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Jesaroo
is not the girl you knew
Member since 5/05 14266 total posts
Name:
Jes
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anyone know anything about horses?
my friend had one... it stayed in jersey.. i guess she paid his "rent"/stable....
she said the horse was only $1500.
she had to give him up when she got cancer because she could no longer afford him.
i am looking into getting her another one, but know nothing. dont know where to begin looking.
anyone know?????
thanks!
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Posted 8/4/07 12:17 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Shorty
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Member since 5/05 30390 total posts
Name:
really
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
From what i understand, horses are very expensive to keep!
I read somewhere that it costs $40+ per day just to feed it!
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| Posted 8/4/07 12:18 PM |
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Jesaroo
is not the girl you knew
Member since 5/05 14266 total posts
Name:
Jes
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
ooh ok yeah see i didnt know that!
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| Posted 8/4/07 12:19 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by Shorty
From what i understand, horses are very expensive to keep!
I read somewhere that it costs $40+ per day just to feed it!
This is true. near me stable & upkeep fees are $880 a month, not including the trainer & vet fees.
However, there are rescue groups & you can check out Petfinders.com. Just put in Horse instead of dog/cat in the search bit.
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| Posted 8/4/07 1:53 PM |
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Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!
Member since 5/05 20046 total posts
Name:
Gerty ®
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Getting the horse isn't that difficult. You can get some horses for free, it's the maintenance and feeding that is expensive.
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| Posted 8/4/07 1:54 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Jes I am not sure if you are interested in doing this, but see if maybe a stable would not be interested in donating some of the stable fee as a tax write-off for your friend?
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| Posted 8/4/07 1:56 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
my sister in CA has a horse - but it's a lot more common out there and many barns to choose from, hence I think it is cheaper to keep.
she pays $400 a month to keep him there, that also includes food and poop cleanup.
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| Posted 8/4/07 1:57 PM |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22136 total posts
Name:
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by Gertyrae
Getting the horse isn't that difficult. You can get some horses for free, it's the maintenance and feeding that is expensive.
I remember wanting to get a horse as a kid. I could afford to buy one...but I could keep it for a day. They are expensive to take care of.
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| Posted 8/4/07 4:12 PM |
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Chai77
Brighter days ahead
Member since 4/07 7364 total posts
Name:
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Jes, that is a really sweet idea, but unfortunately, I wouldn't get her the horse unless you are able to pay or help her pay the monthly stable fees. It can run several hundred dollars a month and is a big committment. What about getting her some gift certificates for riding lessons or trail riding near her?
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| Posted 8/4/07 4:27 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
I used to ride horses in competition. My dad wanted to buy me a horse. While, it was nice, I told him no. I started to tell him all the upkeep with them. Stable fee (food, rent, etc..), vet fees, horse shoes done every few weeks, etc... He thanked me for telling him what it entailed. It's very expensive.
Message edited 8/4/2007 4:47:28 PM.
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| Posted 8/4/07 4:46 PM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
I always had horses when I was growing up, but only borrowed ones, I never had my own as we were only paupers. I was just the daughter of a school teacher, not a famous actress like the other girls in my riding classes and at my summer camp.
I get choked up just thinking about it.
*sigh*
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| Posted 8/4/07 4:47 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
I am a former professional horse trainer and own two horses. I've trained horses and riders of all ages and ability levels, bred horses, bought and sold horses, shown in top levels across the country, etc. Ask me anything you need to know.
I think it's sweet that you want to get your friend a horse, and I know your heart is in the right place... HOWEVER - I strongly advise AGAINST buying anyone a horse, especially if you know nothing. Even the best riders / trainers get help buying horses. Also, horses are as individual as people, and the owner and horse must "mesh" well together. I'd never appreciate it if anyone bought me a horse without getting my input first and letting me pick it out.
Also, depending on the type of horse she wants and the training, it can be anywhere from $1500 (for an unregistered, unbroke horse or a horse with behavioral problems or an older horse with lameness issues) to well over $1 million for a top show horse. It's extremely rare to find a gem for a cheap price, and if you do find one, usually, they're untrained.
ETA -- I posted a LOT of information below, not to attack you, but to help inform people of what is involved in horse shopping and responsible horse ownership. It's a HUGE commitment, and many people just don't know -- which is understandable. If you've never owned a horse, you wouldn't know all of this stuff! I just wanted to put out some general information and basic guidelines. So many people think it'd be so fun to get their kid a pony or something like that -- and the horse ends up suffering in the end if the owners are uneducated and irresponsible.
Message edited 8/4/2007 6:20:13 PM.
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| Posted 8/4/07 5:57 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by Jesaroo
she had to give him up when she got cancer because she could no longer afford him.
Are you certain she can afford one now? My horses cost me well over $15,000 a year and that's on the cheap side for horse care. There's no guarantee that her next horse won't develop an expensive health issue either.
I strongly advise against buying anyone a horse. It's a personal decision and she should find her own horse if she even wants one. It's an enormous responsibility and commitment -- Also, she may not yet be ready to have another horse...
PLEASE don't do this. Not to mention, most horse sellers would never sell to someone they knew was going to gift the horse to someone else. Giving live things as gifts is a bad idea...
Message edited 8/4/2007 6:16:12 PM.
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| Posted 8/4/07 6:00 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by Chai77
Jes, that is a really sweet idea, but unfortunately, I wouldn't get her the horse unless you are able to pay or help her pay the monthly stable fees. It can run several hundred dollars a month and is a big committment. What about getting her some gift certificates for riding lessons or trail riding near her?
It can be more like $1,000 a month in most areas when you include basic vet, farrier, etc.
Message edited 8/4/2007 6:15:43 PM.
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| Posted 8/4/07 6:00 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
my sister in CA has a horse - but it's a lot more common out there and many barns to choose from, hence I think it is cheaper to keep.
she pays $400 a month to keep him there, that also includes food and poop cleanup.
That is an insanely cheap price and not one you'd find in the NY metro area for full care.
What board doesn't includ is vet bills -- at least 2x a year, they need shot, a coggins test, and basic care. Don't forget the occasional emergency call which can run you in hundreds (or thousands) if something goes wrong.
It also doesn't include farrier (shoeing) work either. Even if the horse is barefoot, it requires a trim every 4-6 weeks (at $40-50 a pop). A full set of shoes starts at $150 every 6 weeks.
Many of the "affordable" horses will ultimately need some sort of maintenance or supplements - likely joint supplements if it's an older horse or has competed heavily in the past. These can run another $30 - $150 a month. Let's not forget all the "little" things either - shampoo, sheath cleaner, brushes, tack (though I'm assuming she has tack).
Any responsible horse owner also has to have an emergency fund -- a fund to pay for any medical emergencies that might arise. If you can't keep several thousand dollars in there, you likely can't afford for anything bad to happen to your horse. You also can't control whether anything bad happens. My horses are in a full care situation with phenomenal round-the-clock care, and even I have had 2 emergency vet calls in the last year.
You can insure your horse for surgery / emergency medical care, but this is expensive and not available to all horses -- older horses or horses with a history of problems cannot be insured. These are the most likely candidates to need the insurance, of course!
It's really a labor of love! You have to be passionate about it and REALLY want it to spend the time and money necessary to properly take care of these animals!
Message edited 8/4/2007 6:24:19 PM.
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| Posted 8/4/07 6:06 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by Gertyrae
Getting the horse isn't that difficult. You can get some horses for free, it's the maintenance and feeding that is expensive.
Finding a good horse is extremely difficult. It's very hard to find an affordable horse, trained for your discipline, with a temperment and personality that meshes well with yours, and no lameness or behavioral issues.
Also, just to purchase the horse, you really should do a thorough vet check with x-rays -- even on the cheapest (or free!) horse so you know what you're dealing with.
There is really just too much to consider for anyone unfamilliar with horses to try to buy one. In fact, no amatuer (heck, even I don't!) should purchase a horse without someone extremely knowledgeable helping out -- this means someone familiar with the rider's abilities and tastes and someone familiar with the rider's discipline. This is also someone familiar with evaluating horses for conformation, training, etc. A horse may be perfectly sound now, but if he has poor conformation or bad feet, he could be dead lame in a few years...
Do you know what sort of riding the rider does?
Do you know what breeds of horse are appropriate for that discipline?
Do you know any reputable trainers in that discipline who train / sell horses?
Do you know the stereotypes of differnet breeds - which are hot or which are generally more laid back?
Do you know how large of a horse the rider will need to accomodate her size, height, and weight?
Do you know how to evaluate a horse's conformation for this particular discipline? Do you know how to evaluate a horse generally for good or bad conformation?
Do you know what healthy hooves look like? Would know whether a hoof problem was caused by poor shoeing or genetics?
Do you know whether your friend requires a registered horse or a grade horse? Do you know the difference between the two?
Do you know what questions to ask the seller about the horse's health and training history?
Do you know a reputable vet to perform the prepurchase? Do you know what specific tests would be required for a prepurchase?
If you cannot answer yes to all of the above questions, you honestly should not be buying a horse. Seriously. They are not dogs. Smaller pets can get away with conformational flaws - horses are much larger and (generally) work much harder than your average house pet. Their conformation plays a huge role in their health. Some flaws can be overlooked and aren't as serious - some are very serious deal breakers. If you don't know the difference, you shouldn't be looking to buy a horse. You may think I'm just being nit picky, but I'm not. All of the above is VERY, VERY basic stuff.
Besides that, NO ONE should ever buy a horse for someone else unless the other person picks it out... and even then, PLEASE work with a pro.
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| Posted 8/4/07 6:14 PM |
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Jesaroo
is not the girl you knew
Member since 5/05 14266 total posts
Name:
Jes
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
thanks guys, its not happening.
she and i both cant keep up the monthly expenses.
...and for the record, i was going to pay hte stable fee if i got her the horse. a gift is a gift
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| Posted 8/4/07 9:08 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by Kara
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
my sister in CA has a horse - but it's a lot more common out there and many barns to choose from, hence I think it is cheaper to keep.
she pays $400 a month to keep him there, that also includes food and poop cleanup.
That is an insanely cheap price and not one you'd find in the NY metro area for full care.
What board doesn't includ is vet bills -- at least 2x a year, they need shot, a coggins test, and basic care. Don't forget the occasional emergency call which can run you in hundreds (or thousands) if something goes wrong.
It also doesn't include farrier (shoeing) work either. Even if the horse is barefoot, it requires a trim every 4-6 weeks (at $40-50 a pop). A full set of shoes starts at $150 every 6 weeks.
Many of the "affordable" horses will ultimately need some sort of maintenance or supplements - likely joint supplements if it's an older horse or has competed heavily in the past. These can run another $30 - $150 a month. Let's not forget all the "little" things either - shampoo, sheath cleaner, brushes, tack (though I'm assuming she has tack).
Any responsible horse owner also has to have an emergency fund -- a fund to pay for any medical emergencies that might arise. If you can't keep several thousand dollars in there, you likely can't afford for anything bad to happen to your horse. You also can't control whether anything bad happens. My horses are in a full care situation with phenomenal round-the-clock care, and even I have had 2 emergency vet calls in the last year.
You can insure your horse for surgery / emergency medical care, but this is expensive and not available to all horses -- older horses or horses with a history of problems cannot be insured. These are the most likely candidates to need the insurance, of course!
It's really a labor of love! You have to be passionate about it and REALLY want it to spend the time and money necessary to properly take care of these animals!
the $ my sis pays does not include any medical bills for her horse. and that can def add up!
she and her DH had 2 horses for many yrs. they recently sold 1 b/c of many reason, one of which was financial burden. it broke her heart
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| Posted 8/4/07 9:10 PM |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by Kara
Posted by Jesaroo
she had to give him up when she got cancer because she could no longer afford him.
Are you certain she can afford one now? My horses cost me well over $15,000 a year and that's on the cheap side for horse care. There's no guarantee that her next horse won't develop an expensive health issue either.
I strongly advise against buying anyone a horse. It's a personal decision and she should find her own horse if she even wants one. It's an enormous responsibility and commitment -- Also, she may not yet be ready to have another horse...
PLEASE don't do this. Not to mention, most horse sellers would never sell to someone they knew was going to gift the horse to someone else. Giving live things as gifts is a bad idea...
ITA. My cousins have 4 horses that they ride and show, and it is an incredibly expensive hobby.
If she already gave one up, I would wait for her to say that she has the time and money to assume the responsibility of ownership again.
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| Posted 8/4/07 9:21 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
I used to ride all the time..now just for recreation.
I would spend hrs just taking care of the horse I rode before and after.
I worked at a stable years ago and at Roosevelt Raceway as a kid..well, I didn't work..I did it for free.
That's a ton of work!
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| Posted 8/4/07 9:40 PM |
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Juliet
Family is Complete!
Member since 5/05 5913 total posts
Name:
Juliet
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
I have been riding for the past 20 years. I worked at a horse farm as my first job and worked there for 7 years.
I agree entirely with Kara. You can't buy a horse for another person the same way you can't really buy another person a pet.
But I have to say that the idea is so sweet. You're friend is lucky to have you, Jess.
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| Posted 8/4/07 10:16 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by Jesaroo
thanks guys, its not happening.
she and i both cant keep up the monthly expenses.
...and for the record, i was going to pay hte stable fee if i got her the horse. a gift is a gift
You are such a good friend
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| Posted 8/5/07 11:32 AM |
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Shorty
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Member since 5/05 30390 total posts
Name:
really
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by MsMBV
Posted by Jesaroo
thanks guys, its not happening.
she and i both cant keep up the monthly expenses.
...and for the record, i was going to pay hte stable fee if i got her the horse. a gift is a gift
You are such a good friend
I totally agree....she is LUCKY to have you - horse or not!
OK - this is just an idea - but would you consider getting a horse tat for her?  You could both get them
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| Posted 8/5/07 11:38 AM |
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Jesaroo
is not the girl you knew
Member since 5/05 14266 total posts
Name:
Jes
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
 she has one!
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| Posted 8/5/07 11:39 AM |
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Shorty
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Member since 5/05 30390 total posts
Name:
really
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Re: anyone know anything about horses?
Posted by Jesaroo
she has one!
you get one!
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| Posted 8/5/07 11:45 AM |
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