TonyC
Platinum Member
From a laymen's point of view... My neighbor raises and shows American Saddlebred horses and shows and sells them. At the moment she has about 14 of them, which I know is more than you plan on. Before they moved next door about 15 years ago, I knew little about horses. What I have learned is that they are very expensive to maintain in all aspects. More surprisingly, they are not as robust an animal as I had thought. It may vary between breeds but I am amazed at the medical problems they have. There is either a farrier or vet there all the time. My neighbor is skilled and capable of normal medical maintanance including shots etc. She also does her own breeding and birthing. Still the bills keep coming, not to mention several have had to be put down. If they eat too fast or too much or mildewed hay or God know's what, they get colic which at the least is costly to treat and at worse is fatal. I'm not trying to sway you from becoming a horse owner, but any thoughts I had of owning one has long since dissipated. I love animals but I'm sticking with the 3 dogs and 3 cats we have now...their vet bills are high enough! Either way you go...Good Luck!