What does everyone do?

[outerbanks77]

I pretty much got out of horses during college; got my M.S. and went to work for the federal government. I had the good fortune to work my way into a senior level technical specialist position in my field (ecology). So, I don’t make a doctor’s salary or anything, but have a solid, steady paycheck. Unfortunately most of it seems to go to vet bills rather than lessons and showing.

As far as my horses, I have two racing bred quarter horses that were $4k and $5K. Splashed out for a low 5-figures 2 year old warmblood a few years ago, but things went very wrong, and after many trials and tribulations I had to unload her. Ended up trading for another 2 year old warmblood, who is now coming four. Not the fanciest, but should work for my goals. I hope not to buy another horse for several years, but doubt I’ll ever pay over $20K, and more likely a lot less.

I’m lucky that my husband and I were able to buy a house during the recession, so our mortgage is low. We live in a reasonable COL area, and board for 3 horses is $1,000/month total.

For training, I cobble together lessons, trial and error, reading and online learning, so I don’t spend a fortune. That may change as I (hopefully) move the warmblood up the dressage levels, which would necessitate reducing from my current 3 head or biting into my retirement contributions.

About 10 years ago, I got disgusted with my farrier and taught myself to trim. That in itself saves me quite a bit of money per year on three horses.

[EventingMaff]

Management consulting - epitome of “money but no time”

I ride my horse 2x a week, 3 if I’m lucky and can get out once during the week. Although now that I have a baby, that weekday ride is unlikely to continue once back at work.

But I earn enough to keep my mare at a full care barn and in training during the week. I don’t show, instead focus on lessons.

I’m expecting to switch roles to one with fewer working hours/travel but also less pay. I’ll stop with training board and hopefully ride more often myself. Likely will try to find a leasee to further cut costs but my mare is young and green so TBD if the right situation can be found.

[Bugs_s_Mom]

I work in clinical research in project management (I am not a full project manager but support role). My most recent company change brought a salary that allows me to actually afford a horse (ironically after my horse died). Prior to this I worked off my board and have an amazingly supportive SO. I still have the awesome SO but can now afford the horse and more bills myself.

This job still allows time to ride but a little less than previous lower paying jobs in the industry.

[polkadotedpony]

I’m a physician, but in a specialty with a pretty favorable income to schedule ratio. I just bought my “first horse” at 31 after finishing my training, but did ride at least once weekly throughout med school and residency on school horses mainly. I did a lot of part leases and picked up rides from owners in over their heads or who couldn’t get out enough days to keep their horses going in college.

I will say most of the physicians I know who rode stopped during med school/residency and few came back. I think growing up without my own horse was a big reason I had that grit and motivation to stay in the game. I’d say in medicine, nursing, physician’s assistants and subspecialized doctors (ENTs, orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, urologists, GIs) are probably the best bet for time and money to ride. I would not recommend going into primary care or a busier surgical field (neurosurgery, cardiac, general surgery) if riding is a priority.

[sorrelfilly721]

I’m a budget analyst ha ha ha - too afraid to analyze my own. I adopted the policy awhile back to never get into debt beyond what I could afford alone. I have been left in the lurch a couple times and only got through by the grace of God. Currently, I keep my ponies at a friend’s ranch. She doesn’t charge me (I buy my own feed and do all the work myself), but she does drive me crazy on a regular basis. I keep reminding myself it’s free. I shop at Goodwill and buy generic. I keep the house cold in winter and warm in summer. I bought a 22 yo truck and a 10 yo trailer. With regular maintenance, they do the job just fine. When I was a young woman, I never thought I would have two horses and a truck and trailer to drag them around in. God has blessed me immeasurably.

[SBrentnall]

I own a digital marketing agency. Flexible hours, so I can run to the barn early in the morning, but the barn is 45 mins away so I can only ride 3x weekly. My horse is in 5x weekly training.

I buy used and sale whenever I can. I drive a 13-yr old car with 170k miles. I have one horse in training and one at a retirement farm.

[clanter]

@anon40672407

Bought horse property.
.

that is what I did also, the land now is valued by the square foot. We had a plus in that we had the mineral rights also, the drilling rights more than paid for the property (well head site is about half mile west of our place).

I was a commissioned regional sales manager for several large corporations… made very good money… all travel to shows was a business expense since I had clients everywhere

[_Zara]

I work for a subsidiary of a very large healthcare company User Experience Design.

[TheJenners]

Law enforcement and no kids, horses are my one big hobby.

[tabula_rashah]

I am the GM for a wholesale nursery and 3 retail garden centers. I also co-own a nursery brokerage with my brother. Occasionally I help out with my mother’s catering business and do some teaching/training here and there as time allows. I have 4 horses- 1 retired but this year I plan to have 3 actively competing in endurance and CTR. Fortunately I board at an amazing self-care place and endurance is far cheaper than most other horse sports.

[Lucassb]

I’ve been in healthcare technology for a long time, with a few forays into pure healthcare along the way. Now I do strategy for silicon valley tech firms that want to get into the healthcare market. It’s a fairly high pressure job but pays well and it’s quite interesting.

[GoodTimes]

I’m a cardiac sonographer (ultrasound). SO owns an electrical company.
We were unlucky in the sense that we bought our house during the boom, so our mortgage is higher than what I’d like. Lucky that we could still buy what we wanted when many couldn’t though.

I have one 10yo warmblood gelding, bought as a yearling. I’ve done most of his training myself with weekly lessons. We show rated shows around 5 times/year. I do my own braiding, clipping and own grooming.

I have done some braiding and clipping in the past for extra cash. I can even make fake tails. But I hate dealing with people and scheduling.

[GoneAway]

Active duty military officer. Board one horse, do the occasional show. No college loans, no significant other, no kids, no complaints.

[carman_liz]

Totally late to this comment but I have been spreadsheeting and busting my hind end lately to see what I can afford on my own for a yr or two if I go back to boarding and hoard the split sale of our house, do you have secret info on when this housing market may finally calm back down!?!

[TheJenners]

I have been hearing everything from this winter to 12-18 mos.

[Xanthoria]

@kwpn_01

what does everyone do to afford their prized possessions (being horses)

Don’t have kids.

“ In its Expenditures on Children by Families report, the USDA puts the cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 at $233,610 for a middle-income family (married with two kids) — around $12,980 per year .”

A Breakdown of the Cost of Raising a Child - The Plutus Foundation

[sorrelfilly721]

Unfortunately no. I’ve never been lucky that way. I seem to always buy high and sell low LOL. Just recently, my 26 year old truck that ran beautifully, died. I was stuck for 5.5 hours. I decided since I haul by myself through the mountains, it was finally time to buy a new truck. There aren’t any. Apparently, there’s a chip shortage. If you can find one, they start $20K over MSRP. I got the dealer down a bit, but it was still nauseatingly expensive. Good thing it hauls nice.

[Spudsmyguy]

I’m going to be truck shopping in the not too distant future and the lot that usually has tons of trucks is almost empty, but the ones they do have are all short beds! It’s almost impossible to find a full 8’ bed anymore. I hate those little short beds, you can’t haul anything in them and I’d have to get the gooseneck extender for my trailer.

[FjordBCRF]

I work in corporate sustainability with a focus on Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and corporate footprint. I have been in this position now going into my 4th year, prior to that, I spent a little over a decade in hazard communications and regulatory work for chemical companies. Ex-husband didn’t bring in much income (self employed musician with no other employment) for the 10 years we were together.

Once the dust settled from getting divorced and I was able to start saving more than with the dependent, I bought Charlie and haven’t looked back. My job pays very well, I have no kids by choice, and I have no debt whatsoever so that opens up some financial flexibility. My current partner is a 20 year programmer; we are still early in our relationship and any shared costs now we tend to split down the middle as our finances are seperate. We both have goals to retire early, so hopefully the dual income will help make that more comfortable for us both when the time comes.

[saddleup]

I’m a retired interior designer. I was widowed many years ago; I live comfortably off of investment income and social security. My late husband’s life insurance allowed me to retire early.

I have no debt. That is the biggest factor in being able to afford three horses. Plus, I keep them at home, and no longer have one in full-time training.