rich people and horses

which way?

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what is this thing about rich people and horses that you have

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Yes i was thinking the same thing.

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same thing i was thinking too!!

please enlighten us??
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No, it should not only be for the rich..... but I think the responsibility lies with the owner to make sure they can afford to own a horse or pony.

Its only fair that they can afford the basics and vet treatment if needed..... otherwise its just not fair on the horse.

BUT you dont have to be rich to look after a horse properly
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I am classed as wealthy, and live in a very affluent area, and some of those people treat their horses horribley [post coming tomorrow, my english brain doesn't work at nearly midnight] whereas some of the people I have met scraping up their pennies to compete, sacrificing so many other things love their horses so dearly, and look after their horses incredibley well.
 
I think your teachers need to sort themselves out. What sort of a nonsense topic for debate is that? How can you possibly get any evidence to support either case?

To answer you question. Horses are generally costly to keep so by definition you need a reasonable income to have them. However recently there was a post on here about keeping a Cob type for £50 a month - which is hardly cause to cash in the gold bullion is it? Many, many people (myself included) work very hard and go without to keep their horses. To use myself as an example I don't drink, smoke, go out very often, have a nice car, or spend anything other than the bare minimum on myself. I'm a teacher so not exactly raking it in but I have four horses I share with my Mum. They are kept on our farm I couldn't manage if I had to pay livery costs too. When I compare my outgoings to friends who live a more conventional twenty something lifestyle - going out several times a week, drinking, smoking, gym memberships, shopping and holidays I think it works out about the same. Some of my friends will spend £50 + (drinks club entry taxi etc) on a night out do that all weekend and it soon adds up.
There is a great saying a local farmer told me "Horse in the stable brings rags on yer arse" - says it all really!
 
Well done for not using txt spk
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It's all relative. What do you class as rich? Is there a level you would set a someone who could technically 'afford' a horse?

Many people will sacrifice other things for their horse/s, such as not drinking, smoking, buying endless clothes, nights out. They may not see it as a sacrifice, just their way of life.

Being 'rich' or having plenty of money, doesn't mean you automatically know how to own a horse.

I can normally afford a horse comfortably without making any sacrifices, but a 2nd baby on the way means that a huge chunk of our disposable cash will disappear on childcare.

But in a couple of years time when one is at school, do I deserve a horse because I can afford one? Does it make me a better owner because I'll have the cash to afford the best if I wanted? No it doesn't.
 
You may be debating it at school, but do you have to keep asking on here?

Couldn't vote, I don't consider either option a correct answer.
 
Depends on how you are interpretting 'deserve'

Derserves main defintion is a right by one's actions or to be worthy of.

Therefore wealth and deserve are not linked, as you can be wealthy without any action (inheritance), so have no merit.

Whether an individual in society should take responsibilty for an animal with no means to care for it (money or facilties), is also debatable. Whilst if you have children (and dogs) the government will help, there is no such help for horses so the government must view them as a luxury.

Therefore should an individual take responsibilty for an animal they cannot 'care' for?

Also worth adding to your debate, most people who have horses would have a huge amount of cash freed up if they no longer had to pay for them. So for an individual considered to be wealthy middle class, a horse can easily financially cripple them. Due to the nature of horses many people are also willing to get themselves into debt, so the sanity of horse carers should be questioned now there is no need for horses for transport.
 
Deserve has nothing to do with horse ownership, afford has far more to do with it.

You don't have to be wealthy to own a horse, but if you are it helps. We manage as a family keeping 2 horses. There is a lot of dedication &amp; sacrifice there as with many horse owners. We go without what many take for granted to have our horses, but we wouldn't be without them.
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I'm afraid I also do not believe this to be a debate question at school. For a start, teachers would not have a debate (I would hope) based on such a topic. Also, you are assuming that all people who own horses are rich. I thought by definition if you have horses you cannot possibly be rich as all your money goes on them
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I am not rich by any stretch of the imagination, I have two horses and I had to wait until I was 40 before I was able to buy my first. I work exceptionally long hours to be able to afford them and I also do not smoke or go out or have holidays. My animals are my priority, I am however, emotionally rich for having them all.
 
Cant really answer the question as I'm not sure really how to take it.

What I will say is anybody no matter where they come from, what background they have, or what money they have shouldn't be deprived of learning and doing something they enjoy.

If I won the lotto...(yeah yeah here we go...big dreamer an all but we all have dreams) I would love to open a riding centre specially for children that are from families that unfortunately cant afford to send them for lessons etc so they can come and learn, enjoy and care for horses and are not missing out just because their parents cant afford it, it would very rewarding and the perfect job in my eyes.
 
I'm not sure that anybody 'deserves' a horse, in as much as there is some right to have one simply by being wealthy or a good person.

Horse ownership is far more widely available than it was years ago, and the profile of the average horse owner has changed significantly in that time, most fit into what my farrier once disparagingly described as the 'Your Horse reader' category, as opposed to the racing/hunting/breeding fraternity that would have had almost exclusive access to horses in the past, excluding working animals. Those that couldn't own were effectively restricted to weekly lessons and hacks at riding schools.

Is that extended ownership a good thing? I believe it is - there are negatives though, an increase in the amount of very novice owners, for one, many of whom will not be adequately supported while they learn as they go.

So, I can't answer your question. For those of us who are not wealthy, yes we can still have horses, but we go without other things that others might take for granted - nice cars, holidays, evenings out, new clothes. And some, unfair as it may seem, may never be able to afford to keep horses, no matter how understanding, committed, fair and kind they may be.
 
ok, sorry, i think it should be named: "should only rich people be allowed horses?" but its deserve, and to get the right stats' i had to put the acrual name given. I do agree thats its unrealistic to get one if there is no hope of ever being able to afford one, no matter how many sacrifices you make, and i think i will mention that in my speech. i hate my school!
 
oh, and i am very sorry if i have offended anyone, its just that i thought this was the best place to ask! and also i dont assume that all people who own horses are rich, i loan one, and i am certainly arent in the least bit rich, and lots of my friends own horses, and not all my friends are well off at all, just work very hard, like lots of people! (and i admire that, i am SO SO SO lazy!!) by the way, i am not trying to be rude here, if it comes across as that, its just that i am a little upset atm, i am being bullied for being a brat by some people i ride with!
 
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