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Boarder here! I pay $600 a month for two horses. My board covers feed, hay, pasture, and eventually a stall for them both once the barn is built. We do our own shots as I get a discount from my work when I buy shots. A big round bale of hay lasts my two horses a month, maybe month and a half so that's only maybe $60 we'll just say every month. You NEED an emergency vet fund, and if possible see if you can find a vet that makes farm calls. My horse and I were attacked back in 2015 by a pack of pit mixes and afterwards, my vet bill was almost $3k. He had several lacerations and I had no money. My vet at the time was extremely nice and did the work and let me make payments to her. My farrier is $40 per horse, so I pay $80 every 5 weeks, not to mention the supplements my older horse is on which are around $100-$200 every 3 months and the hoof conditioner which is $12 a bottle every two weeks. My tack I bought piece by piece. My barrel saddle is used (orginially $1500 bought for $500) my bridle/breast collar set was new ($150), My mother gave me her new set of rein cause she didn't like them, and I just recently got a new girls and girth strap (about $60). All of this new tack is stuff I've gotten over the course of 4 years. I originally had an old torn up wintec saddle and my bridle was held together by hay bale twine half the time.
Basically horses are expensive. When people ask me how much a horse costs, I always tell them the horse is the cheapest thing you can buy, the after care and everything else is what is super expensive. |
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Do you have any suggestions/tips for boarding and transportation? My parents do not own a truck, so should we consider getting one? |
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Also a boarder! I pay around $800 CAD per month for one horse, it includes a stall, blanket and boots, plus 3 grain feeding, turnout, etc. A truck and trailer is not mandatory if you’re a boarder. There are plenty of trailering companies but they can be quite expensive. You also need to consider lessons and training rides on your horse, I pay about $60 CAD for one lesson a week. But these prices depend on where you’re located and the quality of the services. Edited at December 5, 2019 09:39 PM by Fire Equestrian |
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Trivia Team |
Sagebrush said:
Do you have any suggestions/tips for boarding and transportation? My parents do not own a truck, so should we consider getting one?
boarding- vet the facility you go to very thoroughly. Make sure the feed they feed is quality. Check the water troughs while you're touring, see if they're clean and full or if they're low and dirty. Look at the horses! One skinny horse is okay- seniors, or recent rescues. Multiple, not so much. If all the horses are shiny and healthy and happy, that's a good sign. Talk to the boarders themselves. Are they open and friendly, or closed off? How high is the turnover rate for boarders, and how high is the turnover for employees? People who have been there for YEARS is a fantastic sign. What is the turnout situation? Also, talk to the people at the barn about trailering. Buying a truck and trailer is expensive- I've spent well over $3,000 repairing my trailer in the past two years. Hauling is also tricky- you can't just load your new horse up and drive off. You need somebody to teach you how to pull, how to drive with live weight in the trailer, and you can't just buy any truck. There's weight to consider, and the type of trailer, and just. A lot. I researched for months before buying my trailer, and this was after already having experience hauling with other people's trucks and trailers. I will say, they're nice to have during emergencies. Ask your barn about emergency protocols. Do you live in a zone prone to hurricanes or wildfires? Find out what happens. Is it every man for himself? In that case, maybe buy a trailer. If it's not, though, and the barn is prepared to handle all of the horses, then you can relax a little.
I recommend getting your hands on the USPC Manuals. They're excellent resources, and go very in depth regarding a lot of the care horses need. Also, talk to your trainer if you're serious about this. |
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boarding- vet the facility you go to very thoroughly. Make sure the feed they feed is quality. Check the water troughs while you're touring, see if they're clean and full or if they're low and dirty. Look at the horses! One skinny horse is okay- seniors, or recent rescues. Multiple, not so much. If all the horses are shiny and healthy and happy, that's a good sign.
-The place that I would be boarding at is at my neighbours house. I have been going there for almost a year now. Her son is friends with my little sister, and we’ve known them for 2 years now. Each boarder supplies their own feed, but if someone need something everyone’s willing to help out. The water is pretty much always clean, but you always have to check the water for hornets. All the horses are well fed, especially the 28yr old, who’s quite the foodie!
Talk to the boarders themselves. Are they open and friendly, or closed off? How high is the turnover rate for boarders, and how high is the turnover for employees? People who have been there for YEARS is a fantastic sign. What is the turnout situation?
-The boarders are all really nice, always ask how my days going or how my riding lessons went. She has three stalls in the barn, and two paddocks with shelters in front. I’m not sure how long she’s had boarders, but two years ago her black horse died of some sort of colic related incident, and her grey mare had lost her foal, and there were no other horses there at the time. In the summer they get turned out at 8:00 or so and then get brought in at 5:00-6:00, whenever there dinner is. In the winter, it’s too muddy for them to go out, but when they are in they have 24 hour access to the attached paddock, no matter the season.
Also, talk to the people at the barn about trailering. Buying a truck and trailer is expensive- I've spent well over $3,000 repairing my trailer in the past two years. Hauling is also tricky- you can't just load your new horse up and drive off. You need somebody to teach you how to pull, how to drive with live weight in the trailer, and you can't just buy any truck. There's weight to consider, and the type of trailer, and just. A lot. I researched for months before buying my trailer, and this was after already having experience hauling with other people's trucks and trailers.
-I still have another year to go before I’ll be able to drive a truck, since I am still learning to drive.
I will say, they're nice to have during emergencies. Ask your barn about emergency protocols. Do you live in a zone prone to hurricanes or wildfires? Find out what happens. Is it every man for himself? In that case, maybe buy a trailer. If it's not, though, and the barn is prepared to handle all of the horses, then you can relax a little.
-It’s impossible for us to have hurricanes and tornadoes, and wildfires are farther north. Earthquakes are the biggest threat, but I don’t think it would threaten the horses, since they could be released into the field. If I needed to transport my horse during an emergency, I’m positive that they could transport my horse.
I recommend getting your hands on the USPC Manuals. They're excellent resources, and go very in depth regarding a lot of the care horses need. Also, talk to your trainer if you're serious about this.
-Ok, thank you! I’m still not ready, so it’ll probably be after college/university if ever.
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One thing that I cannot emphasize enough, and that has been suggested in a lot of these posts: find a mentor! Someone you trust that is experienced enough to teach you the ropes of the horse business. For most people, this is their trainer, but if you're interested in learning more about the in's and out's of the horse world, as well as taking on more responsibility, see if your trainer would be willing or able to guide you. |
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One thing that I cannot emphasize enough, and that has been suggested in a lot of these posts: find a mentor! Someone you trust that is experienced enough to teach you the ropes of the horse business. For most people, this is their trainer, but if you're interested in learning more about the in's and out's of the horse world, as well as taking on more responsibility, see if your trainer would be willing or able to guide you. |
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Edited at March 27, 2022 08:28 AM by BlueMist Farms
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Thank you guys! Quick question, how do you suggest I learn how to lunge a horse? I have only ever held the line for a four year old gelding, and haven't had very much experience. |
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Trivia Team |
Sagebrush said:
Thank you guys! Quick question, how do you suggest I learn how to lunge a horse? I have only ever held the line for a four year old gelding, and haven't had very much experience.
Ask somebody to help you learn with an experienced horse. There's really no special trick to it- you hold the line and let the horse jog around you. Lots of body language to keep them forward. :) |
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Epic Blizzard ! Stock up on Supplies
