How many horses do you have?

[GingerBreadTeddy]

Just interested because a lot of people on mumsnet seem to have horses

I used to have one on part-loan, but she went back so currently I have 0 horses

I have two clothes horses, a small rocking horse and a tiny wooden horse thats part of a Old Mcdonald toy.

Just the one, who is the fourth I have owned .... more than that is an extravagance ( ..... goes off to look at horses for sale ads ... )

@Shannith

It makes me laugh when people think people who have horses are rich and glam. That's about 1% of the riding population.

The ones you see on TV or in Jilly novels (which I love).

The rest of us are normal or indeed poker than you'd think as they are very expensive to keep.

Ir forgo lots of things people on here would think of as necessities to have a horse and so do most people I know.

I'm always covered in mud, hay, horse poo.

It makes me laugh when people who own horses don’t think of the predictably massive outlay as indicating relative privilege. You’re not forgoing necessities like feeding the children to keep Dobbin in bute and hay.

@Mushtullo you're right, I don't have to choose whether to feed my children over ponies. Equally, I have a 18 year old car, and haven't been on a "proper" holiday for 10 years or more. My friends/colleagues spend more on cars, holidays, eating out etc than I do on keeping ponies. It's all relative I suppose.

I wouldn't choose to get them now,I was young, free and single when I did get them. I'm separated, part time work and 2 children now.

@Shannith

It makes me laugh when people think people who have horses are rich and glam. That's about 1% of the riding population.

The ones you see on TV or in Jilly novels (which I love).

The rest of us are normal or indeed poker than you'd think as they are very expensive to keep.

Ir forgo lots of things people on here would think of as necessities to have a horse and so do most people I know.

I'm always covered in mud, hay, horse poo.

Horses cost thousands a year to keep. Having that amount of disposable income is not at all "normal" in a country where the average salary is £30k a year. If you can afford a horse, you are not poor.

I think it’s what you choose to spend your money on. With my first horse when I was single, I never really went out much unlike most of my friends therefore not spending money on getting into nightclubs, drink, new clothes etc. I don’t smoke (which costs a fortune), I certainly didn’t have holidays or drive a fancy car, I also didn’t have a large salary, lived in a shared flat. Horse kept very cheaply on diy livery.

[quote ImFree2doasiwant]@Mushtullo you're right, I don't have to choose whether to feed my children over ponies. Equally, I have a 18 year old car, and haven't been on a "proper" holiday for 10 years or more. My friends/colleagues spend more on cars, holidays, eating out etc than I do on keeping ponies. It's all relative I suppose.

I wouldn't choose to get them now,I was young, free and single when I did get them. I'm separated, part time work and 2 children now.[/quote]
But it's still a choice to keep them on, surely?

Horses aren't quite the same as dogs and cats - it's normal to sell your ponies/horses on once you've outgrown them or outgrown their use. You're choosing to keep yours and therefore forgoing a new car, holidays etc.

I ride and could afford a horse, but I wouldn't be able to do so many other things I love, so I don't have one and have lessons instead, and go on the occasional beach ride with a local stables. I also borrow a friends' horse every now and then.

2
I've made a lot of financial sacrifices to have them but to keep them fit and competing costs a fortune and I'd never pretend it wasn't a very privileged thing to have

I said poorer than you think. Not poor. I appreciate the difference. I don't have gym membership, a nice car, buy coffee, have my hair or nails done, eat out much, ect. I get the vast majority of my clothes in charity shops and my disposable income goes on my horse.

Because I love it and it's important to me - the other stuff, not so much.

Horses (literally) for courses.

@Shannith

I said poorer than you think. Not poor. I appreciate the difference. I don't have gym membership, a nice car, buy coffee, have my hair or nails done, eat out much, ect. I get the vast majority of my clothes in charity shops and my disposable income goes on my horse.

Because I love it and it's important to me - the other stuff, not so much.

Horses (literally) for courses.

Yes, but the average working class person can't afford the gym or coffees out and getting their hair and nails done either. Some people have no disposable income at all. It's not a case of one or the other and it's a bit tone deaf to suggest otherwise.

None.

@icedcoffees yes it is a choice, I suppose although there us no difference (to me) between a dog and a horse. They're pets, part of the family. I've had the 3 I've got for years. One is 34, there's no way I could reasonably sell her on. They are all considered old, 1 is very very quirky, it would be hard to find the right home for him.

The cost for keeping them is nowhere near what sone people might think but then I'm very lucky to have access to an incredibly cheap field.

Clothes horse, Dala horse, rocking horse ...

My horse costs me about £400 per month. I would say I'm an average working person, not wealthy but I own enough to manage (on about £30k pa). I don't do much going out, holidays, nails etc and I cut my own hair. My sister, on a similar income, spends more on daily Costa coffees, meals out and holidays than I do on my horse.
But if it suits the grudging to say that horse owners aren't average people that's fine. I know that some people have no disposable income at all, but if you have and you decide to spend it on having a horse (or two!) it doesn't automatically follow that you're wealthy. (I wish...).

Oh - and my sister's cat costs her £300 pcm in drugs for allergies! My horse's track livery isn't much more than that.

One ex race horse. She used to belong to my dad. Purely ornamental and costs me a fortune in vet, farrier and feed bills. I will never part with her. She lives with three other ex racers and she's the boss. She's never ridden and neighs mournfully when her companions are taken out for a hack.

One, idiotic Welshie (not all welshies are idiots)
I also help care for an ancient gelding ❤️❤️

I'm not suggesting horses and poverty are a regular combination, but the none horsey and novices seriously underestimate just how much experience can reduce the cost.

Granted if you're inexperienced, want full livery, prefer something established, want to compete at a decent level etc you will need an above average budget. But if you're experienced and are prepared to put in the work it's possible to keep them on a shoestring. Everything from upfront cost, livery, lessons, equipment, help, even vet bills can be significantly cheaper when you know what you're doing.

1... until 5 weeks ago I had 2 but sadly had to make that awful decision for my beautiful girl was before her time... she was only 7 and was my 1 in a million - I feel so lost without her. I was lucky enough to have known her, her whole life. I still have my first pony - he is loving life, living out his retirement as a 4 legged lawn mower

1. One I ride regularly though and I've owned a few in the past.

@TrainspottingWelsh

I'm not suggesting horses and poverty are a regular combination, but the none horsey and novices seriously underestimate just how much experience can reduce the cost.

Granted if you're inexperienced, want full livery, prefer something established, want to compete at a decent level etc you will need an above average budget. But if you're experienced and are prepared to put in the work it's possible to keep them on a shoestring. Everything from upfront cost, livery, lessons, equipment, help, even vet bills can be significantly cheaper when you know what you're doing.

Tbf I have all the knowledge and experience you could wish for. Background working in racing and classical riding, driving . Own horses fully cared for myself from age 11 with non horsey parents, pony club tests, worked in equine veterinary hospital. Absolutely no way I could even consider affording even one pony for my dc. I currently pay £120 a month for 2 pony shares, plus petrol, plus all the gear (hats, stirrups and leathers, grooming kit etc). It's significantly cheaper than paying fortnightly lessons although comes with a huge time and effort cost, and it's absolutely leaving me on my arse scraping together money at the end of the week for packed lunches and food at the weekend. Could never even consider the cost of DIY livery, farrier, dentist, vet, hay, straw, feed, wormer, any meds, tack, show entries, pony club subs, transport, physio I'm sure you know that the list could go on and on..... I'm a single parent and work hard.

All the knowledge in the world wouldn’t help with my vet bills-3 lots of surgery on an uninsurable horse costs £’s. Her current issue is costing £500 a month just for her medication. Although it’s short term mercifully.
It’s a good job I love her.

2 horses and 1 pony, cheap to keep as we have 3 acres.

Go for a plod 3 times a week with my daughter (29) and young son (8) we don't do anything much with them but they will live out their lives with me and never get sold on.

I'm nearly 50 so when they have gone that's me done. I might give up riding in the next 10 years anyway as my joints aren't great these days.