Got More Horses? Welcome to a Big Club
Do you have more horses that you did a year or so ago?
Well, guess what? Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto, and you're not alone, either. In fact, you're in a pretty good-sized group. Bigger than 1 out of 4, if you can believe that.
According to a recent survey conducted by one of the entities at our Equine Network meeting last week (subject of my last post), 29 percent of respondents said they had increased, not decreased, their horse numbers in the previous 12 months.
The percentage saying they had cut down on horses was less than half that--14 percent.
Conventional wisdom might have called that one the other way around.
Your thoughts?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 6:49 PM
20 comments
20 Comments:
More - I'd kept a couple of the 2007 kiddos back on purpose, but the four 2008 babies I normally wouldn't have had any trouble selling are still here waiting for a better market. I also took in two freebies and am boarding a little mare the owner couldn't find a home for when she had to be away for several months. Such is our market......
I'd have guessed that unsold babies from last year would be a factor in the more-horses total for some folks.
On the subject of freebies: One in 10 respondents to the survey said they'd been given a free horse in the past year.
I have four less--sold a gelding-and stud colt-for alot less then they should have gone for. Gave away an old mare to some folks that wanted a stable horse. They also want one of the other old mares I have.
I have less this year--didn't breed last year, sold one of my two broodmares, and lost one of my two old pensioners to colic. I hope to sell at least two (of four) of my young stock this year, and keep the other two as [maybe, someday] replacement broodmares. If I get my numbers way down, I will consider a rescue. The highest I've ever been was nine, last winter I had eight, now I'm down to six, hope to get down to three or four before next winter. For right now I consider myself out of the breeding business.
Uh huh. Free horse thing. That's where several of mine have come from. Free or $1 horses. Or so dang cheap they might have well as been free.
We have one less due to the fact we were forced to put down our mare last October due to DSLD-ESPA (please see http://dsldequine.info/ for more information about this devastating disease). We decided not to replace her due to the uncertain economy. Thus far, we've been offered seven "free" horses from various people. I hate saying NO, but I seem to be getting lots of practice these days.
We still have our usual three. One old timer that I watch every day, hoping today is not the day I have to make a decision but not wanting to keep him here if he is in pain. He came running to me this morning at feeding time, so I take it that he is feeling good. My husband is now talking about riding again. I think this is a direct result of the economy. I can see families coming closer, doing more things together, instead of going their separate ways.
I have stayed at the same number. Although I would like to sell one and place another. The economy and the slaughter debate have stopped me from doing anything.
I have always been very careful when I sold a horse.
But now I am afraid this isn't enough. I have recently come to accept full responsibility for my horses. I mean for their entire life.I don't have to keep them. I know my life could change at any time and prevent me from hanging on to them all.
I don't have the ego to assume I'm the only one who can take proper care of them either.
But I have to weigh heavily what I will do with them.I have to do the best I can to ensure they have a decent quality of life.
So I no longer buy, sell or breed. I am very much part of the frozen economy.
Two foals due, one 'free' horse, two new horses on a trade deal, and one purchased prospect from the US. However, planning on selling said 'free' horse, returning leased broodmare, retiring other broodmare, selling one other 3 year old and having two boarded horses go home. I also have three client horses to sell.....hmmm up 6 and hopefully down 9? The math seems to work out. The economy is slow but still functioning up here in Alberta.
We have one more actually living here, but he belonged to us anyway and was just out on loan. He may not be around for another full year. He'll be 31 in a couple weeks. I'm hoping he'll hang around for a good long while, but I have to be realistic too.
We could cut back one, we got a call out of the blue asking if we'd be willing to sell a horse but he's not for sale. So our numbers will stay the same, barring death.
It's hard to say no to those free or cheap horses in need though.
I know what you mean about saying no to the free or cheap horses in need of homes.
We have three of those since last year ourselves.
We have 3, one for each of us. Daughter's horse did APHA and 4H. Daughter went off to college so we half-leased her Paint to a 4H'er for this year. I have the other half of the lease. Paint is boarded at a beautiful place with all the trimings. I'm taking lessons, learning how to 'ride' with plans to do my first local show in August. Also doing the web page for the barn to reduce my costs further. That leaves 2 at home. Lots of offers for free horses but I don't want to stretch the $ any further or sacrifice the good life we are able to provide to the horses we have.
Two more. One I went out and bought. One was one I bred, he left some years ago, & I took him back in Nov. However, my population will be going down eventually as I have 4 older horses (29, 26, 25, 21) and will not be replacing them. My 4 younger ones are 6 (the one I bought last year), and 3 13 yr olds.
sagebeasties.blogspot.com
Juli:
I now, sigh, own twice as many as I did this time last year. Innocently, I was approached by a friend saying that a local mare foal operation had failed and that weanlings, yearlings, and babies were starving. I went along 'just to look' and ended up bringing two fillies home --- beautifully papered but skin and bones. They're now fat and sassy, papers are in order, and so are vaccinations. Before long training fees will loom large ...
BTW, last night I caught the special sponsored in part by H&R on riding vacations in Ireland. Looks enticing, but funds for that will have to go into training fees I fear. Ah ... life wasn't meant to be easy I guess.
Tumbled Hard in TX
Aaaaaah! We have two extra horses on indefinite free "board." I also have a "free" extra. The horse economy makes it hard to say no when there's a homeless horse. My husband, however, would just say I'm a softie as we also have several extra "homeless" dogs sitting on the sofa. We all have our limits as to how much we can and should take on, but any time I'm face to face with a living creature in need I just can't look the other way.
We recently sold a gelding we had planned on selling. Got a fair price for a nice horse. Have been looking for a yearling for the next project and having a heck of a time finding one of good quality for a decent price. With all the talk of the horse industry economy in the tank, I expected to really get some bang for my buck this time around. Notsomuch.
I've been looking for a bit over a month and have found nothing in our price range (up to 2k) and location (PNW, NorCal) worth looking at. The only colts I've found that I've been interested in have been about 5k. At this point, I'm waiting to see if some more come on the market when they shed out this spring, and we'll be going to a couple of sales, as well.
We buy a yearling every year or two, depending on how our started horses sell, and this time around I'm seeing a lot fewer horses on the market, but no discounts in price.
Strange days, and certainly not what I expected from the buzz around the industry.
I think those of us who can afford it are taking in horses in need of homes.
At least that is what I have been seeing in my group of friends.
Show horses - same number. None that I am aware of are breeding...
But I have seen several of my friends take one horses from mutual friends, a rescue and one took on a gelding that was dumped in her pasture...
Maybe as a poster guess there are some unsold babies throwing the numbers off?
Less! Two less than I did at this time last year! Temptations are all around me, but I'm lovin this smaller herd of 5!
We have one more than at this time last year, but really that was more the result of buying to "fill out the string" and get a horse for my husband. Given the low market, I found a great well broke solid horse for a deal that was too good to pass up. I'd like some more but time and budget limit me to three right now and will for a long while. Time is as much of an issue as the budget.
Sorry, the link is okay in preview and truncates when posted.
Here is the CNN story in tiny url:
http://tiny.cc/SyPXx
Thank you for your patience. My family has a farm and ranch, but I live 100 miles from it and can only raise things that don't require constant attention, like garlic.
When my wife retires, we will be there most of the time. Our ranch is only a stone's throw from Robbie Boyce, "The All Ages Open Paint Champion" a premier event at the 2009 Ft Worth Stock Show. When we can devote the proper amount of time, we'll get two horses.
That's my two cents worth, spend it wisely.
Sincerely,
Garlic Man
Jacksboro, TX
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