Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
The end of April was a bit crazy. I had a nasty flu and then spent the better part of a week catching up on everything. With this and that, I completely forgot to post my expenses for the month of April. Each month, I think to myself, this month is going to be cheaper. But alas, that hasn't been the case. I've had extra bill after extra bill. With Speedy recovering from tendonitis, and Izzy not being ready for rated shows, my show budget has simply been applied to my vet budget. So that's good, right?! Owning a horse is cheap. Doing stuff with your horse is not. Doing stuff TO your horse is definitely not cheap. My board and feed bill are the cheapest part of this whole operation.
My vet bills have been pretty high for the first quarter of 2016 and so have my truck and trailer costs. Between my vet bills, truck, and trailer, I've spent more than $3,000 in the first four months of the year, and my husband gave me $600 for tires for my truck, and then he paid another $200 for Speedy's most recent ultrasound. I didn't count those things in my costs. I jokingly told my husband that I could save a lot of money if I got rid of my truck and trailer. Think about it: no new tires, gas, batteries, or roof vents. Think how much I'd also save by not going to lessons or shows. I could whittle my expenses down to almost nothing. My husband's response was that I could save even more money if I also got rid of Speedy and Izzy. He said I'd have so much extra money that I could retire. He was teasing of course, but the reality is that owning and showing two horses costs a small fortune. Here's to a calmer and cheaper second financial quarter.
Desirea
5/16/2016 06:15:02 am
I know the feeling! I haven't been showing and I don't have a trailer. I still spend almost 1K a month on my horses. Really need to get Lilo to a Water Aholics Anonymous meeting cuz she has a drinking problem that has to be addressed every month with extra free feed to distract her. Not to mention the bar shoes she wears. 5/18/2016 05:52:23 am
They will definitely find a way to help you spend your money! :0) 5/16/2016 10:07:02 am
Lessons and showing definitely increase your costs exponentially! 5/18/2016 05:53:25 am
They do. The worst is to have one who is showing and one who needs the vet! That will slurp up ALL the money. :0) 5/18/2016 05:56:47 am
Writing this series is HARD because it MAKES me look at what I'm spending. I don't normally look this closely. I did this series a couple of years ago, and it did help me curb the superfluous spending. I've been complaining to my husband about my bills all month. Usually it's the husband griping! Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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