• Randomgal@lemmy.ca
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    6 months ago

    I wonder what’s the break-even cost of gas when it’s more affordable to go back to horses again.

    • jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      To people who had never known any other way to travel than on foot, the horse was a major upgrade. To people accustomed to mechanized transportation, the horse is a major downgrade. Maintenance costs are one thing but the time requirements are what really makes it not affordable.

      • Randomgal@lemmy.ca
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        6 months ago

        I think I’d you get a horse it’d be because you’re into the ‘hobby’ of taking care of animals and everything that entails.

    • FinishingDutch@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      There’s a reason we have the term ‘horse money’, let’s put it like that.

      You take a chihuahua to the vet, it’s going to cost you a couple hundred bucks. But a horse isn’t a chihuahua. The bills scale exponentially. Then there’s the stabling costs, transportation, farrier, tack, etc. Etc. Buying a horse is the dumbest thing you can do except for buying a boat.

      Basically, all in, figure on something between 8k and 10k per year. Assuming good health, you can ride a horse daily, but they’re not exactly convenient for your grocery shopping. Though I have done a drive through on one :D

    • x4740N@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      From what I recall horses require:

      • Training on how to ride a horse
      • Suitable land area for the horse to graze
      • A stable and land to build a stable
      • Food and water
      • Potential vet bills
      • Regular health checkup bills
      • Potential medicine bills
      • Horse shoes and replacement horse shoes
      • Supplements for dietary needs horses can’t easily get from their food
      • Horseriding gear

      Keep in mind that I’m not involved with horses at all, this is just what I’ve learned with my exposure to them on the Internet

      • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        From what I recall horses require: * Training on how to ride a horse

        Picturing you riding a horse that is riding another horse. Extended range upgrade?

        Though on a serious note, there’s also the horse itself and its training (to be ridden and not freak out about things, training it to ride another horse or series of horses optional).

        • Randomgal@lemmy.ca
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          6 months ago

          I mean, to be fair, you also have to learn how to ride bikes and motorcycles. But those would be much cheaper too.