Should I or am I Out of My Mind -to get a horse-

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Then you still really really need lessons, eh? To learn something.

Better lessons, from a decent instructor.


Pat

 

[ShadowRooster]

Better lessons, from a decent instructor.


Ok, how do I tell?

I think most intructors make money from all the seven-year-olds that beg parents for lessons. You have to pay for your horses somehow.

 

[georgialee]

Just based on my personal experience, horses take about 3x as much time as you think they will and cost at least twice as much as you're planning. Farm calls for our local vet are $60 - and that's for the smallest thing to the biggest.

They make MUD. Lots and lots of mud. Unless you have a few acres per horse fenced, that is.

If you're not comfortable working on the ground with horses, go somewhere to get comfortable before you buy one (even if it's just grooming for a local stable). Ground work and riding are completely different things.

I think a lot of people here are talking about multiple horses (myself, included), I don't think 1 horse would be sooo bad, lol. Probably about $85 in hay a month (if you feed quality hay) and $30 in extruded feed (pellets). You need a farrier every 6 weeks, even if it's just to trim their feet. I think it's about $30 for a trim, more for shoes. And horses generally aren't too smart about staying out of trouble, so expect at least 2 vet visits per year plus one more for shots, routine stuff.

Is it worth it? Can't answer that question, lol. But you can always sell (or give away, these days) your horse if it doesn't work out.

 

[patandchickens]

you can always sell (or give away, these days) your horse if it doesn't work out.

Um, unfortunately that is no longer the case. In the current economy/market, if there is something actually wrong with the horse (which would be the likeliest reason for 'not working out' -- health or behavior problems, either preexisting-but-unnoticed or installed by the novice horse owner herself) it can be NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to get rid of the horse. Unless you are willing to run him thru an auction (not to recover any of your money, just to be shed of him, and realize he may well be shipped out of the country for slaughter) or pay the vet to euthanize him. And if you are NOT willing to do either of those things to get rid of him, he will continue requiring just as much (or more) daily care and monthly $-input as he did back when you actually wanted him.

So I think that "you can always get rid of him if it doesn't work out" USED to be reasonable advice, but TODAY is a spectacularly unwise thing for a novice to go in thinking.

Ok, how do I tell?

Chiefly by observing a few lessons. Did it look like the riders learned things? Did YOU, just watching, learn things? Also you would want to talk with the instructor and make it clear your goal is to buy a horse and keep it at home, and ask what if any things you would learn in that instructor's lesson program to help you with handling or horse-behavior-interpretation skills.

And of course, if you are not learning anything, find someone else.

Pat​

 

[georgialee]

Quote:
Um, unfortunately that is no longer the case. In the current economy/market, if there is something actually wrong with the horse (which would be the likeliest reason for 'not working out' -- health or behavior problems, either preexisting-but-unnoticed or installed by the novice horse owner herself) it can be NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to get rid of the horse. Unless you are willing to run him thru an auction (not to recover any of your money, just to be shed of him, and realize he may well be shipped out of the country for slaughter) or pay the vet to euthanize him. And if you are NOT willing to do either of those things to get rid of him, he will continue requiring just as much (or more) daily care and monthly $-input as he did back when you actually wanted him.

Maybe it's different in Canada. You can always give a horse away down here... but then I'm also in the middle of horse country.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
And you've tried this frequently during the past few years, have you?

I dunno, it is NOT actually all that hard to get rid of a problem horse in Canada right now (I was speaking of the US, which is where the o.p. is located), but I know SOOOO many people in the US (including your neck of the woods) who have horses eating a hole in their bank account b/c they cannot find a responsible taker, that I am just a little skeptical it is really as different in TN as you thnk it is. Again, I am talking *right now*, and *horses with problems*, not horses without problems or three-four years ago.

Pat

 

[welsummerchicks]

I just talked to a lady from your state who asked me if she could drive her six horses up here, if I could take them, for free, she would pay gas.

I'm full; I said no.

Being able to give away a horse is nothing to rely on when embarking on horse ownership. That is exactly 180 degrees the WRONG way to think of it.

The market for give-aways, if it hasn't reached the saturation point in your area, soon will. It has in my area. I know a lady nearby who has been trying to find 'a good home' for four of hers for 18 months.

And guess what I've found out about many of the people who take these free horses?

You REALLY need to know who people are, because most of them they, sell them for pennies on the pound to a rendering plent, slaughterhouse, or a backyard slaughterhouse. And you wouldn't believe the conditions in those backyard slaughterhouses. At least if they have a 30 or 40 hr long ride to a slaughterhouse, jammed in there with a whole bunch of other horses, at least when they get there, the end is quick.

And if they don't, their life at their 'new home' with someone who knows nothing about horses, isn't very pleasant or long.

Getting an animal without learning about its care, because 'who cares, I can just give it away if it turns out to be too much work or it don't work out'.....

Lord I need to go take a walk around the block, before I say what I really think of that.

Such irresponsibility being encouraged here by people who beat their chests and claim they 'love animals'....

 

[ShadowRooster]

From looking at posts on CL, most horses go for $500-$1000 around here, the free horse posts go away fast, but there are some. Not old horses though. The 25-30 year olds or ones that cant be ridden stay forever on CL.

To many horses, not any homes.

 

[georgialee]

Why do some people assume others can't possibly know what they're talking about? Just b/c I have a different experience than you does not mean it's wrong.

My mother JUST gave away a horse. A 2-year old that has issues spooking and is obviously very green. She was able to find a good home for her in one day.

And, yes, you do need to be careful. But just like with any other animal, there is always the option to find it a good home if you're not able to properly care for it.

Getting an animal without learning about its care, because 'who cares, I can just give it away if it turns out to be too much work or it don't work out'.....

who suggested to not learn about horse care, exactly? As I recall, I suggested she work at a barn first. Plus, you really can't know if it's going to be worth it (in time and money) to own a horse unless you actually own one. People can have all the money and lessons in the world, buy their dream horse and then realize the time/energy/whathaveyou it takes to care for one is not what they thought. That's not something you can learn from taking lessons.



I swear, horse threads on this site NEVER end up well. Never.​

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Yeah but here's the thing -- those are almost entirely NOT appropriate horses for you. (There will be the rare diamond-among-the-junk, but the chances of you obtaining it are extremely small).

Sound, very sane, very bombproof horses like you are wanting -- they do not get advertised on Craigslist. If they are advertised at all (many pass from person to person 'along the grapevine' and never require an ad) they are in your local horse publication or on tack shop bulletin boards or that kind of thing. And they do not, generally, fall into that bargain basement price range.

There is a thread on here, it has been inactive for a few weeks I think, but it is someone looking for a cheap basically-bombproof horse out West. "Weight carrying" is an additional challenge for that particular shopping expedition, but OTOH she is more of an intermediate rider and already owns a horse and so can cope with a bit more in that department than you can. She has been looking hard since I believe sometime in October, the thread is dozens of pages long, and still no horse. So while yes a few gems DO get desperation-listed on CL for $1000, they are probably on the order of one in a thousand. (e.t.a. -- and it is awwwwfully easy to mistake junk for gem, when you are new to horses and trying to 'get a good deal' via Craigslist)

Pat