My niece wants a horse. The Dad thinks they can't afford to feed one (7 children to feed have priority). I told her maybe someone here can help us out as she lives and breathes horses. They have 5 acres, unfenced and no barn. She's been told they can just build a lean-to for shelter and stake the horse out to graze. How much hay,feed etc. will a healthy horse need? We will check local coops etc. for prices. Will this plan work?? Please help us with any suggestions. Thankyou in advance.

-- slm (queenbuffness@hotmail.com), April 30, 2001

Answers

Hi slm, I am not a horse expert, though we have five of them. Staking out a horse is dangerous because they can become entangled. There was a horse staked out down the road which got tangled in barbed wire and we have another neighbor who does it without incident. I know my horses would freak out. I guess it depends on the temperament of the horse and the chances you're willing to take. A better suggestion may be getting electric fencing that you can move. We have only so much fencing and so we have to do that. Pounding in fence posts every week is rough, but I know someone who does it with those little fiberglass posts: less work than our posts. A lean-to should be at least 10' X 10' so the horse can turn around and lay down in it. It should also be available at all times, unless the horse has access to shelter where it's turned out. It gets hot out in the sun and rainstorms can come suddenly. You want the opening to face S or SE with three sides and a roof. As for costs, our cheapest keep is my small mare. She gets a coffee can of oats each morning and each night. Around here a bag of 50lb bag of oats is $5. She gets no less than 4 slices of hay each day, throughout the day, that's a bit more than half a bale when not grazing. Bales are anywhere from $1.50 off season to $3.00 during the winter. Her feet are done every six weeks at $15-$20 each time, without shoes. There are the spring shots and worming every few months. They are forever pulling at eachother's halters, so we count on the expense of replacements for those and leadlines. Brushes, hoofpicks, and such can be gotten for $1 a piece at auction, but are up to $3 at the local feed store. They make great stocking stuffers, though. Fly spray is important, all kinds at all different prices. If the area where the horse is kept is sandy, you'll want a hay feeder to keep it off the ground. Then there's always the unexpected injuries that cost more if you don't have a horse trailer to get the horse to the vet instead of the extra fee of having him make a house call. Horses can get into the craziest things even when you have a full barn and pasture, they can be charectors! It is an expensive venture, but a horse can do alot for a child. I grew up on the back of my horse and my daughter will grow up on the back of that little mare if all goes well. Maybe she can work at a local barn to get an idea of the work involved before her parents commit so much. Then there's the difficulty of finding a horse-sitter if you ever want to go anywhere! Vacations are hard to take around here!

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), April 30, 2001.

I agree with not staking a horse. Anything can alarm a horse and you don't want it getting hurt. We occasionally set outside with them on a leash and let them eat the grass out of the yard. I have a large gelding and he eats more than half a bale a day. I would say at least 3/4 a bale easy. Horses are great to have but do take time. If I don't ride mine and only my daughter does, he will be a pistol for me once I get back on him. They like attention! Put it all on paper and figure out the finances of owning one best you can. Everyone tells me horses and barbed wire do not mix! So, I'll take their word for it. They say if a horse runs into one, they'll get all cut up and then you have a vet bill. We also put a mineral block out for ours. About $4.

-- Pat (mikulptrc@aol.com), April 30, 2001.

You don't say what condition the 5 acres is in or where you live. Those are variables that will affect how easily a horse can be kept. If there is plenty of grass then you won't NEED supplemental hay and grain in the summer time...just in winter. Horses CAN be staked pretty safely...but they have to be trained to accept it. They have to learn to accept rope wrapped around their legs without panicking. They do learn without much trouble. An alternative to tying by the halter is to single foot hobble them. Works well also. As previously mentioned a three sided shed is sufficient..just make sure it is tall enough for the horse to walk in without it having to duck it's head. Most horses prefer that kind of freedom. Electric fences can work also...but again a horse has to be trained to stay within one..otherwise they might run right through it. An older gelding would be a good choice..although young girls usually want young horses. Something already broke to ride and that has good manners both while you are mounted and while handling him on the ground. Regular worming is important, and fly protection makes the horses's life easier. Also keep in mind he'll need regular trimming or shoeing, depending on how much he's ridden and on what type of suface. Call some local horseshoers or farriers for prices. You'll have to plan to buy hay for the winter. A good alfalfa/grass mix, or timothy is good, usually a ton or two, depending on the size and appetite of the horse. I grew up with a "backyard" horse, keeping one on less than half an acre. We supplemented feed, staked her out, and at times let her graze in the yard. She lived to be 35 years old. I've kept horses in many different situations since then..from always stalled with just a small run to on acreage. There are many acceptable ways to keep a horse..the animals health and safety being the biggest concern. Write if you want any more detailed info. on training to stake or electric fencing. Good luck!!!

-- Deborah (bearwaoman@Yahoo.com), April 30, 2001.

A few years ago I added a four or five stall stable onto an existing barn for some folks who owned two horses. They were well off. They told me that they had over twenty-five grand into the whole operation at that point, not counting feed. There was the horse trailer, the fencing, some cat work to level their pasture, the barn, the vet bills, the ferrier bills, and I don't remember what all.

I know that I can't afford a horse! (MY poor daughter had to settle for a mountain bike)

JOJ

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@ecoweb.net), April 30, 2001.

You didn't say where your niece lives but that will make a difference on feed and costs. As long as the horse has a run-in shed they will manage in any kind of weather, wet is much worse than cold. My horses did fine wintering out in Montana even at 20-below but do not do as well here in Kentucky in milder temperatures with rain. In some areas of the country where there is a lot of rain and grass/hay grows constantly the food value is much less than in areas of the country where you have spring rain and basically one grass crop ... I have to supplement with grain here in Kentucky (and I've had people tell me the same holds true in areas like Washington state, with similar climate conditions ... lots of rain, mild temperatures, pasture grows nearly year-round) but did not have to supplement horses in Montana on pasture during the summer or on hay in winter.

I've had several horses that were picket-broke and very reliable, never got into trouble, but they do have to be trained first. They are also very well broke to electric fence and I've even done temporary fencing with just baler twine that's flagged like the electric fence. If they're behind it long, they'll figure it out but for a couple of days ... or as a temporary divider ... it works.

-- SFM in KY (timberln@hyperaction.net), April 30, 2001.

Questions more important to answer than money are why this girl wants a horse, what does she really know about owning and caring for a large animal and how committed she is long term. If she hasn't already, can I suggest that she finds a local stable that needs someone to muck out stables and volunteers to help in exchange for riding priveleges. This way she can learn what is truly involved in keeping a horse or other large animal and decide if its really for her or just a romantic notion. Alternatively, contact the local 4H and ask if she can work with someone who has horses under thier auspices. Either way, she can gain knowledge without too much cost.

-- ray s (mmoetc@yahoo.com), April 30, 2001.

Only rich people can have horses!! ( a running joke around here) We have about $3000 in our barn ( 30 x 20 feet) with a loft, and fencing about 5 acres. We did all the work ourselves and used salvaged lumber when possible. My husband trims the feet himself and we don't need shoes. Our costs for each horse per year runs about $400, barring any extreme accidents. We are very careful to make sure accidents don't happen but horses have a way of getting into the one thing they shouldn't! It isn't a cheap hobby, but the enjoyment is worth it.

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), April 30, 2001.

Well, all these answers are going to give you a lot to think about.

I used to stake out my old QH mare, who was phlegmatic in the extreme, but she got into trouble with the rope and badly cut one foot on it that took months of doctoring. She was okay, but I was extremely lucky that she didn't permanently injure herself on it and have to be destroyed. My Shetland had gotten along okay, so I figured she would. Not always the case. If you have a hyper horse, it's going to be even harder to impossible. And if the horse is running around screaming for others (they're a herd animal, after all) they are going to tangle in that rope in a BIG hurry. And you have to worry about things like dogs chasing the horse, and humans torturing the horse in situations like that.

Consider something like solar-powered electric fencing. A friend of mine uses it quite well for her three horses. Of course, she has had a few chases down the highway after them when the gate wasn't closed properly, or a tree limb took down a section.

I used to be able to do my horse and pony on a dollar per animal per day. That is no longer the case. Hay prices have risen in recent years and will rise higher (our hay man -- bless him -- has been keeping prices down, but gasoline rises are going to affect the prices this year for sure, and he says a lot of the hay farmers around him are going out of business due to not being able to make enough to live on, and selling their land to developers for houses.)

Definitely get your niece working somewhere with horses FIRST! You will save a lot of money that way finding out what doesn't work. Try and find her a nice grueling job with horses (my first one was 14+ hours a day, 7 days a week) and make sure that it overlaps a lot of fun activities, so she can find out what a total commitment to horses is really like. You can't just leave the horse for the weekend without someone there to feed and water and make sure he's not colicking, or has choke, or has been otherwise injured and needs immediate vet care. This isn't to discourage, this is to educate as to what sacrifices are involved in having horses. I used to put students to work mucking stalls for the first month -- at the end of the month, the ones who were still around and doing a good job were the ones who got to ride.

Also figure that you are going to need enough knowlege to keep a horse in top health, because vet bills are WAY expensive. Does she know the signs of colic? Cornea injuries? How to stop bleeding and which injuries are medical emergencies? I get a lot of phone calls from horse people in the area to look at their horse, etc., and see if they need to call the vet. But it's taken 25 years to accumulate that knowlege (and yes, if it's not something simple and likely to be complicated, I tell them to call the vet rather than monkey around with it). If the horse is going to need shoes, figure on adding $25 every 6-8 weeks for the farrier. Come to that, that's just what I pay for a barefoot trim every 6-8, shoes cost more. I don't advise that you plan on doing it yourself, it takes specialized knowlege and a lot of hand strength. (I gave up after slashing my wrist with the hoof knife and decided to PAY the farrier instead of the emergency room people) Also there are shots that are neccessary. Skipping a tetnus shot on horses is plain foolish. (you can lose your horse by cheaping on a $10 shot) But there are other diseases that you need protection against as well, and immunization can run up to $100 a year. There are also teeth that need looking at, and altho I can't remember what that costs (my horses are all so different that there is no 'average' on that bill), but $60 wouldn't be out of line to expect. If you buy a horse with bad teeth, they may have to be done twice a year. If you're lucky, or get a simple problem corrected, you may be able to go a year or two without, but it can't be ignored and should be checked annually by your vet at the very least. And there is deworming. You can do that yourself, but figure that it is going to cost at least $10-15 every other month.

I don't really want to thoroughly squash your niece's desires, but I've seen a lot of people buy horses thinking "How expensive can this be? They eat grass." and not realize that that 'grass' they have is nothing but inedible weeds, sometimes poisonous weeds, and pretty soon they are in trouble. They don't realize that winter comes, pastures stop growing, and you have to buy hay to feed the horse. And have somewhere dry to store it. They spend what little money they have building a shelter and putting up fences (Another vote to NEVER USE BARBED WIRE!!! NEVER!!) only to have the 'healthy' horse they bought develop heaves (CPD) anyway, or colic (death is a real possibility), and have to give up the horse due to vet bills, or just plain find out that it's not as much fun as they thought it was going to be. The average length of horse ownership is 1 1/2 years.

As I said, I don't mean to be discouraging, but it sure helps to know where the pitfalls of horse ownership are before you step in and break a leg. You can perhaps also check around while looking for stables to work at and see if anyone there is willing to lease a horse (remember though, that summer leases are very high. People want to be riding their own horse in nice weather, it's one of the reasons they paid all the hay bills all winter.), or partial lease, so that she can get her experience without having the major outlay of cost for fencing, buying the horse, etc. Lesson stables will often trade work for lessons. Or, if they will hire her to work, let her do that and pay for her own lessons there, which in my experience is usally a more satisfactory way to go for all concerned.

I sure sympathize with your niece's plight. It took me 21 years to get horses, but it's been worth all the work and sacrifice for me. Hopefully she can work something out. Best luck.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), April 30, 2001.

This can be done.... But at what cost??? If she truly lives and breathes horses, then she will want a happy and a healthy horse. What you have described will not promote either.

Where does she live?? Climate will depend on whether or not she can get away with the lean-to shelter. Popular 'wisdom' says a minimum three-sided stall. They aren't that expensive if you build yourself. But, pine won't work... Horses are very strong, and have a personality all their own. A lean to will not protect from wind. Drafts cause a lot of problems with horses - unless you get a Fjord or Norwegian...

Horses can be trained to a lead... A buddy I used to drive for keeps his on leads sunk into the ground (like dog chains) all day - but only when they can be supervised. Continual watching isn't necessary, but occasional checks are. Large chains are fed through a section of garden hose (for safety) and attached to a 'pin' in the ground. Horses can get caught up on chains - even with hoses on them. They are also easily pulled from the ground - no matter how good you think they are anchored.

However, he has had a number of accidents doing this that could have cost him his horses, as well as the property damage to others and himself. It IS NOT a good practice, but it can be done. Horses can't run and exercise when on leads like that. He does have fenced paddocks as well. They might be required to get insurance if they plan this type of arrangement.

Bedding still has to be considered - even for a horse strictly on pasture. The main reason for bedding is leg care, not absorbtion. Along these lines, hay can be fed on the ground, but grain and water cannot. Buckets will be needed, and preferably they can be hung where the horse can't step in them.

If its a matter of graze or nothing, then no. She can't afford a horse. Hay is fed by the flake. One a day in the summer if the horse has access to GOOD pasture, and two to four per day in the winter. An average two string bale is 8+ flakes. Grain - at least three cups per day MINIMUM. Also, it is better to buy a mixed 'cob' type than just one grain. Too many oats will cause bloating. Too much corn will overheat a horse. COB also contains minerals and a little molasses. Things that would have to be provided if they are not in the mix. We used to give 4 cups of COB in the mornings, and a loaf of stale bread each night. Then there is the salt lick and the occasional apple and carrots.

The horse will need worming AT LEAST twice per year, most often quarterly. There are annual visits for floating the teeth. Grooming tools must be kept in good repair and clean. Hooves need trimming at least once every six to eight weeks. Shoes are required if she'll be riding on the street, though they are not absolutely necessary in a country setting. Horses often have regular shots just like dogs... depends on the setting.

If she is going to show the horse or take it out of its County of residence, there are tests and licenses to consider. Some states, counties and cities require licenses to ride on public roads and/or trails. She will need to check the law.

Tack??? Even a used saddle can cost up over $100. And, saddles require pads and blankets of their own. Bridles, halters, blankets, wraps, lead lines, longe lines etc. must be figured in. If the horse is clipped due to heat in the summer, it might require a blanket on cooler nights. Liniments, ointments, etc are also required - especially for horses that don't wear shoes. Hooves will have to be treated to prevent cracking if the horse doesn't wear shoes.

Then there is the training. Its more a matter of time than expertise or expense... Teens often train their own horses. But, most horses are not trained to be staked out, so she would be with that horse every minute of every day until it could be trusted. Training requires an awful lot of time spent with the animal, several times a day if it is young. If its trained to ride, that doesn't mean that its trained to what she wants to do. Nor does it mean that its been trained to gracefully move into such different circumstances from what most horses are used to.

Does she have the time to groom the horse every day? To clean up its 'area'? To ride it every day? Horses that are not ridden daily can get barn sour. It is not necessary to ride every single day, but that should be the goal. They simply are not happy critters when they aren't working. She will probably have to shoulder all of these responsibilities by herself. She must also go on 'dung patrol' throughout the pasture on a very regular basis. Is she using a spreader, or will there be a manure pile to deal with?? It can't go straight to the garden, so there must be somewhere to store it while it cures for at least a couple seasons. Near the 'stable' it is a twice per day chore without fail. Horses left to stand in a confined area are prone to leg and foot problems. Manure and urine on the feet is a major cause of lameness. In the field, if it is very small, it is every other day. Feeding is also a twice per day job. Grooming should be done once each day and should include picking of hooves. Does she have the time to do all this??

She needs to check the local, county and state laws if she plans to ride anywhere but on their property.

I have worked on race tracks, in pleasure stables and also on farms with horses... There is a lot more to consider than what you mentioned.

If she is on her own with all this, I would think it a very large responsibility for a young girl. While she can learn to do some of these things (and I would encourage that), it will take time and will cost money in the mean time. Having a horse is a lot more than whether or not you have to buy hay. Those chores are going to be there the night of the big date, the school dance or the homecoming game.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 30, 2001.

We bought our 11 year old daughter a horse last September. But ONLY after she spent a year and a half learning how to ride by taking professional lessons. She learned groundwork, grooming, riding, etc during that time. Then we borrowed a horse from May through September to be sure she wanted the responsibility of such a massive animal. Over the summer, she learned to train that horse, learned about possible horse problems, learned about the farrier, etc. When we felt she was ready, and as long as she still had that great desire, we turned to her trainer to help us find a horse. Thankfully, she knew of this one that we bought and she has worked with this particular horse before.

My best advice is to try to do what we did with your niece first. At the very least, have her work at a stable or get into 4H and the Horseless Horse project there. Horses are very expensive, but the bond that a child can share with a horse is incredible. Bailey, my DD's horse, has really brought out her confidence in herself and made her shine. And be prepared, once there is one horse, more are sure to follow! We are borrowing that first horse again this summer so we parents can ride too! Eventually, each of us will have a horse of our own.

-- Lisa in WI (lehman16@vbe.com), April 30, 2001.

If you have to ask you can't afford it. Horses are expensive to care for the properly. There is no reason to have one if you can't care for it. I know little girls are horse crazy(against my better judgment I'm getting my daughter one this summer). If your neice doesn't have someone to teach her proper horsemanship there is the very real possibility of injury to her and the horse. Have her take equestrian lessons. If she can afford the lessons then she should be able to afford the horse and they will both be much happier.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), April 30, 2001.

Horses are a money pit. Everything about a horse costs money: farriers, vets, feed, transportation, etc, yet they contribute nothing to their own keep, unlike a cow, goat or sheep. Unless you have harnesses and old fashioned farm equipment and the skill to use it, the horse is purely for enjoyment. The cost will never end and you can hardly eat the horse.

-- Skip Walton (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), May 01, 2001.

You know what they say....if you have to ask, you can't afford it! :^) You'll have the normal stuff, like feed, farrier about every 6-8 weeks to trim the hooves if they're not on rocky land, vet (if they don't give their own innoculations), etc. But are they prepared to pay for the unexpected? Some horses are an accident waiting to happen! If the vet can't come to them, what about a horse trailer that will be needed to transport the horse to the vet?

A horse needs room to run to stay healthy. If he's in a small place and not moving much, the blood isn't being pumped to the frog in his hoof. No hoof, no horse.

What about the tack needed for riding ~ saddle, bridle, halter, lead ropes....the list goes on and on.

Do these folks know anything about being around horses or are THEY an accident waiting to happen!

I would suggest they do bunches of research before making this commitment. Talk to horse folks, feed stores, a riding instructor for the kid, etc., etc., etc.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), May 01, 2001.

Hello,

Hope I can be of assitance. I have a horse ranch. Where you live does play a big factor on how much grazing a horse can do. But here are the feed requirements. A horse needs between 1.5 to 2.0% of their total body weight each day in feed. Some a little more, some a little less. An average horse weighs about 900 pounds. Most hay bales weigh about 60 pounds. Round bales weigh about 900 pounds. So, it depends on where you buy your hay. Alfalfa hay costs more but you can feed less, in the 1.5% range or less. So, those are your basic feed costs. You can feed some grain, tho usually thats more for winter months when its cold. I feed maybe 5-8 pounds maximum per day if its really cold. This isn't a must if there is plenty of hay.

For shelter the horse needs something to get out of the wind. A roof isn't required unless you get freezing rain. Yes its nice, but nope not a necessity. I've raised horses in Nebraska, California and now Oklahoma. Wind protection, even if its a good stand of tree's is the most important.

Other regular costs are hooves and worming. Hooves during warm months need trimmed usually about every 8 weeks. Some more often, some less. When its cold its about every 10-12 weeks. This costs 15-25 depending on your area. Worming is done after the first hard frost then again about a month after it starts warming up, then every 3 months. This runs 8-10 per worming with at least one good high end wormer Ivermectrin, about $14, once a year at least. A broad spectrum vacination, usually called a 4 way, costs about $12.00 once per year if you give it yourself.

A pen of some kind is a necessity. Hobbling to graze I think is alot better than staking out. The horse won't run in hobbles. A four strand hot wire with the top and 3rd wire hot would probably be the most efficient and least expensive route to go for a pen. Hobble the horse to graze days and put in the pen at night.

Hope this helps

-- Stacia in OK (oneclassycowgirl@aol.com), May 01, 2001.

Gosh, they way most of you are talking, I can't afford my horses and have no business having any!

Food is probably the least expense of keeping a horse. We prefer complete feeds for ours rather than cob or oats, that way we don't need any extra vitamins and our girls don't get "hot." We give hay when needed and pasture and lawn. 5 acres is plenty of room to keep 1 horse on pasture, if it is in pasture.

The best investment in keeping a horse is the shelter and the fence. Our barn is made from salvage and cost less than $100. to build. It is permanent. Put in as much fence as you can afford, at least 2 acres to start. We have a 2 strand electric fence and a charger operated by car battery. Insulators can be mounted on trees to save money on posts. KENCOVE FENCE have some very good products and advice for fencing to save money. Fences and shelters can be used for other critters, too.

The best medicine for a horse is preventive medicine. Vaccinations, wormings, lots of open space, good shelter, fly control, good fences, daily care, fresh water, knowledge and an experienced friend can save you a fortune on vets. Buying a healthy horse with good feet will save you money in the long run. Buying a smaller, "easykeeper" will be more economical, too. Never neglect the feet and be very, very nice to the farrier.

If a horse is just not working out for the kid, and she finds she really doesn't like them after all (yeah, right!) they can resold or leased out. It's not like you are stuck with them forever.

Let's talk about the positive rewards of a young girl owning a horse. It gives kids something to do besides growing up bored and getting into trouble like townkids do. It teaches responsibility, it opens a whole new world of knowledge to aquire, books to read, methods to try. Having a horse means more physical activity, cleaning, grooming, mucking, riding, exersising.

A horse can bring siblings closer together as you can bet there is more than one child in the family that's interested in a horse. Owning a horse brings a whole new crowd of friends to ride with and adults to learn from. Your farrier will know everyone in the area with a horse for her to get to know and local events to go watch even when she can't take her own horse. Eventually, someone will have room in their trailer for her to hitch along in.

Being in 4-H means lots of new friends and at least a 10% discount at tack stores and some feed stores. Rope halters can be tied yourself and lead ropes are easy. Many people, including kids, ride bareback with only the rope halter and rope reins. Used tack is easy to come by. Many people will give you old headstalls, bits and blankets. Saddle pads and blankets are easy to make or can be purchased for a couple of bucks at a used tack sale. Saddles should be bought used and should be fitted by an experienced person. Most kids prefer a bareback pad. A used one can be had for $20 or less.

Last but never least are those valuable gold nuggets that horses leave all over the place or in the corner of their field. I know for a fact that that garden plants LOVE these nuggets. They need to be aged for about 120 days for them to work their magic, but any good gardener will be willing to gather them and wait for them to mature. As our horse expense comes from my grocery budget, this is a good deal for me, the more they poop the more food I can grow next year.

I think I am just prejudice as there is nothing worth more to me than seeing my daughters work hard cleaning a stall, reaching a new level of horsemanship or just feeding a bouquet of dandylions, daisies and clover to a gentle giant. The friendships gained through horses in my life and in my children's mean more to us then the horses themselves.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@hotmail.com), May 04, 2001.

In response to the above post about bareback pads, DO NOT USE THEM. Unless you go with one of the $100+ ones, they are dangerous. Numerous children and adults have been injured, and in several cases killed relying on them. They're cheap, and they're not worth it. They are made out of inferior materials that let go while riding, and either dump the person (even if you have a good sense of balance and are experienced, sitting on a mass of slippery, rolling fake fleece that suddenly comes loose at the canter makes staying aboard a real problem) outright, or dump them with their foot through the attached stirrup, in which case you can end up being dragged -- which is how most deaths occur, through massive head injuries. We had another fatality due to such only a couple months ago. Wearing a helmet (always recommended if not outright required for lessons, trail riding, and competing in showing) MAY save your life (a friend of mine hit the concrete off a horse wearing one, cracked it clear through, and if she hadn't been wearing it she would probably have been killed. And she is a very competent rider who has competed in cross-country, dressage, and cutting.), but it will not prevent a broken neck.

You are better off with no saddle at all than a bareback pad like the cheapy ones found at discount suppliers. There is a previous thread in the archives discussing this, but I don't want any inexperienced people buying one for their child thinking they're saving money only to wind up in the emergency room or worse.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), May 04, 2001.

One other thought after re-reading posts. Here in Wisconsin(as in some other states), it is REQUIRED by law that you provide shelter for a horse. Tree cover is not considered shelter. If you do not, other than it being inhumane to the horse, you can get the horse taken away for improper care. Last spring I was part of a rescue project that took 125 horses away from a woman who -- among much worse things -- didn't provide shelter for her horses (we found 9 dead horses, don't know how many others they'd hidden). The good news is that it doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive shelter, a 3-sided run-in shed that has the opening away from prevailing winds/rain (that means to the south east around here), and sufficiently deep that the horse can stand back inside and not get soaked meets the requirements. A friend of mine keeps her three old rescue horses in just such a structure, that they built out of slabs left over from their saw mill. Those are available cheaply, if not for free (nothing wood seems free anymore...) and require some ingenuity to cut down on the drafts, but work out well. It's inexpensive to replace boards when the horses chew them to pieces out of boredom, and it allows enough air circulation so that they don't get their respiratory problems aggravated. They roofed theirs with lapped slabs as well, but left over shingles or tarpaper would probably work as well, if you're not in a very hot climate that would get too much solar gain from the black colour. I don't advocate a metal roof, too much danger of lightening strikes.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), May 04, 2001.

Great post Laura! How about rescueing a large standard donkey? They have more minimal requirements than horses, can be ridden, trained to carts, and like the kid down the road, pack. You can see him most weekends leading his donkey with an X pack on the back of it. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 04, 2001.

Good morning to all, Just finished reading all the posts here about horses and the cost of keeping one. I think that there are about as many ways to maintain a horse as there are horses out there being maintained. Everyone has a different method this madness! And yes, owning horses is a sort of madness - once started it is very hard to overcome. I would suggest the following (1) start slowly...do not get the horse until after you have (a) fencing and make sure it is adequate for the horse's height and personality (some are great escape artists), (b) shelter - a 12' x 12' x 12" is large enough for most horses, and (c) water source and don't rely on a 5 gallon flat back bucket unless you will be there all day to refill it. Most horses can drink up to thirty gallons a day in hot humid weather. Our horses have a self-filling water trough that uses an $8 float system which works great. And while you are working on that, spend some time at a riding stable or trainer's and let the girl work (not just ride) with horses. Nothing will put a kid off horses faster (if they aren't serious) than having to give up hanging with friends to muck a stall in hot, cold, wet etc weather. If the girl would rather sleep in the barn than go to the movies, then she's pretty serious about the horse. Work out a lease arrangement with someone where the horse stays at their place (during the first few months) where she can spend time learning how to groom, pick up and clean hooves, blanket, saddle, bridle, etc. She can earn her lessons by cleaning tack at many barns. Yep there's another expense: riding helmet and boots with a 1 to 2 inch heel, saddle, bridle, blanket, halter, lead, horse brushes, leather cleaner of some type, fly spray, and hoof pick as bare minimums. Each can be purchased fairly reasonably if you take the time to shop around, or find a horse owner who's giving up his horse and equipment. During all this time, the parents are still working on the shelter, fences,etc. Don't forget a place to store feed and hay too. If the parents get to the point where the child is still focused on horses and is still pestering them for the horse, then start shopping around for one. Begin with the leased animal if the owner will sell, if not, then her riding instructor, a 4-H or pony club instructor or folks right here on the forum can contribute leads. Buy the best possible horse you can afford. Note I did not say Most Expensive..Best in these terms are: healthy (get a vet certificate if possible, better to spend a few bucks to make sure the horse is generally healthy and not suffering from some weird leg problem that only shows up when the horse is ridden daily), good feet (contact the farrier that tends the animal, if possible), and get a horse that is trained to ride. Young unbroke animals are cheap - there's a reason for that! Ok - so you found a few possible animals - have the girl ride them and let her instructor or experienced horse person give their opinion as to whether the horse "fits" the girl. This may save a lot of grief in the future as most children want the first horse they ride (sometimes they think that if they don't take the first one, they will end up with no horse - what can I say, kid logic). The better trained the animal, if it needs to be resold later, you will most likely recoup your investment. Go for the basics here: good walk, pleasing personality (no biting, rearing, pulling back, easy to catch in the pasture, picks up feet, doesn't kick, stands for the farrier and LOADS in the horse trailer. Make sure you are buying a horse that does what the child wants to do - Belgians can jump but not as well as the lighter horses. As far as feed and hay goes, every horse is an individual. Some need to eat more, some less to maintain their weight and there are many good books around on horse nutrition you can get. I feed one 1000 pound roll of hay to my three girls every 7-8 days, it is fed free choice and is in a feeder off the ground. Each horse gets 2-3 pounds of horse feed mixed with oats twice daily. I adjust feed according to the weather (cold weather, I feed a little more, not riding as much - they get a little less). Worming is every 8 weeks, using rotational paste worming. I give my own vaccinations yearly. I don't recommend staking horses out, although judging by the folks here, there are pros and cons to either side. I just don't do it as the potential for accidents is too great and horse vets aren't cheap. I do let the girls out to graze on the lawn when I am home and they put themselves back in their paddock. We live way off the road but only let them out when we are close by. We have multiple 2 acre paddocks which can be rotated to keep the worm counts down and not overstress any one area of grass. I spend about 200 per month on hay and about $250 a month on feed for three horses. Some months I may spend a little more, but hardly ever any less. Make sure you have access to good hay in your area and a way to either haul it home or have it delivered. Horses are wonderful for kids as long as they fully understand the constant care the animal requires. They are expensive to maintain compared with other activities, but there's nothing like watching a child grow with their horse.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), May 05, 2001.

Wow! All this info makes me wonder how we ever had cowboys and horses survived, for centuries. Certainly in the Old West, they didn't have access to all these needs/vets/meds/vets. How did they do it?

Definitely has given me plenty of info to pass on to hubby, whose dream is to own a few. We are planning on renting out 3 acres to neighbors with 3 horses, just for summer grazing. They will fix fencing, too, since animals haven't grazed here in at least 20yrs. We are in NW IL...what is the going rate for rented pasture, in this instance? Sounds like they are doing the hot wire/t-post fencing, which I'm not thrilled with but...

I once knew of people who had horses removed from them, due to lack of care. My heart about broke, seeing the way they looked. Don't know how they could have been so neglectful of such beautiful creatures!

Jody

-- Jody (ruready@cin.net), May 07, 2001.

Hey! Well u have enough land for a horse, all you need is a a bit of wood, and you could make a stall/barn!!! All a horse needs is a field of grass and every thing like grooming equip, tack, and lotza luv!!! and learn how to grow hay and there ya go! but of course you'll need a vet. now my best friend has hadda horse for 7 years and it hasnt had one problem! but you HAVE TO have a farrier ( just in case you dont know a farrier puts on horses shoes and you HAVE to have one no excuse and it cost 60$ canadian) . and you need it dewourmed aproxametly every 12 weeks about 20$ canadian. you need the farrier to come in every few months when ever his hooves look long! And e-mail me back with the results when ever!!! Thanks and good luck with your neice!! p.s.. Dont stake your horse out in the field, you NEED a fence. it does cost much but it you cant afford a fence then dont getta horse ____

-- Sasha Gill (Tory_sasha@hotmail.com), August 19, 2001.

hi my name is julia and i hav a newfoundland pony named trigger and we were faced with the question of can we afford another horse well we talked it over and i have some advise to give you if you have you build a lil shed like thing or a barn it doesn't cost that much... if you wanna a horse that will be doing 10 hours a week or hevy work it would be good to feed him/her 1 cup of sweetfed and 1 of beet pulp so on and like 3 flakes of hay in the summer you will not need to give him/her so much grain or at all my newfoundland pony doesn't need grain in the summer so in the summer you could leave him outside all the time like with my horse and feed him little or no grain (depends on the work being done) also it will save you money on buying shavings and beding you won't need to only ocationally :) when you think about it horses don't cost that much but you must MUST NOT STAKE YOUR HORSE OUR TI GRAZE

-- Julia .... (ponygal1111@hotmail.com), September 25, 2001.

hi my name is julia and i hav a newfoundland pony named trigger and we were faced with the question of can we afford another horse well we talked it over and i have some advise to give you if you have you build a lil shed like thing or a barn it doesn't cost that much... if you wanna a horse that will be doing 10 hours a week or hevy work it would be good to feed him/her 1 cup of sweetfed and 1 of beet pulp so on and like 3 flakes of hay in the summer you will not need to give him/her so much grain or at all my newfoundland pony doesn't need grain in the summer so in the summer you could leave him outside all the time like with my horse and feed him little or no grain (depends on the work being done) also it will save you money on buying shavings and beding you won't need to only ocationally :) when you think about it horses don't cost that much but you must MUST NOT STAKE YOUR HORSE OUR To GRAZE it is very dangerouse !!!!!! the horse could break his.her leg!!!!! and die well thanks for you time, Julia

-- Julia .... (ponygal1111@hotmail.com), September 25, 2001.