an hour or more of my time plus gas to drive and I load them myself.

Even if you board, you will likely (at the low price quoted) have to provide feed, hay and shavings, plus worming, shots and farrier.

We do not get regular vacations and when we do take off, it is not cheap, I pay someone to come and feed, turn out for me ( I have to have someone I trust and that can handle my stallion and recognize a health problem) plus I have to call my vet and make sure she knows I am out of town and to come if called (this could potentially cost me more i.e. a problem I might be able to handle might be handled by the vet if I am gone)

I work part-time, it basically pays for my horses. I bought my first horse when I was 14 , we had no idea what we were getting in to, she colicked BAD , not once, but twice. Luckily the vet was great and we learned two VERY expensive lessons. Yes, I saved the money and paid for my first horse, gave up my allowance to pay for feed and hay. It still was not cheap.

I urge you to take lessons, lease and learn learn learn......

 

[carolinagirl58]

When I was young, all I ever wanted was a horse of my own. I got to take lessons, but longed for one of my own even though it was very impractical because we lived a long way from the stable. When we moved to South Carolina and I was finally old enough to get a part time job after school, I saved up and bought my very own horse. It was like a dream come true....for a little while. Between school and the time I spent working to pay for board, I rarely got to ride my horse. He got fat, lazy and mean from lack of training and use. In hindsite, I would have been far better off using my hard earned money for more lessons or even co-leasing a horse, not trying to keep one of my own.

 

[Shell-in-NE]

How old is Charlie?
Just asking because you mentioned you want a horse thats 5-10 years old. If your new to being around and riding horses, when your ready to buy .. you might want to look for a horse in the 10-20 year old range, maybe even older if it's in great condition. More of a been there, done that type of horse

That way you can learn more, and the horse is more forgiving for your mistakes.

The biggest mistake people make in buying their first horse, is buying a horse thinking they can both learn together.

 

[stephanie1992]

we feed our horses a flake of alfalfa each in the morning and night, no grain, does fine on just that, $100 to get hoofs done on each horse, shots and medical bills get expensive depending where u live, feed cost also depends where you live. we also feed oat hay sometimes, id recomend getting a quarter horse as your first horse, one of mine is five and hes so mellow and good with childern. never kicks or bucks

 

[bobwhitelover]

Quote:
Charlie is 23

 

[PartridgeRooster]

Quote:

What are you spending that much on?