Trendwatch: Downsizing Personal Horse Numbers
With a downturned horse market, rising prices of such horsekeeping staples as hay and bedding, ongoing high fuel prices, and an aging baby-boomer demographic, we're seeing a downsizing of personal horse numbers as a rising trend. I'm feeling the pressure to downsize at my own place, and am likely to have some empty stalls this winter.
So, question for you: What are your plans in this regard? Will you keep the numbers of horses you have now, cut them, or maybe even increase them? What factors are going into your decision?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 12:08 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
I have three horses and a mini donkey. My barn, thankfully, is full. Even though the price of supplies is increasing, I will not be downsizing. My hope is to find a horsewoman without a horse, to come and share mine.
Downsize? Hah! I just got horse number three - a weanling. I might in the future decide to sell one - but who? The gelding I've won two top tens on and lots of show wins who is steady as a rock and a sweetheart to live with? The three year old mare winning firsts in WP and two top tens at her 1st nationals - making my dream come true for a WP horse? Or the futurity nominated baby - full sister to two world champions. All three are sweet, gentle, and beautiful. Good thing my barn only has three stalls... and good thing my husband loves them too!
Hope to sell our gentle guest horse, age 21, got a 26 and 29 year old, when they pass on, will not replace them. Trading a young mare for a fancy-bred reiner filly, and hubby keeps his solid rope horse, and I'll keep my dependable Arab gelding. At this point, I have 6 head, but we only harvested half the hay we need and have a drought now.
Boy, am I trying to downsize! Not only have prices of horse supplies escalated but I lost my job due to Katrina and haven't been able to find employment anywhere near what I was making. I have three horses that MUST go. I have had them for sale (cheap) for quite a while and now I can't even GIVE them away. All three are wonderful horses that in a regular market would sell but alas, I guess it's time to look at the rescue leagues but I still have a little bit of savings...
i began this month with 5 head and after alot of thought have already sold one and may sell another. i am going into the winter with 3 and that may be too many.
I'm a PhD student at the University of Kentucky, I have five wonderful registered Paint horses at my home farm in Western Kentucky and I desperately need to downsize, but with the feed and horse situation like it is, I can't guarantee my animals will end up someplace they are cared for. We'll tighten our belts and they may winter a little thin, but for my peace of mind I'm holding on to them. Like one of your previous commentors said, "you can't even GIVE them away" and if I gave them away where would they end up? The way it looks right now, there are going to be alot of thin or starving horses in this country this winter. What terrible timing for the horse slaughter market to be halted. I'm a firm believer that there needs to be an end place for unfit or unwanted horses and starving in some backyard is not that place.
I was trading my hay guy training on his colt for hay, really helped with 5 that I have to hay 24/7/365 due to living in the high desert. At any rate, he owed me money, and handed me the papers instead. UHG...not what I needed but I know this guy woulda sold him to auction and he probably woulda went for slaughter.
As Hard as it is to keep up with them all financially and timewise. NO ONE will be going anywhere. They are with me for life. I would however, like to move to a place where there is at least seasonal grass. That would help alot.
I have had to cut back in other way, trims but no shoes, no more bedding unless there is a storm, I can't afford to show anymore.
I work a full time job, and an on call just to keep us all together. I don't know how you guys do it...My horses are my family, I could NEVER sell one, much less give one away.
I have unwilling downsized once this year already - and then have traded my show gelding for another. So I am down from 3 to 2 but my end goal is 1. Problem is now that I love them both to death so I am waiting to see if one of them finds a home on his own (attacting someone's attention) or really starts to shine in the show pen, right now its a no decision.
Can only really afford one show horse - I could go to town on one or half-"you know what" it on two with prices they way they are now.
I have three horses, all beautifully trained and award winners in APHA...I take excellent care of them...Foxy just took my daughter to high point western exhibitor in 4-H Southern Regionals, a 14 state show...I will keep these three, possibly add a 4th as time goes on but it is breaking my heart to watch these sales where the kill buyer is the happiest 'new horse' owner there...
I have 4 horses, 2 of which are 22 & 23. They are my daughter"s horses and were fantastic horses for them so they will be here till they pass on but when they go I will not be replacing them, I will just keep my 2 younger horses. I have just turned 50 and have been diagnosed with osteo-arthritis so I need to cut back on my workload and costs as I am not working anymore. I am very lucky even though my husband is not a horse person he fully supports my habit and helps wherever possible and is currently paying for everything and with feed getting more expensive all the time due to drought it isn't easy trying to stretch dollars all the time
I had 3 APHA horses this spring and went to 5. I bought one to sell next year when he turns 4, altho he is turning out so nicely that I am dreading that and may end up keeping him. I have 1 yearling who won't be ready for anything until next year anyway and then it will be light. The other new horse has turned out to be incredibly versatile so will play polo and foxhunt this fall. I won't be downsizing soon.
I have 9 horses.
Thank God, we have 30 acres of really nice grass.
1 will be 28 the 1st of the year, 1 will be 24 the 1st of the year
1 will be 23 the 1st of the year, she is the mother of 2 below...
2,will be 20 1st of the year, one FORMER ALL AROUND, HUNTER/JUMPER pony(14'2), has lost an eye, will
be 20 the 1st of the year, the other is the best reiner learner we have had(gone thru beginning reiners),
1 will be 13 1st of the year, we raised him, is a great horse, and always comes through for whatever I ride him during the winter, when not conditioning our Reiners
1 will be 12, the most bomb proof reiner ever
1 will be 11 an assortment of reiner, cattle horse, and Hunter Jumper, we raised him, also he loves the H/J thing!
1 will be 10...my best/latest reiner He's a good boy... a keeper
Thank goodness, my husband loves the horses! As well, as we both have good jobs to support our good ole' boys!!! They have certainly paid their dues.
We plan to downsize, when they die off...
EXTREMELY FORTUNATE!!!
ANONYMOUS
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