Horses for sale at a car lot: what could it mean?

[jmowreader]

One of my better customers is a car dealer. He sells used cars by the trainload, and he lives in Vanstory Hills, which is where all the old money in Fayetteville lives.

I also know he doesn't own any horses...or didn't until yesterday.

Yesterday he came in to buy a sheet of plywood to "make a sign." Today I saw the sign. It's at his car lot and it says "Horses For Sale." Look toward the back of the lot and you can see the horses. His lot is on the site of an abandoned drive-in movie theatre, and there's still lots of grass back there. He's built a hasty corral on the grass, put four horses in it and added some hay bales and water troughs. It's fixed up pretty nice, and the horses appear to be comfortable in there.

So whatcha think?

[Richard Steele]

1. The shape of things to come....NM

[SledDriver]

2. Probably more $$$ to own a horse than a car in the long run.

Feed, vet, shelter, land, gear, etc...

[jmowreader]

5. Nothing "probable" about it

A contractor I know wears a hat that names him as a member of "The Brotherhood of Broke Horsemen." How do you join this brotherhood, I foolishly asked. "Just buy a horse. Everyone who has one is broke all the time."

[friesianrider]

23. I can second that!

Horses are more expensive than an Escalade!

[smurfygirl]

3. How much are they going for?

and how much does it cost to feed a horse? At least the by product is compos-table.

[CottonBear]

11. Depends on the horse and the kind of hay in your area.

The price of oats just DOUBLED in our area due to gas prices.
You must consult with a vet to plan a special diet for each equine: supplements, salt (necessary for ALL horses), hay, fresh water daily, oats and grain/pelletized feed as may be required.

Not to mention worming every 60 - 80 days, vaccinations, vet care and farrier care (every 4-6 weeks.)

Oh yeah, winter blankets and rain sheeets and summer flysheets and tack and other equipment and feeding stuff.

Oh yeah: training and hauling costs. There's emergencies and insurance too.

[SkipNewarkDE]

12. If you own your own plot of land and can take care of the horse yourself..

It will set you back perhaps two hundred fifty bucks a month or more, by the time you get hay, feed, and shavings on which to bed. Throw in another $50 to $150 a month for a farrier. Throw in a couple of hundred dollars every six months for regular vet visits, maybe $80 a year for dental, plus tack, blankets, etc (an initial investment of around $2000) and you are talking pretty f-ing expensive. If you board somewhere, look to pay anywhere from $200 for self care on top of this, to an average of $350 full board, perhaps $400.00 for a mid-level place, all the way up to $800.00 or more a month, depending upon facilities. Full care will include someone to clean up after the horse, feed 'im, turn out, etc.

Training for rider and horse runs around $40.00 an hour for a respected professional, on up.

They are expensive to own. They keep their owners broke. I wouldn't have it any other way, though, I love my horses like family.

[Canadian Socialist]

26. And, you can eat a horse

no flames please... I'm kidding. Sort of.

[Minstrel Boy]

4. Reminds me of the Saudi saying:

My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies an airplane. His son will ride a camel.

[demodonkey]

6. I think he's trying to make a statement. eom

[Syncronaut Seven]

20. Maybe took them as a trade? or to settle a bad debt?

Maybe he just took the horse trader metaphore too seriously.

[CottonBear]

7. Do they have salt blocks (both white and mineral) and fresh water?

I have a horse that I can't even ride yet. They are expensive. People who don't know how to take care of one have no business owning one. They have fragile digestive systems and their feet need daily cleaning and monthly trimming and or shoeing. They need the proper tack (sadlle and bridle and bit) that fit right otherwise they can be hurt or permantly injured by the poor fit and in great pain.

[htuttle]

14. True, and you need a very practical horse for day to day travel

Now here's my idea of a commuter horse:


Compact, low maintenance, and fast.

And you better not call it a 'pony'!

[CottonBear]

18. They look like decendants of the Tarpans (2 of them live w/ my horse)

One of the 2 most ancient horses alive today!

In a disaster, I'd take a Tarpan, asturdy large pony, a donkey or a mule. My Oldenburg filly could run fast but I can't ride her until she's 4. I'm going to teach her to drive so she can pull a cart.

[htuttle]

19. Hmm...I wonder where medieval Spanish horses came from?

They are Wild Mustangs, which would be descended from Spanish horses in the 1500's, I think. Aren't Tarpans from Poland? Could have been a common horse breed back then.

:shrug:

I've always liked that they look a little bit like the horses in a cave painting. :)

[CottonBear]

29. Spanish are from the Barb. Cave horses were Tarpans.

Google Tarpan and find out about them. Try the Oklamhoma State Univ. Breeds site.

They are the foundation of the Icelandic and (Romanian) Huculs and many others. The people who own the farm where I keep Cotton (her sire is my sig pic) are foster parents to Giselle and Tatiana : 2 of the most fabulous "ancients" that live on the planet today! No one owns a Tarpan: they are ancient survivors from Eastern Europe and the Russian steppe. They are way smarter than any horse or pony on the planet! In a natural disaster, I'd ride a Tarpan and lead Cotton out with me.

God bless all of the poor equines in the path of the hurricane.
God have mercy on us all. :cry:

[jmowreader]

21. Yeah, they're all set up

Three or four of each kind of salt block, big trough of water, it's pretty nice in there.

Well, as nice as you're gonna get next to a major thoroughfare.

[CelticWinter]

8. sounds logical to me

horse and buggy, bicycles, shoe leather express--and the horse can be used in multiple ways, manure to fertilize your garden and the horse to plow it.
yeah im being a little sarcastic---but i wonder what a loaf of bread will cost next winter 5-6-7 dollars???

[htuttle]

15. The cost of bread will depend on where you live

Without cheap transportation, prices will vary far more widely than they do now.

So a loaf of bread? Cheap in the midwest, but an arm and a leg in Phoenix.

[Cleita]

9. Sounds like animal abuse to me if he is selling

horses on his lot. But if they are as pampered as you say, maybe not.
Most of my neighbors have horses and they don't put them for sale in a lot. They just advertise and the buyers come by to look at the horses in their own pasture. It seems to me the way it should be done.

[LandOLincoln]

10. What do I think? I think I'm glad

I learned to ride at 15. :toast:

[troubleinwinter]

13. I'm not sure it means anything.

Could be a long time horse dealer just rented a bit of high profile area to advertise the selling of them, and sales are handled through that person.

Might want to ask the guy. Yes, horses are not cheap, and they need housing, equipment, a lot of care, and knowledge. You can't park em in a garage.

I truly think it's just that he rented a bit of area to someone who is a dealer of horses.

[achtung_circus]

16. The basics.

A horse does not need much in the way of shelter, a windbreak is acceptable. I have seen and owned horses outside 100% of the time in temperatures down to -45. They grow a winter coat and as creatures of the steppe, given a windbreak and adequate feed can take just about anything mother nature throws at them.

Feed should be based on grass. That's what horses are designed to eat. In the winter, lacking grass (depending on land base, weather, a few other things) you should be prepared to feed a MINIMUM of 2% of body weight per day. A 1,000 lb horse= 20 lbs of hay. Supplement with oats for energy, if required.

Water should be available free choice.

Worming in an intensive system every 6 weeks. If they have more room and are not reinfecting themselves you need not worm as often. Worming= $20.

Trimming depends on how much room they have. Intensivesly kept horses, ie in stable will need trimming every 6-8 weeks. Prices vary., maybe $50. Shoes not required unless working hard on hard ground. Horses with more room to run will abrade the hooves naturally.

Rough figures, approximately $1,000 per year.

[troubleinwinter]

25. Your base minimum seems right.

But horses are not hamsters.

"Hi, Honey! Looky, I bought a horse! I will have to go out and check that all of our fences are in good repair. I will have to see that we have no star thistle in the yard. Hafta be sure there aren't any obsidian shards around, otherwise she could go lame and we'll have to call out the vet and pack her foot for a few weeks. She isn't young, and will need to have her teeth floated every so often. Oh, hey, would you call up and have a ton of hay delivered? Get the alfalfa, not the oat. I know, I know, oat is cheaper, but she just throws out the stems, so just go ahead and get the alfalfa. For the winter, we will need some high calorie sweet mix.

Yeah, I'm gonna ride her to work to save on gas. She'll need shoeing, of course, every 8 weeks. Can you locate a shoer? Oh, and a saddle and halter and bit. You'll need to giver her a grooming each evening.

What do you mean, 'Do I know how to ride a horse?' What do you mean, 'Does she get spooked by cars, horns, dogs, kids?' What do you mean 'Where will I park her at work?' What do you mean 'Is my health insurance adequate and life insurance up to date?'

Are you nuts?"

[friesianrider]

28. You must be raising model horses.

My two guys last year cost around $550 a month with wormer, shavings, grain, quality hay, farrier, etc.

I would never keep my horses outside without any shelter. Horses get rainrot and all kinds of problems from just being left out with only a windbreak, not to mention just because they can tolerate no shelter doesn't mean they're comfortable that way. IMHO only, it is irresponsible to just toss horses outside and expect them to deal with the elements, any more than it would be for one to do that to a dog or cat/

[SkipNewarkDE]

30. Agreed...

Your prices are about right if your horse is an easy-keeper. But if you own any of the sport or performance breeds, multiply that amount by ten fold. My thoroughbred that I ride for pleasure and competition can be a bit "delicate". Thoroughbreds are kind of difficult to keep weight on when they are working, so I HAVE to give him quite a bit of grain and hay during the day, in addition to his grazing.

[havocmom]

17. The rancher in my area who raises Clydesdales is probably gonna be

one busy man as diesel prices keep going up. Folks here abouts might think a good team would be more practical than a John Deere. We have miles & miles of miles & miles and some of it is decent grazing. Wonder if we'll see hitchin' posts going back up on Main Street soon.

[bklyncowgirl]

22. I own a Thoroughbred not the best breed for basic transportation

He's a sturdy little guy, though, looks more like a quarter horse or a Morgan. Yeah, he'll do.

I have him boarded out at a cool $415 a month but if the town eased the restrictions we could move him to the backyard with the trailer and the last of the diesel for the pickup. I have a feed dealer about two miles from me so if we can get him to haul his own food it could work.

Let's see I could break him to drive pretty easy, he learns fast. I'd need a harness and a cart--or maybe we could strip down the Honda--get rid of heavy useless stuff like the engine and transmission and rig a singletree to the front of it.

I'll be the envy of the neighborhood.

[Mairead]

24. The Amish must be laughing right about now :-)

"Energy efficient vehicle. Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step on exhaust."

Amish Carriage - $900
Reply to: [e-mail]
Date: 2005-08-03, 4:09AM EDT

1910 complete, excellent condition, sound as can be
museum quality, seats about 5. fully closed with flaps
good for advertise use in a show room, special event, weddings.
On display at a farm. Quite usable.

[friesianrider]

27. Horses require an INSANE amount of care, and are EXTREMELY expensive

I don't think this is funny at all. People who get horses on whims and without an understanding of the kind of care and maintenance they require always end up mistreating or neglecting them.

When we ONLY had two horses a year ago it was costing us around $550 a month just for their basic care/feed/etc.

[SoCalDem]

31. It means that some horses are being used for a photo-op, and

will probably end up being abused in one way or another:cry: Animals are not THINGS..PROPS :grr: