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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
  
Location: Idaho | So, currently I am horseless and am just leasing a gelding at a nearby barn so that I can keep riding. I am a grad student and have a year left of school and once I get licensed, then I will be able to get a big girl job with a big girl paycheck etc.
I know among us horse people there is always the joke of "we could travel to "Insert vacation spot here", but we have horses." I personally have really had a put on rein on myself from wanting to buy a horse before school is over and that part of my life is accomplished. When I am done, financially I really want to be able to purchase a finished barrel horse or two, be able to have a nice truck and trailer so that I can haul those horse (s) to barrel races and not struggle to make it all happen.
So my question is, can you still travel abroad (for example, husband and I are planning a trip to Italy/Greece in November)? Every year we've been together we've managed to put together a nice vacation for ourselves, even with 2 or 3 smaller trips to cities nearby that we had not visited before. I have managed smaller trips in the past with 3 horses on my feed bill, but it was because I have family in certain area's and it made it very cheap to travel.. or a 2-3 day trip somewhere.
The reason this popped into my head is I recently saw a super nice horse for sale,  definitely had me drooling a bit but with his price tag, it would mean I would have to choose between the horse and our trip to Italy! Of course I am choosing the trip as I think it is one of those unique opportunities, but it just got me wondering.
So, am I trying for an impossible dream.. or is it really possible??
Edited by DashNDustem 2018-04-02 11:36 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| Lolol. I just got to Italy today and am headed to Greece on Thursday. Going to be gone for a week over spring break. I teach high school and we travel abroad every spring break. Just find someone you trust that knows horses. Preferably who can come to your place to take care of them. Saves the stress of moving them. I have been away for as long as 3 weeks with no problems. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | FLITASTIC - 2018-04-03 9:37 AM
Lolol. I just got to Italy today and am headed to Greece on Thursday. Going to be gone for a week over spring break. I teach high school and we travel abroad every spring break. Just find someone you trust that knows horses. Preferably who can come to your place to take care of them. Saves the stress of moving them. I have been away for as long as 3 weeks with no problems.
Was more less talking about financially, rather than worrying about their well being. Not to sound rude, but I rarely ever keep my horses in a place with people I don't trust. When I was boarding in Oklahoma we traveled to Florida for a week and a half, and then Dallas for a weekend and San Antonio for a 4 day weekend. But I'm just talking about big, spendy trips along with buying, boarding, feeding, vet bills, hauling, truck payments, insurance, gas, etc. with multiple horses. | |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Like everything else, it depends on how much money you make and how you budget said money. My husband makes a ton of money, we live way below what his income could provide and that allows us to travel and enjoy our hobbies without financial stress. | |
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  Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | I guess it all depends on how much $$ you will be getting when you have a job. I can't look in your wallet... Also, it will depend on how extravagant a vacation you want. Will it be backpacking or sleeping in $300/night hotels rooms....
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Expert
Posts: 5293
| Oh I got ya!! Well, one of the perks of taking student trips is the group leader goes free so in that case, it’s totally doable. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| I was contemplating this the other day. I think it depends on your goals and where you are at with them. Right now I am in serious hustle mode so I really have tabled the other "hobbies" I used to do (run half marathons, weekends away etc)....I think about most elite level riders and trainers....they are riding 6 days a week and hauling for weeks at at time, not taking off a weekend here for a hill country wine tour and another weekend there fora Vegas girls trip lol. But-- I know quite a few that take off for warm places after the December futurities are over!
That being said....everyone needs a break! I think a well timed and planned getaway is essential to your health and your horses' health too. So, I guess I'd pick times that accommodate your goals and pocketbook. As far as traveling abroad....you never know when the opportunity will present itself for much cheaper than you expected! Especially as a grad student-- maybe a teaching or volunteering opportunity somehow.
Edited by lopnaround 2018-04-02 12:24 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Any thing is possible if you work at it. | |
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 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | Its totally doable - but it depends on your standards. We go on at least a full weeks vacation, just my husband and I, once a year at minimum. Between the jobs, the horses, the farm, etc. etc. etc., it's really easy to get caught up in the grind. The chores never stop. So we make it a point to quit, leave the farm, and go do something else. I have a great farm-sitter who feeds for me and keeps an eye on the place.
That beind said, my standards for "vacation" vary from year to year depending on what's going on. Sometimes we get to fly off somewhere exotic and experience somewhere new... and sometimes we take the horse trailer two hours away to the beach and stay there. As long as we are not at home doing the same ol' thing, it counts.
There's also tons of ways to travel more cheaply and still have a great time. The Internets is full of tips. | |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | We always struggle to find someone to take care of all the horses/other animals while we are gone. It is almost impossible to find someone reliable for more than a couple of days. Every time we leave something happens that is due to ingnorace of the people taking care of the animals. This is getting old and we hardly go anywhere together anymore as someone always needs to be around. | |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| DashNDustem - 2018-04-02 11:28 AM
So, currently I am horseless and am just leasing a gelding at a nearby barn so that I can keep riding. I am a grad student and have a year left of school and once I get licensed, then I will be able to get a big girl job with a big girl paycheck etc.
I know among us horse people there is always the joke of "we could travel to "Insert vacation spot here", but we have horses." I personally have really had a put on rein on myself from wanting to buy a horse before school is over and that part of my life is accomplished. When I am done, financially I really want to be able to purchase a finished barrel horse or two, be able to have a nice truck and trailer so that I can haul those horse (s ) to barrel races and not struggle to make it all happen.
So my question is, can you still travel abroad (for example, husband and I are planning a trip to Italy/Greece in November )? Every year we've been together we've managed to put together a nice vacation for ourselves, even with 2 or 3 smaller trips to cities nearby that we had not visited before. I have managed smaller trips in the past with 3 horses on my feed bill, but it was because I have family in certain area's and it made it very cheap to travel.. or a 2-3 day trip somewhere.
The reason this popped into my head is I recently saw a super nice horse for sale, definitely had me drooling a bit but with his price tag, it would mean I would have to choose between the horse and our trip to Italy! Of course I am choosing the trip as I think it is one of those unique opportunities, but it just got me wondering.
So, am I trying for an impossible dream.. or is it really possible??
Totally depends on where you place your priorities...
If 50% of your income goes to living expenses, and you tie up another 40% in needing to have the best rig and horses that money can buy - then no, you probably can’t travel. If you know you want to travel and budget for it, buy a safe but maybe not as fancy rig, a horse who isn’t finished and winning but is ready to haul and season, and live consciously within your means, then yes - absolutely.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | OhMax - 2018-04-03 1:07 PM
DashNDustem - 2018-04-02 11:28 AM
So, currently I am horseless and am just leasing a gelding at a nearby barn so that I can keep riding. I am a grad student and have a year left of school and once I get licensed, then I will be able to get a big girl job with a big girl paycheck etc.
I know among us horse people there is always the joke of "we could travel to "Insert vacation spot here", but we have horses." I personally have really had a put on rein on myself from wanting to buy a horse before school is over and that part of my life is accomplished. When I am done, financially I really want to be able to purchase a finished barrel horse or two, be able to have a nice truck and trailer so that I can haul those horse (s ) to barrel races and not struggle to make it all happen.
So my question is, can you still travel abroad (for example, husband and I are planning a trip to Italy/Greece in November )? Every year we've been together we've managed to put together a nice vacation for ourselves, even with 2 or 3 smaller trips to cities nearby that we had not visited before. I have managed smaller trips in the past with 3 horses on my feed bill, but it was because I have family in certain area's and it made it very cheap to travel.. or a 2-3 day trip somewhere.
The reason this popped into my head is I recently saw a super nice horse for sale, definitely had me drooling a bit but with his price tag, it would mean I would have to choose between the horse and our trip to Italy! Of course I am choosing the trip as I think it is one of those unique opportunities, but it just got me wondering.
So, am I trying for an impossible dream.. or is it really possible??
Totally depends on where you place your priorities...
If 50% of your income goes to living expenses, and you tie up another 40% in needing to have the best rig and horses that money can buy - then no, you probably can’t travel. If you know you want to travel and budget for it, buy a safe but maybe not as fancy rig, a horse who isn’t finished and winning but is ready to haul and season, and live consciously within your means, then yes - absolutely.
Thank you all for your responses, and I guess it isn't fair to ask when you don't know how much I make. My husband makes a pretty good amount of money, and in a few years he will get another significant bump in way if he continued to stay in the job he is in at the moment.
If all goes well once I graduate, and I obtain the job that I want and am working towards.. then it will bump our household finances above the yearly six digit mark. But that will be in a few years, that's not saying we won't have other financial responsibilities which balances out with possibly owning horses and running barrels!
As for what I want in the future. I don't want the best of the best, but dangit I would like a new, nice truck that doesn't have a ton of problems and won't break down on me a week after I buy it. That's probably the main stipulation I have with my rig, doesn't have to be a dually but a half or 3/4 ton (if I need that much) would be nice. Could buy a nice used trailer for a good price, then I do want a finished horse. I know they are pricey but I've been training horses for a long time and I am tired of training, just want something I can run. Doesn't mean they have to be 1D.. maybe a solid 3D horse to build confidence then move up if I get to that point. Just something I can enjoy.
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | GoMistyGo - 2018-04-02 1:01 PM
We always struggle to find someone to take care of all the horses/other animals while we are gone. It is almost impossible to find someone reliable for more than a couple of days. Every time we leave something happens that is due to ingnorace of the people taking care of the animals. This is getting old and we hardly go anywhere together anymore as someone always needs to be around.
This exactly^^^ It''s not so much the financial part as finding someone for the horses. I don't trust many folks to tend to them besides Chandler, and with the fish now he's tied up days and nights and I hate to put more on him. But to the money part, we go somewhere at least once a year, usually ASA tax season is over. (Last year it was a week deer hunt for Sean in Nebraska later in the year.) After the 15th (I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for tax returns  ) we will go someplace for probably 5 days on a cheaper scale, maybe even stay in LQ somewhere. We really use our LQ as a motel lots of trips! (I board the two girl dogs, and Luc goes EVERYWHERE we do!! Hopefully Chan and Lula can handle the horses for us.) Then Sean has a deer hunt scheduled for KY later this year. I told him next year it's a horse vacay for Debra!!!!
We don't go out of the country, but we enjoy out getaways! I just know some money is going for a vacation every year and set that aside. I think what you're talking about is doable if you budget and set priorities. Hope you have a great time on your upcoming trip!
Edited by Chandler's Mom 2018-04-02 10:45 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | Thank you all for your responses!! | |
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | In our house we have a saying: You can have anything, but you cannot have everything.
Before buying a horse or anything else, I'd recommend you make an appointment with a financial planner -- and you and your husband go and talk about your future plans, wants, needs, goals, etc. Try to find a fee only planner -- they will charge a flat fee for consultation / guidance. Since you are getting ready to step off into a really good paying job and your husband also has a good job, now is the time to put your financial house in order to provide a great future for you both. There are certain things you need to do financially before going out to "play" -- such as emergency fund, paying off any credit card debt and paying off as much or all of any other debt other than perhaps your home - if you own one. You both should be investing a percentage of your pay each month into a Roth or 401K -- once you get that foundation set up, you can decide how much play money you have and determine how much horse, truck, trailer and travel you can afford comfortably and set aside the appropriate amount of money each pay check for play and travel.
I've seen so many folks land great jobs then rush out and buy, buy, buy -- things they had been wanting for a long time and then they are saddled in debt and miserable and unable to truly enjoy their lives -- take some time - get guidance, determine your goals and set a plan in place.
Congrats to you for achieving your educational goal! Wishing you and your husband a wonderful future together!!! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | Delta Cowgirl - 2018-04-09 1:59 PM
In our house we have a saying: You can have anything, but you cannot have everything.
Before buying a horse or anything else, I'd recommend you make an appointment with a financial planner -- and you and your husband go and talk about your future plans, wants, needs, goals, etc. Try to find a fee only planner -- they will charge a flat fee for consultation / guidance. Since you are getting ready to step off into a really good paying job and your husband also has a good job, now is the time to put your financial house in order to provide a great future for you both. There are certain things you need to do financially before going out to "play" -- such as emergency fund, paying off any credit card debt and paying off as much or all of any other debt other than perhaps your home - if you own one. You both should be investing a percentage of your pay each month into a Roth or 401K -- once you get that foundation set up, you can decide how much play money you have and determine how much horse, truck, trailer and travel you can afford comfortably and set aside the appropriate amount of money each pay check for play and travel.
I've seen so many folks land great jobs then rush out and buy, buy, buy -- things they had been wanting for a long time and then they are saddled in debt and miserable and unable to truly enjoy their lives -- take some time - get guidance, determine your goals and set a plan in place.
Congrats to you for achieving your educational goal! Wishing you and your husband a wonderful future together!!!
Thank you for the advice.
We actually have a financial plan together about what we need to do when I get my job. We actually do not have any credit card debt, I used to have a lot of debt in medical bills but when I met my husband I had a pretty good job, 2 horses, had all my bills paid, living the good life.. BUT.. I wasn't taking care of my debt. I was embarrassed how much debt I did have due to making stupid decisions in the past, he kind of set my priorities straight.
So long story short, I ended up selling my older horse that I just didn't click with..and kept my other one, then focused on setting my credit straight..taking care of that debt.
Now aside from my college loans, I'm debt free. And we have a plan to take care of those loans starting here shortly. If it wasn't for my husband I probably totally would just go buy the horse that I want.. but I have learned, and I need to take care of other things before I can go spend a large chunk of change on a horse. Plus the way I look at it, If I'm going to spend the money on a high caliber (to me at least) horse, I would want to be able to haul the horse with a functional, working rig to make that purchase worth my while. Which will take time, saving and dedication.
Edited by DashNDustem 2018-04-08 9:27 PM
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