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[RC] The money/time coninuum - Lynn WhiteI?m getting ready to start my seventh year in this sport. I am fortunate to be able to make a reasonable living in a depressed economy. This has enabled me to have some acreage. If you really want to have horse property the best way is to find a way to make a living in a small town?be like a nurse or a pharmacist or a teacher?something like that. I didn?t get my first horse until I was 38. I have two kids (teens now) and a husband who could care less about horses. My oldest daughter used to come with me and crew, but it was only because she wanted to get away from her pain-in-the-ass little sister. I used to feel sorry for myself because my family had no interest in horses. But actually I enjoy getting away from everyone and hanging out with my horsey friends. If my family was there I?d be obliged to hang with them?and I see them every day. When my kids were toddlers I was working a full time job trying to start a career. I was mostly obsessed with just getting more than four hours of sleep a night. Riding was the furthest thing on my mind?couldn?t afford it anyway. But I don?t regret not riding. Kids are only little once and they really need their parents. You can?t go back and re-live your kids being little, but you have your whole life to ride. So now I do endurance on a shoe-string: My kids are getting ready to go to college and I want to help them on that, so money is tight. I drive a 77 Ford 3/4 ?ton that gets eight miles per gallon. My trailer is even older than that, but it gets me to rides. My truck has a shell (also known as a red-neck storage facility) and I sleep in that if the weather is bad, other than that I?m ?tent trash?. I rigged up my own electric corral that in my opinion is far better/safer than the retail ones at half the cost. Every time I go to and from a ride I feel like I?ve won the lottery because that old truck just keeps on going. I buy and sell stuff on e-bay to make money to go to rides. My horse is a classified-add grade special that is tough as nails and that I love dearly. I ride whenever I can, sometimes in the dark after work. The family knows that on Sundays I will be out a long time. Just about all my biothane tack is second hand: none of it matches. My saddle is an e-bay special. But never will I ever compromise on feeding my horse, her feet or her care. Sure, it would be nice to have a wealthy spouse so I wouldn?t have to work, own a comfortable outfit, a top-knotch horse and be an FEI rider. But I am proud to be this tenacious. I get a kick out of being organized and in control?it?s my outlet. Having to think though organizing myself gets my mind off my crummy job and two teenage girls who are ALWAYS fighting. I feel so fortunate to have the health and ability to do this sport. In most every other country just having a horse is far out of reach for most working stiffs. And then in many countries women are only allowed to ride if the male in their life allows it. So get out there and do what you want, whether it?s riding Harleys or horses. -Lynn White ____________________________________________________________________________________ We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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