well, it could've been earlier. in fact, i probably wanted a horse (pony, back then) when i was old enough to kjnow what one was. typical small american child that i was.

i've been riding kate for a couple months now. she's a 6 year old warmblood out of this stallion. she was bought in foal at what basically amounted to a firesale at a breeding farm that was going out of business. before that, she was owned by a child who didn't ride well and kinda scared her. after she had the foal (last june), they tried to re-breed her, but it didn't take. so they put her back to work, to earn her keep.

so now, john, the farm's owner, wants me to buy her. for $5000. i could pay in installments (probably $500/month), and work off most of her board ($450/month). i'd probably end up paying $50/month in board, plus $55 every 6 weeks for shoes, and $45 every 3 months for wormer. works out to about $105/month in upkeep. on top of that, i'd have to add new tack (saddle, bridle...), vet bills (annual vaccinations, whatever injuries/illnesses/emergencies arose), and lessons and show fees.

i could probably just manage monthly care. well, assuming she stayed healthy. but the purchase price is too steep, i think. for the first 10 months, i'd have to pay over $600/month for her. plus buy tack and lessons. ouch.

next time i'm out there, i will ask about the possibility of leasing her. i'd probably have to cover board ($450). don't know if i'd be responsible for shoes and vet costs. probably not.

sigh. she's a lovely horse, and i think has potential. but i don't really have the money. sigh. i asked around online, and one lady said that in her neck of the woods, a son or daughter of alla'czar would go for $10,000 sight unseen. so, i'm probably having to pass up a real deal. goddam poverty!