If someone gave you...

[EnglishGuy]

If someone gave you $10,000 with the only requirement being that you had to spend it on your horse or horse related stuff, what would you spend it on?

This is a question I'm using for a paper in Equine Science on what horse owners want, so I appreciate your responses!

I can't use my own response, but personally I'd spend it on showing gear (nice tall boots, breeches, jackets, helmets, gloves), a nice used saddle, saddle pad, and girth. What would be left I'd spend on a western saddle + pad, and western boots.

I'd like to spend it on my own horse, but I know once it ran out I wouldn't be able to keep up with expenses so it would be a mess.

[vicklynn]

If only for my horse, or to do with my horse. I would do some more ground work, have gravel brought in, new roof on the horse feed shed, full load of hay delivered and stacked for me, have some trees removed and the round pen set up exactly like I want it, leveled and sanded. Any extra money left over, I would put in an account for the horses only.

[AUEquine]

For me, right now, I'd spend it on a nice top quality horse trailer! This is a good investment that can last you a lifetime. And unlike saddles/bridles/tack, it will fit just about any horse you ever own! With good maintenance it won't wear out or break! And there's nothing better than the feeling of knowing you can safely haul your animal any day and any time you need to!

[Apaches Mom]

For me, I would be similar to Vicki. At this moment, my garage has been converted into a stall. So I would build a small barn with 4 stalls in it. If not that, then I'd buy a new round pen and sand to go in the RP. And drainage in the field.

[All4Grace]

I would have Gracie vetted ear to hoof, bone scan the whole nine yards to fin dout where her random issues are stemming from.
I'd by her and Hazel carts and new harness, a REALLY nice saddle for either horses. New custom tall boots
whatever is left over save for emergency funds.

[Dakota Sunrise]

$10,000?:eek: Wow, I would have a lot of fun with that! :D

I'm tempted to say I'd buy another horse-- of course I love my two, but I've always wanted a third. A well trained, seasoned barrel horse. I know Beauty will be able to game eventually, but it would be awesome to have a horse to game and learn on while she was still in training.
But no, that's not what I'd spend it on. My other idea is more practical, and would be better in the end.


The first thing I'd buy would be a trailer, preferably used. I need a small stock trailer or three horse slant load, which around here I could probably find for maybe, idk... $4,000? Around there. Which leaves me with $6,000 bucks.
With that I would buy Beauty SMB sport boots for all fours (which would only cost about $120), new cowboy boots for me (around $100), and then find a trainer. Then I would load Beauty in my new/used trailer and haul her to the trainer's stable for weekly lessons. With the help of my new found instructor, Beauty and I would quickly (I hope!) progress into decent barrel racers, and by next summer we'd be competing locally.
I'd have money left over, but I'm not sure what I'd do with it. It's not enough to start the barn, so I'd probably just put it in the bank, or use it as a down payment for a truck of my own. I'll need something to pull the trailer with I suppose.:innocent: And of course I'd buy Dakota a treat of some sort, because he was left out of this whole plan. But he's all ready perfect so lessons on him would be pointless and we ride bareback most of the time so we don't need a new saddle. But I'd find some new way to spoil him.:D

[WashingtonBay]

I'd spend it on the down payment on a new truck that can pull our trailer up any hill.

If I were on my own land, I'd spend it on fencing.

[Blue]

Oh, wow. Here we go! :) Everything taken from my Dover catalog.

Wintec Pro Jump in Brown - $700
Crosby Fancy Stitched Bridle in Havana - $190
2 Mattes Half Pad, One White, One Pink - $290 (for both)
3 Riders International Saddle Pads, One Pink w/ Lime Trim, One Burgundy, One White - $54 (for all 3)
Wintec Leathers in Brown - $35
Wintec Bridle in Brown (for schooling) - $50
Ariat Heritage II Field Boots (for schooling) - $240
Ariat Monaco Field Boots (showing) - $900
Grand Prix Show Jacket - $500 ((RUNNING TOTAL SO FAR - $2,959)
Riding Sport Euro Collection Full-Seat Breeches in Tan/Blue Plaid - $80
Pikeur Victory Breeches in Safari - $315
Ariat Fairflax Breeches in Beige - $120
Ariat Heritage II Paddock Boots in Brown - $100
Charles Own GR8 Helmet in Black/Charcoal - $280
SSG Show Gloves - $30
Devon-Aire Winter Riding Breeches in Beige - $70
Dover Pro Shipping Halter - $200
Dover Pro Padded [Leather] Halter - $120
Dover Web Halter in Navy - $40
Fleck Nubuck Show Crop in Oakbark/Ivory - $45
SMB Elite Boots (x2) in Navy and Burgundy - $170 (for both)
Stubben Girth - $150
((RUNNING TOTAL $4690ish...lol))

Okay, I give up. I'll spend the rest on more saddles! :D
Wyle Show Jumping Saddle - $1,700
Bates CC Saddle - $1,800

Hmmm...I was really bored. :) And I really don't know what anyone would do with 3 nice english saddles! lol!

With the rest I would get Blue a massage and TREATS!

[HobbyHorse101]

If I had ten grand it would go two a newer light 2 horse trailer, a set of the top of the line show clothes for me..since I seem to change my mind on which set I'm going to wear everyday and it's always nice to have extra's, new Dressage and Close Contact saddle's just for shows, along with bridles that match..Some more saddle pads, and if there's anything extra it would go to board and vet bills.

[cowgirlup@idaho]

I'd have to buy a new horse trailer with all the bells and whistles!

[starr]

i think i would buy a good used horse trailer with living quarters, and if i had money left over would redo barn or better fencing

[Ix3Morgans]

I would buy all around SMB and overreach boots for the front. about $150
really good saddle pads for western & english- $300
fake tail- $200
trailer safing- $500

The remaining $8850 I would sock away for things I really need vet calls/farrier work/board and what not

[HeartofSteel]

Clinics!!! lol ok that would be alot of clinics....

[Kowgirlkate]

I would put it towards an indoor arena so I could ride anytime

[sugarsgirl]

I'd either buy a horse trailer, a ton of show tack, or use it for training/lessons and show fees.

[alittleoffkey]

I'd re-fence the 50 acres with nice wood fencing with electric over the top, seperating it out into 4 or 5 pastures.

That'd probably eat $10,000 up. :D

If it didn't I'd spend the rest fixing up the barn and buying hay. :)

[Dixie]

Hmm, I'd get a new barrel saddle, nothing crazy price wise though. My hubby would get his very own saddle. I'd get my round pen. More hay. Used stock or 4 horse trailer. Whatever was left I'd put into a savings account and use for fencing upgrades and I might consider sending one of my horses for 30 days with a trainer.

[Remali]

For my horse? I would send her to this really wonderful trainer, he is so gentle and his horses are all spectacular, he uses some Parelli methods and he can do sliding stops with his stallion bridle-less. So, I'd take her up there for some training. Then I'd get her registered (the paperwork is there but at this point it'd cost about $585 to register her at her age). Then, lemme see...... breed her to this awesome Arabian stallion I know of....he has the most gentle and quiet disposition and his foals are very athletic. And, I'd buy a JJ Maxwell Hope saddle, and new bridle too!

[Annasmom]

Well lets see since I already have an amazing horse :) I would re-foot our outdoor arena and get some different nicer jumps and some stadium lights. I would buy a nice county saddle , and a nice mattes pad some custom breecehs and tall boots :)

[JetLagaside]

I would buy custom fitted saddles :) dressage and jumping hmm with what's left after that then show gear - dress sheet, 1 cotton, 1 wool ooo and a couple of rambo blankets.

[lovesfortune]

I would use to buy some land from my in laws (for cheap!), put up a really nice pasture with great fencing, build a nice run in shelter. Then I would buy a new saddle for Norman since the one I use is older than dirt. Any left over money would be used for an arena.

[Joey A]

I'm with WB, down payment on a bigger truck. I have a client trying to sell a waaaayy oversized stock trailer (7'x7'x18' gooseneck) for $1500. The thing is just itching to turn into a 3 horse draft trailer with a sleeper. (it told me in a dream) So with those two, I'd have just enough to get a saddle and a full tank of diesel in my new truck!

[cyb]

I would put it towards building a barn for the horses.

[HoustonFarrier]

There's a Clydesdale wheel horse I'd like...he's $12K.......

Steve

[Ryderd65]

I'd get an Old West Tucker saddle, buy a certain little horse my daughter and I love, put a trailer hitch on my Escape, get Sierra some new boots and buy a small horse trailer.

The rest would probably go to horse upkeep. Ask me the same question in a year, and hopefully my answer will be "make a down payment on horse property."

[FoxFireEMT]

Easy start off with a decent trailer *used* (hey when you have nothing anythign is better) and spend whats left on fixing it up!!

[gaited07]

Half of the money would be spent on training for MYSELF and my horse. Such as natural horsemanship clinics, dressage classes, vet clinics, farrier clinics, any type of clinics/training that deals with horses, horse care and maintenance.
The other half would be the money that I would need to hold my own clinic's so I can teach others the things that I learned over my years of experience. My target clients would be kids (of course adults too) to keep our horsey heritage strong and motivated.

[Miracle Whip]

I would purchase an automatic watering system. Improve on the training pen fencing OR buy more ground for hay production. I like to show horses, but, other than a decent English saddle to replace my starter one, I don't think I'd spend a lot on tack. Fixing up the trailer yes- new tires etc and getting the brakes and lights to work...put the rest into the bank for emergencies. I'd probably take some riding lessons also, although right now I have an agreement with an instructor to trade stall cleaning for lessons.

[magayle]

a new brenderup horse trailer

[mandisue]

Lol you know how to talk to women! Ask 'em how to spend ten thou!!!

Well I would go find a nice used aluminum trailer two horse w/dressing room ( and if not aluminum I'd buy a new Moritz ), I've seen some for $5-6000 so that would leave me with say $4000. With which I would buy a new Simco barrel saddle, round skirt, 15in seat, a black Cordura barrel pad, Black SMB Elites ( I love those new boots ) So far I've got $600 in saddle, $120 for boots and $50 for pad so might as well say I've got $3200 left. I'd buy a new gate for Suseys stall, $100, Buy the quick crete needed to finish my addition, so that's another $100. I'd probably take $400 of it and get Buttercup bred to Suseys sire, I'd love to get one more baby out of him, ( he's in his mid twenties.... not owned by me.) so that leaves around $2600, I'd take $1000 for Suseys training next year, and the rest to go into a round pen complete with sand and cover all over it.

Boy that was fun!!

[Gypsy Rose]

First, I would redo all my fencing.

Then, I would set up a good watering system here, and eliminate the bucket hauling!

The I'd get a good used horse trailer and a good used truck to pull it with.

After that, I'd take what little would be left over, and put it up for Gypsy's needs.

[MyHorseBiggs]

let's see...

I would first I would train Biggs or Wiki how to jump and I'd get a Jumping saddle about $500 i'm guessing
And I'd need an arena or a round pen to train in
I'd get Wiki a new halter that'd be about $20
Put in a hitching rail next to a water spicket
and if there was anything less I'd save it to get another horse someday :D

I'd probably have a ton of other stuff that i'd want to get to though :) haha

[MyHorseBiggs]

Oh and I'd want new fencing if there was anything left after that!! Barbed wire on some of the sides hasn't been going good for my horses..

[ownedby7horses]

I would put Rodeo in training, I would vet Cawl top to bottom inside to outside, then I would buy a used horse trailer to go with my old truck!
I would like to buy another horse, around 7 or 8 y/o, QH mare, nicely built & my main trail pony. I would buy 2 new/used saddles to fit Rodeo & new horse and with the rest I would buy my lumber for my outdoor arena & start teaching my kids to ride!

[KCandAllegro'sMom]

I'd spend it on a down payment for some land so I can finally get my own barn built and move my horses home!

[shynbvs]

i don't have a horse, so i would probably get a horse first. But if I had a horse. i would get:
- stubben bridle
- new professionals choice/woof boots just for showing.
- a used 2 horse trailer
- shipping boots
- a few more blankets to "widen my options"
- charles owen helmet
- new show clothes helmet to boots
- a few misc. stuff like saddle pads, bell boots, grooming stuff, etc...
- put the rest away to save considering this economy ;)

[mouse]

The biggest barn I could get for that..... perhaps a nice 6 stall?

Currently using a converted "shed/lean-to/thing-a-ma-bob" that was here when we moved here...

[Syble413]

I would use the money to pay off my current horse trailer in full. (Just thinking of that puts a smile on my face!:)) Then, I could use the money that I've been paying each month on the trailer payment to buy more of the things that I need/want for the horses & to upgrade the pasture fencing.

[Equine_Woman]

I would send Sonora to a trainer for a few months, by a round pen, clear some land a buy a nice new stock trailer.

Trainer about $1200 for 2 months
Round pen about $1000
Stock trailer about $5000

With the rest I'd put in nice pipe and horse fence fencing. I don't know how much of that I'd be able to afford but I bet I could get something done with 2,800!!

Now if only someone wanted to give me $10,000!!!!! Anyone?