The following is a question from the message board and some excellent responses!

When do you know your readly for Horse ownership? (Posted by KLH on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 2:53 p.m.)
HI all, I am a "lurker," who occasionally posts, but since I don't own a horse I generally don't have many questions. I was wondering, when each of you knew you were ready to take on the responsiblity of owning a horse? I am not talking just being able to handle the fincancial responsibilties, but everthing else that horse ownership entails I don't take the resonsibilty of taking custody of another life lightly and I want to make sure I am ready for it, but sometimes I feel that I'll never be. I am so afraid that when I have my horse if something goes wrong and I don't know enough to catch it tha I would through my ingnorance or inexperience harm this horse, which is not what I want. So for you how did you know that you were ready? Thanks in advance

Re: When do you know your readly for Horse ownership? Posted by Filly on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 3:06 p.m., in response to When do you know your readly for Horse ownership?, posted by KLH on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 2:53 p.m. Hi Karen, I'm not sure if your totally new to the horse world or have been around the barns for awhile. I would suggest you find a stable that would be willing to not only give riding lessons, but also horsemanship lessons. Hang out there alot, see what it's all about, different horses and living situations have different needs. You may want to check out several barns, there are as many opinions on horse care as there are people (as you've seen from this board *G*). It's like raising children, everyone has their way to do it. After hanging out, if you still aren't sure, you may want to consider "leasing" a horse. A lot of the time you can lease a horse for care costs only. In other words, you pay everything just like the horse is yours; vet, shoeing, feed, board. In return you have the use of the horse. I don't know if you are in a situation where you would have your horse at home or have to board it. But you may want to board for the first 6 months or so until your comfortable. Good luck with your decision......just remember....if you decide to do it, you have a wonderful resource of folks here on this board. NO question is ever a dumb question.

That is quite possibly the best question I have ever read on these bbs.... Posted by Mary1 on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 3:08 p.m., in response to When do you know your readly for Horse ownership?, posted by KLH on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 2:53 p.m. and I hope you ask it elsewhere! 1. If you are asking the question, I bet you are ready! Peopl have horses for many different reasons. But to me, horses are a living study of oneself! Whether you are competitive, timid, lazey, solitary, gregarious....there is a perfect horse for you out there! Unfortunately, my present instructor says, most people ruin their first two horses! EEEEkkkks! I hope and think I didn't because I was blessed with the most perfect first horse and being timid, let him teach me. Also, my trainer friend took me under her wing (figuring there was no hope and someone would have to take care of the body?) I was blessed! Babbling onward, you NEVER know everything there is to know about horses or yourself! But if you look at it as a potential learning experience and have a reasonable guide, you are ready. You may not get a perfect match right off, I've heard, but the perfect horse is out there. (Sort of like the perfect mate?)

Geesh! That's like asking how do you know when you're ready to have kids?? You never are! LOL msg Posted by Elle on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 3:17 p.m., in response to When do you know your readly for Horse ownership?, posted by KLH on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 2:53 p.m. For me, personally, I spent a lifetime around horses, reading about them, riding them, keeping my eyes and ears open, asking tons of questions. But when I got my horse (which I didn't know I was getting at the time), after thirty years of waiting,, I panicked. Here was the chance for me to try out all I had learned, and my mind went blank! LOL If you can afford it, have a decent home for one, have plenty of time then find a good vet, a good farrier and surround yourself with good, knowledgable horsefolk and hope for the best. Though even with good horse people to ask advice from, sometimes you will have to be the ultimate end all in decision making. On the other hand, a horse is a horse, and just from your concernment over your readiness, makes you more responsible than alot of horse owners out there who keep animals. Good luck.

When you can flush a hundred dollar bill down the toilet....msg Posted by Rhonda on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 3:22 p.m., in response to When do you know your readly for Horse ownership?, posted by KLH on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 2:53 p.m. and not cry, you are ready to own a horse. I'm sort of kidding, but financial readiness is definately a big factor here. It is very expensive and you have to be prepared for the unexpected vet bill. I would carefully itemize expenses associated with ownership and determine if your budget will allow you to own. There is nothing more heartbreaking than to have to sell your horse after you realize you can't afford him or even worse, forego any necessary vet or feeding expenses. Once you can work the money part out, it is an investment well worthwhile. Just remember, the initial purchase price is the cheapest part of the whole deal.

...and are happy to see it go (msg) Posted by Slydr on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 3:43 p.m., in response to When you can flush a hundred dollar bill down the toilet....msg, posted by Rhonda on Monday, 18 May 1998, at 3:22 p.m. The responsibilieis of horse owning are huge, and you are wise to ask about them. But to those of us who love these creatures, the responsibilites are pleasures. The time "demamnded" is freely given (and then more), the mony=ey required is happily domated (and then more), befcasue there is no priveledge greater then spending time with a horse you truly have formed a partnership with. Hang around some barns. If you forget about everything else...time, home, work, everything but the horses, then you have the correct addictive personality. Yes, it is slavery, and we are all in bondage, but it is such sweet bondage...here...have a set of handcuffs...

Posted by KEY2 in response to When do you know your readly for Horse ownership?, posted by KLH questions... Do you own any other animals? Dog/Cat/Bird/Gerble? How did you know you were ready to take on them? . Do you own a place where you could keep the horse in "your back yard" or would you be boarding it? Full board? or partial, you feed, clean, buy food/hay, tack, call the farrier & vet yourself... etc . If you keep it at your place, or only pay for partial board where you do 90% of the work yourself, then you must be prepaired to do the following.... (and probably more) . Feed twice a day (unless you have LOTS of pasture). Make sure it has plently of clean fresh water, daily. (even in the winter when it freezes daily!) Look at the horse daily for... lameness and cuts. Clean stalls, Groom the horse, frequentcy depends on who you talk to, daily every other day, 3x/week, weekly, it also depends on if the horse is stalled all day or has free roam to and from the pasture... "I" clean the stalls "when it needs it"! (mine have free roam). Excersize the horse, again how often? A horse that has free roam to the pasture needs less "owner forced" excersize, than one who stands all day and night in a stall. It's OK to have a "only ridden on the weekend" horse as long as during the week he has pasture to roam in. Personally "I" beleive that horses are healthier, and happier, (and safer) if the have free roam to and from the pasture. I was almost killed by a stalled horse once. OK, there are times you have to... but personally I'd rather not. . As for knowing when to call a vet, and when to call the farrier those are learned traites, even a new mother doesn't know all the things she should about raising a baby for the first child, but she learns. You will need to learn what "vetting" you can do, or will have to do in emergencies while you wait for the vet... You'll have to learn to give wormers, and maybe intramuscular (IM) shots. and more I am sure... . You have to understand that a horse CAN kill you! He is bigger than you, and you can NEVER win a battle of strenght against him... You must be able to win thru wits, and trust and understanding... (training) Both on YOUR part and the horses! . You must be willing to admit... I do not know what I am doing... and be able to ask for help, and adice... and learn to take all the above even when you didn't ask for it! :-) . Plan your vacations carefully, because you have to have a responcible person to come over every day and do your chores for you while you are away.. and no, nobody is going to feed your animals 2x a day... so you have to make sure they double feed on hay and NOT the grain... (yes.. he'll be mad at you for not getting grain twice a day if that is what he's used to...) That's why mine only get grain 1x/day and hay twice... . You must be willing to accept responcibily for what the horse does. And to be able to instruct others to -not- do something that may cause harm to them, you or the horse. Be aware of the ignorance of others, who "LOVE" horses... and the Innocence of children. . Lady... does your dog bite? - He CAN... he has teeth.... ANY horse can bite.... and can kick... can just accidently step on you too! . Now... it's 6:00am on Monday morning... it's 20degrees outside.. the water buckets are frozen solid... and you woke up with a fever of 103degrees... Your S.O. is not there, no kids to help... neighbor is off sunning in Florida.. what are you going to do... . Oh yea, Are you smart enough to know a inexperianced rider needs a WELL TRAINED horse... and do you really beleive a 3 or 4 year old can really be a WELL TRAINED "child safe" horse? Start off with a 15year old broke to death trail horse! . OK... so are you ready for your own horse? SURE YOU ARE! your smart enough to know that you have to be ready for the commitment! :-) Oh, and you have to smart enough to realize you can make mistakes, and are willing to fix them... ie... you bought the wrong horse... don't be ashamed to admit it and sell it! . $$ helps!! LOL :-)

Posted by MA in response to When do you know your readly for Horse ownership?, posted by KLH Can you ever really be ready? There is so much to owning a horse that to totally prepare for it would take a long time and a lot of money! If you have been around horses before you are ahead of the game. If not, as suggested, try hanging around stables, talk to people who own horses. Join a riding club- a lot of times someone will befriend you and let you ride one of their horses- if you are so much in love with them. I know a young girl who at 13 started preparing for a horse- she went out and bought everything she thought the horse would need. Blanket, grooming supplies, tack, she ordered all the books, bought bareback pads- ordered horse supply magazines. She went to riding camp for several summers, she worked for awhile with a lady who owns 7 horses...Now she is 17 and she still does not have a horse. She does do dressage, and jumping, she has been in lessons, and yes she has the money saved where she could buy 4 horses and pay cash. But she is still holding off because she lives in the middle of Atlanta, GA and she does not a horse until she has some wide open country to put it in. She also has worked with problem horses and done wonders with them. This girl is my niece and I talked to her the other day- the first in a long time, and she now says she is to busy for horses! It floored me- I figured she would have one or two by now. But she is waiting. If you have the time, the energy and the patience, as well as enough money to cover feed and emergency situations. A good place to put your horse, and goals in your head as to why you want one- then go for it. Just shop carefully, take someone who knows horses with you- and don't buy the first one you see. Unless you really want the challenge- stay away from the young ones and get an older and gentle horse. Good luck- it sounds to me like you are well on your way and have thought about this a lot!

Posted by laura in response to When do you know your readly for Horse ownership?, posted by KLH you are NEVER ready to own horse, but... own one anyway! When I got my mare Shaz, uh you may think I'm nuts - and you'd be right! But, I took riding lessons for a few months and started riding a really nice lesson horse. Decided I'd ask how much was her price tag. When I went to ask, I met someone who had just purchased her! Couple weeks later, the trainer called and said "come see this horse I found." To make a long, sweet story short (I've told enough long stories lately!), I HAD to buy Shaz the minute I saw her beautiful eyes. Wasn't ready. Didn't need to buy a horse, but every time I get a hug from my horses (Shaz and daughter), I'm glad I did. Ignore all the "good" advice. Jump with your heart, not your head.

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