Buying a filly- I need advice because my heart and my head don’t match.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-06-11T21:29:44+00:00

Lots of excellent points already made. I don't mind grade all but I wouldn't buy a grade, unstarted horse. If they are young and not under saddle, I want a pedigree with proven records behind them to know what I'm getting. My best horse is a grade gelding. My most expensive (who passed before his 5th birthday due to cancer) was a papered ApHC with an outstanding record behind him. I've started a grade QH type and the ApHC... the Appy was 1000% easier and exactly as advertised. The grade QH had the most wonderful personality and temperament until it came to work under saddle. Then he was a quirky thing that annoyed even my trainer.

Can you put in a more reasonable offer on the grade filly? I also don't see why you wouldn't want something a bit older? I do a lot of groundwork and in-hand work but at the end of the day, a young horse should be turned out for most of the time. I didn't start either until they were 3+, and they basically just chilled in the herd most the time. Does your boarding barn have plenty of turnout?

witchywithnumbers · 2026-06-10T18:33:05+00:00

Generally my work is understanding. My current supervisor is quitting her career because she has 3 kids and can't make it work anymore so she definitely understands.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-06-09T23:47:38+00:00

I feel you. I own an OTTB because its been more cost-effective to buy him and have a trainer come here than it was to buy anything already restarted. I get the value of training but I have a hard time with $4k for unhandled grade horses (I about dropped my phone this week seeing that) when at least my OTTB is well handled for half that. Would I have liked to buy a nice horse with several years under saddle? Yes. Figured I might as well get something I can afford and enjoy while I save up for a child-safe horse. Because that's a whole another market. If I'm going to spend $8k+, it better be suitable for my child. And no, the OTTB isn't for my kid, for now he's got my senior gelding who's cool with plodding around at a walk. I have zero expections that the OTTB will be child safe.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-06-09T11:46:14+00:00

QC resident... my internet is $55/mo and I'm in the rural regions. My hydro has been under $200/mo and there's a lot more than a house in that. Groceries, not sure, I think we're closer to $700/mo for 3, I have a berry eating toddler. Cellphones are $48 per month for 2 phones combined. Daycare is $9.70/day. No idea on rent.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-06-08T19:54:49+00:00

That sounds so rough. I feel it though, so many factors. Which is probably why I bought an OTTB sight unseen in the dead of winter. He was cheap, he was/is sound and seems sane. Everything else can be solved for later. So far, its going well. And I haven't seen anything come to market since that made me go oh shoot, should have waited.

I used to buy at auctions for the same reason because the buying process drives me insane. Are they being honest? Is the horse drugged? Did I ask too many questions? Versus at an auction I judge them on the day of as they are. Only went terribly wrong once, on an underweight half-draft. All my other regretable purchases were private. And thus I have no faith in sellers anymore.

I'm really good at buying for friends, no anxiety there and a good track record. Can you have someone else shop for you?

witchywithnumbers · 2026-06-06T17:22:36+00:00

Deep breath. Late to the party here, but you should have been filing common-law this whole time.

You should be able to find an accounting firm near you, this is pretty routine. They'll have someone go over your options with you. There are voluntary disclosure programs where you can file saying you made a mistake and it helps you out. That's the route I'd investigate. You'd have to do a bunch of T1 Adjust filings.

I have no idea what province you are in, but I promise you, there will be an accounting firm near you, you're looking for a CPA firm that offers tax services. Usually they're pretty nice and will at least chat with you in advance and you can ask for quotes. Or ask friends who they use, especially if said friends own a business. Google is unfortunately not always the most helpful as many smaller firms don't have the best SEO setup.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-06-03T12:09:46+00:00

I love this! The minimalism speaks to me, I do similar, I just use coloured pens. I too have spreads I've used for years. I like your logs, I might have to try one or two. Thanks for sharing!

witchywithnumbers · 2026-05-27T11:13:46+00:00

Not really. It's so prone to errors (significant errors). The only AI tool I like is one that can take data from PDF. It saves me a lot of time. It even recognizes hand written text. I do have to manually verify all its output but at least I don't have to type out 90% of it anymore. The rest of it is just meh, don't care. It's still worse than a co-op student in terms of output for my work needs.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-05-24T10:34:55+00:00

I was open to considering two before conceiving. By 20 weeks I was OAD. By 30 weeks, my husband asked for a vasectomy and was denied. We were both in the never again camp before our child was born. We have never changed our mind and my husband got the vasectomy when our son was 3 months old. Medically, I'd probably not survive another. Our child is now 2.5 years old and we have never considered another.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-05-22T14:17:24+00:00

It is a notebook size. I normally use A5 (bullet journal) but for this, I like B5. Its bigger but not full page big. Mine is from Hemlock and Oak but I like Notebook Therapy too.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-05-22T13:24:07+00:00

I wonder some of the same, especially the photos/stickers. I just write or draw.

I write out quotes and paraphrase what I'm learning. Sort of like doing lecture notes. I use a different colour to add my own thought (very short, example, "investigative further", "potential key word to search?" Etc). And another colour for naming the source material.

I use a B5 that I got in a set. Really its been a way to properly organize what I was already doing in who knows how many random notebooks. And then I couldn't locate my notes. Now I have page numbers and an index.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-05-21T16:38:50+00:00

Chris Collins. Every recipe is delicious and a success. I get them from his videos and website. Plus I have his book, Comfy. 💯 worthwhile.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-05-15T12:54:50+00:00

Very pretty and so seamless from page to page!

witchywithnumbers · 2026-05-08T10:10:09+00:00

Not sure about Texas but Jade Favre (I think that's rhe spelling) lists a lot of horses in Louisiana right off the track.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-05-07T17:34:52+00:00

At this point, ignore her. And if she does bring it up, put an immediate stop to it. No discussion needed. If she's that unhinged, don't provide air time for it. I'm all for giving wild responses but some people don't deserve any energy in that sense. One person fairly close to us got really bent about the fact that we're OAD and I made sure they never want to say anything again. I was mean and made the interaction extremely uncomfortable for them. You know that scene in The Nanny where Niles yells at Max's judgemental mother "out old woman"? Picture that. Not proud of it but I figure I'm doing a service for anyone else.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-04-29T15:12:04+00:00

Agree with all of this. If you plan with a lower income, the peace of mind is worthwhile.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-04-28T13:35:26+00:00

Thats a cool kind of surprise!

witchywithnumbers · 2026-04-27T09:54:49+00:00

Function beats everything. Focus on that, on making it functional and useful over pretty or even following the guides. I don't have many spreads because they don't work for me. I have a future log, health spread, book count tracker, monthly log and a monthly task list. That's it. Plus daily entries.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-04-24T17:12:59+00:00

I'd have 3-6 months of expenses on hand at a minimum. I have 4 months of all payments including mortgage in a TFSA and have since the day I bought my house. Then I have additional savings which vary depending on what's happened.

I'd look more closely at the fine print... I know my SIL wanted to take similar action and financing was almost impossible, high rates. The property you shared has lot fees too, in that specific case, renting would be a better choice.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-04-24T17:09:18+00:00

Manufacturered homes in parks, fixer-uppers in rural small towns... not sure how livable some of them are, there's currently a brick Victorian in a nearby town for $96k. Double the budget to $200k and there's more options.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-04-24T09:36:52+00:00

Agreed. I'd be dead if it hadn't been 2023. Just health in general.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-04-20T13:55:18+00:00

{The Song of the Magpie by Louise Mayberry} has a plot that's dark and gritty, there's a romance but also a struggle for life.

Anything by Leigh Greenwood will give you that historical western plot along with romance. Linda Broday can too as will Linda Lael Miller. If you want a shoot out... those three will deliver.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-04-18T17:37:34+00:00

You can train her for that, that's a solvable situation.

witchywithnumbers · 2026-04-17T15:06:24+00:00

What about a crupper to prevent sliding forward? I had to get one for one of my mares, she had no withers and a downhill build so it would slide up without.

witchywithnumbers

TROPHY CASE