Horses!!

[FarmerChick]

Hi everyone! I keep seeing free horses on Craigslist. And I was wondering what it cost's to raise a horse? Say by the month? Just for the basics? I would really love to get a horse, they are beautiful animals.


*****hi

your post is kinda vague. are you experienced? have had horses before? have land or boarding? so many variables in here.

my horses are cheap to keep. I never spent alot of money on a horse for daily keep.

but when sick, oh yes, those vet bills can hurt bad.


I do all my own shots. I do get rabies shots from the vet.
I do all my own worming.
My farrier is reasonable, $25 trim....$50 shoes.
I have land, pasture and I raise my own hay on the farm.

So it can be either very expensive or very reasonable. I happen to be in the reasonable category.

A free horse is worth checking out if you have the land now or will foot the bill to board. BUT---if you don't ride...never buy a horse before you can ride. Like a 3 year old buying a car before they can drive. No use to it really. Take lessons, learn. Then go get that horse if you love riding!

Thing is, it is alot of work and effort and might be pricey for you, buying saddles and all and you might end up not liking it as much as you think....they just are dogs or cats or cuddly type animals. They are true livestock and have to be handled in certain ways.

best of luck to you on whatever you decide to do!

 

[Cara]

Another important thing to consider is acquiring the experience to know what horse would suit you, and what wouldn't. A knowledgeable friend can help divert a major catastrophe, but only you can pick the perfect match. Owning the right horse is a joy, owning the wrong one can be a misery. It's a lot like finding a husband

Matchmaking doesn't always work.

 

[beak]

In the Denver and surrounding areas hay is going around 90 dollars a bale. Your supposed to feed an avg pasture ornament about 1.5% of their body weight per day. So that's about 15lbs per 1000lbs. Your avg qtr horse is about 900-1200 ibs. Drafts are 1700-2000. An avg bale of hay is 65 lbs. So that comes out to about 2.50 a day. You should throw in a little grain when it's cold. Then you have wormer, vaccinations, sand clear if you have sparse grass. Farrier is 40 fr a qtr horse, 80 for a draft because their hoofs are at least 2x as big. then you need a trailer in case you need to go to the vet or want to take your horse somewhere or there is a prairie fire. Then of course you need a truck that can pull the trailer. Then there is saddles and tack.
Oh don't forget the trainer if the horse isn't trained.

We have 2 drafts and 2 quarters on 8 acres. They graze from March to around August at which point we have to pen them up so they don't ruin the pasture. We let them about about 4 hrs a day at that point. during the winter it cost 15 dollars a day for hay and an extra 120 or so for farrier and vet

When times are tight people give away hoses they have 2 to 3 thousand in just to not have to feed them. Look at the Denver Craigslist if you want to see what I mean. Last April you couldn't touch a full broke horse for less than 2k. Now they're selling for 400. It's tough times on the ranches.

 

[beak]

A lot of people mentioned behavior and stuff.

When we moved to our little farm 6 years ago. I had had riding experience in a riding group called the westernaires. My wife actually grew up on a farm and had a horse as a teenager.

I guess I thought all horses came trained and ready to ride or something. Turns out that training is very time intensive and has to be done constantly. Horses have to have a lot of miles on them to be bombproof , that is they wont spook or go do their own thing. If you want a bomb proof horse look for the add that says the hubby can ride this horse. Women find that amusing. but it means anyone can ride this horse, even an idiot. Horses know how big they are and will push you around a lot if you let them. This is real true with drafts. But if you know what your doing they are gentle giants. Our trainer was about 5'2 and could get those horses to do anything.

Our horses cost us a fortune but we still keep them. Something about a horse. They just seem almost human sometimes.

 

[FarmerChick]

If you want a bomb proof horse look for the add that says the hubby can ride this horse. Women find that amusing. but it means anyone can ride this horse, even an idiot.


*****hi beak

LOL-LOL

you had me laughing on this one!

 

[beak]

Yeah my wife always shows those to me and says " found one for you honey". She's the reason we got 4 horses. I used to just do it for her, but I'm pretty attached to them now too. I'm such a marshmallow man.

 

[FarmerChick]

so if you fall off a horse you will have a SOFT landing then...HA HA HA

yea horses have that certain "something" I love also. Just so strong and romantic at the same time. 2 great features to them!

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Quote:
I'm gonna play devil's advocate here and guess you've never had a horse or been around horses? The way to start in the hobby is not by acquiring a horse. First get lessons. Ask questions from the person giving you those lessons. Meet the local equine vet and ask more questions. Look for the local riding club and--you guessed it--ask questions.

The right horse will give you years of happy memories and good times. The wrong horse will give you vet and doctor bills and lots of very BAD memories. Remember: there is no such thing as free. You always pay, one way or another.


Rusty