For all you horseless equestrians =)

We all know that life is unfair at times, and I'm sure every one of you who doesn't own your own horse has felt this way. You've begged your parents, tried to save up your money, done extra chores and worked extra hard at school, and all the while you see your friends or people at your barn with their own horses. And you probably think... I've worked so hard, and I've wanted a horse for so many years now... when will my turn come?

I know I'm currently not financially able to own a horse, and probably won't be anytime soon. I've seen three of my good friends get their own horses. Not one of them has ever had to save up allowance or do chores or anything... it's their parents paying, and them riding and showing. Eventually I grew apart from these people, but I can't help but be ridiculously jealous of them.

Every time I put some money into my piggy bank (it's the only way to keep myself from grabbing last minute change as I leave the house), I sigh and say to myself, "One step closer." Every time I'm on the deck of our family's sailboat, scrubbing away dirt for some extra cash, it's the idea of someday owning a horse that keeps me going.

When I see people at my barn taking out their own horses out of their stalls, or heading off on a trail, I try to smother the negative thoughts of "I'll never get there" with positive thoughts like "Soon, that will be me," or "I'm not so far away from there."

It's all these things and more that keep me going. It's the idea that one day that person will be me. I'll be the one leading my very own horse out of it's stall. I'll be the one heading out on the trails with the best partner in the world.

And the best part is, when that day comes... I know I will have earned it myself, through my hard work and dedication.

I wanted to write this because it might help all you other horseless equestrians.

Be patient and never let go of that dream.
Your day will come.
Your day WILL come.

And who knows.. maybe it will be sooner rather than later?

Equuestriaan you are absolutely right about how good it will feel to earn that horse and reach that goal on your own steam! More important, you are learning lessons (yes tough ones at that) about life and you will be stronger and better for it.

If you were my daughter I would be very proud of you! Keep up the good work and yes someday you will reach that goal and it will be soooooo sweet!!

Thats awesome!

That is so completely true. I am part of a non-horse family, which is very hard for a passionate horse lover. My mother is scared ("They're so big!"), my brother isn't interested ("Horses don't smell good..."), and my dad... well... let's not go there. I don't know how I came to love them so much. I let my dream fade for a long time, but in the last few years, I've been able to have my own horses, and it's incredible. I can't believe I ever thought I could be ok not having my own horse.

Keep your dream alive. :]

I completely agree with you and I know how you feel :)

Let me tell you something -

Owning a horse isn't always what it is cut out to be. Especially if you don't have "mommy and daddy" paying for it all. It takes allot of responsibillity, and money. They aren't cheap.

When you are young, you don't understand the concept of financials - heck, I am 32 and I still don't understand the concept of financials.........but I do work hard for my horse.

Every penny I get, goes towards bills and my horse. That leaves me nearly nothing for shows this year - since the economy went kapoot and my hours got cut drastically.

Don't go on believing that owning a horse is the only way to go - because it is not.

MANY top level riders you see - are NOT on their horses. They are on clients horses, being paid to ride.

I am surrouned by quite a few fabulous riders, who never owned their own horses. They prooved their abillities by working hard at barns and riding boarders horses. 1/2 of them, are not competing Prelim and to CIC*** CCI*** on horses that they don't even own, because their owners are paying for the comps and expenses - to get the horses out there on the market.

There is another world out there, for those who don't want to have the financial repsonsibillity of a horse, while having the perks of being around horses.

Don't let people make you feel "lower" because you don't own a horse - there are MANY out there who prooved themselves and still proove themselves while on horses that do not belong to them.

I grew up, riding horses that weren't mine. I free leased for YEARS and there is nothing wrong with that. I found horses in the neighborhood to ride, and I rode lesson horses at lessons - and I even free leased a horse through Pony Club.

Nothing wrong with that. Many do it, many still gain all the knowledge and experience by doing that.

There are many barns out there looking for people to work and ride their horses - there are many people out there with horses in their back yards doing nothing.

Look into free leasing, look into riding other people's horses. Go to barns and put yourself out there.

Aw, I know how it feels. I am horseless right now (financially I can't afford another one right now, & my parents aren't going to buy me one)- but I do ride a horse named Maverick all the time...& I think of him as mine. But it's not the same as having your own horse.

I am also in the same boat- nobody else in my family rides but me. I feel special, haha. But at the same time it's like, ugh. They don't understand some things...& they definitely won't buy me a horse. Ack, oh well. My Mom likes horses (petting them & stuff) but she doesn't ride or anything, & my Dad's also not into it. Which is fine, but it kinda stinks being the only equestrian in the family. I think when I'm out of high school, going to college, somewhere down the road I will own a horse again. :) I don't care when it will be, but I know it'll be someday.

I've wanted a horse my ENTIRE life myself. My non-horse family didn't have the money for a horse. I didn't get to go to a trainer growing up because my family couldn't afford it. It was enough to try to afford the food on the table.

I completely gave up when I had my daughter! I thought, "it's over I'll never have one now. No point in dreaming that dream."

So for the last 20 years or so (I'm 25) I've wanted one, dreamed of having one, bonding with one and all that good stuff. There isn't a whole lot of horse people around here and nobody leases. I'm also a single mom so finances can be complicated.

So this year, I decided to go for it. I only have ONE life to live. I can't go back and change it but I can start now and not regret it when I'm older! I put my budget in order to include a horse and it's costs and got one. Sure he's not perfect, but neither am I and we'll both improve!

I'm so happy I did it though.. so keep up the good work. Get a summer job, save up and look into the costs! When you can afford to do it without your parents help then go for it. But remember when college comes around you might have to give up your horse for a while. Look into the long term plan but you can and WILL do it someday! Even if you give up for a while...

LOL I think this might surprise the heck out of everyone here...

But I never wanted a horse. Heck, I never asked to learn how to ride! I was a cat person.. I wanted kitties and that's it. Never was interested in horses one bit!

When I turned 10 my mom saw me playing "horses" with kids at school, and thought I had an interest in them. I didn't. I just wanted to play with the other kids, LOL! Anyways, she got me riding lessons. And I was like "..... kay." Then a year later my dad walks up to me and says "Thats our horse now" pointing at Skippy!, a yearling o.o; And I was like.... "...... kay." I never asked for a horse and at 11 years old I ended up with a yearling. O___o;;;

I remember telling the kids at school about my horse and they pummeled me with "AWWWWWS" and "your so lucky!!" and again, I was like "....kay" LOL! Skippy! Dragged me around, trompled me, shoved me, etc. And I was like "Wow... we payed how much money for this thing?" LONG story short... never buy a young kid a young horse... because they go through the terrible teens/twos together, LOL! Skippy! Almost made me not want to have anything to do with horses anymore because of how spooky and unpredictable he was. But, finally, after years of hard work my love for horses blossomed and now I teach Riding Lessons and Train Horses o.o!

I guess where i'm going with this... is you will know when/if its time to own your own horse. Don't rush it, or you'll end up with something you may not like. I got lucky with Skippy!, I had the constant guidence of my riding instructor. Make sure your first horse is a memorable one, not just a "This horse is only 100 bucks so I can buy him now!" one.. because it -might- end poorly for ya.

Like the original poster said, keep optimistic! =)

Very true Skippy. Sometimes be careful what you wish for (or in you case what your parents wished for you! ).

Also stated in this thread, leasing is an option. I did that and enjoyed it, but also learnt that at that time in my life I did not have much time to really ride much. Enjoyed all the horse keeping tasks and learnt I needed to learn more!

I took lessons here and there when money and time allowed, and eventually volunteered at a couple of barns in exchange for riding time. Learnt a lot , and eventually was able to finally purchase my own horse.

I was considerably older than most on this forum, but I was in a place in my life where I had the time, means and funds (though do you ever really have the funds, one injury and wham! That changed fast) to have my own horse.

I'm glad I didn't rush ownership, because I'm a big believer in the time for everything philosophy.

I also learnt a lot from riding so many different horses as many of you do. These lessons are priceless. Enjoy each moment in the journey. Sometimes the moments your most impatient to reach aren't the best moments in the journey!