Quite a commitment and an investment?

Joe S. · 10-31-2011, 03:10 PM

I would think that it is quite a commitment and an investment to own a horse? Since I am retired now, I have kind of been thinking about one though.

rockin · 10-31-2011, 07:36 PM

Owning a horse is a ton of work. If you plan on keeping it at home (barn) you have to be able to do things with the horse (feed, clean stalls, brush, etc. ) every day. Be sure you think this out 100%.

Grandpa · 11-01-2011, 12:44 AM

When I went to work off the farm, it didn't take long for the horses to go too. No fun coming home from work after dark and going out in below zero weather to tend them. And not fair to them either. Also, now I am retired, we often leave for several days at a time. It's one thing for the neighbors to stop and feed the dog but something else to ask them to feed and care for horses. Even though I have the land, barns and feed, I just don't have the time, day in and day out, to care for them.

**CozInCowtown** · 11-01-2011, 06:49 AM

Horses are almost as deep a hole as a boat!

Bob · 11-01-2011, 03:46 PM

I have a retired friend whose wife is into horses, and he refuses to have anything to do with them. She, on the other hand, is totally into it.

Pathfinder1 · 11-02-2011, 03:15 PM

Hi...

You bet it's a major committment, investment, responsibility.

The critter has to be housed, have a place to run, be fed and watered at least daily, groomed, shoed, see the vet regularly (or vet comes to you).

You'll soon be buying a horse trailer.

Then there's the necessary tack...saddle, bridle, blankets, etc.

All of the above just to have a fun, loving, animal which will give you lots of pleasure over the years.

hummingbird · 11-02-2011, 06:25 PM

You really have a lot of work ahead of you if you decide to get one. But they are worth it if you like them. I love them but I don't have the time to devote to one anymore.

SweetiePie · 11-02-2011, 06:36 PM

Horses are a lot of work and can be very costly to have. My friend has one and since he lives in an apartment pays to board it somewhere else. He also has to pay a separate fee to keep it in food.

Lamebeaver · 11-02-2011, 08:23 PM

Some people have several hobbies, but if you own horses, you only get to pick one....well that's not quite true...horses go well with hunting, and a few other things, but you get the idea...

ppine · 11-14-2011, 03:02 PM

If you are retired you have lots of time. Responsible horse owners ride a lot. If you ride a lot, you will come off once in awhile. If you are retirement age, your body will not take the impact as well as you once did. Now retired from riding due to injuries, I would strongly recommend riding horses you can rent, or going on overnight trips with professionals. Due to the cost of insurance they cannot have horses that buck or purposely try to lose their riders. This sounds wimpy, but is the truth for many people.

If you ride other peoples horses, you don't have to be home twice a day, save all that expense, and don't have to feel guilty when you aren't riding.

For many people they become expensive lawn ornaments. For people that ride at least several days a week, they can become somewhat obseessed by equines. They wear western clothes all the time, hang out mostly with horse people, go to only horse related events, etc. Vacations become horse vacations. If all this sounds appealing, please forge ahead as they are wonderful animals and great teachers.

Figure on about $5000 a year per head, plus tack, a trailer, and changed plans. Most free time is for day trips, because you have to be home to feed and check on the critters. I love equines, but you must be serious about them in order for owning them to make any sense. Horses are a life style, not a hobby.