Just let us be your "support group".  I'll start.

Hello, my name is Terry, and I am a horseaholic.  My motto now is "Horses are like potato chips - you can't have just one and they have waaaaay too many calories ($$$$$). 

My addiction started four years ago when we moved close (6 miles) to a town with a monthly horse auction.  My best friend and soul mate (equine) had just crossed the rainbow bridge very unexpectedly and I was devastated.  The first horse I acquired was a skinny OTTB that just looked at me with his frightened sad eyes and laid his head on my shoulder.. uh oh.

I knew better but I just could not stop going to this auction for "tack and stuff". Right?

Over the next year, I acquired a starved Saddlebred with a severe separation anxiety disorder, an equally starved QH mare who had EPM, an OTTB with badly damaged joints and soft tissue injuries from being literally run into the ground, a cute paint mare with a hitch in her rear gitalong and from my vet a barren, aged TB broodmare.

None of these horses could be ridden, they were either too "broke" or too much horse and too green.

My addiction was out of control!  With intervention from family, friends, my farrier, my vet and many others too numerous to name (plus we moved away from the auction! lol) I was finally able to look for homes for my equine friends and curb my compulsion to acquire more... mostly.

I have just sent my first horse, the TB gelding, off to New Vocations, an adoption center for racehorses in the Midwest, and still trying to find a home for the broken down OTTB who would be the last of the bunch, right?  Wrong

From New Vocations, I just adopted a Standardbred gelding and am working with him to be my fun horse.  I CAN RIDE HIM!!!  YEA!!!  So he's my last horse, I promise. For now.

And I am taking a day by day approach to my addiction.  I do not need another horse, I do not need another horse...

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Now let's here from all of my fellow addicts and hear your stories... And remember - when you just have to have one more horse, this is the place to come for help!

With 11 minis, 2 mini donks, 3 ponies, and 4 horses, I sure belong here! LOL

Jessi

Well I only have three who all cost me a bundle but that doesn't stop me from wanting more. I can often be found searching the for-sale ads and the rescue sites, forgetting that I have college to pay for along with all my lovely horse show fees and board.

 I've got a problem...it's called horse fever and it's leathal to my wallet

I am totally in this group.  I have been addicted since I could walk, and got a picture book that might have had a horse picture in it.  I possibly was a horse in a past life....  I don't know, but it has been a passion and addiction for a long time.

I would have been one of the girls braiding FHMs horses manes and tails.  Everything I have ever done in my life was aimed with a goal of owning (or being owned by) a horse.  When forced to sell them, my goal was always to put myself in a position to get them back.  Sometimes it worked to my detriment (current housing predicament) but I just can't help myself.  It is a true addiction. :)

Okay, well, I suppose I might belong here.  I had always loved horses and never really got to spend much time with them, so when my daughter showed an interest in riding a few years back I got her lessons, and soon stuck around to muck stalls.  I spent a year doing barn work for her trainer, when I decided daughter just wasn't ready yet (she had been thrown 3 times), and trainer's style really wasn't ours, so we both walked away.  I think it may have been six months later that I bought my first horse- a coming three year old, green as grass Clydesdale filly.  Of course, we then had to get a little land so we could keep her at home, but then she was lonely so I had to get hubby a horse to keep my mare company and so we could go riding together.  His horse arrived from out of state 500 lbs under weight, wormy and extremely spooky under saddle.  So, a year later I'm buying more hay, but my horse is still the only ridable horse.  So, now we have found a great trainer for my horse crazy daughter, and she's taking hunter lessons.  Of course, she can't really ride my Clyde in hunter classes, so she will need her own horse now.  I have been watching ads and plan on shopping next month.  We'll board this one with the trainer.  Then there is the fact that I have always loved paints, and my mare is a lovely example of her breed, so I decided to breed her to a Drum stallion next year for a foal to raise.  Then the younger kids would sure like a pony.  I stopped myself at looking at another two year old as a potential hunter for myself.  I am still eying the neighboring lots to expand our pasture, though.

 Even with having two, I belong here. I'm extremely addicted AND I'm paying oddles of $$ for my guys while struggling to pay for college, etc for myself... The life of a horse addict... so here goes:

I'm Heidi and I'm a horseaholic. My addiction started from birth when my parents bought me a stuffed horse and a unicorn blanket. Growing up, all I ever wanted to do was watch horse movies/cartoons, draw horses, play with all of my horse toys, and DREAM of owning one one day.

My addiction was further pushed when we got a pony when I was 12. I loved that pony and led it around and played with it all the time. It nearly killed me (in an addict's kind of way) when it was sold.

I finally fueled my addiction full throttle and became a major horseaholic when I bought my first horse at the age of 17. When that happened, many things followed, including buying all the horse tack I could afford, visiting and spending WAY too much time on horse forums, subscribing to horse magazines, and reading hours of horse-related articles.

After I traded my first horse, my addiction went to the next level as I gained more riding experience on my horse with a smiley tush and more confidence in my horse and training abilities. Then, as the fierce addiction can get, I started a quest to find myself a good young horse to train myself... It was a mad passion and I just couldn't help myself. And, as if that wasn't bad enough, a man my dad worked with was selling one for $175! THAT just did it for me. I went to see him, he was gorgeous (covered in dapples, talk about drool), great natured.. I just HAD to get him! Now, keep in mind that finances was the only reason that I hadn't gotten a young horse until then. Then that $175 came along, that was definitely affordable and I LOVED the horse... so that did it for me!

Then comes more riding/horse time, MORE money spent, MORE tack... My horse addiction is out of control! I spend more on the horses then I do myself! I'd rather go around with no money while in college than to be without them.  

I'm attempting to calm my addiction while I still have the time. I have the feeling that I may compulsively buy another horse, or two, or three, when I'm through with college... I will try to stop myself, but I don't know if I can be strong enough. I think that's why I need this group... I do NOT need another horse... I do NOT need another horse....

*a mini would be nice though*

I do NOT need another horse... I do NOT need another horse...

Okay, that's my story. Now maybe you guys can help me
 

OK, Povertybyhorse, you got me.

Hi, my name is Bonnie and I'm a horseaholic.

I grew up with the most amazing, gentle, intelligent horse a girl could want.  I could write a whole short story here, but let me just say I experienced his young dapply gray years all the way through his advanced pure white years. 

When DH and I finally bought our long-yearned-for acreage, the first thing we did was buy our DD her first horse.  She had been addicted since she could say the word "horsey".   Though we always went riding, she had always yearned for her own horse.  That one didn't quite work out since she was a green rider, and he was far more green than we had been led to believe.  Boy, have we learned a lot since then!

I had decided to wait to buy my own horse until I could spend less time at work.  Oh, but DH knew how I loved buckskins, and he found one for sale.  Needless to say, one look and I was a goner.  He was only a trail horse, and couldn't walk a straight line at that.  He'd been a stud for 6 years and wasn't trained to do anything but trail.  Now he is my wonderful, young mature-minded gentle Goldbuster.  He's learned western pleasure, halter and showmanship.  I will love him forever!  Each day he amazes me with something new.

Then of course we had to get DD a showhorse along with many lessons.  She is totally talented, and dreams, breathes, and lives for her horses.

Then DD and I went to an upper scale auction of registered horses.  We went to look at tack and just "watch" the auction.  We almost made it until just before the end, out came this gorgeous grulla mare whose coat shined like silver.  Well since Buster is pretty tall, I reasoned I could ride the grulla, whom we call Ginger, and DH could ride Buster.  That happens only occasionally.  DH is not an addict.

Then DD's trainer told her about a cute little palomino paint who was just born, and the owner had offered to give him to the trainer since the owner bought the mare just for breeding.  Great bloodlines.  Once I saw him, I couldn't say no.????  He is a yearling now and the most gentle, well trained yearling I have ever seen!  DD has done it all.  She doesn't want to geld him, and I just know there will be Dallas offsprings in the future.  Knowing DD, she won't be able to let go of any of them.

 And then there is this beautiful palomino mare from good breeding lines in the pasture next to our BO's property.  She's 6 years old and has never had a lick of training.  But wouldn't she and Dallas make beautiful babies????

I knew I needed to join now before it is waaaayyyyy to late!  That palomino is gorgeous, and I have to drive by her twice a day.

We don't need another horse.

We don't need another horse.

We don't need another horse. 

I know, I know!!!!  So many horses, so little time... or $$$.  And they all want to come home with us, don't they.  I think they're telepathic.  "Please take me home, please take me home..."  I can hear it in my head whenever I see one!

We don't need anothr horse, we don't need another horse...

And I hate to say a discouraging word to all you younguns, IT DOESN"T GET ANY EASIER  ARRRGGGG!  I 'm OLD and my really OLD dad came to visit the other day and there was essentially nothng to eat in the house.  It's amazing what you can do with peanut butter, bread, spaghetti, and tuna! LOL  The horses (and dog) eat very well and get nice new tack and blankies and stuff.  I shop Goodwill...

We do not need another horse...

No minis, either!

when I was 7 we went to visit my dad and won a pony in a raffle, dad dutifully kept it in the trailer park yard for the 2 weeks I was there and then sold her ( Ratchet) , when I was 9 my mom used to collect antique salt + pepper shakers (some worth alot of money) I garage saled every thing I owned , most of my brother's toys and alot of my mom's salt and pepper shakers to rescue a little weanling I had seen @ the feedlot I made a deal with a guy about 2 miles from our house to "work " so he could stay there. I had a friend who's mom helped me (enabled) when my mom found out she sold him :( ( frostbite) I rode everychance I got then @ 29 we moved to saskatchewan and guess what the first thing I did was ? Bought a horse (star) then my friend called ab out a shetland/mini stallion she bought that was busting out so I took him too and got him gelded etc (charming) now I want to breed star ti my friend's morgan http://www.valleyridgemorgans.homestead.com/OurStallions.html and I wish I had a horse so others could come along on rides we are "boarding" with my friend on a 5 acre place so we feed pretty well year round. I am thinking about renting a 10 acre pasture from the lady across the street from where the horses are next summer and hopefully soon we are going to be moving to rob's parents farm....

with the support of my friends I will NOT buy another horse TODAY

Tricia, today is all we can count on. But leasing that extra ten acres sounds pretty good...

One day at a time - We do not need another horse, we do not need another horse..today.

Hello my name is Tickin and I have an addiction to horses. I decided to downsize my herd and sell a few of the horses that weren't getting used. Instead of lowering my numbers, I've managed to increase my numbers by 2. Now this normally isn't a big deal but on Friday I am dragging my whole family 5 hours north of here in the middle of the night - between soccer games - to go to watch a show gelding perform at a show.

And possibly buy him.

The first step is admitting I have a problem. Not that I've ever denied it. LOL

Oh, Tickin! You may be beyond help! LOL

Let us know about the possible newbie.  Maybe we can restrain ourselves vicariously watching you buy another.

  Then again, probably not...

My name is Sarah and I am a horse a holic.

My addiction started years ago when I started volunteering at a local handicapped riding center. I spent every waking moment over there, mucking stalls and cleaning tack so I could ride. I took lessons and started eventing, evetually my mother bought me my first horse, an older TB who wasnt working out for the program, Miami. He couldnt use his tail, so if a fly landed on him, he bucked. This scared alot of the students and was a liability..so my mother bought him.

I owned Miami for years. He saw me through the turbulent tween and teen years, carried me to events up and down the east coast, filled rooms with ribbons and trophies, was my companion through numerous journies in my life. He was a stellar eventer and dressage horse, a packer in the equitationo/f, could hold his own in the hunter classes, team penned, barrel raced, trail rode and roped. I even got married on him and he toted myself and my young son down countless trails.

Miami is long gone now, but he helped me develop an intense love of horses. My husband and I fullfilled our dream of owning our own ranch and raising horses in 2001 when we moved to Texas. We have had as many as 18 horses, but are at a very manageable 9 right now(with one being my uncle's)

 I dont have any plans to get more horses, would like to thin down abit actually.

I am beyond help. The last time I only owned one horse was when I was 16 - I've owned 2 or more since. I was hoping not to go over 9, stay in the single digits, at least, but that only lasted until this spring when I acquired the TB mare. Does that count? If I acquire one, and not buy it? LOL LOL