Hi Makin'time
I agree with you, when someone gets the bug for a horse it is hard to resist, you made me think: Yes, go to fairs, horse show, go to the local boarding farm and walk around you both might realise the amount of work involved.You do not necessarelly 'need' to have your own horse either if you just want to go riding on occasion.If you both agree to go ahead, get a decent animal well behaved, healty and strong, I always had a thing for The Canadian horse. There is no point in getting a registered animal but do get information about the parents.Definitely have a vet check the animal thouroughly.A ride on the trails on an english saddle in the fall when you are in comunion with your horse after working him all summer is as rewarding as the perfect day with the boat in the groove, sometime, maybe, better.But if you think the perect sail is a rare thing the perfect ride is even more and in between train train train! Labour of love!Regarding the things one 'needs' you might need an autopilot but it can wait till next year, the horse might need a vet and that is *now*, the difference is you are respopnsible for a living creature, it is a different ball park than a chunk of fiber glass, you canot just "put it away" for a while..Also with a horse if he is not learning he is going backward, and you have to start over again.A bit off topic but my dream situation would have been:A farm with access to a body of water large enough to sail, a day sailor + 2 horses of my own. with no outside job.I calculated after the farm being paid I needed min 12 boarders @ $550.00/mOr 20 boarders and a hired hand for the work...to live that lifestyle.Out of reach... For now.Cheers,a.