Affording a horse??!?

Question

This last year I was riding with some family friends and they taught me how to barrel race, I entered into some competitions and for my first year of every knowing what barrel racing was I managed a 19.1 seconds for a time. This year I am riding with them again and hopefully I can get it even lower but they are thinking of selling their only barrel horse they have, which means I cant ride anymore.. I want to buy my own horse but I am only 13 and have to way to make the money to afford it monthly or even buy the horse. How could I do it? Any suggestions?

My mom is in alot of debt and cant help at all and my dad is to much of a -beep- to give a c**p about me.. None of my other family members think I should even be involved with horses so they are no help either..

None of the stables here will hire a 13 year old and nor will any other place (child labor laws, ugh).. I have tried to voluteer at a rescue but im still to young. PLEASE HELP!

Any suggestions are great. Thanks.

Answer 1

I did not get a horse until I could afford EVERYTHING....board, farrier, etc.

There is so much more expense than just buying the horse. I spend close to $400 A MONTH for my horse, and that's just with the stuff that I NEED (not want). Then you'll need a saddle, a saddle pad, a bit, a bridle, grooming supplies, medicine incase of injuries and much more.

You are looking at probably $500-$2000 worth of items right there and that does NOT include any extra fun stuff that you'd like....(fancy polo wraps, and so on).

If you can't get a job, and if both your parents won't help you (well if both your parents won't pay for EVERYTHING) then no offense, you can not afford a horse, and in which case you should not get one.

Instead try leasing a horse! You'll only have to pay a flat rate every month and won't have to worry about worming, farrier, or vet bills

Answer 2

the part that really stinks about life is if you're born poor you're probably going to stay poor...sorry, but it's true.

i have loved and wanted a horse soooooo badly my whole life, i mean i wanted one soo bad i could taste it,now i've almost given up. just like you, my family was broke, and couldn't get one for me.

the part that sucks about volenteering tho is that if you don't have a horse yourself, people tend to think you don't know anything about them and look down upon you.and it's harder to make friends that way.

10 years later, still broke, still no horse....now isnstead of movies,makeup and games. it's rent, groceries, and bills. nothing in this life is free (unless your parents are wealthy, that's how most people get horses so young). so don't get your hopes up too high hun....it's really dissapionting, i know, i've been there. the closest thing you can get to a horse is volenteering at a stable, just to be around them, and i did that and never got to ride.

        but, keep your chin up!go to colledge and then MAYBE,just maybe, someday, you'll be able to afford one.(that's what i do).

Answer 3

I'm sorry about your mom's debt and your dad. :( I would try telling the family friends about your situation (if they don't already know) and ask them to keep their barrel racer. But if in the end, they DO sell their barrel racer, you can see if any of their other horses like barrel racing. And even if they don't, you only have 5 years until youre 18 and you can buy your own horse and everything...or if the family friends live close enough, you might be able to work at their barn. You know, as a big favor thing. You can save up to buy their barrel racer, then work there in exchange for boarding. And also, just because their selling their barrel horse doesn't mean you have to stop riding, it just means that you can do roping, reining, Western Pleasure, etc. Good luck!

Answer 4

sorry i think your going to have to wait abit longer to get a horse.

I am 13 to and i am sorta leasing a horse.There is  over 360 acres it is huge and so green,they also own land near pony club and heaps of other places. There is also a girl called scarlet(the ladys daughter) She is turing 13 next week so we are like the same age and we  do  everything together, she is so nice.

and i ride a horse called amber(a really cute chestnut). she is 14.1hh something like that. She is so pretty her face looks like an arabian. She is 8 years old. And great at jumping.



I get to entre comps which are in August and September and i will be doing them with scarlet and she will ride her horse. And i will be going to pony club which is so cool. And i go like heaps of times 3 or more times a week and weekends the days are Monday,wednesday and friday and on weekends.

It is seriously like heaven, victoria(my trainer) is so nice and cool and really layed back and not pushy. We get to go out on the roads me and scarlet.

Scarlets horse is called mac and he was born on the day maciby diva won her first race. sorry dont know how to spell maciby diva. BUT HOW COOL IS THAT!

they have this massive lake that you can swim with the horses in IT IS SO COOL and huge fields you can gallop on. This jumping arena and dressage arena and round yard( that is big) AND HEAPS MORE!!!!! you could do something like im doing which only costs me $25 a week how good is that just look in your local horse riding store and if they have one look on there notice board dont give up.

GOOD LUCK i hope you get a horse soon or lease one! xo

Answer 5

See if you can babysit or oet sit for money. If your mom is in debt then you should wait to get a horse. What if after you buy it it gets hurt then how will you win with it? Will you be able to afforde vet bills, farrier bills, boarding, feed, ect.

Answer 6

Here's a few things to consider:

1. at 13 your are not going to destroy your chances of getting the experience you need to do this professionally.

2.  In order to make $1000 bucks off horses, you must be able to start with $2000 or $3000.  VERY very few people have gotten rich starting with nothing in the horse world - they either grew up within a horse family, or they got lucky with natural ability.  So, given the situation of parents who can't afford it you aren't likely to get the jump at this age to make lots of money with horses.

3.  Depending on the pattern size 19.1 is not professional times - you've got to be much faster than that - and you're not going to find a cheap horse and a cheap situation that will make you beat the snot out of other people with the money for a highly trained and well-blooded horse in your present situation.

Here's what I suggest.  You're a smart 13 year old young lady with lots of things to learn in life, here's how you make success:

1.  Learn to set priorities - identify the difference between needs and wants - and save your money, spending it only on what you must saving the rest for your dream of horse ownership and barrel racing.  You can learn the habits that will teach you to save money between now and the couple of years until you're really able to get a job to make some of it.

2.  Learn to set goals - set a goal today, a small goal like watching all the TV or Videos you can to learn everything you can about barrel racing and interacting with horses in general.  Set a goal every day in your life - a goal that's related to a larger goal.  so you want to make some money of your own, very commendable - start today looking for some type of job - babysitting?  OK set a goal to contact 2 people today and 2 people tomorrow and so on about a babysitting job.  Then after you've set that goal, be the most responsible baby sitter ever so you keep that job and keep the money coming in - and put it away!  there isn't anything you need right now that your mom shouldn't be able to give you - food, clothing, a roof over your head....you wanna buy some candy or something else today, when you have that thing in your hand, realize that's the money you could be buying a horse with someday.

3.  Learn responsibilty - owning a horse means you MUST be there to feed it and care for it consistently.  Being a successful barrel racer means you must learn everything you can about horses - not just how to turn a barrel - and in order to do this you must be committed and responsible.

You'be been lucky having someone to share their horses with you and let you barrel race on them, now to go to do this yourself you must realize what they gave you and the cost it represents.

Having a horse, after the purchase of the horse, you must figure a good few thousand dollars a year just to feed and care for it - before you have a truck and trailer to haul it to a race, or the money for entry fees.

You have 3 years until you are 16 and can get a job during the summers to learn to be the responsible person you need to be to get and keep a good job.

Rent DVDs, read books, watch RFD TV if you have it for anything horse related.  There are Western Horseman books about barrel racing by Charmayne James and others that will tell you much more than you could ever imaging you need to know about how to be a successful barrel racer.  Get to 'em and read like crazy.  Get ready for the time when you can get a job and afford a horse- and by no means drop this dream!  Keep it and go for it.

Answer 7

Melissa, you may not be able to get HIRED by the local stables you mentioned in your question, but I am willing to bet they will let you do things like clean stalls, tack, and groom horses in exchange for lessons and riding time. This is called being a working student, and it's a common arrangement at show stables, ranches, etc., across the country. Some of these places offer students a small stipend from time to time as well- check to see if yours does.

What I would do is go back to these stables you mentioned, and arrange to speak with the trainer, instructor, or barn manager at each of them, and ask if they need help with things like cleaning stalls, tacking horses for lessons, cleaning tack, cleaning water buckets, taking horses to and from the pasture or paddock, grooming, as well as other chores around the farm, such as mowing grass, weedwacking, unloading and stacking hay bales and feed supplies, raking and sweeping, and the like. Tell them that you are willing to work in exchange for lessons and riding time, and see what they say. Chances are, at least one of these places could use some extra help, especially now that it's summertime and the show season is nearing its peak. You need to be flexible and willing to do almost anything which they ask you to do, even if you don't like or agree with it. Copping an attitude will get you nowhere quick at this point, so I would be careful to avoid making that mistake.

Doing this will not only gain you riding time, it will also give you a chance to get known around the barns, and to meet people who may be in a position to help you find a horse to buy or lease eventually. The social contacts are fun too- and being a working student is a great way to make friends with other people who ride, as well as to gain practical work experience which can translate into real money making job when you are older.

Meanwhile, you need to do what other girls your age do if you want to earn money for a horse, college, or anything else. Babysitting is one way you can make money, but there are others, such as walking peoples' dogs for them, mowing the lawns and watering them, and doing other odd jobs. You can check around the neighborhood you live in and ask people if you can watch their houses for them while they are away on vacation this summer- that's an easy way to earn a lot of money, and most people are grateful to have someone responsible around who can keep an eye on things while they are gone. Generally, all something like that involves is doing things like bringing in the mail and newspapers, watering plants and the lawn in really hot weather ( that may just be as simple as flipping a switch to turn an automatic sprinkler system on or off) taking care of any pets in the house, and turning lights on and off at night to make the house look occupied and deter thieves. If the house is close to your home, you can probably ride your bike over to it, which will save your parents some gas money, not to mention being great exercise for you.

Above all, Melissa, you are old enough now to realize that the world doesn't owe anyone a living- nor are your parents obligated in any way to get you a horse. If you really want one that badly, you will have to earn it- and earn enough money to take care of it properly as well. Being a working student, as I have suggested, is one way to work yourself into a position to do just this, because professionals often hire from within when they need help, and if you are in place, trained, and available, you will be surprised at how many opportunities come your way. Plus, people are much more likely to hire someone they already know and trust to work with their horses, as opposed to a stranger they just met. I'm a horse professional myself, and that's what I would do. I don't want to entrust the care of my valuable animals to a newbie or to someone whom I know nothing about- and if you were to put yourself in the position of a professional like me, Melissa, I think you'd probably feel the same way I do, simply because that's human nature. Having horses is a lot like having a child- they are a huge responsibility and a lot of work, and people have to be careful who they let around their animals, just as your parents have to be careful about who YOU associate and spend your time with. I am sure you must know that not everyone should be around horses- in fact, there are people who shouldn't be around ANY animal, period, for very long. The same is true of children, which is why there are strict laws in place to protect kids.

Be patient, be open to learning as much as you can, and work hard, and you will get what you want.  Good luck.

Answer 8

You should rrally wait. Okay, well you are going to need a lot of things especially if you are going to be competing at shows.

Here is a list of pretty much everything your horse id going to need:

Saddle- for a barrel saddle the cheapest is about $600

Bridle- For the bit and headstall and all that is about $50

Saddle pad-$ 25

Leg wraps-$25

Buckets- $15

Fly spray- You will need a new bottle every month- $20 dollars a month

Fly masks-The rip easily so a new one every time it rips $20 for 1

Brushes- $25 for all

Farrier- $30 very other month or so.

Vaccinations- $100

Feed-4,500 a year

Trailer- 4,000

Halter and lead rope- $30

Teeth floated- $100

I am not messing around. You will have to pay for ALL of this. I suggest you wait. I know it will hurt you but just wait! It just wont be possible right now. I think you should lease a horse. Write me if you want horse for lease websites!

Answer 9

I have been in your shoes so I know where you  are coming from ok. My parents also did not want me to be around horses either at that age. Horses cost a lot of money, depending on what breed you are searching for. The up keep can be expensive too. Vet bills, feed, fencing to keep you horse after you get it. The best thing I can tell you is keep having fun with your friends,at 13 that is such a young age to take on a big responsiblilty, especially when no one is willing to help you. ok?  Just be patient and the time will come when you will get your own. I used to own 5. and had none when I was your age.

Answer 10

wow, you are very...confident.  Those pros are not only talented themselves, but they have very talented horses, which cost a lot of money.  And the purses you win at events are not enough to offset the cost of a horse.

You need to just be patient and realize that you don't always get what you want.  I wanted a horse SO bad when I was a kid too, but my family couldn't afford it either and I realized that it wasn't fair to keep pushing them to buy a luxury item like a horse when they were struggling just to pay the bills.  I had to wait until I could afford it myself--which happened to be when I graduated college and had a real job when I was 22.  I"m pretty sure there is nothing a 13 year old can do to make enough money to buy and keep a horse.  Sorry.