horse

[michickenwrangler]

As for college

I didn't go to college right after high school. I went from showing Class A to moving up north, trying to make it as an Arabian trainer in an area that HATES Arabs, got a job working at a ranch, competed on the distance circuit for two years before going to college. The competition STOPPED when I had to work full time and take 12-14 credit hours/semester. I still rode 4x a week, though.

Then I got pregnant. Through morning sickness, I was too nauseous to ride, though afterward I did ride up until a week before I went into labor.
And after, I was only able to ride 1-2x a week.

It wasn't until my daughter was about 18 months old and weaned that I could start competing again and it wasn't until she was 4 and my education over that I could be COMPETITIVE in competitive trail (no pun intended).

A lot of women give up riding through college and life after. I clung onto it kicking and screaming through sacrifice and extreme dedication. A lot of women miss it and get back into it in their forties as children grow up and become more independent. But please, take in to account that horses involve care in ALL kinds of weather, even if you board, you still have to worm, hold for farrier and vet, groom, maintain tack and provide attention. Many husbands get resentful of time spent with horses and many co-workers will assume you have money "because you have a horse" despite the fact that I try to tell that that's the reason I DON'T have money. You will give up expensive coffees, manicures, fancy jewelry, nights with friends, fancy vacations and the list goes on. Owning a horse is a lifestyle change that many are not willing to do. It separates those who like horses from horse people.

Not to depress you, but others will vouch for me. I love Izzie, my horse, and I wouldn't give her up for anything. There are other things that I am willing to give up to keep her.

 

[txredneckmedic]

Ive got probably 1800 or so in tack for 2 horses, umm spend probably 150 or so between the 2 on hay, calfmana, dewormer ect. I do my own farrier work so I save money there and I dont have a rental fee for my stalls.That also doesnt include my time out there and gas. Me or my wife or both of us are out there 2 to 3 times a day to feed, work out and just check up on them. I recently had to take one to thee vet for a cut on his leg above his hoof. Wasnt deep, more of a abrasion....$92 later I walked out with penicillin and butepaste. Had to give him a shot every day for 5 days, and administer the butepaste orally. Horse is done with the treatment but is still sore and cant ride yet. Any injury your horse gets may take months for them to heal....but you still have to feed them and such and not get anything out of it.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
That is such a great quote, and so true

Pat

 

[bwebb7]

Horses have very delicate constitutions!
You must be sure to feed them consistently-quality food and hay. And depending on where you live you will need extras like SANBLAST or Equi-aid and that is quite expensive too.

 

[ducks4you]

A good horse is:
--sane
--well-trained
--functionally well-built (don't fall for popular fads like the one that
bred the Roman nose OUT of some warmblood breeds)
--tolerant of your "I didn't meant to do that" mistakes
(Yes, I have put a halter on upside down more than once!)
--can be ANY color
--can be ANY breed

If you still want to buy, don't go cheap. There are reputable breeders and trainers. $3 to $5,000 is NOT unreasonable to pay for a good animal, put you need to find someone more expert than you to help you shop. People ALWAYS: Keep their best horse, Sell their worst horse,and SOME of them are just plain dangerous! You will pay this again every year you own your horse in food, vet, boarding and extra expenses EVEN IF this is just a pleasure horse. I SIMPLY LOVE having my horses in the backyard, BUT, they define where I live and where I make a living. They (and my 5 acres) are my exercise program. I DON'T ride as much as I 'd like because the property keeps me busy---keep this in mind if you decide to board. Boarding stables can provide you with riding areas and OTHER HORSEMAN. I bought one of my horses from a lady who had seen most of her horse friends leave the stable she boarded at. There wasn't anyone left to pursue the horse sports that she enjoyed. There are numerous horse sports that don't require an equine specialist to do well in. For instance, they are many groups that participate in trail riding competitions, some where you go through easy obstacles and are required to dismount and pick up flags and things, and perform easy manuevers like walking in/backing out of large areas marked off with landscape timbers (safe enough, even if you fail the test.) Just some food for thought from a "Still Horse Crazy since I was 5" horse owner since 1985.

 

[Nupine]

Quote:
You only feed your horses twice a week? Thats not very responsible, and it doesn't seem as though you are very dedicated. Also, you were reported for typing a**.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Nupine: sorry but I think you misread it, it says gas not a** and it says 2-3 times A DAY to feed not a week sorry but I think you misread it.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Quote:
thank you all and quest I am probably maybe beginner/novice but possibly starting to get closer and closer to intermediate but I would probably say beginner/intermediate and I am by no means an expert; I prefer western; I doubt I will be in any shows or anything, probably just trails and western pleasure and stuff; as for breed I said it in the post at the very top of this page at the end of the post but I like quarter horses and appys and stuff but really any breed as long as its a horse; probably not a show barn and probably a lot of turnout and yeah I am probably not ready yet and will probably lease and continue to ride and take lessons and stuff for a few years before I get one but I will definately start saving up for one now though and yeah I will have a look online thanks.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Quote:
LOL, people who own horses while in college usually board them locally

but most often find that they simply do not have time or energy to really do horse stuff. I know you think you would, everyone thinks they would, but usually not so much.

Also what approximately is the monthly upkeep costs of keeping x number of horses?

If you keep them at a house you own or rent, there are some minor economies of scale, but not all *that* much -- basically, the cost of keeping 2 horses is twice the cost of keeping 1 horse, and so on.

approxomately how much per month does it cost to board a horse

Between $50 - $2500, depending

Honest, there is no way to answer that question, it's like "how long is a piece of string". If you want to know, phone around to boarding barns in your area. What it'd cost to board somewhere 1000 miles away is simply not relevant.

Bear in mind that not all boarding barns are, er, appropriate or ideal, at least for many horses. You want somewhere with ample turnout (preferably 24/7 but with a stall available for bad weather or injury - but good luck *finding* that) with seriously safe fences, large grassy pastures, safe large nondusty stalls, somewhere you will be happy and safe riding, and management that does not belong in the loony bin (that last bit can be a toughie).

and/or what are the approximate building costs of building a small barn for about 2-3 horses and a pasture in MA?

A heck of a lot less than the cost of the land and the taxes on it.

You can put up a 12x20 run-in shed for maybe $5000 if you do it yourself (although you'd need somewhere else to store hay, ideally with a space in it for the farrier/vet to work); fencing 3 acres could run between $500-$5000+ depending on what's already there and other factors. Most horses function better on 24/7 turnout if you have good land. If your land is limited, figure on spending another $1000-5000 on doing the footing for an all-weather sacrifice paddock.

Of course you can spend quite a lot more if you want to

and what are the costs of accessories and tack (halter, bridle, lead rope, western saddle/saddle, food, hay, blankets, fly spray, treats, grooming supplies, etc) in MA?

You don't need most of this stuff, certainly you don't need it *new*. Basic horse ownership equipment exclusive of tack (halter, lead, rubber curry, one or two brushes, waterproof turnout sheet, fly mask) could be done for $150 in most cases. Basic bridle, $10-20 used or at auction. Saddle is the toughie, as it has to FIT THE HORSE and especially if you ride English you will find that this is a tall order. You are unlikely to find a cheap saddle that fits well (though it does happen occasionally, usually to *other* people

), likelier to have to spend $500-1500 and a lot of aggravation finding it.

I spend about $1500 per year on 5.5 months of hay for 3 horses, but prices vary regionally and from year to year. Buy GOOD hay, and have good pasture, and you may well not need any other feed (grain is by no means essential to many horses)

The big thing you've left out is healthcare and emergency expenses. Figure on $200/horse per year for routine vet care (yearly exam and vaccinations, including farm call), that includes a bit extra on the assumption that some years you'll have the vet out for a $60 abscess call or something. BUT... even a fairly routine simple colic or injury-requiring-sutures or lameness-requiring-diagnosis can VERY QUICKLY run up over $1000. You need to have, IMO, a couple thousand dollars of emergency funds that you can access if need be. And there is no guarantee that'll be enough for what you feel you "should" do for your horse.

You know what, it's fun to think about all this, but in your position, don't worry about planning all this stuff, there are waaaay too many unknowns involved and you have your whole future ahead of you. Just ENJOY horses for now, spend as much time with them as you can, get as much experience as you can, and I promise that if you want it enough, eventually, in time, something will fall in line for you

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

Pat: thanks and you bring up very good points and very good advice. And i will remember it and most likely follow all the advice I have received in this thread. thanks.​

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
You only feed your horses twice a week? Thats not very responsible, and it doesn't seem as though you are very dedicated. Also, you were reported for typing a**.

Mods are probably looking at the report going ????

Hun, reread the post that you quoted and try to find where he said "a**" or that he only feeds his horses 2 times a week.