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Responsibilities of Horse Ownership
So you or a family member wants a horse! Horsemanship and horse ownership has unlimited rewards, but it also has a ton of responsibilities - most of them in the wallet area. This article will help you decide if you are ready, willing and able to take the plunge and become one of the horsey set.
Horse Accomodations
Horses are large, needy animals that require food, shelter, veterinary care, training and exercise. Obviously, you can't buy a horse and then keep it in the back yard to eat grass. Unless you own an acreage or farm, you'll have to decide where you will keep your horse and the costs involved. Most large cities and towns have a selection of horse boarding facilities within a short drive , so there are plenty of options when it comes to where to keep your horse . 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 find shelter in a storm. This type of boarding is usually less expensive, and can be quite acceptible.
Otherstable facilities offer your horse a taste of the "good life" with a private box stall, paddock,grooming, regular farrier visits and more. Many horse accomodations also have an indoor arena where you can take riding lessons. While very nice, indeed, this type of boarding facility can hit the pocketbook - hard!. Usually upwards of $1000 per month, depending on where you live.
So, as you can see, much thought needs to be put into whether or not you can actually afford to keep a horse . If the answer is yes, then it's time to consider the breed and type of horse that is best for you. Beginning riders may want a horse that is less exciting and more 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!)
Deciding on a Horse
Some breeds of horse are less "spirited" than others, but the most important factor in selectinga horse is it's history. Just like people , horses can pick up bad habits, and can be affected by badexperiences in their past. It's important to choose a horsethat has undergone solid training, and has not been spoiled by inexperienced riders. There are plenty of bad habits horses can acquire over time. These include, but are not limited to:
- Running away when you want to ride. You can spend literally hours trying to catch a horse. Horses can be real stinkers 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.
- Biting your bum when you try to get on . Many a large butt bruise has resulted from this devious 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.
- Suddenly halting to graze as you ride. This makes for a very inconsistent riding experience, and can actually send you flying over the horses head if you don't see it coming.
- Walking as slowly as possible as you ride away from the stable or pasture (think of trying to pull teeth), then suddenly turning into a race horse 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 horse with better manners.
Choosing How To Ride
If you're a new horse owner and haven't done a lot of horse riding, it's a great idea and great fun to take some lessons - either privately or with a group . 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), then "Western Pleasure" riding is probably what you would enjoy. 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 you want to get fancy, you may want to pick up 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 free horse classified ads where you can often find good quality used horse tack for reasonable prices.
And that's just for the horse! If you want 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 plenty to consider beforegalloping off into the sunset on your new 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.
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