40 is the new 20

[subk]

@Libby2563

One of them told me that if their horses don’t sell by the summer/early fall of their 2-year-old year they pull them off the market until after they’re started because they can ask much more for them as started 3-year-olds.

This is a really important point, and it shows how there is an advantage here for the rider with their own property that can grab a young horse and hang on to it for a year or two. That’s exactly what I did 18+ months ago and that horse is now entered in the YEH Futurity for this year.

I bought a really nice 4 year old WB early 2020. I liked him so much that I hunted down his younger full brother and bought him for what was a fair but not an exorbitant price in 2020. An unstarted, mostly unhandled 2 year old that I threw into my small herd. Other than some farrier for trimming, minimal feed and bedding, since they all come up every morning and out every evening, and some basic vetting it ended up being a very manageable additional cost to have him around. (And if you are cleaning 3 stalls what’s one more?!)

My major expenses were having him started by a good young horse starter, then letting him hang out with my trainer for a couple months hacking out and getting used to life in a busy barn and having a job even if it wasn’t a very demanding one. He’s now in Florida with an upper level rider who does a lot of YEH stuff for a few months getting a bit more serious about work and life.

We are on track for a debut before he comes home. I’ve never been an “owner” before and it’s more fun than I imagined it would be. But the reality is my knees are shot and he has a huge trot and even though starting him would normally be right in my wheel house it’s probably not a smart idea until some of the wiggles are ironed out.

But watching this market I’m in great shape. When he comes home from Florida (and he’s more ridable for me!) I’ll have about 2x his purchase price invested total and a horse with a value quite a bit more than that. Even if I had to purchase at 1.5 times what I did in 2020 the math would work because the add on expenses aren’t going up at the same rate.

I think there’s a good case–even in this market–for ways to buy young unstarted horses, invest in starting them and be sitting on something you’d never write a check for if you’re willing to spend a couple years in the process. But you got to have a way to avoid board and you must be able to handle risk!!

So go do it!!! Then come back and tell us about it…

[fire.pony]

For me, I also agree with the “choices” comment. I’m not wealthy, but I’ve made certain life choices to set myself up better financially to pursue modest amateur eventing. I could never afford anything beyond a green horse. I budgeted out my lesson and show schedule (maybe 4-5 recognized per season) and was still struggling to afford eventing while living in Oregon. I made the decision to move to Indiana where now I have a higher salary with a lower cost of living. I chose not to have children which allows for more time and money to ride. I also choose to not over stress about debt because I want to enjoy life while I’m here and still young (35). That doesn’t mean I’m irresponsible with debt, but I also haven’t bothered aggressively paying down my student loans at the sacrifice of horses. I’ve had way too many friends die in their 20s and 30s, so I’m just trying to live reasonably within the moment.

[enjoytheride]

Insane prices on pretty western horses.

$500,000 for this horse

$75,000 for this horse

[Sticky_Situation]

I saw that $500k gypsy vanner earlier. Absolutely insane. I mean, he’s pretty, he’s colored, seems quiet, he has apparently been trained to do a couple cute tricks, and being a GV he should poop rainbows and fart butterflies … but he’s a gelding … so 500k for a fun pet/trail pony? Crazy.

[soloudinhere]

I guess that’s a matter of perspective - from my perspective, as a remote worker from 2011 onward, any company that is anti-remote work is not a great place to work.

I wouldn’t take twice my salary to have to waste two hours a day going to an office to get less work done when right now I can go ride at 2pm if I don’t have any meetings and I want to. Unless I was going to only do it for a year to buy an $80k horse and then quit.

[hillary_again]

I’m going to go to this sale next year. I’m interested to observe this group of buyers who are paying these mega-prices for these western horses. Sounds like a fun weekend!

[Jealoushe]

I think it’s entirely dependent on personal preference. I like working from home but a lot of my co workers hate it. My job has other amazing features that make a short daily commute worth it

[Spudsmyguy]

Hmmm, the pictures didn’t come up for me.

I like working from home. I have my dogs for company, I get to turn the horses out in the morning instead of them having to wait until I get home from work, I can have it as warm or as cold as I want, and I get a lot more done without any distractions. Plus I’m not driving 45 minutes one way so saving a huge amount on gas.

[JenJ]

Given the price for decent (not A barn / show barn) boarding, $30K purchase price is not disproportionate to what annual care will cost.

In southern Ontario (within an hour’s drive or so from the Toronto area), boarding at a barn with safe fencing, decent feed, adequate bedding, decent footing in the arena and outdoor ring, a few jumps, and reasonably competent staff, will cost at least $1,000 per month.

Add on farrier, vet, a lesson twice per month, an event two or 3 times per year, it is easily $15K per year (probably more, I am afraid to actually add it up).

Add on the price of gas for the 40 km trip each way to the barn …

I could never afford to pay $30K to buy a horse, but I do probably fork out that much every two years to keep my beautiful pony happy and safe.