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I have always wanted a horse, but don't think I could qualify for a wild horse and don't have a lot of money to spend on buying one, but does anyone have any suggestions to get one for free or low cost where and how would a person look and then what about transportation for it?

2007-02-08 03:27:01 · 17 answers · asked by Friend 6 in Sports Horse Racing

I think that I need to clearify that it should not just be the rich people that get to own and ride horses or have any other animals. However, I guess I also need to clearify that financially in actuality I am probably better off then an eigth of the people in the U.S. maybe? This is because I understand how not to live above my means and am not in debt because of this. I also own 6 acres of land and it has a pond on it and is partially fenced. I am not rich. No, I do not have a barn, but have some thing that I could make into shelter and I live in KY and on good land. So before you presuppose about a lot of things get a little smarter. Even if I was real real poor I should still deserve to have a horse if I want one. I was just asking for suggestions here. Thanks,

2007-02-08 04:17:35 · update #1

17 answers

Personally, If I were you I would look for websites or in the paper for avaible horses for adoption, or go to a horse rescue website and see the horses there for adoption.

2007-02-15 21:30:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Number one) If you have never had your own before wild horses are NOT the way to go. Before a person ever even considers buying a horse they need to research and RIDE! Take some riding lessons, you can get these free by working at a barn and working off the lesson. This is also a great way to learn about horse and hear about cheap ones for sale.

Number 2) Cheap horses are cheap for a reason, be very careful. If you do not know alot about horses this is a bad idea and you could get hurt, or hurt the animal.

Number 3) You will need to pay at least some money in order for the sale to be legal

Number 4) If you are already a rider and any good offer training services to make money, or start out with a lease so that you really know what horses are like to own. A lease is basically like getting a free horse.

I strongly suggest the lease as the best method, this way you know you are getting a good horse, and if you don't "Click" You are not stuck with an unridable animal.

2007-02-08 06:36:28 · answer #2 · answered by gg 4 · 0 1

Horses are expensive and people who can't afford thier care shouldn't have them. I've had horses for 10 years now and I spend about $3500 a year on one healthy good horse alone and that doesn't include my truck and trailer expenses. You will really need to have a basic truck and even just a little one or two horse trailer so you can take the horse to the vet when it gets hurt or sick or when you want to go ride somewhere. Or at least have a good friend with one that will let you borrow thiers whenever you might need it. Get your basic horse needs met first before you bring home a horse. Also realize that a cheap horse will come with expensive problems, behavior or medical. I'm not saying you shouldn't have a horse but I don't want you to get and horse and then not be able to afford it's proper care or have it suffer because you don't have the right equipment. Or have you be unhappy with horse because you didn't know what you were buying.

2007-02-15 19:25:30 · answer #3 · answered by iamnotaladyiamacowgirl 3 · 0 0

As someone else mentioned, buying a horse is often the cheapest part. Don't forget the cost of keeping the horse and the effort that goes into caring for a horse. If you have little riding experience and have just always wanted to have a horse, then you may want to start off by taking some lessons and learning about riding and horse care. If you do this, you can make sure a horse is really something you want to invest in and you can learn the proper way to care for and ride a horse - making it a better experience for both you and your horse once you get one.

If you already have been riding for a while and have hands-on experience caring for a horse, then yes, there are lots of great free horses available. I got my horse for free because her owner was at college and no longer had time to ride. It originally started as a free lease, but then they just gave her to me, since we were doing so well together. We had the money to care for a horse, but my parents didn't have the money to spend on the original purchase of a horse, so the arrangement was absolutely perfect. The best way to find free horses is to get connected with other people who are involved in the horse world who can ask around and see what is available. Otherwise, free horses are sometimes advertised in newspapers and such. Just keep in mind that many free horses are either old (not a bad thing as long as they are healthy and you aren't looking to be doing something beyond the horse's capability), have health issues, or have training problems (not a bad thing if you are an experienced rider and can deal with that). Just be aware of why the horse is free and make sure you can handle the horse. Other free horses, like mine, just need a new home and are perfectly healthy, rideable, and sane. It may take a bit of time to find one, but there are lots of free horses if you poke around a bit.


ETA: In response to the information you added, I don't believe anyone who posted said you don't deserve a horse. No one is suggesting horse ownership should be reserved for the rich elite. Deserving and being able to support a horse are two different things. I personally think everyone should get a chance to ride horses at some point in their life. On the other hand, it is abusive to buy a horse you cannot pay to take care of. Horses NEED shelter, water, and feed. Horses NEED to be de-wormed every couple months and to have the farrier out every six to eight weeks. If a horse gets hurt or gets sick, they NEED the vet to come. A single vet bill for something like colic could easily be $500 or more. It's just something one has to be prepared for if they are going to own a horse. If you have the necessary experience, time, and ability to pay for a horse, then there's nothing to stop you. If you are lacking in any of those categories, then you shouldn't have a horse. It doesn't mean you shouldn't ride, but it means you can't properly care for a horse and could ultimately end up abusing it, even if you don't mean to do so.

2007-02-08 04:17:21 · answer #4 · answered by Lauren J 2 · 1 2

It sounds like you have a plan to care for a horses everyday needs, but there is one more thing to consider. What will you do if a major vet fee occurs? If you have a plan for that, then you could probably afford a horse. Just remember, that while most do not need any extra feed in the summer when they have pasture, they will need hay and grain over the winter. Ours eat approximately 3 lbs of grain twice a day and a quarter of a bale of hay twice a day. The hay especially can add up.

As for the actual price of a horse, the market is slow right now, and you can get a good, not great, but good horse for a really good price. The really good and great horses will always fetch a high price to make up for the research and money the breeders have put into the animals. Just do a lot of research on any particular horse before you buy it, and look at lots of different horses before you buy.

2007-02-10 08:51:17 · answer #5 · answered by majolica2002 2 · 0 1

A horse is a lot of money, regardless of how much you pay for it. They need food, shavings, supplies, tack, wormer, vet care, boarding if you don't have property for it....this adds up to a lot of money. Horses also can get sick suddenly, like with colic or choke or laminitis, and you will have to get a vet out unexpectedly. This adds up to a lot of money!

But back to your question....

If you go to a local tack shop, they often have listings of horses. They may know of other places, or someone who is trying to get rid of a horse. Sometimes you can find a free lease, where the horse isn't technically yours, but depending on the terms, it would practically be. Also newspapers often have listings.

A lower cost option, depending on your level of expertise, would be a local horse rescue. You can find some really good horses at a rescue, that really need a good home. You often have to pay, but it is a donation to the organzation.

Always make sure you test ride the horse...groom the horse before hand, see how it is on the ground to work around. Ride it around, see if it matches your skill level. It can take a long time to find the right horse, but when you do, it will be worth it!

For transportation, there are many commercial horse transport places (look online). Or, if you have a friend with a trailer, they may be willing to help you! Of course, this will cost money, as the commercial places have to have certain insurance and all.

Please consider the cost of a horse, other than the purchase price. Price out the supplies you will need....price out boarding (if that is something you have to do), price out what annual shots are for a horse. Do some research, if you haven't already.. Owning a horse is a huge responsibility. Horses can live well into their 20s, and even into their 30s!

(I apologize if you knew this info already, I just like to make sure people realize the responsibility and cost of a horse, so that there isn't another unwanted horse out there!)

2007-02-08 03:51:36 · answer #6 · answered by jeepgirl0385 4 · 2 1

One thing to consider is to share a horse with someone who doesn't have time to ride it - like people who get to busy with work/family, kids who are now off to college but want to keep the horse, etc. check at local stables or put an ad in the paper.

Another place to get a cheap horse is the local race track. Horses that don't win are often sold for slaughter. If you can match that price, you can usually get the horse (around Philly, they get about $500 for slaughter). Now, since the horse doen'st win, it's usually not that fast, or that aggressive, so it could be a good pleasure horse after some retraining. My g/f when I was young had an ex racehorse, and he was fine to ride. But you do have to be careful in case they're covering up an old injury,or if their legs have been pinned (you can see the bumps onthe front of their cannon bones).

It is possible to be able to ride a horse cheaply. I would recommend the share program - you're not responsible for the care of the horse, just the exercise part which is the fun part.

2007-02-09 06:29:44 · answer #7 · answered by sandand_surf 6 · 0 1

First off, make sure the area you will have it in is completely fenced in, secondly make sure the shelter really is that, the last thing you want is for a big storm to roll through and worry about you horse out in the eliments.

One of the easiest way to get a free horse (or $1) is to contact some breeding farms (being from Ky there are about a million in your vecinity) some older mares 12 and up start develloping reproductive problems that make it tough to conceive most owners would rather give the mare away or sell it than keep paying the huge costs associated with breeding a problem mare. I come across many as I stand stallions and people call all the time asking if I want to take a mare off their hands. Many of these mares would be perfect for a situation like yours because they are physically and mentally sound, they just have problems conceiving for one reason or another. Most older girls are also very bombproof as they have dealt with their babies doing just about everything to them over the years and standing still while a stallion jumps them from behind. Just make sure it is a mare than can be independed or you can run into problems with her, some mares get so used to their friends they loose it when they are seperated.

Go from there but make sure you can give it the care it deserves.

Also, you don't have to ride a horse to own one as stated above, they can be very therapudic to be around and great pets. I own over 20 and I don't ride, I let people do that for me while I sit back with a nice cool drink, and sometimes get my picture taken with them in the winners circle.

But if you do want to learn an old mare would be great to start on. I've given more than a couple away to my friends and both horse and owner love their new jobs.

2007-02-08 17:49:36 · answer #8 · answered by hoyo2_99 3 · 0 1

as quickly as a horse has foundered, they are carriers to founder back. Lyme illness won't be in a position to be cured. you have continual price for this "loose" horse. In as we communicate's circumstances, there are various loose or inexpensive horses that are healthy merely waiting for a house. Horses value funds to maintain, so why no longer start up out with a horse this is free of issues? i does no longer take the foundered horse. in case you elect a horse i'm specific you will come across a miles extra effective prospect to start with. Sue W in Pennsylvania

2016-11-02 21:34:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Everyone has already drilled you on the ongoing expenses of horses, so I'll leave that alone, I'm sure you have already thought out a budget... Sometimes (and only sometimes) you can pick up an ex-racehorse off the track for free if they were duds on the track. Bear in mind though, straight off the track it will more than likely have very little education for normal riding, and may be hyped on grains and hormones for quite some time after. Not all ex-racers are nutty, 3 of my horses are off the track, all very rideable, and one of them (the one I got for free) is so quiet to ride, I let kids on him. Just don't grab the first one you see,and be prepared to put education into it, or to pay someone to educate it for you. And consider getting it a little friend, as horses are a herd animal. Miniatures make good companions and cost very little to feed ....not sure where you'll get one of them for free, though. Good luck.

2007-02-09 13:07:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

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