All horse lovers - please come meet mine!

[elrohwen]

Date: 1/7/2009 6:05:07 PM
Author: hoofbeats95
Hmm . . . I live near St Louis, but in IL. In general I have paid an average of $300-350 a month for full care board. That includes hay, grain, stall cleaning and turn out. Now there are barns that are much cheaper and much more expensive in my area. But that''s the average I would say. Across the river in MO the board can be much higher, but they also require you to have your horse in training at a lot of those barns. For example, right now my horse is in training, so the whole monthly cost is a lot more. Which is why he is probably coming home by March 1 at the latest. I may be moving to a new barn and full care board there is $400/ month. $450 if you have a stall with an attached run. But the barn is brand spanking new, so it''s a bit higher than the avg on the IL side. I''m not sure if I will go there though because the owners are just too new to horses and I don''t trust the care yet. So yes horses are expensive. The initial cost of the horse is the cheapest thing! Then you have board, tack, vet, farrier (oh boy - my guy has delicate little feet and his shoeing bill is high!). . . if you wanna show it''s even more. Which is why I''m cutting back on the showing now. Besides I don''t get anything from it but a ribbon anyways (IF I do well). Too much stress for that. I will say that in general though the barn owners in my area are not swimming in profit. A lot have gone under. The barn I was at before Eli went into training was sold just over a year ago cause the owners were sick of not making ends meet and using the husbands salary to make up for it. So I don''t know. My opinion is that board does vary geographically. But in general I don''t think people make that much money from it unless the owners are trainers too and can charge for that service.

Around me it''s about $1000 and I found one place as low as $800. That''s like another apartment! But with straw and horse poop! Haha. Definitely not something I will probably ever be able to afford. Well, even if I could "afford" it, I don''t think FI or I would ever think it was worth that much money. Now $300 I could do! Right now I''m hoping to lease a horse in the next year and I found places for $200 a month to have the horse once a week. Even that is insane. I''ll just have to move to a place like you live in. I wish in OH a lot and a woman there told me she pays $200 a month for full board. Craziness.

You''re very lucky you live somewhere that allows you to keep a horse! Many of us are jealous of you

 

[got2goldens]

Date: 1/7/2009 6:05:07 PM
Author: hoofbeats95
Hmm . . . I live near St Louis, but in IL. In general I have paid an average of $300-350 a month for full care board. That includes hay, grain, stall cleaning and turn out. Now there are barns that are much cheaper and much more expensive in my area. But that''s the average I would say. Across the river in MO the board can be much higher, but they also require you to have your horse in training at a lot of those barns. For example, right now my horse is in training, so the whole monthly cost is a lot more. Which is why he is probably coming home by March 1 at the latest. I may be moving to a new barn and full care board there is $400/ month. $450 if you have a stall with an attached run. But the barn is brand spanking new, so it''s a bit higher than the avg on the IL side. I''m not sure if I will go there though because the owners are just too new to horses and I don''t trust the care yet. So yes horses are expensive. The initial cost of the horse is the cheapest thing! Then you have board, tack, vet, farrier (oh boy - my guy has delicate little feet and his shoeing bill is high!). . . if you wanna show it''s even more. Which is why I''m cutting back on the showing now. Besides I don''t get anything from it but a ribbon anyways (IF I do well). Too much stress for that. I will say that in general though the barn owners in my area are not swimming in profit. A lot have gone under. The barn I was at before Eli went into training was sold just over a year ago cause the owners were sick of not making ends meet and using the husbands salary to make up for it. So I don''t know. My opinion is that board does vary geographically. But in general I don''t think people make that much money from it unless the owners are trainers too and can charge for that service.

Hoofbeats,
You must live right near me! I live in MO but DH and I were both born in IL...and I am VERY familiar with Fairmount Park.
I love horses, and your boy is certainly a beauty! I''d love it if you''d post more pics...

Kat

 

[anyname]

awww, he''s beautiful! I love horses and someday i will take lessons again...

 

[that_someone_special]

Aww thanks for posting pictures!!

 

[musey]

Oh my, what a cutie!! He actually reminds me of my mom''s horse that passed away many years ago, he had a white marking on his forehead very much like Eli''s. His was a diamond (ha) shape, and it looks like Eli''s is more of a teardrop.

This photo is beautiful, he just looks so majestic:

 

[dani13]

Oh, he's so gorgeous!!!!! I have always had such a strong love for horses/riding...I rode for about 1 yr in my early 20's, and now I just started taking lessons again, so I am thrilled!! I love it!! I hope to maybe lease a horse in the future....That would be great, but we'll see, since everything is so darn expensive around here too!!!

Thank you for sharing your lovely pics, Eli is a beauty!!!

ps- Elrohwen- I cant believe how much a lease is!! I hope its not THAT pricey around my area, considering I would love to lease a horse at some point, but have not discussed prices yet with my trainer. How long have you been riding?

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 1/8/2009 5:22:24 AM
Author: Dani
Oh, he''s so gorgeous!!!!! I have always had such a strong love for horses/riding...I rode for about 1 yr in my early 20''s, and now I just started taking lessons again, so I am thrilled!! I love it!! I hope to maybe lease a horse in the future....That would be great, but we''ll see, since everything is so darn expensive around here too!!!

Thank you for sharing your lovely pics, Eli is a beauty!!!

ps- Elrohwen- I cant believe how much a lease is!! I hope its not THAT pricey around my area, considering I would love to lease a horse at some point, but have not discussed prices yet with my trainer. How long have you been riding?

Hey Dani! I live in the north east, and boarding and leasing is ridiculously expensive here. It''s really a shame that only the rich can have anything to do with horses. FI and I make really good livings considering our age, but we feel poor living here

I rode for about 12 years, mostly jumpers and a little polo. I haven''t ridden now for a few years, but after we''re done with the wedding I''ll have the extra money to at least take some lessons. What kind of riding do you do? Hopefully you''ll get the chance to lease because I think you really improve so much faster if you''re able to ride multiple times a week.

 

[risingsun]

Thank you for the pics and story about Eli. He''s a gorgeous horse with a lot of heart!

 

[hoofbeats95]

got2goldens ~ fess up! Where are you from and where do you live now? I live in Mascoutah. I grew up there as well. Have lived in a couple places in the metro east but am back in Mascoutah because my FI farms and we live on the farm. I work in Columbia IL. Use to work downtown StL but am glad I don''t have that commute anymore. It''s the same distance, but I''m glad to not have the traffic!

Thanks everyone for all your wonderful comments! I too love the picture of Eli with my friend''s horse. I like how they are both at the same moment in stride. It gorgeous to watch horses run in person! I loved when he had that big pasture to run in!

 

[Smo]

hoofbeats95, I adore your photos (the one in the field with your friend''s horse is magical). This sounds so silly but this thread makes me a little bit sad. I miss horses and riding so so much! I would love to have my own horse and be able to go riding every day. It is just so expensive where we live and I have given up going for trail rides because it is just not the same.

I have promised myself that as soon as I can afford it I am going to get a horse! The problem is boarding them in Sydney is fiendishly expensive so you would need to have a property out of the city. This would mean I would only get to go there on weekends and it just doesn''t seem fair. Maybe when I win the lottery!

 

[got2goldens]

Date: 1/8/2009 3:13:44 PM
Author: hoofbeats95
got2goldens ~ fess up! Where are you from and where do you live now? I live in Mascoutah. I grew up there as well. Have lived in a couple places in the metro east but am back in Mascoutah because my FI farms and we live on the farm. I work in Columbia IL. Use to work downtown StL but am glad I don''t have that commute anymore. It''s the same distance, but I''m glad to not have the traffic!

Thanks everyone for all your wonderful comments! I too love the picture of Eli with my friend''s horse. I like how they are both at the same moment in stride. It gorgeous to watch horses run in person! I loved when he had that big pasture to run in!

Okey-dokey!
I was born in Chicago...that is IL, right? (hee-hee) It seems like a totally different area of the country than the rest of IL, at least to me.
I live in Ballwin now, which is in STL County. But DH grew up in Columbia, and we are over there a lot...his family is still there. In fact, we seriously looked at buying a house in Columbia/Waterloo when we were dating. But at the time, he had a job where he travelled a lot, and my parents are over here now...but someday I would seriously like to live "over there".
I''ve spent a lot of time in Fairmont City too, my Dad is from there.
I love Mascoutah, it''s country to me, and I love that

And I LOVE me some horses! I had a Breyer collection growing up, unfortunately that was the closest I came to owning a horse. But I have ridden a lot, not recently, but I sure do miss it.
Eli is gorgeous, by the way

Do you have any more pics of him? It would totally make my day, he is so beautiful!

Kat

 

[hoofbeats95]

Date: 1/8/2009 5:27:23 PM
Author: got2goldens
Do you have any more pics of him? It would totally make my day, he is so beautiful!

Of course I do!

Here is one at a show that I''m kind of fond of.

 

[hoofbeats95]

Warming up at a show. . .

 

[hoofbeats95]

Hanging out at the end of a show day. Notice the curly hair from the braids!

 

[hoofbeats95]

Admiring his ribbons. . .

 

[hoofbeats95]

One of my favorite pics. Unfortunately that is the wrong ribbon. They placed us 4th (Horse of the Year for a local club) when we should have been first. Never took pics with the correct ribbon, but I can''t look at this pic without thinking "that''s the wrong ribbon". Ruins the pic for me.

 

[hoofbeats95]

A Christmas picture from. . . about . . . 5 years ago I guess.

 

[hoofbeats95]

After an ice storm we had in 2006. Was a mess that caused! Some might remember - power outages for several days. Ugh.

 

[hoofbeats95]

Eli wasn''t too upset . . . snow is YUMMY!

 

[hoofbeats95]

He seems to enjoy posing for the camera.

But I will stop now before you all think I''m a crazy horse owner! I''ve now posted more pics of Eli than I have of my ering!

 

[got2goldens]

Thanks HB!
He certainly is a beauty. Then again, so is that ering...

Kat

 

[hoofbeats95]

Kat ~

Right now Eli is in Springfield IL. Not sure where I will board him when he comes home. I was boarding in Millstadt (right next door to Columbia and Waterloo). I may board him at a barn in Fairview Heights. Not 100% sure yet. He should be home by early spring I think. You are welcome to come meet him and hop on for a little ride if you''d like.

BTW - I know someone that has a fantastic house for sale in Waterloo if you are interested.

 

[got2goldens]

DH''s Mom used to live in Millstadt, I''m familiar with that town too

Are you kidding? I would love to meet you and Mr. Eli...actually, I have a 4-yr-old daughter that would go nuts. She is also a horse lover; she got S''mores the Pony for Christmas (he''s battery-powered, and she can sit on him).
I told DH there was a nice house that you knew of in Waterloo and he just smiled...I think he would ultimately like to go back there. He misses the wide open spaces.
Hey, if you let us come see Eli, we''ll bring plenty of carrots and apples if that''s OK with you...

Kat

 

[Skippy123]

Eli is gorgeous, i love the pictures!!!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Hoofbeats, Eli is BEAUTIFUL!!!

I don''t know if you mentioned this already, but what breed is he? He looks kinda like a TB to me . . . did I guess right?

Here is my big spoiled rotten baby boy:

He is a Canadian Thoroughbred, and he used to race. In fact, he didn''t retire from racing until he was NINE! He has amazingly clean legs for a horse who ran for that long. I got lucky! His registered name is Lucky F, but we just call him Red. He''s a big boy . . . 16.2 hands! He''s a ''91 model, so he''ll be 18 this spring. But, he acts like he''s about 18 months old instead of 18 years! LOL!

 

[hoofbeats95]

Date: 1/8/2009 9:22:01 PM
Author: got2goldens
DH''s Mom used to live in Millstadt, I''m familiar with that town too

Are you kidding? I would love to meet you and Mr. Eli...actually, I have a 4-yr-old daughter that would go nuts. She is also a horse lover; she got S''mores the Pony for Christmas (he''s battery-powered, and she can sit on him).
I told DH there was a nice house that you knew of in Waterloo and he just smiled...I think he would ultimately like to go back there. He misses the wide open spaces.
Hey, if you let us come see Eli, we''ll bring plenty of carrots and apples if that''s OK with you...

Kat

Eli loves to give pony rides to little girls! You can totally come out and see him. I think we can''t post contact info though and there are no PM''s? Is that correct? Anyways, like I said I''m not sure when I''m going to take him out of training. Ultimately I can''t afford it for too much longer I don''t think. So by the time it''s warm enough outside for your daughter to not freeze he will probably be back. Again, I''m not sure where but I will let you know when I know all the details.

 

[hoofbeats95]

Irishgrrl - yes Eli is a TB. I love your guy. I''m big time partial to chestnuts. I didn''t shop by color, but I secretly hoped I would find a chestnut! I love the blaze on your guy. My first lesson horse was a chestnut with a big blaze. I hope Eli acts that young when he''s 18. That''s a great thing!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 1/8/2009 10:10:08 PM
Author: hoofbeats95
Irishgrrl - yes Eli is a TB. I love your guy. I''m big time partial to chestnuts. I didn''t shop by color, but I secretly hoped I would find a chestnut! I love the blaze on your guy. My first lesson horse was a chestnut with a big blaze. I hope Eli acts that young when he''s 18. That''s a great thing!

LOL! Ya know, it''s so funny that you should say that! Red is my first horse, and I didn''t shop by color either, although I''m VERY partial to greys and bays. I knew I wanted a TB, preferably a rescue horse, and I knew that I did NOT want a chestnut! But, Red had me at "hello." Actually, BEFORE "hello"! I went to a TB rescue about three hours from my house to look at a GORGEOUS grey that I had seen on their website. I rode the grey that day and he was OK, but he and I didn''t really "click." When we went to turn him back out in his field, there was this AMAZING chestnut standing there just GLOWING gold in the sun! DH even noticed him and said, "Wow, look at that chestnut! He''s beautiful!" And that was it . . . I was in love!

 

[Gayletmom]

Hi Hoofbeats! That Eli is a beauty, and you are quite a photographer-love all the photos. Just dropping in to say hi

I''ve always been a horse lover and rode a little as a teen. Now my 9 year old daughter has the bug bad! She''s only been riding for a few months and has her second show this weekend. As a matter of fact, she and I just finished cleaning and polishing (at the kitchen table!) the saddle and bridle that she''s using Saturday. She''s been riding a very sweet pony named Teddy that she really wants to lease. I''ll take my camera this weekend and see if I can get a decent pic.

Happy riding!

 

[got2goldens]

HB,
I''m not sure either how to go about getting in touch, either. Maybe someone could chime in and help us out?
Anyway, that''s really nice of you to offer for us to see him. He looks like he has a lot of personality, and the 2 of you look like you belong together

I''d also like to see that gorgeous princess cut in person, I really do think that ring is gorgeous, setting and all. I keep thinking about the Tweety pic, that was one of my favorites!
Irishgrrrl, your horse is a beauty, too. It''s very cool that there are so many horse lovers on this site. After all, aren''t horses a girl''s best friend? (hee-hee)

Kat