Tricky Situation?? Need Suggestions

Question

My parents recently told my that if I can pay for a horse and it's costs, I can buy one. I've done the math, and I found out that I would be able to afford a decent Western Pleasure horse in about 3 or 4 months. I can afford board and other expenses if I work 15-20h a week at min wage. I don't have a job yet, but am applying at many locations. The only problem is: my parents want to move, maybe all the way across the country, in the next year or two. If I have a horse then, they said that unless we move close to where we live now, I will have to sell my horse. We don't know where we want to move yet, we are looking all over, and they aren't even sure if it is possible for us to move in the next year. I really really want to get a horse, at the moment I am riding once a week, at the most. But on the other hand I don't want to buy, only to sell a month later. Please, any suggestions

*Don't recommed a lease, I won't be saving any money for if we move and I can buy a horse where we will move

Answer 1

I know how you feel. I bought a horse only having to sell him no time later because of relocation. As hard as it is save your money that wya you can afford a "better" horse and can put some away for unexpected cost like vet bills and the like.

In the mean time get lots of lessons to occupy yourself. You may not even find a horse you want to really buy until 1-2 years so it really ins't all that bad

Answer 2

I think you should wait. I know you would like a horse now, but believe me you should wait. It is hard to wait, but it will be harder if you have to sell your first horse. When I was 17 my grandfather sold my horse. I never got over losing her. Wait and get a horse when you know you can keep it.

Answer 3

I would not buy if you are positive you will be moving within the year.  If you do buy a horse, make sure that you have enough money saved up to transport it to wherever you may move to (horse trailering usually costs about a dollar a mile)

You sound responsible and goal driven so I am sure you will come up with something!

Best of luck

Answer 4

with horses the unexpected happens. if you are only going to be making just enough then don't do it. lease first i know you don't want to but it's better that way especially since you sound inexperienced. Several years ago I had to spend over a thousand dollars a month trying to save my favorite show horse. eventually we put him down but that's not the point. the point is barley making enough or even making a little more then enough never cuts it. LEASE FIRST

Answer 5

I see your asterisk there, but I'm still going to try to talk you into a lease. If you're a young person - and it seems you are, buying a horse is most often not in your best interest. I know you really want one, but have you considered all the costs yet? Not just feed and hay, but tack, supplements if needed, vet care, farrier, boarding, etc., etc., etc. It takes a lot to care for a horse well, and there are always things that come up with horses. Always. You can't plan for all the things that will come up, and if anybody tells you can, they don't know much about horses. It's always something, and it always costs money. I help out with a charity that rescues horses every day from folks who just can't afford to take care of them any more. There's a lot of people out there who really really want a horse, but just can't afford it. In the end, it's the horse, not the owner that suffers because of it.

For example, your new horse that you don't know much about has just blown this week's paycheck to be shod. He decides that he doesn't like the feel of the shoes that new farrier you don't know much about put on. He mosies over to the nearest fence and hooks the shoes and pulls one off, and almost gets the second one, but not quite. Now he's got messed up front feet that will need special care from a different farrier, as well as a vet visit to take care of that tendon he cut in the wire. So you can't ride him until he heals, and you don't have any money the next few weeks for feed, so you pasture board him. The folks at your boarder missed some thistle that he ate a bunch of, and now he's colic'd.

Sound far fetched? Those kinds of things happen. Every day. I know because that's a true story, and the horse is the one that suffered because the new owners couldn't afford to care for him. Worse things have happened, and do - every day. Next time you are out riding in the country count how many horses you see out in a too-small pen on nothing but bare dirt and you can count their ribs from the road. You don't want to be one of those people.

With a lease, you're paying for your riding time, pretty much. It also has the added benefit of allowing you to trade up as your riding skills progress to get a horse that fits you and allows you to grow. You'd also be able to get a lease no matter where you went, and in the long run, I think it'd be far cheaper for you. You'd be able to have a better quality horse as well versus saving up for a few months to buy. You'll be bringing home around $400/month after taxes. One small vet bill would blow all that away. If you lose your job, or if your schoolwork suffers and your folks make you quit, there's still that horse out there that needs money thrown at him every day.

I know it's not what you want to hear, and probably a pretty negative view on the whole thing, but I really think leasing is probably the best thing to do in your situation. Sorry.

Answer 6

You are going to paint yourself into a corner if you keep thinking that you have to get this horse now.  O.K. 3 or 4 months form now.  You will be complicating things 100 times if you buy now, knowing that the family situation is not settled and  knowing that you cannot take your horse with you when and if you move.  I know it seems hopeless, but why not keep your riding skills up to snuff, find that job you are looking for, work your butt off.  Then when things settle and you know for sure where you will be living and where you can keep your horse...you can buy a horse.  Look at it this way, you can buy tack, and saddle pads, halters, etc etc now, and have them stored away and you can stock pile the $$ that you will need when you do buy the horse.  I know that you are anxious about buying your first horse but really and truly if you stop, and think about it..you know in your heart that it is not wise to do the buying now and suffer the consequences ( parting with your horse)

down the road

Answer 7

Well, you said don't suggest the only feasible suggestions, so you are really making it hard for us. A lease would be the most intelligent thing to do until you move. I would start saving up now and ask my parents if they would let me lease a horse up until the move, seeing as how they cant make up their minds about where they want to go. Then, when you decide where to move and sell your house and such, break the lease and go get a horse where you moved. It wil be alot less painful in the future, trust me!

Answer 8

I would say go ahead and buy the horse

1. you arent even sure if you are really going to move

2. you can always trailer the horse to where you are moving to that way you dont have to sell it  

Answer 9

That's a toughie...until the water settles a bit, maybe there is someone at a stable that you are familiar with that would just let you use their horse, pay the expenses, show it, etc...just so that you have a horse for the moment...you would go into it knowing full well that this is not going to be a permanent situation, but, don't get discouraged, as there are those who have horses boarded who have lost interest and would welcome your interaction and your input...try it, it couldn't hurt.

Answer 10

Just save your money. The more money you have to spend the more options you will have when you go to buy your own horse/pony. Waiting won't make that much of a difference once your riding your own horse/pony!! Plus you may need the first months board saved up once you do buy as you will be in a new area and will need a job again to pay for board. You also don't know how much  the board will be in your new area. Or how much the horse you want will be in that new area.

Don't lease. It's a waste of money if your saving up for your own. Just keep riding when you can and learning all you can!

Good Luck :)

Answer 11

I will never recommend a lease unless it's your only option.  I know how you feel, I caught a horse in 2006 only to have to try and sell him now because I'm going away to school.  My advice is save your money for as long as you can.  Become an excellent rider and do some barn work.  Get to know horses at the barn that you ride at and decide what breed you really like the best.  What do you really look for when you ride?  A horse costs a minimum of 10,000$ per year not including emergency vet costs.  If you save your money,  you can get a very high quality horse.  Even saving up about 5,000 can get you a bombproof horse that you could do anything with.  The horse market is at a dip right now and it's not going to come out of it for a really long time.  Save your money for about a year, by then you'll know if you're moving or not.  You can buy a horse any time after that, but work and save money until then.