The BIGGEST Lie About Horses

What do you think the biggest lie is about horses? There are a LOT of them, but I'm here today to tell you the no. 1 lie about horses. They're expensive

Ok, let's get this straight. Some horses are expensive. High level competing horses for example. Very expensive. They cost a lot to upkeep, however, we're not talking about those horses. Time and time again I hear about how expensive horses are to keep, but in all honesty, the most expensive things anyone should have to deal with for your typical run of the mill trail rider, is just buying the horse, and a trailer to tow it in. You see, the problem is that most people are tricked into thinking their horses need all these unnecessary things. Most horses, with the exception of ones with extenuating medical conditions, are very cheap to own, so long as you have some good quality pasture and a good pasture rotation plan. Let's talk about what makes horses expensive:

-Supplements

-Feed, i.e grain

-Hay

-Bedding for stalls

-Shoes

-Blankets

-Horse Shampoo/Conditioner

-Stabling, not owning a place of your own to keep a horse

-Freak accidents

-Old age

-Horse Trailer

-Buying the horse

The problem is that horses don't need most of these things unless they're doing heavy work or have a very busy showing schedule. Very rarely do horses actually need supplements. I was told last year that my dirty horse was too clean for a shampoo test because of how shiny she was. Guys, my horse is shiny simply because she's healthy. I don't get that shiny coat by giving her grain and supplements. All she gets is 24/7 access to decent quality pasture. I'm not talking timothy and alfalfa. I'm talking fescue and whatever may be out there. *Note* Do NOT feed pregnant and lactating mares endophite hot fescue.

Eclipse, the young mare I got last year and many other horses before her, came to the farm underweight. They all turned into plump, shiny horses with ZERO grain or supplements.

If the horses have access to enough quality pasture to support them, they will very rarely ever need hay. The past two years we have bought hay just in case for the winters, and have not used any of it. It all went straight into my garden the following spring as compost. ALSO, you do NOT need top of the line hay. You do NOT need alfalfa, timothy, etc. Again, native grasses, fescue, these hays will do just fine for you trail riding gelding. As long as it has not been out in the rain or molded.

There is little reason to stall a horse. Really bad storms, foaling, injury, an all star showing horse who needs to stay clean, but if it's just a trail horse, it doesn't need to stay in a stall. There is little point for having a horse in a stall and all the work and money that goes into maintain and cleaning them. Shooooooeees. Most horses do not need shoes. Damage to the coronary band which causes a permanent bad crack, treatment, hard work, are the only reasons your horse would really need shoes. Or if they have just plain crap feet. Most horses don't need shoes though. Certainly not your horse that you MIGHT ride once a week....or month......or summer.

Horse specific items, the bane of my existence. They are literally over priced simply because they say "For Horses" on them. Your horse does not need a blanket unless its had a body clip during the winter. If horses can get by in Alaska and Russia without them, I assure you that yours can too. Also, don't fall for the marketing ploys of horse specific items such as shampoos and conditioners. They are over priced, and I promise you can get the same results with MUCH cheaper items. And contrary to those who would say otherwise, the horse shampoos rarely make the hair any healthier than the cheaper options. *PS, I like Equiderma as a treatment shampoo for skin issues* Honestly

The biggest costs associated with owning a horse is getting the horse. Buying the horse, a trailer, and transportation are the biggest costs at one time for a horse. Elsa costed me $4000 to buy, $600 to ship, I still haven't bought a trailer for her, and another $80 to have her papers transferred into my name. The vet is the largest cost for me, and it's made even bigger because I don't have a trailer to take her to the vet in, so he has to travel out to me. She sees a farrier about every 2 months, which runs me a whopping $35 for a trimming. The ferrier is the only one near us who has had any experience with draft horses, and he's patient with them. He doesn't mind that Elsa's feet are heavy, or that Eclipse was handled little before I had her and was fidgety with likely her first ever feet trimming.

Don't get me wrong, owning a horse is not for everyone. They are not dogs or cats. Their freak accidents can cost thousands to treat and that needs to be accounted for, but as far as regular upkeep goes, horses DO NOT need to be expensive. No more expensive than they really need to be. I know a lot of people waste a lot of money on their horses on things they don't need. Most people don't need to buy supplements, grain, blankets, that $20 bottle of horse shampoo. Good pasture, regular ferrier visits, and a vet check once in a while are all most horses need. Share and comment

Until Next Time,

~Draft Crazy Girl

#DraftHorse #Shire #Costofowningahorse #HorseCare