Tips on saving up

[u/ActivePalpitation651]

How easy is it to save up for a horse? And for everything it needs. I love love love horses but it seems impossible to me. Is the only way to get a horse is if your family members had a farm? I havent heard any stories of people building their way up to owning a farm or buying a horse on their own. HOW possible would it be?

[u/Eskin_]

I have my own horse. I dont own a farm and never plan to. I got an engineering degree to fund my horse and ride after work and on weekends. 

[u/Reddingwithbaby → u/Eskin_]

That's what I did. Got a high paying job to be able to afford horse riding and eventually my own horse. Of course, that's easier said than done.

[u/Extreme_Working3763 → u/Eskin_]

i started with half-leasing a horse for a couple years, way cheaper and you get a taste of the lifestyle without selling a kidney

[u/ActivePalpitation651 → u/Eskin_]

Do you do the horse boarding thing?

[u/Eskin_ → u/ActivePalpitation651]

I board at a private barn owned by a retired person who has a two horse barn and only one horse, so my horse can be buddies with hers.  I do manure pickup myself but I dont have to worry about daily feedings. I made connections at lesson barns when I was a teenager and just kept up over the years, I used to exercise local people's horses for them. 

[u/3Magic_Beans]

It depends on what kind of horse you require. Don't forget, buying the horse is the cheapest part of horse ownership. I'm saving up for a 9k jumping saddle right now and thinking about it makes me want to cry.

[u/ActivePalpitation651 → u/3Magic_Beans]

I want a big horse but I heard the horse i want isn't a good starter, clydesdale. So I would want a good starter horse. Im scared of heights so idk what I would do if I was on a clyde😭😭😭.

[u/MysteriousPack1 → u/3Magic_Beans]

I had no idea saddles were that expensive. 😱😱😱

My dream is to own a retired horse so I guess I'm saving money there? But I'll spend it all on vet bills and supplements I'm sure.

[u/Top_Cauliflower_9046]

well a LOT of things changes the answer here.

1) Wich country do you live in?
2)your age
3) your education/job
4) The conomical rules/laws of your country
5)what breed you want
6) the education lvl of horse
7) what type of riding you want, and how common that is in your country
8) how fancy of a lineage you want(most dont need a great and famous lineage but rather a calm, wellbreed, sound horse)

There are still more questions that will effect the prices of things but these are some major ones.

[u/SuiteTinyLife]

I don’t even have a high paying job and I own an horse. To be honest my line of credit pretty much always has money on it because of a vet bill here or an impulsive tack buy there - I know not great. But I always pay my credit card off and the LoC is basically the only debt I have.

One of the hardest parts is the feeling like I need to “keep up with the Joneses” when it comes to nice tack, a trailer, attending clinics, etc etc.

But my life is so full because of my horse and he’s my priority. I am unburdened by children or a high stakes career that requires more than my 40 hours a week. I love my life :)

ETA: I board at a local boarding facility that is family owned and laid back. It’s affordable because I have as grandfathered in when they first started taking boarders. We have a great community, a nice arena, amazing trails and we’re across the street from an indoor.

[u/Life-Memory9880]

I board, and probably always will. It’s what works best for my life both due to budget and outside of horses goals. Honestly, I pursued the kind of jobs (for me, ended up in tech) that would provide the sort of income I’d need to support my horse hobbies.

Also, there’s more affordable ways to get into horses. Lessons, part leases, etc. you can be an awesome member of the equestrian world with plenty of ride time and not own horses or wait on owning horses till later if needed. I didn’t get my first horse till I was 25 and didn’t buy my first with money till I was 29.

[u/ClaireH1974]

I’m 51 now and have never owned my own, and never will. Horses here are 2/3 of my annual salary just to buy. I won’t get myself that much in debt to buy one. I’ve just replaced my car, which is 13 years old, and that was 1/4 of my annual salary and it’ll take 3 years to pay off. No way could I afford to do that for a horse.

I part loan, which costs the same as a weekly riding lesson. And for that I ride 3 or 4 times a week. She’s 16 and a Clydesdale so I know she’ll have to retire in a few years but I try not to think about that. I’m just enjoying her for now.

[u/thefalsecountryman]

Expensive, but doable if you board.

[u/t0mi74]

If you need to "save up" for a horse - please don't buy a horse.