Now finally something I know at least little about, cause I ceratinly am not a tractor expert /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We were in the same situation 3 years ago when we moved to upstate NY. My wife had owned a horse since she was about 11 and worked at horse stables as a kid but it was our first horse on OUR property.
We moved up here and had horse property with a small barn... well it started as 1, 2,3,4,5 and now a 6th horse is due to be born shortly. You probably arent't going to want to keep one lonely horse in the field. If you don't want multiple horses many people get a goat to keep the horse company. One horse is a kind of lonely looking.
You can buy or even adopt sound horses for very little money or you can spend as much as you like. A basic trail horse shouldn't be too much. If you are looking for some sort of performance horse, the sky is the limit. The one problem with adoption is thta most reputable palces want you too have had previous horse experience and some want the horese to have other hoses to socialize with. There is an organiztion in NK/NY and KY that is called Re-run the place many retired racehorses. The NJ locastion has mostly Standardbreds from the track, many are sound or have minor problems that will not hampoer them in non-racing activities. We adopted a terrific 4 year old TB from there KY location and he is the best looking, healthiest horse we have.
RERUN
The expense is not TOO bad if they are on your own property, feed and hay are reasonable and we only shoe the horses that my wife and daughter barrell race. The big expense is sickness. So far only one real bad incident in 3 years but it cost 5k /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
As far as work, if you keep the horses in the pasture with a run-in shed for shelter the main chore (stall cleaning) doesn't exist. The horses we have outside really only take 5-10 minutes total a day for feeding and watering in the morning and night.
The 3 in the barn take maybe 30-45 minutes of work a day combined. That's turning out, stall cleaning, manure removal etc.
The other thing you will need to do on a regular basis is get the farrier (every 6-8 weeks), vet for shots and innoculations maybe twice a year and the other minor medical issues maybe 1-2 times a year. Worming the horses isn't really much harder than getting my Bulldog to eat his heartworm medication /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
In all honesty the horses in the pasture seem healthier and happier, not to mention being less work. With good shelters they made it throught he toughest, snowiest and coldest winter in years with flying colors.
When this tractor comes we may get several smaller temporary shelters and leave most if not all of these guys outside.
The horse work is not bad in warmer weather but in the winter water freezing, icing footing, snow on the barn roof, yard hydrants that freeze, etc. are factors to consider. When it's 4 degrees in the morning and the horses need fresh water and feed, it aint' that much fun. You will also need to snowblow/plow pathes to the barn, feed, water manure storage doing the winter. Where most guys are finishing plowing the driveway and heading in to watch the game I am just starting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Last year it wasn't much but this year is was a job.
When the weather is OK the kids do help. If they aren't willing to help they don't need a horse. As it is now my wife and daughter do the daily horse care. My son says he wants to get more involved with the horses but then he needs to go out there on a regular basis to help care for the horses. We explained you can't just hop on the horse at the show after someone else has fed, groomed, cleaned up after, and tacked your horse.
The real sarifice is that you can't just decide to go away or spend the night somewhere without getting someone to care for your horse. It isn't like a dog you need someone who knows what they are doing.
With all this said the horses add something special to our family and to the appeal of the property and I am sure we will always have them. I hope you do get the horse but you are right to consider the work.
P.S. if you do go the horse route consider buying a 4horse(16" )stock bumper pull trailer and it will work to haul your tractor as well. They are no frills and pretty cheap.
Oh and when you buy the daughter the pony make sure that pony isn't pregnant /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif