We’ve had a bit of trouble on the financial front recently and for a couple days there we considered selling Cosmo. It was awful. I was in tears for several days.
First, we thought, well, maybe just take him out of training and pasture him for a while. Then it was, well, what’s the point in having him if we can’t ride him? He would go crazy not working every day. It wouldn’t be fair. Maybe we should sell him to someone who can really care for him. But as my seven year old son tearfully pointed out, Cosmo is part of the family and you can’t sell family members. More tears all around.
I talked to my trainer, tearfully told her what was going on and that we had to take Cosmo out of training and maybe sell him as we just can’t afford the bill anymore. She told me to give her a couple of days to see what should could work out. She said one of the other students might be losing her horse and may be able to lease Cosmo from me for what it costs to train him. She would talk to them and see what they thought. Leave it all to her. I say, Ok. And then started praying.
Today I found out that yes, the woman who was leasing her horse to Sarah is taking him back at the end of this month. Sarah is an excellent rider with naturaly ability and a great future, but her parents can’t afford to get her her own horse right now. I really like Sarah and totally trust her. I will be sitting down with her parents to formalize the lease and pound out the details.
The tenative agreement is, I will get to work off most of Cosmo’s board and my lessons. Sarah will work off/pay for his training and her lessons. We will split other costs (like shoeing and vitamins) evenly. My cash-out-of-pocket bill goes down from $600+/month to around $200.
Anyway, I just had to tell someone because I’m so happy how things worked out. God is good. And my trainer is the best!
Sorry, I honestly meant to add that I’m glad you don’t have to sell your horse. How cool that your trainer helped find such an all-around useful solution!
Now, talk about alternate universes, we have four horses here, for which we own ample pasture. I don’t think we spend $600 per year on all four horses, unless some accounting is made for the value of the pasture, which isn’t an actual out of pocket expense.
You pay $600 per month. OUCH!
Well, to break it down…stall rent with daily turnout $350, full training on a green horse, including two lesson/week for the owner, $450 month. Yes, it’s very expensive, but these are average rates for a good facility. I currently work off $200/month. Now I will be paying $225/month for pasture board with a shelter, $160/month for lessons, but working $200/month off. The other girl will be paying for/working off the $450 training bill and in exchange she gets to ride him in competitions.
That is awesome and a truly best-case scenario. As a barn worker and instructor, let me reassure you that most horses do very well on fulltime pasture board (actually I believe it is nearly always the healthiest way for horses to live). And let me second that what you are paying is deinitely average (on the low side actually for your area).
Once Cosmo doesn’t need regular training, you might want to consider that pasture idea. You can still ride regularly…either ride in the pasture or pick a spot adjacent to a riding area.
Thanks, Everyone! We’re all very happy it worked out.
And since you asked…I wish I had some of him under saddle, but I don’t at the moment. He’s a three year old, cream Palamino Quarter Horse. He was a PMU rescue.
Baby Picture (this was taken the day I got him, Dec 2003)
What wonderful news !! So glad Cosmo gets to stay with his family . And what a pretty boy he is. He looks so alert and intelligent. An I am a sucker for a palomino.
sigh I miss my own horses.
Horseless since 1986 and hating every stinking moment.
What a cutie patootie. They grow up so fast! I salute you for putting a good start on this fellow – it’ll be worth all that time and $$ in the long run. What kind of riding to do you?
Congratulations for a good solutions. I’ve known several people who’ve done that same thing. I wish I could afford to train. I raised and trained Irish from a yearling myself, but I I enjoyed it when I had a trainer. But I can afford to have a horse, or a can afford lessons, but I can’t afford both.