r/MadeMeSmile • u/Martin_084 • Mar 02 '26

ANIMALS Horses being absolute gentlemen to their female owners.

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u/Moriarty-Creates Mar 02 '26

About $100? He’s got a bad back so we don’t ride him. He’s a retired old man living his best life! Money goes to buying hay and vitamins, but we live in a very green area so he just grazes all day with our friend’s mule.

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u/shafaqag Mar 02 '26

That's cheaper than my cat

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u/TeamHappyFTW Mar 02 '26

But... That's because they already have a field and a stable. And old horses are very prone to a lot of diseases like Cushings (extremely expensive medication) and arthritis (painkillers and expensive supplements).

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u/shafaqag Mar 02 '26

Haha yes. I figured. I can imagine that just having an infrastructure to hold a horse would be very expensive, versus grabbing a cat from the street and bringing it into your 5×5 studio apartment.

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u/ArmedWithSpoons Mar 02 '26

But have you tried bringing a horse to your 5x5 studio apartment?

13

u/shafaqag Mar 02 '26

Well I'm still trying to find a horse first to grab off of the streets

3

u/Nalortebi Mar 02 '26

Grab one the next time you see a horseback cop. Your tax dollars paid for that horse, so technically you own it.

1

u/cosmic_space_dreams Mar 03 '26

“THAT’S MY HORSE!!” Ed intensifies

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u/fuzzhead12 Mar 03 '26

The horse distribution system will bless you, just be patient

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u/_annie_bird Mar 02 '26

Yup, my girl's Cushings meds are $100 a month alone 😭

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u/JonatasA Mar 02 '26

No way horses can get cushing's, that's unbelievable!

 

Yes, the cost of the land he lives on usually isn't factored in. In fact pets in general cost a lot we just don't look at it. As I said the other day, alongside food is the one industry that will never go away; needed to care for pets.

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u/TeamHappyFTW Mar 02 '26

Are you being sarcastic or really didn't know they could get Cushings?

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u/Moriarty-Creates Mar 02 '26

This isn’t counting property taxes we pay.

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u/irisseca Mar 02 '26

Well shit, I’m getting a horse. I always get dogs that cost an arm and leg because they turn out to have weird medical conditions. Right now, I’ve got a dog with lupus (and yes, this time it is lupus), and between specialists, injections, meds, and special diet: approx. $24,000 a year. Maybe I’ll have better luck with horses.

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u/AkuuDeGrace Mar 02 '26

That really isn't the norm for a horse. They mentioned they don't ride. So that isn't accounting for horseshoes/farrier fees, minus trimming costs. Also mentioned they live in a green area. Winter months can be rough, the cost of hay, and grain gets expensive, and that's not even accounting you have a proper stable for them. As well as the inverse of the situation, if the horse is in a field that has too much grass/food available and aren't regularly exercised, they overeat and become overweight, which can lead to them foundering. Not to mention either having land to keep the horse (boarding is extremely expensive), upkeep of a stable/barn, property, fence, and then add in water, shavings, vet bills (note it specifically has to be a large animal vet, which is a dieing profession these days), etc.

As well as keeping up with the weather to the point you practically become a weather(wo)man. Making sure on extremely hot days, they have proper shade and cooling (running fans...so add electricity to the above list). They are properly housed during high winds since the sound of the winds messes with their ears and can make them spooked, etc. etc.

Please do proper research before making such a decision. They are truly amazing animals. My family and I rescue and rehabilitate neglected and abused horses on our farm. It's a lot of work, and I'm positive I'm missing mentioning other things at the moment. A horse is a major commitment.

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u/MostlyRightSometimes Mar 02 '26

I'll get a sulcatta tortoise instead. They're cheap and the babies are so tiny and cute. No way that can go wrong.

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u/irisseca Mar 02 '26

Yeah. I know. I was joking around. I immediately thought just trimming and food would be more than that!

I’m the queen of over researching anyway. I go into nothing blindly, lol.