“Is It Enough?” – Dreams, Reality, and the Art of Horse Shopping with Closed Eyes
I once had an acquaintance. He was 35, lived alone, worked hard, and was a decent guy. But let’s just say he wasn’t exactly Brad Pitt. More like a tired IT guy from the early 2000s who forgot what a razor looks like. He had a steady, honest job, rented a small apartment, and had more IKEA furniture than personality.
One day, I asked him why he didn’t have a girlfriend.
His answer?
“Well,” he said, “I have standards.”
The woman he wanted had to be beautiful – like, model-beautiful – wealthy, well-dressed, classy… you get the picture.
I nodded slowly, politely, while thinking: “Mate… have you looked in a mirror lately?”
And that, dear reader, is exactly how many people are when buying a horse.
We dream big. We imagine ourselves as champions. The horse we want? Oh, nothing too complicated – just beautiful, flawless, easy to ride, talented, three Olympic-quality gaits, amazing pedigree… and we’ve got a budget of, let’s say, 5,000 euros.
Oh, and we forgot one thing:
We may not actually have the skills to train the horse.
And by the way, everything after the purchase will cost a fortune too.
Don’t get me wrong – dreaming is wonderful. But somewhere along the way, we need to pause and ask:
“Is this really enough?”
And I don’t just mean the money. I mean time, knowledge, support, patience – and yes, a bit of honesty.
Too many people buy horses with their eyes. Not their brains. Not their current ability.
They see a shiny, muscled 4-year-old and picture themselves galloping across flower-filled meadows while the birds sing and crowds cheer.
Reality?
Mud.
Chewed halters.
Training sessions where things go sideways. Literally.
And you know what? That’s totally okay – as long as you’re honest with yourself from the beginning.
So before you fall head-over-heels for that glossy, big-eyed unicorn with a price tag that feels like a steal – ask yourself:
👉 Do I really have what it takes to develop this horse?
👉 Can I afford not just the horse, but the training, equipment, vet bills, and surprises?
👉 And most importantly – am I buying a horse that matches my current level, or just my fantasy?
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be a bit more like horses themselves – grounded, aware, and honest about where you are.
So next time you scroll through horse ads, dreaming big – don’t forget to look in the mirror too. And ask yourself:
“Is it enough?”
(And if the answer is no – that’s not a failure. It just means you’re human. And maybe, just maybe, the best thing you can do is become the kind of person the horse of your dreams would want to be with.)
🎠 Want more honest advice, inspiration and support in your horse life?
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