My dad is against me getting a horse!?

Question

Please help me get my dad to want to get a horse! My mom is all for getting this one horse. He is a good beginniner owner's horse- he is an easy keeper. He jumps and does everything I want my horse to do. He is $6200. My mom said that we can afford the initial cost of the horse and she is the one who sees and pays all of our bills. We have found a place to keep him- which we can afford- and all I need to do is buy tack, which I was saving up for- I have $1000 in savings. My dad said that he isn't going to spend that much on a horse- although he said that when I got a horse we would get a good one. This horse is perfect. Please help me convince my dad! He is being such a stubborn man! LOL. Thanks to all who help!

Ok, first of all, never said I was a beginner rider. I am a first time horse owner- a beginner at owning. I have been riding for 13 years.

Answer 1

well try pointing out that although it is expensive it would help you learn responsibility and you have less risk of being hurt if you get a good horse. I recently went through the process of getting a new horse although she didn't cost 6200 I have learned a lot from her and hope to be barrel racing at rodeo's next summer.
I hope everything goes well I love my horse and hope you can feel the joy of owning one but I also hope that if you do get a horse that you will still pay attention to it even if you don't get to ride it all that much because brushing and cleaning out your horses stall and just getting to know it is what starts the beginning relationship that you and your horse have together, it feels so good to know that your horse loves you know matter what just like a best friend.

Answer 2

Your dad is not being a stubborn old man, he is being sensible. I know y ou won't pick this as a best answer, and you won't agree, but your Dad knows he can find another horse just as suitable for way less money. Did you know here in Georgia, perfectly good, well-trained, registered and healthy horses are going for around $600 - and even less? The horse market is flooded and hay is expensive because it is in short supply. That $6,200 horse must be made of gold. A beginner rider doesn't need a horse that expensive to start out with. What if you lose interest? Make mistakes that could harm the horse? That's a lot of money to invest for a first-time experiment. From your post I can tell you are young and probably don't see things the way a mature adult would. Your Mom may pay the bills but I am sure your Dad brings home income, too.
It is admirable that you have saved $1,000. Did you work for it? If so, you should know the value of money.
Shop around. I assure you there is a horse out there just as good, or even better, for much less money.
And there is more than board and tack - there is vet care, feeding, and daily attention - plus lots of work. Are you willing?
Good luck, but give your Dad more credit!

Answer 3

I realy feel for you. My dad wouldnt let me have one either. He thought it was a faise. That was when i was 6. He finally gave in when i was 15 (i know long wait),When i turned 16 i payed for everything myself as i wanted to keep them sooooo badly and my dad didnt want me to have a horse. I am now 35 and still have horses. My dad is still against them, but i pay for them now and he has NO say in the matter any more. Dads are quite hard to convince as they think horses are dangerous, especialy when they dont have the passion for them. Chin up and be thankful that you can ride the horses at the barn. Mayby when you are a little older tell you dad you are getting a part time job so you can pay for feed and expenses, he may think that you are trying to be responable, and then might give you the benifet of the doubt. Good Luck.

Answer 4

I would keep looking. You should never buy the first horse you look at... If you have been riding for a long time you might not need a horse that is that well trained. Every horse I have had I have trained it myself. I think you bond better when you have to do most of the work on them yourself. I would look for something in the range of $3,500. Maybe your dad isnt against it as much as the cost of it. Let your dad know that getting a horse means everything to you and that it will keep you out of trouble and is an investment in your future. My first horse only cost me about $600.00 and I had to put all the training on him but he was a great horse to learn on.

Answer 5

Talk to the Barn Manager at the boarding facility that you have found to keep this prospect horse. As him, if you could work at the barn for either money or a discounted board rate. If he says yes to either you will have saved some money monthly, since money is usually the driving factor in these decision. Then sit down and have a long talk with your father about why you want a horse. You can mention the responsiblities that go with owning a horse, and mentions that you have gotten a job at the boarding facility to either help pay for the cost, or to get a discounted rate of boarding. You can also mention that horses take up a lot of time, and would keep you out of trouble. At least they always kept me out of trouble, and considering that I'm from a small town where there is nothing to do, trouble is usually the only entertainment that is saying something. Make an agreement to keep your grades up to As and Bs or you loose your priviledge to ride until they come up. If you want to negotiate with an adult you have to have something to offer them. Every parent wants his/her child to stay out of trouble and keep their grades up. Go into the conversation with your father with a list of points to make about you having a horse, that way you don't forget any. The worst he can say is no. Don't forget that so you don't get nervous or anxious. Keep the conversation very matter of fact, and make all of your points. It's harder to turn down an informed request.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes.

Answer 6

I am sorry to say I agree with your DAD. That is way too much money on a first time horse. Remember too that an extensively trained expensive horse wont necessarily perform for you/with you. Many horses perform well because their riders are experienced....and will backslide/act-up in the hands of a beginner. Its best to go with a less costly animal who has been handled by inexperienced young people before.

Answer 7

6200 is not a lot for a horse. Remember, you get what you pay for. In my area, you can't get a decent show horse for under 10,000. I own 2 horses and paid that much for each. What you pay for a horse depends on what you want to do with it. If you just want a reliable horse you can learn on, you may be able to find one cheaper. However, if you want something you can show and grow with, you are going to spend more money. Remember, that in addition to board, you will need to plan for vet bills, farrier bills, equine insurance, teeth floating, and general care products. I spend about $800 /month on each of my horses including all of the above in addition to lessons. If you want to show, you can add an additional $300+ per show. I don't want to discourage you, but it is a very expensive hobby. The purchase price is small in comparison to the monthly expenses. One small accident in the field could lead you to thousands of dollars in vet bills. Good luck!!!

Answer 8

I understand what both of you are thinking and I think you should get a job. Like babysitting. Have him buy the horse and help pay for him as you go. No girl who loves horses should be left without a horse.

Answer 9

Did he give you a reason? It sounds like you and your mom have put some thought into it, which is great. Did she say you can afford upkeep also...most important. Are you taking lessons? Are you doing anything to prove you're responsible? Does he know how much it means to you? Have you asked him what you can do to change his mind...or worst case, compromise? At any rate, talk to him and give it some time...especially if this is your first horse. It's hard, but you really don't want to rush. Good luck!

Answer 10

$6200 is a lot of money. You might try checking some of these horse rescue places. You might also try an auction. Good horses in auctions oftentimes end up in killer buyer hands. You can get a really good horse at an auction for a lot less money.