Mommy, Can I Have a Horsey?
Published by GHC • Aug 31st, 2007 • Category: Horse Advice, Junior Blogger Archives
by Marisa, age 11
We all love horses, but many of us don’t have our own, including me. Here are some ideas to convince your parents that you are responsible enough to keep your own horse.
First of all you need to think, “Is it really worth it? Will it be too much work for me?” If you think it will be too hard you can always lease a horse, go to horse camps, or take riding lessons. Your parents might remember the time you had another pet and you never took care of it. You need to prove that you are responsible. Do chores around the house, clean your room before your parents tell you to, or wash the dishes for a day.
You need to remember that if you have a horse you will have it until it dies. This may take up to 25 years if you get it as a little colt or filly. Will you be committed enough to feed it, clean it, and exercise it everyday? Do you live near an equestrian center so that you can stable your horse? Are you willing to sacrifice something for a horse like… Maybe a birthday present you’ve been wanting since last year?
Do you have enough experience? Can you groom, clean hooves, muck stalls, ride well, tack up horses well, and handle horses well? You or your parents will also need to know when it is time to take your horse for a check-up by the vet. If you don’t think you are experienced enough, it is a good idea to take riding lessons, going to horse camps, or leasing a horse before actually buying one.
If all of this is okay with you, it’s time to see if it is okay with your parents. You might want to send them an e-mail about how you can take care of the horse. Or you can talk it out. You will definitely want to let them know that you know the expenses and tell them how much it will cost. A horse can cost as little as $500, to $5,000. And the equipment will also cost a lot.
BARN TOOLS
- Stable forks - $20-$30 each
- Brooms - $10-$20 each
- Wheel barrows - $50-$150
GROOMING TOOLS
- Brushes - $3-$20 each
- First-aid items, grooming products, etc. Budget - $10-$100
TACK**
- Saddle - $500-$2000 each
- Bridle - $50-$200 each
- Halter - $10-$100 each
- Blankets - $75-$200 each
- Bandages - $20-$100 a set
**Prices ranges are for new tack. Good used tack can often be found at lower prices.
TRAVEL
- Truck and trailer - $5,000-$75,000. If you do not have your own trailer expect to pay 25ยข-$1 per mile
- Horses that travel need health certificates and additional vaccines and tests - $10-$100
HEALTHCARE
- Vaccines - $20-$100
- Worming every 6-12 months - $4-$12
- Every 6-8 weeks Hoof care
- Hoof care - $10-$25 for trimming every 4-8 weeks, or $40-$100 for shoes every 4-8 weeks
- Dentist - $20-$100 once a year
BOARD
- Depending upon the services provided, board ranges from $50-$2,000 a month. Full board may include feed, bedding, training and care, but may not include worming, shoeing etc.
That’s a lot of money, but it is definitely all worth it!
Whatever you do, do NOT buy a horse from the auctions. No matter how healthy the horse may look there is a large possibility that it had been drugged just to make it look healthy and calm. It’s very terrible and I don’t know why some people would do that! It would be so heart-breaking to take a horse home from the auctions and find out it’s lame and can never be ridden again. And the horses there look very calm, but the truth is that they are terrified and have never been around people so they ‘freeze’. So when you take that horse home and try to ride it, it can be dangerous. The horse also may have some bad habits that the original owner didn’t care to let you know about. Like, the horse may be afraid of cars, may not let you clean one of it’s hooves, it can be afraid of water, or even mailboxes. This can also get dangerous if you don’t know these things.
Inform your parents about the positives of keeping a horse. You will learn responsibility, self-discipline and trustworthiness. You’ll learn that hard work really pays off and you’ll gain self-confidence. It’s a lot of fun, it makes you stronger and… gets you off the computer!
I’ve given you just about all the advice I have so… Good luck, and I hope you get the horse of your dreams! Never give up and keep fighting for it!
GHC Note: For many great informational articles about horses, go to horses.about.com and check out the topics along the left.
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Welcome to the J.B thingy Marisa! lol :D good blog, hmm.. :-/ think it’s completely impossible for me to have a horse or pony, so i’ll just have to stick with the computer ;)
Great blog Marisa! It really tells people about the responsibilty that a horse brings. And, like you, I don’t have a horse, but I’m happ with riding lessons. ;)
I love it, nice job. Probably won’t happen with my mom, but still I love it!
Thanks! I hope these tips helped!!! I spent a really long time looking up all of the information for this blog! I wanted it to be as truthful as possible!!!
Great guid, too bad it dosen’t help me. I dn’t know much about actualy horse care and it’s very expensive! :P
Great Marisa, welcome to the Jr. Blogger team! :-h I love this blog, it’s so informative and useful, I’ll be sure to read through it hundreds of times!
Mustang_Heart, I’m positive that this will elp you! Just study up on your horse knowledge and beg your parents to let you take lessons or camp and soon you’ll be a profesional! Then you can lease a horse and eventually buy your very own horse! A dream come true! :)
Yeah, I wish, but monney for lessons in too expensive. ): we’ve looked into them before. -HOWEVER- I do get to ride via a niehgboor’s friend. ;)
I know, those are expensive! I don’t get to do that very often… Well, I go to horse camp sometimes over summer vacation. You are lucky to have a neighbor with a horse! That way you can ride the horse a lot! :)
Not a neighbooor, a neighboor’s friend. ;) but, yes, very nice. ;) I get to know the horses well, and don’t forget the dogs and cat!
Awesome blog Marissa! Very informative! My parents wont let me buy one yet but they’re thinking about letting me lease!! :D
Awsome blog!! Welcome new J.B.!!!!!!!!
Thank you Tori! :)
I love that!!!! :D
Grat Blog! A++++++++!
-Hannah
Thanks everyone! I hope this will help!!!