After the crash through the fence, the mules next door were pastured farther away from the gossip fence. OReilley was feeling lonesome, so it was time to consider a pasture mate. The landlord wouldn't allow a goat, "Climbs fences.", he said. So we started shopping for another horse. What an experience!
First, there isn't a mall for horses. Farms and ranches are far apart. Second, we aren't in Amish country, so buyer beware! I'm told that the Amish are so honest, they tell you everything good and bad about a horse. In contrast, everyone turns slicker than a used car salesman when offering their horse for sale. Oh the platitudes!
There's so many considerations: breed, age, conformation, training, color, attitude, purchase cost, transportation, saddles and tack, etc. I plumbed the internet forums for ideas, read books to get caught up with the intricacies. I found as many opinions as there are "experts" times the phases of the moon. The only constant I saw was that any horse would cost more than it's purchase price in time due to the cost of maintenance. In the process, I started to find cost justifications. We could offer rides or training to offset our expenses. Perhaps we could have riders trade for chores, etc.
Melissa had her ideas too. She wanted to start a horse therapy program. She wanted a cowboy barn. She wanted to breed the perfect horse. She even has an ultimate dream of a medieval bed and breakfast castle with all the ambiance and romance of knights and ladies.
In short I was thinking of one more horse. Melissa was dreaming of moving back time to when horses were extremely useful in everyday life.
In other words, this wasn't going to be a hobby. We needed a plan to make a going concern of horses.
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