More on the Downsizing Topic
I have read with great interest the responses to my previous post on downsizing our personal horse numbers. The responses make it plain that there is more than one way to look at determining the optimal number of horses for one's situation. Thanks for the feedback--hope to get more of it.
I've sold a horse since making that post, and would like to sell at least one more before winter. That'd leave me with three head of my own to support, and a boarder or two to take care of. That's still plenty of horses for one couple (fulltime-job types, no less) to be responsible for. I didn't breed my broodmare this year, so there won't be an automatic herd increase come spring.
A sidenote on the horse I just sold: The horse in question generated considerable interest while she was on the market, but the majority of inquirers wanted to trade, not buy outright. Horse trading is an age-old activity, but I have to say that I've never had as many want-to-trade inquiries on a horse as I did over the past few months.
Any thoughts on that?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 1:07 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I'm not sure of what that exactly means, but I've seen a lot more of that these days. Also I've noticed over the summer that even in our local small paper classified ads that there are a lot of horses being given away. More than I've ever noticed before....free to good home, two at a time...preferably to stay together. What are your thoughts about that one? Economy?
Have seen the same in our paper..horses offered for "free"...most have some age on them.
I'd like to downsize a little as well. We have 4, a retired 26 app gelding I will not replace, a 6yo QH mare which is my husbands horse, my 4yo QH HUS (and hopefully all around) gelding, and 1 appy yearling gelding in which I will most likely sell because I can't afford to train and show 2 horses in 2 breed show circuits. When we moved and bought our own place a few years ago I got into the trap of buying up a lot of young "good deals"(and becoming addicted to breed shows!). Most turned out not to be!!! I almost get physically sick sometimes when I think about the money wasted on good deals!! I have had as many as 7 head and I am the only one in the family who rides regularly.
I love babies but I don't plan on breeding until we are at 2 head because my current show horse is young,sound and plenty good enough for me. Ideally I want my breed show competive show horse and then a couple of well broke, gentle animals that we can do whatever with like trail riding, team penning, etc.
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