How Can You Keep- A Horse?

[big rockpile]

Every weekend I see hundreds of Horseback Riders coming in camping riding the trails over on Goverment Land.In this economy I just can't see people having the money for this?

Got a neighbor that has a bunch of Horses never rides them all they do is tear Fence and pasture up,plus she had bunch of medical bills when one ripped her arm off.

Now the Mennonites I can see it they use their Horses every day.

big rockpile

[Kris in MI]

As a person who has been addicted to horses for over 25 years, I can honestly say they are an expensive hobby for many, and truly an addiction (just like drinking or smoking or drug use) for others. You do what you have to do.
Me, I work 18 hours a week just to pay the expenses on mine and confess that I have a 'horse problem'.

[collegeboundgal]

I have a horse that I sometimes ride. It's easy if you own land that they can graze. I don’t feed grain as she's not nursing a colt, growing a colt nor is she other wise working enough to need the extra nutritional value. Hay is not that much, one horse one bail every 3 weeks (round) for about 4 months is about 5 bails for the year. You can get them for around $50 each for really nice hay. So $250 a winter. Vet supplies on average will run about 50 for shots and wormer (barring any emergency) and shoeing is on average 65 a time, most don’t need it but once or twice a year. we love to go riding where you’re talking about. nice up kept trails, no worries of being hit by a car, the camping ground aren’t that bad but I've never stayed over night but my aunt and uncle that I ride with have. it's quite a drive for us to get there (about 45min) but worth it. we get bored of riding the same trails around here.

[DQ]

although there is gloom and doom about the economy, for many people nothing has really changed that much on an everyday basis. if you have graze, easy keepers and are willing to trim them yourselves they aren't that expensive. a great wholesome hobby. I have only two ponies now for my daughter (and very much miss my own horse to ride) they need hay in the winter and minor treatment for various bumps and scratches. knock on wood!!!!!!! it is well worth it when I my daughter carfully combing manes and tails and giggling while trotting around on a lead line. I gotta do something other than work in this world! the type of horse I want again for myself probably won't be and easy keeper and I probably won't be able to adequatly trim myself so that will have to wait.

[FL.Boy]

My neighbor has 5 only 1 ridable the bad thing is they can't afford Ele./gas/etc. etc. Me i would eat the horses and be done with it. They also have about 10 dogs and cats.

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by collegeboundgal

I have a horse that I sometimes ride. It's easy if you own land that they can graze. I don’t feed grain as she's not nursing a colt, growing a colt nor is she other wise working enough to need the extra nutritional value. Hay is not that much, one horse one bail every 3 weeks (round) for about 4 months is about 5 bails for the year. You can get them for around $50 each for really nice hay. So $250 a winter. Vet supplies on average will run about 50 for shots and wormer (barring any emergency) and shoeing is on average 65 a time, most don’t need it but once or twice a year. we love to go riding where you’re talking about. nice up kept trails, no worries of being hit by a car, the camping ground aren’t that bad but I've never stayed over night but my aunt and uncle that I ride with have. it's quite a drive for us to get there (about 45min) but worth it. we get bored of riding the same trails around here.

Do you ride up at Lead Mine? Seen some nice Rigs in there but some people don't know a thing about horses,had one gal drowned her horse in the river being stupid.All she had to do was give him rein and he could have gotten out.

big rockpile

[Callieslamb]

People make their own choices and set their priorities. We do a lot with our income, but we dont' do expensive clothing, entertainment or vacations beyond going to grandma's usually. Maybe horses are just their priority. Maybe they are like a pet to them rather htan recreation? Not my call.

[arabian knight]

And I have a miniature so the hay bales are like 60 for a YEAR so that is not much at all, and I give shots myself and such so I do not have vet costs, and I do some trimming myself also so not much funds go for a trims. And with a good grass hay the mini very very little other types of supplements.

[pinemead]

It's a choice. I don't go out to eat, go to movies, take vacations, drive nice vehicles, buy expensive clothes, etc. I'd rather spend my "extra" income on my animals. They give back every day.

[Ken Scharabok]

I have three donkeys. Received self-administered shots for EEE, multi-way and WNV. $50 per donkey. (Use: mobile pasture ornaments.)

I have a friend who has horses, goats, donkeys and geese on small acreage. If a blade of grass grows 1/4" something is going to come by to nibble it off. Feeds hay year-round, and corn to the geese. However, he quibs, he doesn't have to mow the lawn. He agrees he has an 'animal issue'.

A couple of years ago on the way into town I found four horses grazing off the side of the road. Recognized them as his. Fortunately one had a bridle/halter on and I was able to lead her to his place, with the rest following, down the road. Vehicles were very considerate on stopping to let us pass.

[sidepasser]

Well I have horses and own my own place, employ a trainer, have vet and farrier on call, feed hay and grain, and occasionally show.

It's a matter of priorities and income, I prefer to spend my extra dollars on horses, others prefer boats, motorcycles, shopping, cruises, vacations and expensive automobiles, etc.

It costs me around 5,000 a year for three here, but that is money that I consider well spent for my entertainment and pleasure.

It could be as the old saw goes: If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

[collegeboundgal]

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Do you ride up at Lead Mine? Seen some nice Rigs in there but some people don't know a thing about horses,had one gal drowned her horse in the river being stupid.All she had to do was give him rein and he could have gotten out.

big rockpile

yes that is one of the places we go. we also go to a place that's up towards Branson. and we have a small gov. parcel down here in Pleasant Hope in addition of our own land. I heard about the drowning, I think it happened that the horses rider had on a tie down in too deep of water. (for folks that don't know, that's a rope that loops around the horses muzzle and then connects in-between the two front legs to keep the head from being able to be thrown back and hinders rearing of the horse)

[Shygal]

Some people make more money than minimum wage

[Ravenlost]

We have five horses. Plus 16 dogs and nine cats. Hubby has a good, stable income as an air traffic controller. We have plenty left over after paying bills to take good care of all our animals. We'd rather have the animals than buy fancy clothes, take vacations, etc. Animals are our priority at this point in our life.

[beccachow]

Well, God pretty much feeds 'em all spring, summer and fall. A few months of hay and possibly grain are not that expensive. Vets come twice a year for shots, de-wormers are cheap. A healthy horse is really not a drain. However they WILL confound you with illness and clutzy stupidity right when you can least afford the bills. The biggest $$ is the set up, the horse itself,. a barn, the tack. If you are lucky enough (like me) to be able to keep them at home, there really isn't too much upkeep. And any $$ paid out are repaid in full whenever I see them running, bucking and playing back and forth across the field, especially that little arab with his tail flagged proud. A gorgeous picture worth any $$ I have spent.

[zant]

I have 2-1 mini(B) and 1 full...they are'nt fancy show horses,just my friends...cost 7.00 a month for grain,I have 4 acres of nice pasture for them,give my own shots and wormer-about 75$ a yr.they are'nt shod(no reason)and my farrier showed me how to trim hooves...

[sidepasser]

While keeping a horse can be expensive, I have had them for 40 years and have no intentions of not owning one. It's all in how you do things, buy quality tack and take care of it, don't get more than you can afford to keep, have an emergency fund for emergencies~(like my horse that got a suspensory strain and cost me $$$$$ to heal) and give own shots and worm yourself (anyone can learn to do this).

I don't understand why people think it has to be expensive. It only gets expensive if you board, or have a trainer (I do but he isn't that expensive) and show (I do, but only do local and charity events so cost is minimal). The set up (barn, or run in shed, buying tack, having a place to store feed and hay, having a truck and trailer) those are the expensive things, but if you take care of them, they should last a good long while.

Learning from other horse people is cheap..and no need to reinvent the wheel. I do suggest lessons to those that have never had a horse, it will save years of frustration and possibly injury. But those too, can be gotten through pony club or a very good local trainer, or you can hire out to a local barn and trade labor for lessons.

It's all in how one looks at things and whether one is inclined to do most of the labor oneself or hire it out. Even boarding and there are days that I wish I could board - lol..especially those dark, rainy, winter mornings when it's 20 degrees out and rain is falling and the ground is mush..but I then think on how nice it is to walk out my back door and there are my babies, munching hay in their stalls and am glad I woke up to face another day.

besides the manure is great for the compost heap!

[ET1 SS]

Last summer when oil prices peaked, folks were selling horses like crazy. And horses were being left in any pasture that already had a horse in it.

Here in our township, nobody had a horse. But half way through last summer horses began showing up.

Now this summer we have four neighbors who each have multiple horses.

And one middle-aged lady who walks on the pavement alongside her daughters on their new horses, she screams at cars to slow down. I do not know what she does when a loaded logging truck blows through here. I offered that they can ride their horses on our back 100 acres, there are trails back there. But she prefers to see her kids on the pavement, on a country road, and to scream at vehicles. [she is not from here, she is dis-placed city folk].

[Joshie]

We got our first horse last year. We're in process of getting one or two more.

We have higher income now that we've ever had. It's an incorrect assumption that everyone is hurting financially now.

We own just over 26 acres. Our animals can eat our grass and the hay we produce. I can give shots. We can trade hay for hooves, lessons, and training. We don't go on trips, don't eat out, go to movies, etc. This is our luxury. Plus, they eat down the grass!

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by pinemead

It's a choice. I don't go out to eat, go to movies, take vacations, drive nice vehicles, buy expensive clothes, etc. I'd rather spend my "extra" income on my animals. They give back every day.

Exactly!