-Part 3- Trying Out The Horse June 25, 2008

When talking to the owners ask them these questions or similar ones, it helps you understand more about the horse and owner.

Why are you selling the horse?, What activities/competitions have you done with the horse?, Is the horse graded at Pony Club and if so, what level?, What is the worst thing the horse has ever done?, How long have you had the horse?, How old is the person who usually rides the horse?, How often does this horse need to be worked each week?

When you are going to see the horse doing these things will help alot and remember to ask lots of questions.

-Ask the owner or someone who is there for the owner to ride the horse first. If there are any serious problems with the horse you don’t want to be the one bucked off first. Also you can see what the horse is used to doing, and how far along he is in his education.
-Ride the horse your self and try to cover most things you want to be doing with him if you end up buying him.
-If you haven’t brought a more knowledgeable person along with you, ask if you can arrange another time you can bring them.
-Make sure you catch, groom and saddle the horse yourself. If you will be the one doing it after you buy him, then it is important to try it before. A horse who doesn’t want to be caught will be an absolute nightmare to deal with!
-Try to ride the horse at least 3 times before you buy him. They won’t usually mind if you come out a few times to ride him, then they know what type of person the horse is going to.
-You can ask to take the horse on trial, but some people wont do this because they don’t have control over what happens with the horse over that period of time.
Remember, most people who are selling a horse are quite genuine, but there are some who are not.

Check back tomorrow for Part 4 the last of the series!!!

-Part 2- Budgeting June 24, 2008

Working out a budget is a very good idea not only is it easier to keep track of what you have spent, in the long run it can save you money. There are endless costs that just keep coming in, you need to be prepared to pay for things like vet bills and farrier fees. This is a list of most of the costs.

-Feed You will probably need to feed your horse during winter, but depending on were you live the cost of feed may vary. Feed can cost anywhere from $10-$70 per week.
-Farrier If your horse needs shoeing it will cost you at least $80 so have $80 to $100 available, but if you are leaving your horse barefoot it will cost you about $25-$40 every 6-8 weeks.
-Worming Horses need to be treated for worms every 6-8 weeks and that will cost about $10 – $20 each time.
-Tack After a while it gets boring riding bareback all the time, so you will need a saddle and a bridle, you will also need a halter, lead rope, and a grooming kit. Second hand gear is also available to help cut down costs.
-Rugs Most horses will need at least one rug to keep them warm during thoses cold winter months, but it really depends on their breed. I would probably say from $100 to $300 for a good quality cover that will last.
-Transportation If you need to take your horse to shows, lessons or pony club you will need some type of transportation to get there, you can hire a horse float for $40 to $100 for the day, or you can buy a good quality horse float for around $4000.
-The actual horse!!! An old saying is “bad horses cost the same to keep as good horses,” this is really true. But some times bad horses can cost a lot more, as you might have to fork out for retraining, but in the worst case you might have to sell it for a lot less than the original price you brought it for. In the long run it wil be cheaper to spend the extra money and get a well trained, and educated horse. People can often pick up a bargain, but you get what you pay for!

This long list of cost could stretch quite a lot further depending on what you will be doing so these are just the basic costs. So as you can see horse riding is a very expensive hobby!

Check back tomorrow for Part 3 of the series!!!

-Part 1- Looking for a Horse of your Riding Ability June 18, 2008

Buying a horse is a very hard decision. They aren’t just “things” you ride, they are living creatures too, so making sure they’re looked after properly is very important. Before you look at buying your first horse you need to make sure that you are capable of looking after one yourself. If you don’t think you are able to take on all the responsibilities that come with a horse, then going to a riding school, or a pony club will help you learn more about what is involved in owning a horse. However, if you think you are capable of looking after and owning a horse you will need to honestly assess you riding ability.

If you’re a beginner and you have only ridden on quiet, well behaved horses you will need to look for the older “been there, done that” type of horse and not a young green horse who will need lots of hard work and training. But on the other hand, if you are more experienced and have been riding for a long time, you might prefer to look for a younger horse that you can train to create a wonderful friend.

The main thing to remember is not to choose a horse that will be too much for you to handle because horses have a very good memory, so if they get away with bad behavior once they can become absolute rascals! It is so much better to never allow that problem to arise by choosing a horse which suits your ability level.

Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of the series!!!