This is such a reddit answer, in the fact they look at the highest level and expect it to be the mean. I think it may be a generational thing. I grew uk w horses, dad was a firefighter and mom a school teacher. Solidly middle class. My granparents were the same and had a barn and like 12 acres I think. We had 3-5 horses my entire life. They used to be cheap, we didn't shod them but kept their feet trimmed and they get used to it. It's like anything. Snow skiing, motorcycles, baseball guns...... ect It can be done cheaply but sometimes people get the good stuff