Cheese

So true.

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Horseart Loc: Alabama

We raised between 300 and 500 of them in the 60 years we had them. I won a LOT of blue ribbons including a world grand championship. Had 77 of them at one time. When my husband passed, I couldn't keep up the place by myself so I downsized and hate being without horses, but I'm gla that I still have all my horse customers who have bought my equine artwork for over 50 years.
Soooo, yes, that is now true. A well mannered TRAIL horse will now cost $15,000 or more...mostly more if it has no bed habits.

uhaas2009

It’s so true. I was lucky to grow up with horses. Now I don’t have the time and money.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Very funny!! My grandparents had a 1/2 section in Kansas. Grandpa had a big steed. When I was five, my Mom put me on his back and started leading me around. The horse had different thought and took off towards the road. To get there he had to go through the ditch and under a tree. Fortunately for me I saw a limb coming and bailed. I alway did bounce well so I wasn't hurt. My Mom, though, was freaked out. I never did get to ride the horse again. But it was one wild ride that I still remember!! BTW, the horse knew where he was fed and came back on his own. Ha!! If it hadn't been for that limb, he and I would have one good ride!!!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Ten years ago our county 4-H had around ten horse and pony clubs; now there are two. Ten years ago we had seven horses; today we have two and a small pony. Today’s feed and supplies for the two and a half animals cost more than it did for the seven. Ten years ago a good, trained horse cost from $1000 to $1500. Today one like that starts at around $5000. Horses are becoming unaffordable.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I rode a horse once.

We hiked into Jasper Park at the beginning of July '66. 15 mile hike. Spring, and lots of water to hike through. Lost a heel on one boot. We planned to meet with a group of horse guys at a cabin. No problem meeting them. Next morning we started up and had to get up the the ridge. We were the first people that year so were breaking trail. My horse didn't like my wife's horse so when we got onto them they started fighting. We held on and got past that and started up the trail. One snow field needed some trail breaking so we dismounted and the horse guys started preparing a path. The leader's horse got spooked somehow and finally rolled down the snow field to a small valley. The leader couldn't get him to move so we left him there and he took one of the spare horses. (They travelled this route frequently and there was plenty for the horse to eat so they would collect him later). His horse had carried his gear and rolled on it, getting toothpaste over everything. The rest of the 8 hour ride was downhill.

That was my first time on a horse. That was my last time on a horse.

Canisdirus

My Uncle bought a horse that was gorgeous and dirt cheap.
But he kept catching her smoking behind the barn...had to sell her.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

My sister has run a horse ranch for years and years, boarding horses and giving lessons. She now runs it with her daughter since her husband died a few years ago. The daughter discovered boarding dogs and that is turning out to be a whole lot easier and more lucrative than horses. They have gotten rid of a bunch of their horses and aren't boarding horses anymore for their clients. They have converted their horse barn into stalls for the dogs and planning on building a barn just for the dogs.

srg

Many, many years ago when i was wild and crazy, I thought it would be a good idea to ride a horse while taking acid. I had a choice of horses with various dispositions. Despite being inexperienced I chose the more frisky one. I got on and everything was fine for about 15 seconds, then the horse started galloping really fast, then he suddenly stopped on a dime. I went flying forward. I remember seeing it all in slow motion. I remember locking eyes with it as I flew over its head. There was a sense of time being frozen. Fortunately, I was always a pretty great athlete (if I do say so myself) so, despite seeing the ground coming at my head very fast, I did a perfect roll and came up standing dead still somehow facing the horse and again locking eyes with it. Then i calmly walked up to the side and jumped back up onto the saddle. After that the horse was as calm as could be. I felt like I was part of the horse. It was the greatest feeling.

Much later in life, in my fifties I think, a similar thing happened while riding a bike on a rainy day. This time totally sober. Hit an unseen pothole, went flying the same way. landed and rolled the same way. Unhurt. I couldn't do that again if I tried. My takeaway is that I have a Great Guardian Angel.

Moondoggie Loc: Southern California

Yep! How true is this one.

alwazbusy1 Loc: Montana

hahaha. People think we are rich because I have horses but for that reason we are poor. 0ur son, a CPA, has kindly pointed out how much we could have spent on amazing vactions had I not had them.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

True story: I once traded horse with an elderly man and wound up with only $50 in my new horse. (a 2 year old) When I got him, he was killing the man's baby calves and pawing their heads off. That's why he was eager to trade at any price. He would even rear and paw at people's heads. We got him home and he tried to fight us as soon as we unloaded him. He had ONE good whipping. Never ever touched with a whip again. I showed him hundreds of times and won 1st place with him every time but 4. He got 2 second place, a third and a fifth. I 've never been hurt by a horse. Then I trained my world grand champion. I think I have a lived my dream.

DaveD65 Loc: Queen City, Ohio

You are absolutely correct; a good and true statement.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

My wife & I owned horses for over 40 years, raising, breeding, competing, etc. Rode & camped in some beautiful country in Colorado, Wyoming, Big Bend, & a half dozen other states. Never got thrown until about year 38; at 70, never healed completely from damage to back, neck, etc. Still would have experienced what we had done again. I have felt we didn’t get rich in money, but did in experiences. Do what you love. It’s worth it.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

IMHO you are right. It's not money that makes you rich. It's doing what you love to do most!!!