Affording a horse through College

[RodeoFTW]

[QUOTE=Denali6298;8639060]
Rodeo your not salty your rude Your behavior reflects poorly on the Navy…[/QUOTE]

Just this alone made me chuckle.

Also, I already have a mother, but thanks for applying for the job.

@roseymare;8639062

You need to map out the trainlines as well. Maybe there is something close. Doubtful but dont know until you look!

I did think about doing that. There are metro lines that go into the suburbs, but I doubt that they’ll be anything close to a train station. But like you said, it would be a good idea to look just in case. I saw some barns too that are around $400 range for outdoor board that are less than an hour away.

I’m not going to be living near UIC but in Albany, more than likely.

[Kwill]

Do be aware that community college courses and the atmosphere is not at all the same as going to a four year school. There really is less time, there’s more pressure, and frankly, there are more things to do outside of class.

[RodeoFTW]

[QUOTE=Kwill;8639069]
Do be aware that community college courses and the atmosphere is not at all the same as going to a four year school. There really is less time, there’s more pressure, and frankly, there are more things to do outside of class.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I understand that. But I want to knock out some classes first (so I can start my actual course of study using my GI Bill instead of wasting it paying for classes that would be cheap to pay out of pocket) and just get back to being a student again. It’s been five years. I’m used to studying for Navy advancement tests, not writing essay papers.

[chicagojumper]

[QUOTE=RodeoFTW;8639067]
Just this alone made me chuckle.

Also, I already have a mother, but thanks for applying for the job.

I did think about doing that. There are metro lines that go into the suburbs, but I doubt that they’ll be anything close to a train station. But like you said, it would be a good idea to look just in case. I saw some barns too that are around $400 range for outdoor board that are less than an hour away.

I’m not going to be living near UIC but in Albany, more than likely.[/QUOTE]

Are you referring to the neighborhood Albany Park? I’m not aware of an Albany in Chicago. If so…howdy future neighbor! I also live in a neighborhood quite close to Albany Park so, believe it or not, I’m a pretty darn good resource for a thread such as this.

Reiterating the commute issue - if you’re commuting from Albany Park, any barns that look like they’re within an hour will be significantly more time. A barn 25 miles west on I-90 takes 1.5-2 hours to reach in rush hour. Don’t believe google maps with their incredibly optimistic estimates. You’re better off looking along the I-94 corridor, but that can get you into extremely expensive ($1K+ board) full service show barn territory.

There are some Metra train lines but you’re correct that most barns aren’t smack near the train stations so you would have to coordinate transportation from there. It’s probably not a viable long term option.

[RodeoFTW]

[QUOTE=chicagojumper;8639121]
Are you referring to the neighborhood Albany Park? I’m not aware of an Albany in Chicago. If so…howdy future neighbor! I also live in a neighborhood quite close to Albany Park so, believe it or not, I’m a pretty darn good resource for a thread such as this.

Reiterating the commute issue - if you’re commuting from Albany Park, any barns that look like they’re within an hour will be significantly more time. A barn 25 miles west on I-90 takes 1.5-2 hours to reach in rush hour. Don’t believe google maps with their incredibly optimistic estimates. You’re better off looking along the I-94 corridor, but that can get you into extremely expensive ($1K+ board) full service show barn territory.

There are some Metra train lines but you’re correct that most barns aren’t smack near the train stations so you would have to coordinate transportation from there. It’s probably not a viable long term option.[/QUOTE]

Yes, Albany Park. My family owns a building there.

Oh yeah, I’ve been forewarned by my own parents about the commute. It’s going to really, really suck. I have no interest in going to a show barn (I’m not about that kind of atmosphere) so I’ll have to figure something else out. I mean, I don’t want to have to drive over 2 hours twice a week, but an hour or an hour and a half for reasonable board is an option, especially if I can make a zipcar situation work over the weekends. Or just pay back my aunt for gas.

It doesn’t seem like it.

[D_BaldStockings]

[QUOTE=RodeoFTW;8639073]
Yes, I understand that. But I want to knock out some classes first (so I can start my actual course of study using my GI Bill instead of wasting it paying for classes that would be cheap to pay out of pocket) and just get back to being a student again. It’s been five years. I’m used to studying for Navy advancement tests, not writing essay papers.[/QUOTE]

If you are not aware of the many ways to test out of college level courses and get credit for them, you may want to look at CLEP and other such programs and review them with UIC.
Could speed you past the intro stuff.

[Kwill]

I knew some people who boarded their horse in central Illinois that lived in Chicago. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive, so they came to the barn once a week. This was many years ago, though, so the savings in board was significantly cheaper. Sounds weird, but it worked for them. They used to trailer the horse to shows too.

I used to do a 90 minute commute to board, now it’s 40 minutes but well worth it.

I don’t know where Albany Park is, but if it’s on the south side, it’s not that much more of a drive south to get much, much less expensive board with turnout.

[RodeoFTW]

[QUOTE=Kwill;8639297]
I knew some people who boarded their horse in central Illinois that lived in Chicago. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive, so they came to the barn once a week. This was many years ago, though, so the savings in board was significantly cheaper. Sounds weird, but it worked for them. They used to trailer the horse to shows too.

I used to do a 90 minute commute to board, now it’s 40 minutes but well worth it.

I don’t know where Albany Park is, but if it’s on the south side, it’s not that much more of a drive south to get much, much less expensive board with turnout.[/QUOTE]

No, I’d never go and live in the South side. lol Albany park is Northwest.

I’m in a much higher income bracket area, unfortunately… as board goes.

[roseymare]

[QUOTE=Kwill;8639297]
I knew some people who boarded their horse in central Illinois that lived in Chicago. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive, so they came to the barn once a week. This was many years ago, though, so the savings in board was significantly cheaper. Sounds weird, but it worked for them. They used to trailer the horse to shows too.

I used to do a 90 minute commute to board, now it’s 40 minutes but well worth it.

I don’t know where Albany Park is, but if it’s on the south side, it’s not that much more of a drive south to get much, much less expensive board with turnout.[/QUOTE]

That’s still Northern IL Kwill. LOL

[Kwill]

Anything north of I80 is a mystery to me, as are most things south of I70.

[roseymare]

Actually it annoys me worse that metro east is termed Southern IL…than someplace like LaSalle called central. Weird I know!

The issue is our state is just too long for three easy sections and wide in the middle! It needs about 10 or 12.

[RJC]

[QUOTE=roseymare;8640432]
Actually it annoys me worse that metro east is termed Southern IL…than someplace like LaSalle called central. Weird I know!

The issue is our state is just too long for three easy sections and wide in the middle! It needs about 10 or 12.[/QUOTE]

Anything not in the Loop or on the North Shore is a complete mystery to me. I visited Southern IL once in high school for an event and was shocked! I thought I was in the real South!

[Kwill]

[QUOTE=RJC;8640449]
Anything not in the Loop or on the North Shore is a complete mystery to me. I visited Southern IL once in high school for an event and was shocked! I thought I was in the real South![/QUOTE]

It is the real South, south of the Mason Dixon line in some places. Lots of good BBQ! It’s getting more populated, though, Marion is really growing and I think the area will lose some of the totally rural South flavor in the future. There’s actually a hunt down there, though, or there was, and some nice dressage barns. It’s not yet Saddlebred/Walking Horse country, you need to drive about an hour south for that.

[RiderInTheRain]

We’ve still got one hunt in Southern IL - and hunting down here is a blast, though we do end up hunting in a lot of mud all winter.

And I agree (at least from someone who grew up primarily on the West Coast) - Southern IL is the south!

[roseymare]

Youins are so confused to see that this is in IL

https://www.google.com/search?q=garden+of+the+gods+illinois&rlz=1C1NHXL_enUS690US690&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjswszZk7XMAhWlvIMKHZWiDWQQsAQIHA&biw=1920&bih=979