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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Horses Are Expensive II: November 2016

12/1/2016

 
2016 is definitely going to end up being the cheapest year for equine spending that I have ever had. I am so far behind my "typical" spending that it's making me feel as though I have oodles to spend. I don't. Instead of spending my money on new tack, clinics, and shows, "we" spent it elsewhere. 
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The Vatican
Remember that trip to Italy in June? I saved tons of money that month.
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Decorated for Christmas - yellow dog tore down the wreath on the right so I had to rehang them both HIGHER. She's only just now a year old. Bad dog.
In October, we bought a new house. I saved a pile of cash that month, too. Have I mentioned that in November, I hardly spent any money on my horses because I also had to furnish the new house? So yeah. I am basically the queen of saving money. 
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There's also a kitchen table that seats four and barstools for three. Just how many people live here? Oh yeah ... two.
I am sure that by now you know that I watch all of my pennies very closely. We had the money for all of this because we raided next summer's vacation fund. Bye bye, Africa. I would have loved to have seen you in person. Yeah. That's not happening now. Instead, we have a pretty cool new home with lovely new furniture (and more on the way).

Not that this is a home decorating blog, but I promise to share more photos when we get the last few furniture deliveries done. Things won't be really done for a long, long time as there is always more to do. When we sell our cabin (Hey! Anyone interested in a GREAT cabin near Bakersfield? Let me know!), we'll use some of that furniture to finish the second spare bedroom and fill in a few gaps here and there. That might take years though.

Anyway ... back to the idea that horses are expensive. I laugh because they're really not if you don't spend your money on them. This was yet another month of barebones horse keeping.
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I spent just over $900 to keep two horses for the month of November. There have been months where I have easily spent three times that amount. For me, the lesson in all of this is that if I didn't have horses, I'd have a LOT more money. I wouldn't be any happier though.

As they say, What's in your wallet?
Sarah link
12/1/2016 05:40:13 am

This series makes me VERY glad I keep my horses at home and live in a cheap area. My version of this would be: one bag of grain, $22, average monthly farrier cost: $65. I buy all my hay at one point in the year and pay a grand in property taxes, but no where near $900 a month! I can't wait to see the house! I nerd out about house stuff and horse stuff. ;)

Bakersfield Dressage link
12/1/2016 06:47:08 am

California is definitely not the cheapest place in the nation to live, but I do live in one of the cheaper parts of the state. I have friends who pay way, way more than I do both for their horses and their own houses.

I am not so good at photography, so I'll have to get some help with the photographs of the house as mine don't do it justice. :0)

jenj
12/1/2016 06:18:24 am

Once again, I'm sticking my head in the sand. I just wrote a check for $972 this morning for a load of 105 bales of hay. That should last me roughly 3 months with two horses... and that's JUST the hay!!! I don't even want to know the rest of my costs.

Bakersfield Dressage link
12/1/2016 06:49:24 am

I hear you. Right now, I am squeezing out every last penny from every last source. I think my board bill is actually quite reasonable especially since I don't have to do any barn work anymore. It's really nice to just show up and ride without cleaning stalls, watering the arena, or buying hay.


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    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I 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.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy 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.
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    About Izzy

    Izzy 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.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home