Question for horse owners:

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Hay is usually computed as tons per acre. It can take a lot of fertilizer to produce decent hay. For example, soil analysis shows that here on my farm I need to add 60 lbs of nitrogen per acre, which works out to 600 lbs of fertilizer per acre if I use 10-10-10 fertilizer. 5 lbs nitrogen per 50 lb bag of fertilizer means I need 12 bags at $18 or $216 per ACRE. That is not cost effective for me since I can buy hay for $4 a bale currently and not have the cost or upkeep of the equipment. But all these figures vary widely from farm to farm, so it is impossible to compute a hypothetical with any kind of accuracy. Then of course there are the vagaries of weather--too much rain, not enough rain, extreme heat, too cool a season. Sometimes I think it's a wonder anything grows at all.

HTH


Rusty

(edited because I cannot type!

)

 

[seymore0626]

It's hard to know where to start...that first horse is a good place I guess!!

I was not from a family that had money or anything to do with horses, but I was born with the "bug". I chose my first career, teaching, because (sadly) it gave my the summer months to persue my passion, but even though I became a very successful adminstrator as well as teacher that was not enough time For the "passion". That was 35 years ago, although when you are waiting for that next foal crop, time passes very quickly!!!

I am married to an equine practioner, and our lives are totally imersed in horses. I no longer teach, but work full time on our farms. When we have free time we spend it with horses...we race, we rodeo, we cut, we fox hunt, we trail ride, we have even had nice dressage horses.

Find the best professionals to learn from, don't expect any extra money, time, or peace of mind ever. Your feet will hurt, and your hands will age fast, and we won't mention what weather exposer every day does to your complexion. The highs are incredible, but they are paired up with devastating lows. Remember that all horses are born with a predestined place to die and they spend their entire lives looking for that place..... some of them seem to be on a mission.

It's a wonderful life, if you have very, very tough skin!!! We all think it's worth it most of the time, but as my mentor ( yes, at 60 I still need one) says, "It's not a game for those in short pants!"

 

[Skyesrocket]

"Remember that all horses are born with a predestined place to die and they spend their entire lives looking for that place..... some of them seem to be on a mission."
I never heard that before. That's interesting, what does it mean?

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

It means that if there is a smart, normal way to do something and a really dumb, dangerous one, some horses will pick the dumb, dangerous one every time. It's like they are TRYING to hurt/maim themselves. Then others are so smart and sensible that they seem to take care of us--instead of us taking care of them. I used to have a mother and a daughter. The mother was so sensible that I could put a child up on her and she'd take care of them, even refusing to do stupid stuff they asked her to do like she knew they'd get hurt. Her daughter, on the other hand, hung herself in a barbed wire fence, hooked her halter on the BUMPER of a truck, and once ran through some lady's backyard clothes line, got tangled, pulled it down, and dragged it and the pipe it was attached to all the way back to the barn. She seemed to think it was chasing her and not that she was dragging it. She ran straight to me and tried to hide her head under my jacket, almost like she was saying "Save me from that monster behind me!"

My oldest friend used to say that "what never made you laugh will never make you cry." That's horses in a nutshell.


Rusty

 

[Skyesrocket]

Ah ha...I got it now. And yes, I have known some of those horses. One being a friends horse, "Lucky". If Lucky could find a way to get himself into a bind, he would. He has had his legs cast under a stall that was used for many years with no problems, but Lucky managed to get cast under the wall several times. He would just lay there and wait for someone to notice. He also somehow summer saulted through a wire fence that held a dozen other horses with no problems. That time it took 4 men and wire cutters to get him untangled. Thanks for explaining that.

 

[Equest94]

You have asked some really good questions and have been given wonderful advice.

Yes, horses are expensive and being born into a very well off family does help, but it also depends on what your plans are in terms of horse owning. What exactly are you picturing? Do you want to be a backyard horse owner with horses more as a pet/hobby or are you interesting in showing all over the country, etc? There's a huge difference in expense just right there...

Finding a good career that pays well would definitely be helpful with EVERYTHING (let alone horses), but I honestly do not think that we can tell you what field of job to get into - that's all on you.

What do you like to do? What do you do well in? How ambitious are you? How are your grades?, etc... most of all, what makes you truly happy? The best job you can get is one that you would love to do regardless of pay, a job that you feel comfortable in and really like. Salary should be a last factor... As mentioned, sacrifice is important and is a MUST for horse owners with any career...

Now, with the way the economy is, a lot of that sounds like total bull, but it's all true. you have to have to find a job that "fits you" and once you go to college, you'll be able to get a taste of different areas of study and what jobs apply to those. Also, try not to set your mind on one idea - in college you'll probably end up switching your major a few times; just see what you are good at and what intrigues you (I can't stress that enough!).

Now, in general, you should look into getting a job in a field that is always needed: like a health professional, or teacher, etc.... [<-- Those are broad categories, and many jobs fall under those].

Keep in mind that Under Grad Schools, Grad schools, [and Careers] are extremely competitive... you have to persevere and keep with it, fight for what you want. The best advice I can give you is that if you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to make it work.


Now, I am a horse owner and just graduated from college this past May. I am working on perusing a career in Dentistry (actually just finishing up some requirements for dental school now). If you have any questions feel free to message me.