How to take the plunge
So you want to own a horse? Honestly, we can't blame you! Owning a horse is a huge responsibility. We know you have probably heard it all before, but there a few things you will need to consider before taking the plunge!
Are you ready?
Pretty much all of us have heard it before. 'Horses are too expensive' 'They are too much work' 'You know we can't afford one'. So before you get a horse you will obviously need permission first. You need to make sure you have the money to manage one efficiently. It's obviously upsetting if you arent able to own a horse, but thats why I designed this website- you can never know everything about horses, so why not try learn as much as possible, so when you are able to own a horse, you are as prepared as possible!
You need to find a place for your horse to live, too. Somewhere comfortable that suits your horse and the convenience of transportation and is relatively well priced. You also need a source of food, water and supplies too. It's reccomended that you buy equipment like grooming brushes and riding clothing before you get your horse, so you have more time to focus on things like tack and rugs that fit, the type of food that your horse needs and more.
Here is a list of just some things needed to be checked/gotten:
Tack
Rugs
Halters
Grooming kit
First aid kit
Food
Water trough
Worming
Farrier/shoeing
Vet and vaccinations
Riding clothes
Safety gear
Equipment like
jumps or cones if you want to use them
Paddock security and safety (make sure there are no poisonous plants!)
What do you want?
There are endless amounts of horses in the world, so you need to choose the right one for you! The horse needs to be close to where you live so transportation is easy. It needs to be the right height. Not to short but not too tall. If you are a beginner, something like a cob or a calm, caring horse would be perfect, so they can teach you how to take care of and ride a horse efficiently. Getting a hot blooded and high strung arabian or thoroughbred as your first horse can not only be dangerous, but it can also mean that you can learn as much as a more calm horse could teach you.
Where to look?
There are endless places to look for a horse! You can look online, or in some horse magazines.
Trying out
Go to visit the horse you are interested in. If you are planning to put your horse in a paddock, ask the owner if you could catch it from the field when you arrive. This is so you dont find that your horse is alot of trouble to catch! Remember to ask to tack up/groom the horse yourself, so you can test the horse's behaviour, and see how it accepts the bit and girth etc. Don't be afraid to ride the horse, too! If possible, bring an experienced horse person or vet along with you, to check the horse's health and confirmation etc.
Questions to ask
There are so many things to ask the owner of a horse you are interested in. Here are only some of them:
When was the horse last vaccinated/wormed?
Are there any vices or special horse problems the horse has?
What is their medical history?
Do they come with registration papers?
Do they need to be shoed?
Do they need to be rugged?
What do they eat?
Do they come with tack?
What is ther rug/tack size?
How old are they?
How tall are they?
And many more!
Buying
When the decision is made, make sure you have a fair price! It's time to buy your horse!
Taking it home
Make sure you have a safe way to transport your horse by float or horse truck. Dont forget to put on travelling boots and rugs etc.
Have fun!
Ella
