Romney: Anyone Can Afford a Dressage Horse
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In Bloomberg Businessweek, Jan Ebeling, the rider for Ann Romney’s Horse in the Olympics, was quoted as saying “anyone on a normal budget can afford a Dressage horse.”
Really?
I own two horses, one rescue and one we bought outright. The rescue horse, Harlem’s Hey Look at Me (a.k.a Harley) was on his way to the slaughter house when a woman saw him, purchased him, and fattened him up. She ran one internet ad and had over 100 inquires, some from people out in the mid west who were already in their trucks heading to West Virginia. Our trainer managed to get an appointment with this lady so Mandy, my daughter, could see him. It was love at first sight and we brought him home. Harleys’ breed is called Saddlebred. He can fetch as high as $35,000.00. I am not going to disclose his price, but I will say he went for less than a Grand. The other horse, All the Money (a.k.a. ATM) we got from it’s owner in Ohio. ATM’s breed is known as Tennessee Walking Horse. ATM can do dressage and a host of other disciplines which, in the horse world, makes her valuable. We got her for just over a Grand. If memory serves, she can sell for the High 20’s, low 30’s.
Now, those are our two horses. Let us toss in clothing (jackets, jodhpurs, boots, socks, shirts, vests, riding helmets, ties (bow and straight), western cut shirts, chaps, jeans, riding crops, spurs, Stetson style hats, derby hats, hat carriers, clothing bags), saddles, (Western, English and Dressage). Let us not forget the Coggins (a ‘certificate’ signed by a Vet every year showing the horse is healthy and can compete), horse shoes, shots, dewormer, grain, hay, joint supplements, dentist, annual check up outside of the Coggins, immunization shots. Then toss in (if you do not have your own barn) boarding. Some places will include in the price of boarding feed and stall, some won’t. Then you have to have a trailer and something to pull it with (this alone can run you $100,000.00).
Wait, there’s more. Shows charge you to show your horse and the cost depends on the size and scope of the show.
So, where does Jan get off saying you can afford a Dressage Horse on a normal budget? Of course he declined to give an idea of what a normal budget is.
We pay shy of a $1,000.00 per month for boarding. Included in it is some stall time, and being fed grain and hay. That’s it. Oh, and medication of the horse needs it. To put shoes on our horses can run as high as $400.00 every 6 weeks. We buy them joint supplement, dewormer and whatever else they need.
I own a Diesel Truck with a 26 gallon tank. It pulls a small (compared to the goose neck trailers with the apartment included) two horse trailer. The horses weigh 1200 lbs average and the trailer weighs about as much as a mid size car. Not just any vehicle can pull a horse trailer and you cannot just hook a trailer to a vehicle. Most trailers today require you install a “brake box” in your car. Mine cost me about $200.00 and that was just for the box. If one wants to go all out and get a trailer with a live in apartment which can be hooked up to power and water much like a regular recreational vehicle and a truck to pull it, expect to lay out an easy 80 to $100,000.00.
So to say anyone with a normal budget can afford a Dressage Horse does not know what they are speaking of. My budget not only takes into account the normal monthly bills, but I also have to figure in the horses. I am not complaining for the horses give my daughter and I great joy and I would not trade in the smile on her face for all the Gold in the world.
Horses are not cheap and taking care of them requires time. Practicing with them takes time and if you do not have the time needed to accomplish these tasks, then you have no business owning a horse. Rich people can afford grooms and stable hands to take care of the day to day of running a horse farm. Some even have riders train their horses for them and the horse is seen as an investment.
Harley and ATM to us, are family. The time we put into them is time well spent.
The Caveat I will make is not everyone is cut out to be a Horse Owner. I wonder how many people will buy a horse just because of the all the news Ann Romneys’ horse is making. Horses take time, love and lots of hard work.
And money. As the bumper sticker on my trucks reads, “If I did not own a horse, this would be a Ferrari”. Thing is, Ferrari’s can’t go off road and they do not look good in mud. Or horse shit.
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I envy you who can afford a horse or two or more. I count you as lucky, because I have always wanted the same. I don’t know if it will ever be in the cards for me though. When you struggle to make it month to month, it is a lot harder. Live in an apartment, it is impossible. I would love to have a few acres, house, barn and a horse or two, I don’t know if it will happen though.
You might be surprised at what can happen Jason. Don’t let go of your dreams. I never thought I would have horses either…
I have two horses that graze on 4 acres. The farrier comes every six weeks and costs $25 per horse. I feed 12% pellets at $8 per 50 lb pound bag lasting about 10 days. In the winter I bring in hay rolls at $50 each lasting about three weeks. Due to the drought I also have to feed hay from time to time in the summer. I don’t have or need a trailer and care nothing about riding them anymore. They are fed, brushed and generally spoiled. Given my circumstances they are less expensive to keep than the dogs.
Is that per horse because ours is per leg! The Horses can go through rolled hay like eggs through a funnel and gas through a hen. There is one horse we know of which loves chicken nuggets….
No that’s for both horses. I also have a giant mule, a mini-mule and a donkey.
Remember though, these are people that don’t think 400k for speaking fees is a lot of money and they struggled while going to school and had to sell some of Willard’s stock. They have no clue what constitutes real life for many Americans.
Depending on the area of the country you live in board can be much cheaper. I’m in New England and I am paying 650 to board three horses. My oldest mare is my dressage queen. A flunked out solid paint ranch horse. She was going to head to the slaughter plant if she didnt get east fast. She was out in Montana. Didnt like cows and the thought of doing fence work was not her idea of a job. She came east as a 4 year old and now at 13 she’s quite the mare. Tops in her Dressage when she competed and never took anything less than second place. Kicked warm bloods to the curb. Now she’s hanging out with my other two mares on 200 acres. You can get used saddles, clothes and the such at tack consignment stores. So can you have a dressage horse on a medium income, absolutely. But it depends on what you need and want. Right now I board with no indoor, and the outdoor ring leaves a lot to be desired. However you dont need a ring per se to do dressage. You can improvise. As far as shoes costing 400 dollars every 6 weeks I’d be looking for a new farrier. All of mine are now barefoot and it costs me 110 every six weeks and that includes my two mini’s at home for a total of 5. If you buy a quality grain it may cost you more per bag but you can feed less. Shopping around for a good vet for a good price is also something to do. If you arent showing but a few times a year you dont need a truck and trailer. You can pay someone to take you and that saves you on insurance and truck payments.
Thank you for your reply. Used stuff can be a bargain but in the end the trainer has the final say. The most expensive saddle to date cost us almost $3,000.00. As per the truck and trailer we get good rate on the truck and the trailer is automatically covered under the car insurgence. The truck was bought out right. The Farrier cost is about average for the farriers in SWVA. Since Harley has a club foot, he needs a special shoe. I appreciate Yankee Frugality and if you can get a good farrier at a decent price, go for it.
Once again, thank you for your reply, Lynda.
great article!