11/10/2025
I didn’t write this, but I sure could have!
“People who don’t have horses sometimes say to me, “horses sure are beautiful, but why do you have all these animals that demand so much of your time and your finances. It seems you live at the barn. You could probably have a spare room at the vet clinic with as much time as you spend there”.
They say, “if you got rid of your horses, you could buy a really nice house without worrying about all the upkeep of the land. You could go on amazing vacations and never have to worry about finding someone to care for your horses. You wouldn’t be tied down and could do whatever you want”.
I laugh because they are not wrong. The truth is, I am sure I would have a LOT more money if I didn’t have horses. Non-horse people would probably die to find out all the expenses that go into a horse...feed, hay, boarding costs, vet bills, farrier expenses...
And they are right when they say I would probably have a lot more free time if I didn’t have to spend it feeding horses, cleaning stalls, treating wounds and making sure that they are all well taken care of. I could afford a beautiful home in suburbia and not worry about the upkeep that is involved with acreage.
But I always say that God would never have ignited this HUGE passion for horses in my heart if I wasn’t meant to have them. And on days like today when my heart feels heavy, I go sit on my tailgate watching the sunset...just me and my horses...and here in the quiet…my heart and soul find peace…”
-Valerie Payne Smith - Author
