Choosing , Buying & Caring

Don't kid yourself thinking that owning your own horse is all fun and games. Its a lot different than visiting your local stables and going for rides or helping out at the stables doing all the things you may think you have to do for your own horse or pony. Well think again, its not!!. Before buying a horse ask yourself the following question. Can I afford it, constant bills for grazing, food, shoes, saddle and other tack & also a rug for those cold winter nights, brushes and oils and regular vet treatment which alone is a big expense and if you buy a young horse there is a big cost to have it broken in and insurance for your horse is important and that is just a fraction of costs that you will incur. Visit any shops that sell horse tack, food suppliers and ask your local vet about routine treatment for your horse and how much emergency call outs cost, then call on your local stables or land owner to make sure that you will have somewhere to keep your horse.

Now after that your horse needs a lot of love and attention, have you got the dedication it takes to care for your own horse. Owning your own horse means getting up extra early if you are still at school and giving up your spare time after school and at weekends to be with your horse. Rain or shine, your horse needs the care it deserves, so be prepared to sacrifice a good part of your social life.

Now sum up all of the above and see if you still feel the same way about owning your own horse think carefully as once you have got your horse it needs your instant dedication.

If the place you choose to keep your horse does not usually keep livestock, inspect the field carefully to make sure that there are no poisonous plants that may make your horse sick and check all the hedges for gaps where your horse may escape, an open shelter is always nice for your horse when there is bad weather, but if a shelter is not possible look for a field with some trees or high hedges for shelter. Water for your horse to drink in the form of a stream or trough is an absolute necessity and whilst on the subject of water make sure the field is not or is not likely to be waterlogged and finally make sure that the field gate is secure with a good padlock to keep thieves out.

Choosing a horse

Before buying a horse, think carefully about what you want it for. If you are just starting out and don't know a lot about horses, ask someone who is more experienced. Tell them how much you know and how competent you are at riding. With all that you tell them, it should give a good starting point on what would suit you.  It is very easy to fall in love with the first horse you see, but it is a good idea to try out several horses before making up your mind. 

If possible buy a horse that you already know, maybe a friend has outgrown their horse and is selling, or a stables where you regularly visit is selling a horse that you often ride. If not try all the riding stables in your area, if they are not selling any horses they may know of someone that is and they could also give you some valuable tips about buying a horse.

The next best place is horse magazines, there is a good selection and most of them have a section for selling horses, however, the only problem with that is that the horses in question may not be in your area and you may not want to travel too far to buy. Most local newspapers also have a section for horse sales and are more likely to be just down the road.

Horse care

Before buying a horse, think carefully about what you want it for. If you are just starting out and don't know a lot about horses, ask someone who is more experienced. Tell them how much you know and how competent you are at riding. With all that you tell them, it should give a good starting point on what would suit you.  It is very easy to fall in love with the first horse you see, but it is a good idea to try out several horses before making up your mind. 

If possible buy a horse that you already know, maybe a friend has outgrown their horse and is selling, or a stables where you regularly visit is selling a horse that you often ride. If not try all the riding stables in your area, if they are not selling any horses they may know of someone that is and they could also give you some valuable tips about buying a horse.

Horses require a lot of attention and are a big responsibility. It you treat your horse well with plenty of love and care you will get the same in return. If you are still at school it may seem a lot of hard work getting up early to see your horse before school, but it's worth it. A horse that is kept fit and healthy will reward when you are out riding.  Try and visit your horse at the same time daily & preferably at least twice a day, and remember if you feed your horse before you exercise it, you should wait about one and a half hours before proceeding

Obviously you cannot be there to look over your horse night and day, so while you are not there you would like to know your horse is safe and sound. The field where you keep your horse should be checked over regularly.

There is a number of poisonous shrubs, plants and trees just waiting to be eaten by your horse or pony. To start with check-up on what is safe and what is not, then have a thorough look over the whole of the field where your horse is kept, take a strong pair of rubber gloves and a sack, and pull up what plants you can when you see them, what you can't pull up, remember where you've seen it and go back better prepared (e.g. spade or sheers etc.).

As for trees, trim off reachable branches and gather up what has fallen off.  If there are trees that are a nuisance, think about fencing them off.  Once you have pulled up all the poisonous plants, instead of leaving them in piles around the field where the horse can help its self to them, either burn them or dispose of them in a safe manner