Читать книгу Horse Economics - Catherine E O'Brien - Страница 7

Deciding to purchase a horse ranks up there with getting married or buying a house—it can be just as expensive as either of those undertakings. I have had horses since I was fourteen, and as a financial analyst, I now realize that if I had saved and invested all the money I have spent on horses over the years, I could be rich! However, the wealth of satisfaction and enjoyment gained from having horses in my life far outweighs the time value of money^♦.

Due to the time and financial commitment it demands, horse ownership is not a hobby, it is a lifestyle; it doesn’t matter whether you own your own farm or board your horse at a stable. A horse acts as an “identifier” or image enhancer: as a horse owner, you consider yourself a horseman or horsewoman. The horse activities you engage in and the clothes you wear—from the ropers, jeans, and cowboy hat to the field boots, riding helmet, and hunt coat—help you to define the view you have of yourself. The mud on your shoes, the horsehair on your coat, and the green slime on your sleeve complement your style.