Unbridled Beginnings: The Origin of SYGTBAH

Welcome to So You’re Going To Buy A Horse! I created this page, this blog, this group and wrote this book because after 30+ years with horses in my life (..ok with a non-horse related decade in there…) my first year owning my own horse as an adult was FULL of surprises.

From sticker shock that left me wide-eyed to lifestyle adjustments that had me questioning my sanity it was a wild ride and I feel like I fumbled my way through my first year of horse ownership.

The learning curve was steep, and there were times frustrations took their toll. There were also a lot of ‘rookie mistakes’ that left this so-called veteran red-in-the-face. After a few too many hard gulps at invoices and zig zags that felt like they could have been straight lines, I found myself constantly saying;

“I’ve been around horses [almost] my whole life, how does anyone new to this sport navigate all this?”

And for those of us returning to the saddle after many years away, there should be some sort of re-introduction so that we don’t feel like complete knobs when information that we haven’t accessed in 20 years isn’t coming back as quickly as it once did. Oh and surprise – it’s all different now anyway.

What does a horse actually costs now a days?
What are the monthly expenses I should prepare for?
What does regular maintenance for a performance hunter (or jumper) look like?
If I plan to show, what are the expectations of a training program?
What are the farrier costs?
Should I get horse insurance? (which no one did back in my day.. but is far more common now)
Start up costs alone deserve a manual to navigate
Unexpected vet bills? There were a few of those…

.. I was shook. Truly.

Horses in general are expensive, regardless of sport, discipline or where you live, but the hunter / jumper circuits specifically are some that have historically not been great at fostering an environment of learning. While its getting so much better with some incredible resources out there (Noelle Floyds Equestrian Masterclass, The Plaid Horse to name just two) and there’s been a rise of industry professionals that promote horseman ship, learning and transparency, but the horse world has long been a culture of ‘you should just know that’ or worse ‘you should just pay for it’.

Unfortunately, in this game, the stakes can be high, missteps expensive and the whole thing can be emotional.

Trainers, while arguably the most important and knowledgeable factor in this equation, can’t be your sole resource for information.

So I set out to create a haven of horsey-wisdom that would give people a starting point.

My book, So You’re Going To Buy A Horse? is your GPS of horse buying, guiding you through the very basics so you can navigate your entry to this equestrian odyssey without gasping at every turn!

Considered leasing over buying? Yup – I cover that!

Wondering what a vet check is and what you should get from it? In the book!

From trying horses to the trial period and through the whole experience to commissions to documentation – I break down some of the most common practices, talk about the significant expenses and demystify the process giving you the confidence to enjoy the expereince and minimize some of the [queue stressed fingers to temple] “what am I doing?!?!?” moments.

But hold your horses; there’s more! I also spill the hay on my blog [spoiler alert: you’re here!] , where I yak about everything from barn etiquette to equestrian fashion and safety trends, grooming hacks to packing for your first horse show.

And to all you parents of pony-wild kids out there – you’re part of this herd too! So You’re Going To Buy A Horse? is here to be a resource for anyone itching to learn more about horses (specifically hunters and jumpers). No fancy jargon here, just real talk about real basic stuff.

I’m beyond grateful for the joy, friendships, community, and purpose my horse and barn family brings to my life. I’m here to share the horse sense (and nonsense) with you so your barn time is as fulfilling as mine.

So come on in, SUBSCRIBE for regular updates, and wrap your self in a fleece cooler while you take a look around. There’s LOTS of people just like you already here.