So you or a family member is thinking about owning a horse ! Horsemanship and horse ownership has unlimited rewards, but it also carries a large load of responsibilities – most of them in the wallet area. This article will help you decide if you are ready, willing and able to accept the responsibilities of owning a horse.
Keeping A Horse
Horses are large, needy animals that require food, shelter, veterinary care, training and exercise. Obviously, you can’t purchase a horse and then place it in the back yard to graze on the lawn . Unless you own an acreage or farm, you’ll have to decide where you will keep your horse and the money needed . Most urban areas have plenty of horse boarding facilities within a short drive , so there are good options when it comes to providing your horse with a place to live . Some boarding facilities are “no-frills”, where your horse is kept in a pasture with other horses, and provided food and shelter in the way of a communal lean-to or other building where your horse can get out of the sun or wind. This type of arrangement is usually easier on the wallet , and can be quite acceptible.
Otherhorse centers offer your horse a taste of the “good life” with a private box stall, exercise area,daily brushing, regular farrier visits and more. Many of these places also have an indoor arena with available training and riding instructors at your disposal . This is all very nice, but this type of boarding facility can hit the pocketbook – hard!. These facilities can cost $1000 dollars a mont or more, depending on where you live.
Can you afford to have a horse? You’ll have to give serious consideration to that question . If the answer is yes, then it’s time to consider the breed and type of horse that is best for you. If you’re just starting out in the world of horses, you’re going to want a horse that is gentle, dependable and predictable. There’s nothing that turns new riders off more than being thrown 20 feet into the air and landing on their head! (I’m speaking from experience, here!)
Selecting A Horse
Different horses have different personalities – some more intense than others, but the most important factor in deciding ona horse is it’s history. Just like us, horses can adopt bad habits, and can be molded by damagingexperiences in their past. It’s important to choose a horsethat has been well-trained , and has not been abused by it’s owner. There are plenty of irritating habits horses can develop. These include, but are not limited to:
- Darting to the other side of the pasture when you want to ride. It can take forever trying to catch a horse. Horses are sneaky and cunning when it comes to being caught. Don’t let the cute long face and big brown eyes fool you. Be sure to get a horse that either likes to be caught, likes food more than freedom, or hasn’t figured out that it’s a matter of choice for it.
- Nipping your butt when you try to mount the horse . Many a large butt bruise has resulted from this nasty horse trick.
- Stepping 3 feet to the side when you try to mount it. Some horses love to see you fall on your butt, repeatedly, and it can be difficult to stop this behavior.
- Stopping whenever it pleases to eat grass or leaves as you ride. This makes for a very inconsistent riding experience, and can result in injury if you aren’t ready for it.
- Walking as slowly as possible as you ride away from the stable or pasture (think of trying to pull teeth), then going at lightning speed on the way back, despite your attempts to slow down.
- Kicking the horse behind it while riding amongst others.
As you can imagine, these little quirks can turn riding from an enjoyable leisure activity to a living, breathing hell on hooves. It’s best to avoid horses that exhibit this alarming behavior and choose a sweet, agreeable nag for your horse.
Learning To Ride
If you’re a new horse owner and haven’t done a lot of horse riding, you should definitely invest in some lessons . There are various options for lessons, ranging – you guessed it – from reasonably to very expensive. Many boarding facilities offer group lessons, where you and your horse join others for lessons. More intensive, one-on-one lessons are also usually available, and you can generally find riding instructors that will come to you – for an extra fee, of course.
Did you know there are different styles of riding? If you are John Wayne or Clint Eastwood fan (think of the old Western movies), you’re a born Western rider. Western riding is pleasurable and laid back, but still requires good horsemanship and a good seat on your horse. Sports involving Western style riding include barrel racing, trail riding, roping and much more.
On the opposite side of the fence is what is known as English riding. English riding is a very controlled, exacting style of riding – almost an art. Mastering English riding, dressage, and jumping can be a life-long pursuit – as enjoyable as it is addictive. You’ll see English style riders at horse jumping events.
It’s a good idea to give both styles a whirl to see which you prefer, but once you decide, it’s best to stick to your choice, since the different riding styles develop an entirely different set of skills, balance and “seat” on your horse. There are plenty of good books and online resources dedicated to both styles of riding. I recommend reading up, visiting some local riding stables and talking to riders before you make a decision.
Horse Accessories
Did you know that horses need plenty of equipment? At the very least, your horse will need a halter and lead, hoof pick and set of grooming brushes – and that doesn’t include the horse tack. For riding your horse, you will need a bridle and bit, saddle blanket and saddle. If your horse will spend a lot of time outdoors, you may want to obtain a horse blanket (like a house coat for your horse), tack box, saddle care kit and more. (Remember, I told you it was going to be expensive!) Nowadays, the internet offers horse classified ads where you you can pick up good quality used horse tack for reasonable prices.
And that’s just for the horse! To ride your horse, you are going to need a good, comfortable pair of riding boots, a riding helmet and riding gloves. Dressage or English riders usually wear “breeches”, special pants designed to help you move with your horse and to prevent chapping of your legs and thighs as you ride.
So, as I mentioned above, there is much to consider beforeinvesting in a horse. One of the best suggestions I can offer is to “try before you buy”. Find a local riding stable that offers horses for you to ride, along with lessons, and make sure that you really are ready to accept the responsibilities that go along with being a horse owner. If the answer is yes, the experience can’t be beat .
Debbie Dallison Moore is the webmaster for “Horse and Pony Central”, a web site dedicated to everything horsey.
She is an avid animal lover, and has owned a horse since a very young age.
