Animals, Horse Bits
The Cost (Benefit) of Owning Horses -Priceless
Why do you pay so much money for your kids horses?
I get that question all the time. In fact, occasionally people who have no business having an opinion will even get angry at the amount of money I spend on the kids horses. Seriously? We work very hard to make this happen and we all make sacrifices to make it happen. With good reason.
I don’t pay so much money for a recreational activity – Here is what I am paying for…
- I pay for those moments when my kids become so tired they want to quit – but don’t.
- I pay for those days when my kids come home from school and are “too tired” to go the stables but go anyway.
- I pay for my kids to learn to be disciplined.
- I pay for my kids to learn safe and appropriate behavior.
- I pay for my kids to become teachers to others.
- I pay for my kids to learn to care for animals – which will teach them to care for people.
- I pay for my kids to learn to take care of their body and their horses’ bodies.
- I pay for my kids to learn to work with others, and to be good teammates.
- I pay for my kids to learn to show respect.
- I pay for my kids to learn that life sometimes has disappointments and loss.
- I pay for my kids to learn that it is hard work to care for others, love them and meet their needs before their own as well as the sacrifices associated with it.
- I pay for my kids to learn that friends take care of one another, and are always there for one another.
- I pay for my kids to learn that the work still needs to happen even when you’d rather sleep; even when it is snowing; even when it is raining; even when the pipes are frozen; even when there is no power…
- I pay for my kids to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don’t get that ribbon or medal they’d hoped for, but still have to work hard in the process.
- I pay for my kids to learn to make and accomplish goals and celebrate when they have met them.
- I pay for my kids to learn that it takes hours and hours and hours and hours of hard work and practice to create a champion, and that success does not happen overnight.
- I pay for my kids to learn that sometimes it is just as important to just sit with the horses with no expectation, no celebrations, and no riding.
- I pay for the opportunity my kids have, and will have, to make life-long friendships.
- I pay so my kids can do all of this – instead of sitting in front of a screen…
- I pay so my kids can learn that often things don’t go as planned. We need to improvise and be flexible. Sometimes you horse loses a shoe the morning of a show and you need to ride someone else that you haven’t trained on.
- I pay so my kids can learn it isn’t all about them – sometimes the horse has a bad day.
- I pay so my kids know that prepping and cleaning for a show are just as critical as participation in the show.
- I pay so my kids know that if you tried your best and didn’t get a ribbon – you know you tried your best.
- I pay so my kids learn that no one is perfect and there is always something to improve upon.
- I pay so my kids know the satisfaction of saving a life and giving that horse a whole new future – the future they deserve.
- I pay so my kids learn that sometimes that saving of a life means many more sacrifices along the way.
- I pay so my kids learn it is better to keep sacrificing and find the perfect home for a rescue than to just make a deal.
- I pay so my kids learn that sometimes our job is to love them, get them healthy and then let them go. They learn there is a certain pain in being selfless.
- I pay so my kids learn that working together as a team is far more effective and beneficial than making someone do it all by themselves.
- I pay so my kids learn to drink from a water hose, to swim in a river, to eat when you are hungry (really hungry), to spend time outside, to climb trees, to play in the mud, to dance in the rain, and to celebrate life.
.. I don’t pay for horse riding, I pay for the opportunities that horse riding provides my kids and to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far I think it is a great investment!
I absolutely love that you are able to give your family this blessing…. Horses are absolutely amazing at what their hearts can accomplish. My almost completely non verbal special needs child found his way to speaking because of the bond he formed with his pony…. He was able to connect with this magnificent beautiful animal in a way he just can’t with other people…
What a great way to look at the cost of horses. This is how I look at my teen and his love of running.
I love that you are able to give your family this kind of experience. There are so many benefits to owning horses and riding is amazing.
It is priceless! There are so many fantastic benefits to owning and caring for horses. It is great that you make sacrifices so that your kids can have this opportunity.
I have always wanted to just ride a horse but have never had a chance. What an amazing opportunity for your kids!
The experiences are worth the investment! I think about this all the time when people wonder why I spend money on all sorts of sports and classes and activities for my daughter. She is doing what she loves and gaining life skills and experiences. It’s worth it!
Having any kind of pet is a priceless feeling! I ahve never owned any horses but when my sister and I were younger we usr to go riding a lot at a friends house. Horses are truly beautiful creatures!