HELP FOR POTENTIAL HORSE OWNERS
If you're thinking about buying or leasing your first horse, we'd like to help you learn all you need to know so that your horse is healthy and happy. In fact, we think ALL horse owners, no matter how experienced, should have a commitment to a continuing equine education program! There's always something new to discover about these delicate, fascinating animals -- and there are a zillion ways that horses can be abused by people who don't know any better. We encourage folks to learn what you need to know BEFORE you buy the horse because, frankly, we know way too many sad stories of horses that suffered or died as a result of their owners' ignorance.
It all has to come together: financial resources, dedicated time to devote to riding and horse care, a lifestyle that allows you to be there when your horse needs you, and enough horsekeeping knowledge to keep your expensive investment alive. So we've developed a set of guidelines for prospective owners that helps you determine if you're ready for the big commitment.
And if you know you're not ready yet -- but hope to own a horse someday -- why not start NOW to learn all you need to know? Here's how:
HORSESENSE CLINICS
We
teach horsekeeping classes that give you
practical hands-on experience. HorseSense
Clinics cover basic information (health and vet care, feeding and
nutrition, hoof care, etc.) in a fun, interactive format. We
encourage parents to attend the clinics with their children so that
everyone in the family knows what to do -- and what NOT to do! -- with
their horse. Click here to see our upcoming schedule of HorseSense Horsekeeping
Clinics.
WORKING STUDENT PROGRAM
Our unique Working Student Program
is designed for both current and
potential horse owners who want to learn more about horse care.
We teach working students our own high standards of stable management,
and provide a way for them to practice dealing with the realities of
horse ownership before leasing or purchasing their first horse. It's available to
children and adults aged 8+, it's free, and it works!
EDUCATIONAL BOOKS AND MAGAZINES
There's a lot of good information out there to help you learn about horsekeeping. The books and magazines on our Cool Stuff page are references we consider essential for thinking horsey people.
Guidelines for Potential Horse Owners
-- or, How to Make Your Horse Happy by Avoiding Common Tragic Mistakes!
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
This is the most important test of your readiness, because if all else fails you can pay someone else to take care of the horse -- but you're not likely to find someone else to pay his expenses for you!
Like most things in life, horse care expenses
should be carefully budgeted. Ask us for a sample
horsekeeping budget that includes stabling, feed, hay, deworming,
vaccinations and routine veterinary and farrier care.
Don't forget to include the cost of buying tack and
equipment for your new horse. We also have a worksheet you can use to
budget all your horsey stuff.
In addition to routine expenses, you should plan for
the unexpected -- we recommend an additional savings fund of at least $500 per
horse to cover emergency vet expenses. Alternatively, you can
insure your horse for mortality and/or medical emergency expenses.
Make sure you plan for the costs involved in
continuing your equine education: riding lessons, clinics,
subscriptions, books, shows, and camps.
If you don't own a truck and horse trailer, you'll
need to add these costs to your financial plan: you'll have
to 1) buy a rig and add its routine maintenance to your budget; 2) hire
a local hauler and pay per mile; or 3) borrow trailering from horsey
friends -- in which case you'll need to share those transportation
costs. Even if you don't plan to trail ride or show, you MUST plan
for trailering in emergency situations.
Be prepared for fluctuations in the costs of feed and
hay that depend upon local weather and gasoline prices. In
2008-2009 we watched grain and hay prices increase by 50% or more due to
drought followed by monsoons.
Parents should involve their children in the
budgeting process and in tracking horse expenses -- we want EVERYONE to
understand the realities of horse ownership.
LIFESTYLE CONSIDERATIONS
Do you have the time? Horse's can't take care
of themselves, and they rely upon us to be there every single day.
For most of us this means making sure that we're there at the same time
every morning and evening for feeding -- or that we share the feeding
chores with someone reliable and knowledgeable. Even if we
share feeding and stall cleaning duties, horses need to be groomed and
exercised AT LEAST three days per week. You need dedicated time to
spend with your horse -- when it's cold, raining, snowing, or
blistering hot; on holidays; when you're ill or just don't have the
energy. The good news is that spending lots of time at the barn
will pay dividends in your relationship with your horse.
It's also important that you can make the commitment
to being there when your horse is ill or injured. Sometimes this
can mean going to the barn at all hours for medical treatments.
Make sure you have a backup plan for those situations where you
absolutely cannot tend to your horse.
Also make sure that your nearest and dearest
understand the amount of time you need to spend with your horse.
It helps when the horsey lifestyle includes your family and friends.
SUITABILITY
Please, we beg of you, don't run out and buy the first horse you see -- or worse, take the first free horse you're offered! There's nothing more distressing than finding out that the horse you own is not the right horse for you.
Finding the right horse is a matter of determining
what kind of riding you want to do. Different breeds of horses are
bred to do different things: a dressage horse is different from a
barrel horse or a jumper or a Western pleasure horse. Make sure
you take the time (and enough lessons) to be certain of the riding
discipline you intend to follow. You then need to look for a horse
with the right age and conformation (a body suited for that activity),
the right training and a temperament that is suited to that style of
riding.
It's also important that you and the horse have
complementary personalities and levels of training. If you are
inexperienced, you should look for an older horse that is
beginner-friendly, well-trained and easy to maintain. We like the
Pony Club rule that states that the age of the horse plus the age of the
rider should equal 20 or more -- the younger the rider, the older should
be the appropriate horse.
It is customary to enlist local experts in your
search for the perfect horse. Involving your trainer from the
beginning can save you time and money as you narrow the options down to
suitable horses. Not only does your trainer have valuable
experience judging horses -- she also knows YOU, your personality and
your abilities. Some trainers charge their clients a fee for this
service, but it's money well spent!
When you find a suitable horse, it's time to get your
vet's expert opinion. Paying for a pre-purchase exam can save you
all kinds of money and heartache later.