Riding Against The Grain

You see the ad:

“Safe, sound. Easy keeper. $$ OBO.”

Seems simple, right? But ask any horse owner—especially one who’s been in the game long enough to have loved and lost, patched hooves and hearts, and stood ringside on a foggy morning with coffee in one hand and fly spray in the other—and they’ll tell you:

The purchase price is the cheapest part.

What follows is less of a complaint and more of a confession. Because even when we know how expensive this life is—in money, time, and emotion—we stay in it. Not out of logic, but love.

The Monthly Costs That Add Up

Let’s get honest about the recurring, not-so-glamorous costs of keeping a horse, whether you keep them at home or board out:

Board – $500–$1,500/month depending on location and amenities

Farrier – $50 for a trim to $250+ for shoes every 4–8 weeks

Vet – Annual vaccines, dental, and emergencies add up fast

Supplements + Feed – Even “easy keepers” can need gut support, joint care, etc.

Tack Repairs + Barn Gear – Buckles break, blankets rip, boots disappear into the abyss

Training or Lessons – $60–$100/session is average—more for specialty pros

Even if you’re doing everything yourself, the hidden costs still lurk in every bin of fly spray and box of ulcer paste. You can ride broke, but you can’t ride for free.

The Price of the Show Ring

Then there’s showing—which doesn’t just come with a price tag, it comes with its own budget entirely.

Class fees

Hauling and stabling

Coaching and day fees

Braiding, clothing, hotel stays (if you’re lucky enough to need them)

And don’t forget the pre-show prep: body clipping, chiropractic visits, a whole stack of clean saddle pads. It’s not just a weekend away—it’s a week of prep and a week of recovery.

Some of us work long hours or juggle side gigs just to afford one or two shows a year. We ration entries like we’re planning a military campaign, and when we get there, we savor every second—because we earned it.

The Costs No One Talks About

And then there are the costs that don’t show up on a bank statement:

The hours at the barn when no one sees you:

Breaking ice buckets in the winter, picking hooves in the dark, wrestling with blanket straps while your horse thinks it’s a game.

The heartbreak:

When they’re lame. When the rehab doesn’t go to plan. When you have to retire them before you were ready.

The sacrifices.

Missing weddings. Skipping vacations. Choosing breeches over brunch.

But we do it all because the moment we swing a leg over, something in us exhales. Our horses don’t care what we look like, how much money we make, or whether our saddle is from 2007. They meet us as we are: tired, hopeful, imperfect, trying.

So Why Do We Stay?

Because it’s not just about the ribbons or the perfect ride. It’s about the quiet moments—the nicker when they see you coming, the stillness of a post-ride cool-down, the shared rhythm of two hearts moving as one.

It’s about building something that takes years: a bond, a language, a partnership.

You don’t buy that with $5,000. You earn it, day by day.

This is for the ones who ride against the grain—not because it’s cheap, or easy, or convenient—but because the love runs deeper than logic.