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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DD is an equestrian.  I'm about to spend $50,000 on a new horse that "might" last her 2 years before she's at the next level.  Then there is the $6K saddles, etc. And, of course, the board and maintenance of said horse.  It's ludicrous.

I didn't fully appreciate the cost when she started and had no idea she would ever be serious.  We are lucky we can do that for her.  She struggles in school, so it is her therapy (although pay for therapy, too).

I'll be honest. I kind of resent it, but lately, she has started to understand what it all costs and has been very grateful, so that helps.[/quote]

Why would the horse last her 2 years? Can't the horse learn too?

[/quote]

Not really. you need a better “quality” horse at upper levels.[/quote]

Do you keep the horse as a pet and buy a second?[/quote]

If the horse is still sound at the end of those 2 years, you usually sell it to another kid moving up and use that money plus another $50k to buy a nicer horse with more scope for the bigger divisions.  If it breaks/goes lame/gets sour/starts stopping at jumps, you send it to a retirement facility and continue paying $500 a month for the rest of its life, which could be a decade or more.  I currently have 4 former show horses boarded at my farm.  Bless their owners for taking care of them, but it isn't cheap.

I would not recommend anyone to buy a fresh off-track Thoroughbred for a child to learn on.  I have 2 myself and enjoy bringing them along, but I have the experience to do it safely and successfully.  50k is about right for a 1.1 m Children's Jumper.  When the poster's child is ready to move up to the juniors she'll be looking at low six figures for something capable of helping a kid move up.  Plus it will inevitably need a different saddle and wear a different size in all the rest of its tack and wardrobe, to the tune of $$$$$$$$[/quote]

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