How to Afford a Horse

"I want a horse so badly but we just can’t afford it." Over the years I've heard this from so many horsecrazy girls. Some aren't able to take riding lessons because they are too expensive. Others can't afford to buy a horse, or they are thinking of getting a free horse but they don’t have the money to keep it. The most tragic ones are horsecrazy girls who have to sell or give their horses away because they cost too much.

I feel for you!  

It felt like forever before I was able to get Sinatra, and there are still many things I’d like to do--bigger shows, more horses--lots more!--that are out of reach.

The Horsecrazy Lifestyle is amazing, but it can be expensive.

So how do you make or find the money to pay for a horse? How do you ride if you’re on a budget? Where do you get money to pay for shows? Here I will share some of my ideas, but I’d really like to hear from you! Share your ideas below!

Horses are priceless!

Earn Money to Pay for Riding

This can be a tricky one. If you’re still in school, like me, finding the time to go to school, do homework, ride and work can be crazy tough! But if you really want to ride you may decide it’s worth it to fit it all in.

I have tried different things to make money: babysitting, tutoring, and working a retail job. The retail job was probably the worst: the pay wasn’t that great, the hours were long and I really didn’t like it that much.

My favorite way to make money to ride is through my website. I love connecting with girls all over the world who love horses, and the fact that I can make extra money to help feed Sinatra is just a big plus! Here’s the service I use to create and host my website.

Lease/Share a Lease

Leasing a horse can be a good way to ride without having to buy a horse. (I am not sure what this is called outside the US. If it’s called something else, do let me know!) You may be able to lease from an owner who isn’t riding her horse, or from a barn that has different lesson horses.

And some barns or owners will let you do a partial lease. You’ll share the horse with another person leasing it, or with the barn that may use it for lessons some days. Unfortunately this option can still be expensive; I really wanted to lease one of the first ponies I fell in love with but couldn’t at the time. If you do decide to lease or share a lease, make sure you understand who pays for what. What happens if the horse is injured? What if you are riding it when it gets hurt? A written contract is highly recommended. 

Make Money Online

If you don’t have a website, or aren’t ready to start one yet, there are other ways to make money online. (Some of these have minimum age requirements. If you’re not old enough, ask your parents if they want to have an account and let you help them earn or save money. They’ll probably be glad you want to help!)

Here are some to check out:

Fivver

There are some amazing opportunities to make money with Fivver. If you’re an artist, for example, you can sign up and do drawings for other sites. (I got a horse coloring page for my site from Fivver.) Or maybe you’re good at writing, editing articles or video or one of the other hundreds of gigs you’ll find there. I have a friend who has made good money editing video and music through Fivver gigs. (Must be 13 or older.) If you do sign up I’d appreciate it if you use my referral link.

Ebates

Want to earn money for spending it?  This free app allows you to get a percentage back from whatever you spend. Companies are paying for advertisement and you get a percentage of that money by shopping through the website. (Must be 18 to become a member.) If you’re going to buy stuff anyway why not get money back? I'm kind of obsessed! Here’s my referral link when you sign up.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a lot like Ebates but you can also earn points when you search online, answer surveys, buy stuff and lots more. Some people use both Ebates and Swagbucks and choose which one is better for a purchase. (Must be 13 or older to use.) If you sign up be sure to use my referral link!

Uber/Lyft

If you have a car and are over 21, you can make money by giving people rides. They let you set your own schedule so you can work as much or as little as you want. If you aren’t 21 or have your own car, you can use the app to get a ride when you need it (instead of paying for a car) and save some money that way.