Am I ready for a horse of my own?

I am 13 and I have been volunteering at my local stable for a year and I have been going to my friend’s ranch since I was 8. At the stable, I have turned horses in and out, cleaned their water buckets, cleaned the feed rooms, exercised horses, and groomed horses. At my friend’s ranch, I have cleaned stalls, feed and watered her horses, cleaned their water buckets, taken the horses in and out, taken her miniature horses on a trail walk, talked to her Ferrier and vet, ridden her horses, and started training one of her rescue horses who has made a great deal of progress.

I know that owning a horse costs money and is a huge responsibility. My mom has a second job at an after school care place and she said if I help her out after school for two hours I can get half of her pay. By the end of the month, I will have enough money to pay my friend for letting me keep my horse there. I will also have my allowance ($80) and my lunch money that I don’t use ($100). The only reason I wouldn’t keep my horse at my local stable is because I don’t really agree with the way the barn is run… (They take all the fun out of horses). I am looking to adopt a rescue horse (http://www.equineadoption.com/order.htm) and later on show my horse in 4h. My friend’s barn is full at the moment because she only has three stalls. So, my horse could use the lean-to once we build a sliding door on the end of it (pictures below).

I know I will need a lot of equipment like grooming, tack, helmet, boots, first aid kit, food and water buckets, deworming medication, and money for floating&vaccinations and incase of colic or any other medical problems. So far I have a my grooming kit, a saddle and saddle pad, shampoo, a lead rope and lunge line, all of the Parelli training tools apart from the bridle system, halter and hackamore, bareback pad, boots, helmet, and the Parelli DVDs. I need to but yet a winter blanket, fly spray, fly mask, first aid kit, a halter, cross-ties, hackamore, bridle, and deworming medication. Once I get my horse, I am going to get insurance on my horse so if something happens, a percent of the cost will be cut. I am also going to buy a round pen, seeing how my friend has always wanted one and I could use it too.

I will be able to go out to my friend’s ranch every Friday and Saturday and sometimes during the week once summer arrives. On the days I am there I will be cleaning the stalls and training/ riding. I have not taken any riding lessons except for the ones from my friend but I am not that into riding. I rather just have a pasture pal than a show horse. I am planning on going to college though. For college, I am looking at going to the University of Wisconsin which has a stable there for me to keep my horse at. Do you think I am ready for a horse of my own?

~pictures~

Kathy’s Barn

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee172/blackjack3296/?action=view&current=barn.jpg

Kathy’s Barn2

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee172/blackjack3296/?action=view&current=barn2.jpg

The Lean-to

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee172/blackjack3296/?action=view&current=barn3.jpg

Black Jack (the rescue horse that I began to train) and Rocket (another rescue horse that Kathy donated to a family)

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee172/blackjack3296/?action=view&current=100_1144.jpg

Black Jack and I (from two years ago)

Thanks ahead of time:)

Sorry if it was really long…
I have already co-owned a horse with someone and then they had to sell the horse and at the time I was 9 and less experienced so I could not but that horse fully. I was heartbroken and I really don’t want to have to go through that again… and neither do my parents:)
I understand the basic costs of horses and by the time I will be getting mine, I will have $3,000 saved up. My parents said I can get a hrose only if I pay for it myself but I would like to know if I am ready to get one before I jump in way over my head:)

Well you sound really responible and you are right, owning a horse is a lot of money and needs a lot of care. So if you think your ready for the challenge then sit down and talk about how you can come up with the money and where you can keep it. Have fun!!!!