Look what Ashley wants for her birthday...

MommyToAshley wrote: unfortunately, she will have to settle for a smaller one (like a toy one!)

cameragirl21 replied: maybe get her riding lessons instead?
idk what's available in your area but i have a friend here who teaches pony camp where kids get together for a group lesson and ride many different kinds of horses so they really learn a lot about riding and it's cheaper than private lessons and more fun for the kids.

Kaitlin'smom replied: good choise, Kaitlins has be asking to go see her pony's at grammys again. Maybe soemtime you all can go up and see the pony, minature horse and 3 horses, plus the cows and anything else they have at the time.

lisar replied: I loved riding horse's when I was younger. I say get her one with some lessons. Looks like she had fun.

MommyToAshley replied:
Oh... that sounds like fun!

MommyToAshley replied:
I don't know how much a horse costs, but I doubt we could afford to buy one and pay for storage and care. I may check into lessons though.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: Tay wants one too! I told Bill with Cookie now maybe we should look into that Fureal Friend Horse! Ashley looks adorable (and so tiny) on that horse!

Calimama replied: Get her a rocking horse. JK!

TANNER'S MOM replied: Well a girl after my own heart. I would say riding lessons would be great. My advice is, if you don't have horse experience then don't rely on yourself to go buy one that is kid safe. Alot of horse traders will say.. this is good kid broke pony. It's maybe but you might not know until it's too late that it's not. I know the way I sell horses and the way I buy horses are with a gurantee. I know we tell people, take the horse home or to a stall and try for a week and see if it's what I say and see if it's what your family needs. A good rule of thumb for beginners and horses are, the horse and the child's age should equal 20. Ashely is five so she would want a horse that is around 15 to 18. They are older and usually calmer. They may not live as long, but by the time she outgrows the needs her first horse gives her, she can then aquire a younger mount. I know here the cost of horses are down. I know you probably want just a good riding horse nothing trained in disciplines at this point, you could find that here for around $800 to $1500. That's not saying they are registered or a former barrel horse or anything. Just a good riding horse. I think to rent a stall here is around $400 a month. It depends on what your needs are. There are some who feed and water and take care of the animal for you and the cost my be more. Some where you take care of the animals daily needs and that includes hay, feed, water and exercise. I know it's hard to keep horses when you can't have them with you. But most of the the places that offer stalling services have a nice place to ride the horses and usually a horse walker so they can exercise daily. Being in a stall is hard on some horses who are used to be out in the open.

I think riding lesson would be great first, and maybe horse lessons for the whole family. They are expensive animals, an expensive hobby. You have to have riding tack, ferrier servies and regular vet care. It's a huge under taking. I think alot of people thing wow they are beautiful, it can't be that hard. We had them as kids..lol But they are expensive.

I know you will make the right decision. And like I said a woman after my own heart. In a perfect world we would all be neighbors and she could come right over.

luvmykids replied: Ditto to our resident horse woman, Mel

I think horses and kids are an awesome combo, riding lessons would be great, I think she'd really love it. And if you can't commit to yet another regular thing, there may be places around that do trail rides, etc that you guys could do.

kimberley replied: riding lessons would be a blast! i wish you were my mom when i was a kid.

Miranda1127 replied: awww, can i have one too