speaking of money,what about foresight?

[Abejita]

This will probably get me banished from paso boards forever..but i gotta say it..

I know there are times things happen that put a financial strap on all of us.Moniece's foal is the latest example. But I feel this brings up a point that is never said enough. And I am not putting any one person down and not getting on Moniece personally.I have seen it many times in real life. I also had extra bills when I bred my paso mare. Unexpected things happen .That's life. Most of us know what its like to finally think you are getting just a little ahead when some other major bill comes along :roll: Thats when you sometimes have to make some hard choices.At least its nice to know many people here are willing to help some others out .
A post a few days back about the hormonal /moody mare started me thinking on all this..The person made the remark that they KNEW the owner of the mare did not even know how to take a horses temp..yet they were considering breeding the mare to see if it changed her..I am sorry but am I the only one who thought "OMG!!" If you dont have the knowledge to do basic stuff like taking a temp on an adult horse how can you think of bringing a foal into your care..they can crash and burn in a heart beat if you dont know what you are watching for. Heck even when you DO know ..
People do not realize or want to stop and think of the financial burden that can happen with the addition of a new critter..foal or full grown..horse ..cat or dog..whatever.Not to mention as many of us know (Moniece ,Appyday etc ) the physical strain of sleepless nights and worry filled days. Just a basic post foal exam for the foal and mare (temp, lungs and heart on both, IgG. check the eyes and navel) is at least 100.00. And if you have a good relationship with your vet most of them do let you pay in installments..so if you dont have a good relationship with a vet why not? Do you not have a family dr ? Why not your animals?If you can't afford to have a 'regular' vet..why bring more animals into this world to feed and care for? Maybe I am lucky with the vet thing..?
I had worked on horse farms for 7 years when I was approached about taking an off track STB with no major problems.Her owner didnt want her to end up in bad hands.. yeah,I could barely ride but that was not even in my mind at that point. I was worried I didn't know enough to own a horse..to care for a horse..Imagine that. Caring for horses was MY JOB..how I earned a living and I didn't think I was capable of owning one????...When I bred for my fillies almost three years ago, I made the decision that if any major problems arose that I would not spend thousands of dollars to save them. I also knew that I could be loosing my job (which when that happens I will also loose where I live and where I keep my horses.) at any time as the owner is 80 years old. So I thought long and hard before I did it.
I wonder -am I the only one who tries to talk people out of breeding because they think it will be "fun?" I admit I am one of those people to a point.I desperatley miss the anticipation of foaling season. New life,new hope,new opportunities. If I could afford it I would breed my mare every year..Am I too cynical?
So anyone want to adopt a 16 year old pasture ornament STB, a 25 year old paso mare pasture ornament, she was a past top 10 dam..a paso gelding with problems such as past mild founder..he is ridable but not at all smooth and if he sees a cow hang on for dear life..( I was saving him for you Crystal..but you got the new girl coming and all...), a 18 year old paso mare with Cushing's, and possible anhidrosis(sp) ..and...oh and you have to give them permanant homes until they die..no matter what .Oh and of course when I talk to the boss he is gonna wonder why I cant get any money for these horses...so then i wont be able to give them away :twisted: ..so just ignore my post and I am gonna go feed and crack open another ginger ale and a fresh bottle of Kessler's....enjoy your weekend and best of luck to all those who have foals on the ground or coming...

[SQUEAKS]

Sheri

You make some very good points and when people see your post I hope they take it as helpful information. Many times people will breed their horses knowing full well in advance that there could be problems. And yes those problems can get expensive.

When we got Apache we were just happy to save a horse from being put down and further abused. Now we have spent almost $4000 getting him back to health and some training. Everyone that calls about buying him expects us to just give him away but at $1500 price we are asking isn't even close to what it has cost us. And now he is a very healthy horse that is feeling like a healthy horse.

Anyway I just wanted to commend you on touching on some very good points.

Thanks
Bob :D

[appyday]

I agree with the post...I was ready to do what I needed to for the girls..(exept a vet hosp) the help I got was greatly appreciated and very much used...but if no one had helped me I still would have paid the vet bills stretched out on my credit card..

[Cindy]

Yes, thankyou, Sheri. Horses are a luxury and a big responsibility. I think we forget that some times

[PattiB]

Luxury items indead! When getting ready to move to Missouri I wish I had fewer horses. I had been trying to sell most of them but didn't want to just give them away, so I ended up with two trips to move horses. I still want to sell down to two or three horses so I can enjoy them more. There are times I miss the good old days of one horse that I could ride everyday instead of once a week on seven. I will stick to my goal and probably not use the breeding I won in the BB contest. No breeding until I sell some. They have a funny way of multiplying. :lol:

[Edurne]

I absolutely agree Sherri - being responsible for another sentient being requires commitment.

[SQUEAKS]

When Grace and I got our first horse we made an agreement to set up a special bank account and put 10% of everything we earned into that account and not to take anything out except for our animals. Grace put in 5% and I put in 5%

We made a list of what we could draw on the account for and you know something because of us doing this in over 8 years that account is healthy and we even get interest on it..

Our list included:
Vet bills
Farrier services
Bagged feed and hay
Dog and Cat feed
Medicines for the animals
Special equipment any of the animals needed

If we want a new saddle or tack or something that is strictly a want and not a required need to keep the animals healthy so we save for it but do not take it out of the animal's account. I just think like Sheri said foresight has saved us many headaches since we became horse owners.

Bob :D

[Carol Nelson]

You are so right in your comments!
How do I afford 21 horses? WE go without. I have a regular vet...I DON'T have a regular doctor...I DON'T go to the doctor when I have a simple ailment. I ONLY go to the doctor when I can't figure out how to heal myself. With years behind me of working in the medical field and having a mother and aunt as nurses, I grew up learning how to treat most things...which helps me with myself, AND my horses. I had a marvelous (sarcasm here...meaning horse-$hit...) vet in New Mexico not a lot like Moniece's first one...who also taught me how to take care of my own horses. His favorite treatment was euthanasia!
I shop at Goodwill and Wal-Mart. We eat the cheap cuts of meat...we only have seafood once a year and that's on New Year's Eve. We NEVER go out to eat. We NEVER go on vacations. I wear my clothes until they fall apart. I gave up all the luxuries when I decided to breed horses, and I've never regretted a day of it! The only time I will regret it is when my horses might have to do without.
My girlfriend, also a breeder, and I joke about how rich we could be if we lived in a small apartment and didn't have horses. But what kind of a life would that be?
Nope, I go without a lot...but my horses are like my family, my kids, and I don't regret that one bit at all! :smile:
(and I might add that they give it back to me one-hundred fold...with a welcoming whinny when I go out to feed, a wrap-around hug from my colt, running to me when they're scared or lonely for comfort, and presenting to me their long-awaited new foals for me to admire...the list goes on and on...)
I am in paradise!

[CarolU]

That is a good post (why would you get banned for it?). I agree fullly that people who buy or breed any animal also need to realize they are responsible for the health and welfare of that animal. That is really the key word here "responsibility"...and the same SHOULD be said about having children. Someone who isn't willing to accept responsibility shouldn't have either.

But that does not take into account unplanned for expenses. I think most here are 'average' Americans and don't have 6-7 figure incomes, mansions, or even insurance on their horses. Yet most can and do afford good standard care for their animals - and I think THAT should be the guiding line. I don't know that I would say that you should have $10,000 in the bank before foaling just because something might happen. I know some here would pay (and did!) that gladly to save a horse, others wouldn't, and still others it would depend on which horse. I am not going to judge them harshly if they wouldn't.

But there are many things I would consider irresponsible...having more animals then you can afford standard care for, breeding when you can't sell what you have already on the ground if you can't afford it, not providing standard care.

I live in an area where horses routinely live their entire lives (some times short lives) without worming, vaccinations, trimming. Where mares get bred and foal in the field, and where none of that is considered neglect. Horses are livestock here.

I agree that no one should own a horse without learning about basic care and emergency treatment, no one should breed without educating themselves on foaling and foal care -- but that is where I'd draw that line. I don't think anyone can - or should - plan for everything. If that were the case, very few people would have foals and we'd all suffer.

[motorgypsy]

The hardest thing to convince people is that the cost of the horse is the smallest expense you'll have in the ownership of the horse. Most don't believe you because they never total what they spend.

[appyday]

lol I would never total what I spend monthly I realized today I use 3 bales of hay a day..thats $12 just in hay...nothing else..

[Edurne]

that's when you start thinking about the breed that you are going to choose.... you still spend the same whether the dog or cat came from the pound or a breeder..... and I have both.

[Ginger]

I write this out so many times. I tried softening this, phrasing that differently. I took out names so I wouldn't hurt someone's feelings. Then I realized that I'm a sociopath- and I don't care if it does or not.
I just have to say it. I don't want horses any more. I love them. I just can't handle them. I'm tired- tired of not necessarily the horses themselves, but the "horse lifestyle". I don't have the mental capacity to deal with them and their people. Every single thing I do with the ones that I already HAVE, I question myself over because I'm an impressionable pawn. "Well, so-and-so would have a fit if they saw me doing this," or "yeah, on that board, I'll have to edit this out of the background because someone will see it and say something"... I didn't realize it, but every photo I take and post, every word I write to someoen has to revolve around this forum. No, that isn't cute. No, that isn't funny. It's unhealthy and scary. There's a better life somewhere than a horse life, or a horse-people life. I can't be capable of imparting anything I know about horses to others, because what's to believe? I've no integrity. Why would you read something a crazy person wrote- what if it's wrong? How do you truly know that I know what I'm talking about if I say something horse-related? Books by experts are always the best solution to horse problems. Thankfully, there's an abundance of them.

There was a time when I was very confident about horsemanship, but this forum, these people, everything about it, has completely undermined my way of thinking. I have to make adjustments so not to "upset" or "offend" people. I'm of such a diminished mental capacity that everything I do with my own horses, I "worry" about what someone else would say. I constantly question J with things like "Did I do that right? Was I mean for thumping Ickis on the nose when he grabbed my sleeve? The other night when it was cold and starting to sleet, and I got on him to go find Lady, was I wrong for flicking his butt with my reins when he didn't want to go?"

I can't enjoy the things I love anymore, because things from everything I hate get projected on them. It warps how I see them. It turns them not into something I can turn to for comfort and trust, but something that "I have to keep until they die because I'm stuck with them, and nobody else understands them, and just might hurt them or their feelings."

When Leila called me and told me I had "another one on the way".... I felt almost sick instead of glad. Here was another horse- another link in the chains that keep me on this farm so that my horses can have a real barn, green pasture, a ready source of water, and regular, good care. Of course I love that mare. Of course I want her here where I can feed her and get her fat and sleek and energetic, and where she'd never have to work or do anything other horses have to. When I saw the mare, held her head, led her around, groomed her, I knew I loved her, but at the same time I felt so awful- the number THREE kept floating around in my head. THREE horses now. Plus the two the family has. The mare will arrive here this year. She will be loved and cared for. But I am inadequately-equipped to do so, physically, mentally, and resourcefully. At least I know this. There are people on here who don't realize this about themselves. They should, before the drive themselves as insane as I am by "collecting horses".

I'm tired. I don't want to talk about horses, I don't want to talk about this forum, about any of the people from here or elsewhere that I know, I don't want to answer my phone or email or pm-s. I just want to go away and hide into the enjoyable new life I spend far too much time in "to be a real horse person". I'm tired of "proving" I love horses. I must not love them, after all, if I have to question all of this. I fully know how Lindsey felt, and I feel very badly for judging her the way I did. What she did was the best thing for her health and sanity anyone could do after caring for so many horses. A quick, erratic, fast break is what anyone could hope for. She was lucky enough that she siezed it and did it. I would, but I'm too chicken. I would think "I wonder what happened to Ickis and Zumi" forever, so here with them I'll stay. I'm sure that there will be wonderful times ahead with them, but sometimes when the sun comes up, it's cloudy all day long, and all week after that, and then it's winter. Spring is a very long time away. You should never be nice to crazy people. They will inevitably disappoint and surprise you. There might be very long stretches of time when they're normal, but always remember that like Herpes- it's never really gone- it's just under the surface, sleeping, until something pokes it with a stick and wakes it up. At least STDs only hurt the host and whoever sleeps with them. It isn't fun being fistula. It isn't fun being a disappointment. You do get used to it though. Any time someone thinks of a gray horse they should send me, or of something I should say or write or plan or organize, they should remember this post and others that show me in a more accurate light- negligent, careless, and untrustworthy. If you saw this, why in your right mind would you put a horse in my care? Wouldn't you be an idiot? THAT is foresight. THAT's having the better sense to make better decisions. See a problem up ahead, plan a route around it. Don't invite it into your home to leave footprints and clothes on your floor, or EVER to check email on your computer. It just isn't wise. Foresight doesn't extend just to horselife- it's everything around it, too.

[halfmoonfino]

I thought your post brought up a lot of good points. Foaling is VERY expensive! I have a friend who hasn't ridden or worked with her horse save feeding him treats in over a year, and just got two babies from Washington! I think she's clinically insane. She knows nothing about training babies. I have been working with horses for years and if someone tried to sell me a baby tomorrow, I'd turn them down. I'm not just not up to it at this stage in my life. I also know there is a lot of expensive involved with it and I'm not prepared to take that on either. My friend's latest thing is getting a stud colt next year from Wyoming and breeding her filly to him. I can't even comment on how I feel about THAT. It's so wrong and stupid in SO many ways. The financial aspect alone would be entirely too much for ME to ever consider taking on!

I own a gelding who is (thank heaven) healthy and low maintenance. Since I was 13 I have been working at the stable and since last year teaching riding lessons to support him. When I got Pitty it was understood that I needed to be responsible for his upkeep to the best I could afford at that age. At 13 I worked off his board by doing weekend feedings and I earned money for his shoes by doing other barnwork and chores. Of course mom and Dad gelped me out if I needed it. For the last year I have supported him completely on my own. My Dad was without a job a few years ago for nearly a year. If I had not paid for everything Pitty required, I might not still have him. I thought I knew what I was getting into when I got him, but nothing could have prepared me. Like Carol, I shop at Goodwill and TJMaxx. Money I receive as gifts goes int othe Pitty fund. I buy something for myself only when it is a dier necessity, and even then I feel guilty. I pay for all shots, exams, worming, board, tack, feed, supplements and medical supplies. I trim his feet myself, which does save a lot of money in the long run. It means there's not much left over for me all the time, but hey, I feel good about myself! If shopping at designer stores, eating out with frinds and going to movies meant no Pitty, then I would give it up for the rest of my life without batting an eyelid (not that I do those things now! :lol:). What we all experience everyday is what separates true horsepeople from just regular horsepeople. A trainer once told me that there was no such thing as a rich horseperson. All their money is with the horses! But I wouldn't dream of complaining. I have an overabundance in my life, and I think it's pretty cushy. Our family isn't extremely wealthy, but we have a great life. Mom and I work to support our boys and give them the highest quality care we can afford (though I still think we're nuts sometimes for buying feed that costs $14 a bag! :shock:). My horse is my treasure and best friend. I would gladly sacrifice anything to keep him healthy and sound for many, many years.

[CarolU]

While Lana, I agree that your friend may be 'crazy' (I don't like insane) for having foals they don't know how to train, or to buy a stallion to breed ONE filly...I would agree that is not too bright...but I would argue that it is not irresponsible.

If someone has the money to buy horses and wants to do nothing but feed them and keep them in luxury...who are they hurting? People waste money in a lot of ways - including designer clothes, fancy cars, 2nd and 3rd condos, monsterous homes - that don't make a lot of sense to me either - but it's their money.

A lot of horses spend a lot worse lives then being a pasture ornament - and I'm pretty sure if I asked my horses to vote, several of them would pick being an ornament over working for a living. Do I feel guilty when I don't ride all of them once a week...no. I would feel guilty if I didn't feed them or get their shots in time to prevent an illness, or let them get a preventable disease.

They say there is a fine line between a hobby and a mental illness. That may be true...but I'd have to say that MOST humans are obsessed with something...even if it's themselves.

As for Crystal....if this board is affecting you like it seems to be, I think you need a vacation!

[Cindy]

"Any time someone thinks of a gray horse they should send me, or of something I should say or write or plan or organize, they should remember this post and others that show me in a more accurate light- negligent, careless, and untrustworthy. If you saw this, why in your right mind would you put a horse in my care? Wouldn't you be an idiot?"

Crystal, just the opposite. This post shows that you care enough to think and be concerned and make decisions based on the welfare of your charges and not just on the whim of the moment. Keeping horses gets very heavy for anyone who does it at times. Unfortunately it does seem to be a disease from which there is no cure. Just try to live without them for a while. After the initial break-in period of feeling free, all you will think about is how you miss them. Sucks sometimes, but that's just how it is. Cheer up. Tomorrow is another day, Scarlett. :lol:

[Terri]

I agree whole heartly that any decision to buy or breed a horse should come only after long and careful consideration for possible consequences and an individual's abilities to live up to the responsibilities you are assuming. That same consideration should be given to getting married, having human children, assuming a mortgage, committing to a church or even adopting Lassie from the pound. But what is the alternative? to take no riskes in life? to live in a closet and hoard your money in case you need it? Like I said, these decisions should not be taken lightly. I made the decision last month NOT to breed when I dearly wanted to because after weighing the risks against the possible benefits it wasn't the right decision for me. I am sure Moniece weighted the risks and benefits to her decision and went for it. Good for her! I know for me, if I didn't have my horses and instead had money in the bank, I would be fat and miserable. When I bought my horse, I bought a 6 yr old healthy gelding. 2 years later he got real sick, costing me lots of money. Bad things happen no matter what you decide. You could be hiding in your closet with lots of money in the bank and become a victim of a bank failure. I guess what I am trying to say is yes be responsible in your decisions, but also don't be afraid to follow a dream as best you can. And put all else in God's hands. And sometimes during adversities He sends our brothers and sisters to help us out and that is not a bad thing.

[Polly Aulton]

First off Moniece purchased the horse bred. She was my horse and we were going out of the paso business. Moniece always wanted the joy of having her own foal and this mare had foaled in the past with no complications. Therefore she had no reason to suspect she'd have any complications this time as well. She did the right thing in calling the vet early and keeping in touch with him. She also had no reason to distrust the vet. Yes, perhaps she should have started a fund to pay for unnecessary expenditures when she knew the mare was going to foal but let's get real folks. Life ain't easy and it's expensive and s---happens. Often enuff to wipe out the best laid plans.

All of you lighten up. This is a forum to share the love of our horses, their uniqueness and to discuss horses with people of like minds. Not a forum for preaching. Your post is fine but really was unnecessary. We're all adults, we know what we are supposed to do. Sometimes it just doesn't work out the way we hoped.

As for Poni - I've always thought you had your stuff together sufficiently that the slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes (or the postings on a paso board) would not bother you in the least. I haven't decided yet if I'm disappointed or not. I will say shame on you if you let this stuff bother you.

I am now jumping into my foxhole to better duck those slings and arrows. :lol:

Polly

[DebbieS]

I think all of us here have one thing in common. We love our horses and we do the best we can for them. My daughter had a friend over yesterday after school and she stayed until late this afternoon. We had 2 of our older horses out (one hasn't been ridden for 4 months). These horses were angels. I couldn't keep these girls away from them. They were brushing them, feeding them treats, and of course, riding them.

And I thought, how lucky we are to have these wonderful creatures. They bring such joy to us. My daughter's friend really didn't want to go home (back to town, neighborhood full of houses 20 feet apart). Yes, maybe these old guys are a little chubby, and they don't get groomed every day but they are well-fed and definitely loved very much.

I don't go shopping for clothes as often as I did at one time. I don't clean my house as often as I should. I even play hookie from work ;-) But, what a boring life it would be without these horses!!

[Polly Aulton]

Well said Debbie.

Polly

[Serendipity]

I agree with everyone we all do love our horses and we tend to go with out before they do( the same for any pet).I also agree that people need to be prepared for the cost of a foal babie are cute but they are also brats.Then after you have played with them for 2-3 yr then come training and that whole deal is a huge expence also if you do it your self thats great but it is still time comsuming.
I feel and its is my option that if you plan to raise a foal you need to have a purpose for it before you breed.is this baby for show,trail riding,breeding,selling,ect. If you have in your mind I'll breed all my mare and sell the babies for good money saddly is does not help any breed of horse for people to keep breeding so many horses what they have no purpose but to sell.I heard of a lady that bred her stallion to 20 mares to sell them all all of the foals have the same sire and mares were a mix.The point is that 20 foals that flood the already full market and are not being sold dirt cheap and why.

If you want to breed please be responsible have an Idea for what the foal is for and select breed to better the breed.I know I don't want to see another PFHA Auction as bad as 2005
PFHA folks have to as aour selves that value do we place on our horses I know Like one lady said in another topic she had a vet bill over $4000 and is asking $1500 for the horse now and people are telling her thats to much.
I can't raise a horse for that just think I will use me as an example as to not offened.
I bought a breeding to a very nice stallion in FL I live in West TN.I sent for AI went through all that expence Mare did not take .So we packed her up and drove to Fl to the breeder lefted her there paid a board bill,vet bill and farrier bill confirmed mare in foal brought her home vet checked at 3 month foal there and doing well did not vet check again because mare alwayed carried well but best hay and grain did everything to ensure healthy foal week over due date had vet out no foal(heart break) talk to breeder took different mare back to FL to be bred again payed vet bill,farrier,board,worming ect.mare staying in FL for 4 months bred doing well.brought her home again all the best care a mare should have had vet out to see that there was nothing on the property to cause problem had mare checked at 8months foal still doing well.foal still born at 11 months(heartbreak again)had this same mare bred to a diffeant stallion in our area foal was due in Nov.no foal(numb) so took a differnt mare to this stallion bred her checked her last month open(ready to kill myself) Had vet out again there is nothing here that is causing this but still no foal.
I would hate to think what the value of my expence has been and I have nothing to show for it.
I had a purpose for this foal names everything.

so if you plan to breed I agree make sure you can afford it and think about the market if you plan to sell and don't over breed.
Again my option and feeling

[Abejita]

First Polly I REALLY meant it when I said it wasnt aimed at Moniece.
Just happened that her current situation is happening and got me to thinking
Crystal..dont worry it was a joke..he along with probably quite a few others here on the farm will be put down when the time comes.Whether that is one year or five or tomorrow. Whether the boss dies or just forgets who I am or decides that yes he is spending to much whichever comes first. I dont see the point of trying to find homes for horses that have no use except to drain a bank account just knowing that someone else might have to get rid of them and sell them at auction. I have already faced the fact that I am gonna have to make some hard decisions.But at least I will know their fate. The majority of horses here are still here for a reason. They were not salable when the 'big sell off' happened 10 or so years ago.Those that were kept on purpose, well they are all 10 years older than they were then.
What Cindy said is right. There are times when you run and hide ..but you always end up going back.And in reality it usually isnt the horses themselves that make you want to run.They are the only thing that help you KEEP your sanity.

[motorgypsy]

Crystal - love is joy and pain and if they get unbalanced in their proportion you have problems. You have to forgive yourself for being imperfect as we all are. Good love binds with silken threads, bad love, with heavy chains. Hope you find the good one.

[Jane Hurl]

Motorgypsies ... you are good people. What a lovely sentiment. I am SO glad I "know" you.

[Moniece Dickerson]

Well,I can definitely only speak for myself but as for me there will be no more babies.Even when we are back doing good financially and consistantly.I just won't ever take a chance at going through every two hour feedings again.Don't get me wrong I love her and she's worth it but never again and I have my dream horse now so I can stop here and be happy.I'm not taking in any dogs,cats ANYTHING EVEN when we are back on our feet.I love all animals but i've got enough!!I surely did not get and take in the animals I have expecting us to have a rough time of it though.When we lived up North I was the main bread winner and made ALOT of money.We had NO idea it was going to go this way or be this hard here.We also had NO idea it was going to take all we had saved to take this raw land and make a home site out of it.People can not see the future and sometimes things knock you down QUICK.Moniece

[Edurne]

I've been thinking about this concept of foresight - ..... how many of us mother's would have had children if we had had the foresight to know that we would one day watch them dealing with serious health problems.....how many of us have been unemployed.... for a month or a year or a few years, because of economy etc. I think that sometimes we just have to make the commitment, trust in ourselves to do the best we can, and if the Universe is kind enough to help us, to take that with gratitude and try to give back a tiny bit of that which we receive every day, just through our being here.

p.s. as for the little grey horse that likes cows - let me tell you he is a cutie - Abejita maybe you should send him to Cowboy Ed.

[cowboy ed]

oh lordy, edurne! dont wish that on me. :D i have 21 horses here now. some of them are rescue/rejects or whatever you want to call them. so, i am doing my share of charity work, haha! of course, a lot of people tell me, well, whats one more? ;-)

[Edurne]

he is so CUTE - and I bet he would listen to you :cooldude

[Abejita]

Well we just threaten to get a calf from the dairy farmer down the road and stick them both in the round pen...but if I did that them teh Boss would want beef cattle here and I AINT DEALING with that.. ;-) Maybe I could convince him it was an orphan paint horse (its the smell not the color though)

[darcy]

Last week I went through a little crisis with my plan to breed my mare this spring. I have been actively planning for this for over a year now and have been saving money, in anticipation of an expensive venture. I'm scared something will happen to my mare, scared the pregnancy won't take, etc, etc... Many people have tried to "give" me more horses and I say "NO", while I love them and wish I could have a million, i know that right now I am only capable of caring for one horse both financially and time-wise, I hope I'm ready for two by the time the baby is born. Then last week I started to think, "Why the he** am I even considering this, why not just save my money and buy another should anything happen to Mia?" But I don't even care if the resultant foal will end up costing me 10X what I could buy a buy a foal(or even a well-broke adult) for, I want her baby and that's why I'm taking the risk, Mia is exactly what I am looking for in a paso and there are very few other mares I would even consider breeding. My baby will be for my pleasure trail riding use ONLY, my mom said something about how I could make money selling babies and I said absolutely not, I'm doing this for me...... And I know that wonderful feeling of being around baby animals, god I love them, but I'm babied out and making an exception just this once.

[motorgypsy]

This is why we bred. Our paso finos are so great. Not only are they smart, well gaited and fun but they make it possible for people like us to ride. Do you really think geezers can ride trotting horses for four hours at a time? For 25 miles?? Hardly but we can do it on our paso finos. We go to many many shows and other events and rode many many many paso finos before we bought ours so it's not just a case of loving our own. We feel that they deserve to be perpetuated and if we could clone them you better believe we would. Each one is very special in his/her own way. We are now waiting though before we breed again until we can get a farm that is physically easier ot manage. Walking up and down the mountain to feed gets very old!!

[cowboy ed]

MG, i have seen plenty of geezers ride trotting horses for hours and hours, miles and miles. joe baker is 75 years old and he is still out there doing those 25 mile limited distance rides. he didnt ride for about a year, while he was recovering from his knee replacement surgery, though, but he is back in the saddle now. he is hard to keep up with, i can tell you!

julie suhr made it 98 miles in the tevis cup ride in 2004. on a big old trotting arab. she had to quit because of vertigo. this, at the tender age of 83.

;-)

[motorgypsy]

We know there are super humans out there but believe me I rode an Arab paso cross for just two miles and I though I was going to die and she is much smoother than most trotting horses and can be cued to gait. I just didn't have a clue what the cue was! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I have a bum knee and Kyle has a herniated disk so not trotting for us. I will tell you though once a year we to up to Cataloochee ranch in NC and go on one of their 2.5 hour trail rides (they have a 30 minute break in the middle). Most of it is at a walk but when we were on that ride you should heard Kyle complaining about how rough the walk was. That's just how pitiful we are. I can run speed events and hunter pace on a paso fino but heaven help me if the horse trots. And Kyle will not trot. He walks or canters on a trotting horse.