Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

So my riding life is taking another turn and I need to make a decision on what I want to do. I want your guys opinion on what you think!

So currently im ridding at a barn i've been ridding at for a long time now and im leasing a horse for pretty cheap because we gave them my pony to use as a lesson pony and the only reason im allowed to lease is because I get a ride there with my friend 2 days a week and my parents drive us one day.

But that's all changing my friend is moving to a new barn. So my choices are:

1.) stay at the barn im at now but I only get to ride one day a week.

2.)move to the new barn with my friend and take two lessons a week on lesson horses. So I never know who im going to ride

3.) buy the horse im leasing now and keep it at a barn by where I live. But then I get no lessons and im pretty much the only person my age that goes there.

My goal in ridding is to become better jump higher and go to horse shows but I don't really know if that's possible right now because we can't afford to pay alot and at least until I start driving (im terrified to drive!!) and get a job to help pay.

If you really want to compete, I'd go with option 2. You get lessons and you have your friend there. If you don't want to do that, option 1 sounds like your second best choice.

If you can't afford a lot, please don't buy a horse. It may be an appealing option to you, but are you (or whoever else is going to pay for the horse) financially ready to take a horse on?
If you/they can't shell out AT LEAST $3,000 dollars a year, then chances are VERY high that you will not be able to adequtely care for a horse.

I'm not trying to be mean, I want you to know what you will be getting into financially with horse ownership. You may be very capable of physically caring for a horse, but it is a big responsibility, one that extends far beyond capability.

Ohh no we can afford it we just can't afford to pay 600-700 to lease + lessons at the barn by my house is way cheaper its where I kept my pony before we took him to the other barn.

Then buying the horse sounds like a completely viable option. Could you take lessons every other week? It would help improve your riding, and since you have your own horse, you could ride anytime you wanted to.

Personally I like option 2. I think riding all different horses is a real plus. It teaches you more, IMO.

Ya that was what I was thinking to.