How Can You Keep- A Horse?

jill.costello · #21 07/24/09, 09:58 PM

My horses take the place of:

A bass boat
A 4-wheeler
A motorcycle
a mountain bike
Sports tickets
A new vehicle every 3 years
Children
A better gun/rifle/pistol

Ohiogal · #22 07/25/09, 07:22 AM

My horses (and I have 2) are for pleasure riding and they do function as an integral part of the farm. I use their manure for fertilizer in the gardens, and they manage the grass pastures that I have here. I save $$$$$ on mowing (fuel fee's) and I don't have to have a large tractor to maintain the pretty scenery that surrounds my house. I do enjoy riding. My 2 have just turned 5 years old and are just being trail ridden, and they are members of my "family" which also includes nearly 100 chickens and 7 cats.
All my animals get proper vaccination, feed and care. My rule is if I can't afford that, then they get placed in a home that can. I do my own vet work, have them trimmed a couple of times a year (they mostly wear down their hooves running in the pasture) and they return 100 fold any $$$ I might have to spend to stockpile hay for winter.
Right now I give up new clothes, alcohol, and a host of other things like eating out, and I wouldn't trade that for the world.
There is something good about the outside of a horse, that is good for the soul of a man. ~ Winston Churchill

ErinP · #23 07/25/09, 09:33 AM

We have six.
Granted, most of our horses are worked (hard to be a cowboy without a horse). But, in truth, they cost us very little.
Worming and basic care. Feed is either pasture or hay (which the ranch we work for usually covers). I agree with sidepasser, there's really no reason horses have to be expensive...

RosewoodfarmVA · #24 07/25/09, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jill.costello

My horses take the place of:

A bass boat
A 4-wheeler
A motorcycle
a mountain bike
Sports tickets
A new vehicle every 3 years
Children
A better gun/rifle/pistol

Our children take the place of:

A bass boat
A 4-wheeler
A motorcycle
a mountain bike
Sports tickets
A new vehicle every 3 years
horses
A better gun/rifle/pistol

....

Yvonne's hubby · #25 07/25/09, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RosewoodfarmVA

Our children take the place of:

A bass boat
A 4-wheeler
A motorcycle
a mountain bike
Sports tickets
A new vehicle every 3 years
horses
A better gun/rifle/pistol

....

I do keep a couple of motorcycles on the porch, I have no interest in a bass boat, four wheelers or mountain bikes and sports tickets of any kind. I dont like horses, they are smelly nasty beasts with only one purpose in life, to kill or maim people. One really should think about safety. What it would take for me to keep a horse keeps me in cigarettes, alcohol and gas money for the bikes.

Susan Mary · #26 07/25/09, 03:24 PM

I know everyone that loves horses, "there is nothing better than to lean across the back of your horse breath deep" that is a wonderful smell.

Old Vet · #27 07/25/09, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

I can't see anybody that doesn't fish every day to keep a boat or fishing supplies except for a hook line sinker and a cork. That is all you need to Fish. It doesn't make sense to keep all that stuff for those that fish on weekends when a foot ball game isn't on.

big rockpile · #28 07/25/09, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Vet

I can't see anybody that doesn't fish every day to keep a boat or fishing supplies except for a hook line sinker and a cork. That is all you need to Fish. It doesn't make sense to keep all that stuff for those that fish on weekends when a foot ball game isn't on.

Yea I got rid of my Boat because didn't need it.And was costing too much to keep.

I use to have a Horse but I used it on my Job.Thought about getting a Mule for Hunting but do good enough with my Pickup.

big rockpile

big rockpile · #29 07/25/09, 04:04 PM

Not really putting down Horses and I know getting attached to them.At one time I was taking care of 150 head of them along with 3,000 head of Cattle making $10 a day.Yes I enjoyed every minute of it.

Just I see people pulling in Trailers that cost as much if not more than my place.I was brought up if you had an animal it had to have a Job or was to make money or was not allowed on the place.

I've considerd getting an ATV but think no a tractor would be better then think no all a person needs here is a Pickup.Just to give an idea how my mind works.

big rockpile

Ravenlost · #30 07/25/09, 08:31 PM

Our five horses have several jobs!

1. They keep the pasture mowed.
2. They provide fertilizer for the garden.
3. They provide entertainment when we have company.

We have a very large hay field that is mowed twice a year by a neighboring dairyman. In exchange we not only get our fields mowed for free, but we get several round bales for the horses. We have zero hay expenses.

TedH71 · #31 07/25/09, 10:27 PM

Don't forget they're considered livestock in some states so therefore you get your property taxes lowered...like in Texas....

ET1 SS · #32 07/25/09, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedH71

Don't forget they're considered livestock in some states so therefore you get your property taxes lowered...like in Texas....

They are not livestock everywhere?