re: Does anyone have kids that ride horses?

My sister was #1 in the nation in her division while in high school. She just left for TCU and still trains out there. Used to travel all over (Georgia, Florida, New York) for shows.

Safety wise, they have lots of shite to mitigate risk. My sister had this vest that was connected to the saddle that would blow up and inflate in the event that she was bucked. Lots of shite like that


That being said, get your kids out now. Most expensive hobby there is. You'll pay 50-70k on the low end for a good horse, plus a trailer, travel fees, boarding fees, feeding, grooming, etc. it's a ridiculous amount of money to do it

My son is 12 and rides pretty often (western). He has been thrown 3 times, first 2 weren't that bad, but number 3 was pretty bad. He landed face first in the hard dirt road. I thought at first he had lost his eye but he didn't. Did break his arm though.

Thanks for info everyone. Sounds like the worst injury has been a concussion and broke leg. I know there will be a lot of falls. I like hearing from the folks that have had good experience. She got thrown off horse yesterday and was a pretty bad spill but is ready to ride today. Horse just got spooked.

On the expense side, where are the major expenses coming from? My daughter doesn't have her own horse yet. When (if) she gets her own horse, will keep it at the horse center where she currently rides. Leasing also sounds interesting. Didn't know that was possible.

I guess the main expenses everyone is referring to are the trailering and fees and stays for out of town events/jumping/competitions?

Eta: thanks for breakdown Carson. That's not cheap, no. Lol.

I'm sure Aspy will chime in when she sees this as well.

First off, do you have a barn you are looking at for lessons? A lot of people call themselves "trainers" and most certainly aren't qualified.

Riding has it's risks. shite happens. I've been riding since I was 5 and I'm not quitting any time soon (I'm 32 now). I haven't had any major injuries so far even though I've been bucked off or flung over a jump many times. The more practice, the better the rider, the better at staying on they get.

Horses teach a lot besides riding. Kept me out of trouble as a kid. Taught me responsibility, respect and much more.

So yes, injuries can happen, but serious injuries are pretty rare IMO. A lot of the falls/injuries I see on FB and the like could have been prevented. That's why a knowledgeable trainer/barn is so important. They can teach proper horsemanship and how to watch and act around these huge animals.

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Youd probably be better off buying a horse off the track

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NO NO NO NO NO.

Horses off the track are not good for first time horse owners or inexperienced riders. They are young and have been trained for one thing their whole life. After some retraining and time off the track, sure, but don't get one right off the track.

Please do not buy a horse off the track. Thoroughbreds are NOT good horses for beginners. Unless you are willing to pay big $$ to get the horse trained for a beginner.

People make this mistake all the time because OTTBs are cheap. Track training only is not appropriate for a beginner or people who are not "horse people". If you get a horse, pay a little more for a safe child mount.

Leasing is great because it gives you experience of owning a horse without actually owning it. You lease for a specific amount of time and generally pay all vet, farrier, feed, boarding bills. It will give you a good idea on what owning would cost.

Bills: training, lessons, feed, board, vet (routine and emergencies), trim or shoes every 6 weeks, shows, worming, supplements, equipment... Could go on.

The expenses will come from traveling, boarding, and the things associated with keeping a horse. When it comes to shows, you can pick and choose what shows to attend, and the trainer will give you a price up front for a show. Choose the shows close to you, so the prices won't be outrageous. The helmets, and chest protectors you can buy used a lot of the time, but don't skimp, get a good helmet.
When and if you decide to lease a horse at the barn, expect to pay a minimum of $500 a month.

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On the expense side, where are the major expenses coming from? My daughter doesn't have her own horse yet. When (if) she gets her own horse, will keep it at the horse center where she currently rides. Leasing also sounds interesting. Didn't know that was possible.

I guess the main expenses everyone is referring to are the trailering and fees and stays for out of town events/jumping/competitions?

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Leasing is a great option before buying a horse. There are different lease options out there and it's usually cheaper than owning.

And yes, everything is expensive. I do local shows, not the big shows that MBP's wife does. She spent way more money than I did which is why he's so bitter

Here's about an average breakdown for a local show:

-hauling - depends on who hauls. I'd split diesel w/ my friends if I was hauling mine plus theirs. I paid $1/mile to my new trainer to haul since I moved and don't have access to my grandpaw's truck and trailer anymore.

-schooling fees for trainers - usually a little more than the actual lesson fee, but I don't know for sure. I have the "old rate" w/ my trainer b/c I've been with her for 20 years. the other kids get charged more.

-show fees - local shows can range from $150-300 depending on how many and what classes kid rides in. Rated shows range more like $600-2000 and up and up.

-hotel room for out of town shows. the local shows in louisiana are usually in covington/folsom.

so that doesn't include tack and show outfits and everything else.

that's why everyone with a horse is considered "horse poor" lol

Are you at Farr park...?

Whoa, hey old pal.

I meant hay...because, on topic and everything.