<p>Jokes aside, me too. It looks like horse people figured out variations on the ZipCar model years before ZipCar did.</p>
<p>
Maybe not a violinist, but a pianist would not usually take their own instrument to school, not would most orchestral percussionists, and certainly an organist would be “stuck” using whatever is available.</p>
<p>This is a leased horse, one she has gotten to know over the summer. Sje will have the opportunity to get to know the school’s horses equally well during her time at school. She is learning to jump, and her trainer has said this horse is good for learning to jump - but she won’t be learning to jump on this horse! From what I gather about the school’s program, she will be expected to learn to jump on a variety of horses. Thus I wouldn’t expect them to allow her to use her own horse for team lessons. It seems to me that practicing jumping is not the same as learning to jump, and if she is still just learning, any practice should be done supervised. All she needs is to develop bad habits while riding practicing on her own. It may also be a bad idea for a significant amount of her practice to be on the same horse, because she will then get used to that horse’s reactions, rather than used to adjusting each time she changes horses.</p>
<p>I realize if this horse is returned, it may feel like “the one that got away” but there will be others. It might be different if she were able to ride this horse as part of the program at school, but that’s not the case. My “vote” is to not take the horse with her.</p>
<p>They’ve been leasing horses since I was a kid- and probably longer. About the endless circles: I’ve done my share of skiing, but sometimes wonder what the point is in riding to the top, just to race down. Or tacking endlessly in sailing, just to catch some movement. One can become quite attached to a horse. And the horse set. There’s some Zen thing about polishing tack.</p>
<p>I hope, one way or another, whether she takes the horse or not, this works out for OP’s daughter.</p>
<p>This is a very personal decision and depends very much on the kid. My data point…</p>
<p>D1 is a competitive, experienced hunter jumper rider with a horse she has owned since she was 12 and he was 4. She is captain of her IHSA team, and even though it is a club sport at her school it is a big time commitment. In addition to twice a week lessons and shows there are frequent meetings, fundraising activities and fitness sessions. D1 did not take her horse to college freshman year. He is not IHSA appropriate, and I did not want her to have the time and responsibility commitment (farrier, vet, etc) adding to the adjustment issues of college. She has taken him in subsequent years, and also catch rides sale horses for her trainer near school, although this requires a certain level of equestrian accomplishment. As a side, she works as the road show manager for the barn in the summer and earns very good money.</p>
<p>As part of the due diligence your daughter should write to the captains of the IHSA team and ask about others who have personal horses there. Ask if they brought the horses first year and talk directly to someone who has done it. College is a big transition, as is being fully responsible for a horse after years of having a horse mom nearby to run down and hose the abcess. It is a lot to take on, unlike the violin she can’t just decide to ignore the horse for a week because it is midterms and she has a lot of work.</p>
<p>As for the value of riding horses for teenagers - nothing else could have taught my DDs more about responsibility, hard work, commitment, and the vagaries of luck more than riding, caring for and competing horses.</p>
<p>My daughter was part of her college equestrian team (club sport); although she’s never had a horse, if she did and we could afford it, I absolutely would have let her bring it to college freshman year, especially under all of the circumstances you’re describing. Sounds like this is the right horse for where she is as a rider, you’re comfortable with her driving and having a car, and you can afford it. My daughter’s barn experience was a vital part of her college life, and she was <em>very</em> busy (highly involved with theater and had two work-study jobs, on top of a demanding courseload in which she did well). Like many of these kids, she has always done best when her time is structured with things that she has chosen and cares about deeply. I say, go for it! </p>
<p>I did wonder if the horse’s owner would let the barn/team use your D’s horse for lessons? Or will she be the only one riding it?</p>
<p>I think the fact that you have looked at if from all sides and that there is an out clause makes it worth looking into. That schools begins so soon may settle the question, as there may not be space at the stable. I find that kids who are around horses on a constant basis develop a level of responsibility that will help make this work for your daughter.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but this is just hilarious.</p>
<p>If she can bring the horse with her, and genuinely wants to… let her.</p>
<p>The tone of this thread surprises me at times. Here on CC, where many pursue highly specialized ECs, sports, and research, often accompanied by professional consultations or services, coaching and lessons, somehow this particular interest stands out enough that some remarks seem disparaging, even if that was not the intent. I am assuming that the OP is trying to sort out options as her daughter sets off for freshman year, with additional concerns about her mental health and maintaining continuity in her life. Not everyone who rides is to the manor born, nor should it matter if they are. </p>
<p>OP- Daughter attended LAC with active riding program, barn on campus. Weekly commitment of lessons was generally a minimum of 6 hours, spread over 2 days, as lessons were @ an hour and a half, with prep, tacking and grooming, and ride to barn requiring the additional time. About 15% of her fellow riders brought their horse to campus, after it was admitted via video evaluation (true story). For many this worked fine, for others, there was disagreement with the barn’s procedures and students found other local alternatives or sent horse home. Equestrian activities can be a great stress reliever for those who have the passion, but many responsibilities accompany having a horse on campus. How is having a vet handled? How does the horse get to help if required in an emergency? (Many of D’s friends had a small car and a horse truck/trailer on campus.) Does student arrange dental care, shoeing, massage and attend appointments? What if the horse is lame or ill? Can the sick horse remain at the barn? Can the student ride a school horse? At D’s school, you could not count on riding a school horse for lessons if you had a horse there, even if the horse was lame. </p>
<p>I would say you know your daughter best. This will require additional efforts on her part, even as she is trying to settle herself into college life. We observed that much research preceded the arrival of horses on campus, vets were tracked down, arrival pre-dated freshman orientation by a few days, etc. Weigh the options, talk to the riding director, other boarders if possible and see what makes sense.</p>
<p>Best to you both.</p>
<p>I once would have thought it crazy to bring a horse to college but my opinion has now changed. My D took a horse to college her freshman year. She also had a car starting the 2nd semester of her freshman year. I would say that having her horse at school was the major factor in my D adjusting to being away from home.
In our case the university had a excellent equestrian center and the price of board was less expensive then what we were paying at home. My D attends a large school and she has met all of her good friends through the barn. I have been extremely impressed with how well the young women I have met through my D manage caring for a horse, training and school work. I have seen tiny 5 foot tall young women who can easily hook up and drive a horse trailer. They lift and haul hay. Move around heavy jumps.
To the OP- has your D visited the barn and talked to other students who have their own horse at the barn? In my D’s case the time management has not been an issue. The young women help each other out. If one is busy the others help. The nice thing in your D’s case is that you don’t own the horse. If your D tries it and it doesn’t work out she can always return the horse. And you are close enough that you won’t have huge trailering expenses.</p>
<p>My daughter has been riding and showing hunter/jumper/equitation since she was six and she also plays an instrument. I can relate to the above poster about the cost of horses and ponies at the A shows she competes at. It is an expensive endeavor but quite worth it. I have found the life experience to be invaluable. When my daughter was a freshman she begged to bring her horse to school but I stood my ground and made her earn him with good grades. She earned straight As and we arranged for the horse to go to school but the horse had other ideas and developed an ulcer and had to go home after the first night. So he is in full training with the same trainer she shows with and she comes home as often as she can to ride him, she is four to six hours away depending on traffic. He is a family member and I am now charged with visiting and giving him carrots, treats and attention everyday.</p>
<p>You know your daughter better than anyone and if you feel she will benefit from having the horse she has grown to love, I would let her have it with one condition, if her grades are not good the horse goes away. I think your heart is in the right place and even a month of having him at school might be enough to get her over the hump.</p>
<p>travelnut:
I don’t know, but I just find this whole discussion so completely detached from reality.
For many years I lived and raised my children in a very, very wealthy “upscale” community.</p>
<ul>
<li>I know people who have both an indoor and an outdoor pool.</li>
<li>I know people who have literally dozens of cars.</li>
<li>I know people where the number of homes they have can not be counted on one hand.</li>
<li>I know people who have a private jet.</li>
<li>I know people who have never had to work a day in their life.</li>
</ul>
<p>BUT.</p>
<p>I don’t know anybody who has a horse – let alone someone debating the merits of their kid taking a horse to college.</p>
<p>Sorry, but this is just so completely detached from reality as I know it.</p>
<p>It’s a sport and like any other sport, you need equipment. It just so happens the main piece of equipment is a living, breathing thing - that is much more than a piece of equipment of course. Upper level equestrians are some of the best athletes in the world. Their strength, balance, determination, courage and stamina are unsurpassed. To top it off, their main piece of equipment has a mind of its own and can decide at any given moment to simply not cooperate.</p>
<p>@soze: But do you know people who were actively involved in horseback riding?</p>
<p>Like others have said, it’s a sport. It’s an expensive one that’s not as commonly played as soccer or football, but that doesn’t make it any less of a sport. The reality is that some people are very passionate about and connected to horseback riding (and to the horses they ride). I think having a private jet is way more detached from reality than having a horse, but that’s specific to my reality.</p>
<p>Sounds to me like the D doesn’t want to let this horse get away and if she doesn’t take him to college he gets returned to the owner. Hard to predict the future, but are you prepared to continue leasing the horse indefinitely and move him back home over the summers. What about Christmas and other breaks? Is D likely to do an internship in another location or spend a semester abroad at some point? If you don’t turn the horse back now, when do you anticipate doing so?</p>
<p>We are by no means wealthy but my D has loved and ridden horses much of her life. Maybe it’s a regional thing. I grew up with horses but lived in a farming community and my family could not have afforded a steak dinner once a year, but most kids where I went to school had access to horses even if they only had one pair of jeans for school. I can’t imagine knowing people with private jets and not knowing people with horses, but again, maybe it’s just a regional thing. At any rate it seems kinda mean to berate the OP for asking for advice from the same community that regularly deals with private college counselors and expensive summer camps.</p>
<p>soze ~ I don’t personally know any of the types of people that you list. I know they exist. I just don’t know them. Just because I don’t know them doesn’t make it detached from reality for me.</p>
<p>People who have horses come in all different sizes, backgrounds, and economic status. Yes I know people who can barely afford anything who have horses. And I know very, very wealthy people who have several horses, large farms with accompanying large houses, trucks, trailers, employees, etc. I work for one of those in the second category. </p>
<p>The bond between girls and horses has been around for a very long time. If you have it in your blood, it does not go away. When you are involved with horses, there are the truly exhilarating and heartwarming times and the difficult and heartbreaking times as well. People learn and grow from both of those.</p>
<p>I don’t expect people who are not “horse people” to understand the depth and range of commitment, attachment and devotion that horse people have with their partners. But it is a reality.</p>
<p>We have long time posters whose kids ski race; participate in competitive gymnastics and ice skating, hire private coaches for soccer and tennis, etc. To me- whose kids came home after school and played in the sand box which my husband built, or went to the public library- these all seem like expensive hobbies.</p>
<p>But my kids were full freight payers at private U’s- which I know is a luxury item as well.</p>
<p>To each his own. The OP didn’t ask us to weigh in on their lifestyle, but merely provide perspective on the dilemma at hand.</p>
<p>I have known enough college Freshman to know that the tools that make one kid’s transition a success could be a disaster for another kid. A kid takes a car to school to make it easier to get to regular appointments with an allergist or another medical professional- finds himself the dorm chauffeur to Walmart every afternoon, and the designated driver from bars in town every night. Parent quickly learns it’s cheaper and more convenient for the kid to take taxis, car comes home. For another kid- the car just makes college life easier with no downside other than the cost.</p>
<p>You cannot predict.</p>
<p>Since horse leasing is new to me and I tend to be curious about business models, let me ask a couple of follow-up questions. Why would the lessor allow you to take a mobile asset (ha!) and relocate it 2.5 hours away from his/her base of operations? Is that typical? Do you have to prove that the new barn location is reputable, provide additional proof of insurance, or post a letter of credit? And if the horse is that far away from the owner, are you required to provide periodic veterinary checkups? </p>
<p>Again, I know nothing about this, but I wonder whether there might be some hidden complexities here.</p>
<p>SOG ~ All of those questions totally depend upon the agreement between the two parties. Some agreements are set in stone with a written, signed contract spelling out the specifics. Other agreements are more casual with just a verbal agreement. And some are a “we will deal with things as they come up” type of arrangement. Of course, the written contract is probably the best scenario.</p>
<p>When we leased, there was no written contract. Our trainer at the time arranged the deal as he knew the owner of the pony. It was agreed that we would pay for the horse’s living expenses (although I worked at the barn where we kept her at the time, so the barn owner’s did not charge me board), vet expenses, farrier (blacksmith who shoes the horse) expenses and show expenses. We also paid a monthly lease fee. It was a very friendly agreement as I mentioned before, because as the pony developed a skin issue and we incurred substantial vet bills, the owner waived the lease fee.</p>
<p>But leasing agreements are totally up to the parties involved. I think the OP stated that she felt the owner would not be against the horse going to the college with her D, but of course, that would have to be discussed and agreed to.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This thread is funny. Anyway, a girlfriend’s father syndicates horses…multi-million dollar horses. You can own a horse, lease/rent a horse, borrow a horse, syndicate a horse. And yup, thirty years ago my friend’s horse went to college with her. This is really nothing very new, but if you live in an area where people don’t ride very much I can imagine the conversation is odd. Probably as odd as people who thought us ‘odd’ because my kids couldn’t imagine going to college and being more than a 45 minute hour drive from somewhere to ski (every possible waking moment). I must agree with Consolation some of he comments have been totally out of line on this thread and that surprised me.</p>