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So - seeing as we all know that people new to horses 'don't know what they don't know' and often green horse people are an impending disaster...

From the other end of the scale, what should people know BEFORE they get a horse? (in your opininon?)
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ClaireB · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Posts: 32 Location: perth

Never put a green rider on a green horse. Very Happy

candi · Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 81

hahahha true that ClaireB, mind you my sister who just used to one of those people who jumped on and rode, rode my 5 year old arab x lippy and went a treat. Smooch kept walking towards me looking as if "mum what do i do im confussed". But they did very well together.

A family i know put their daughter in lessons and so she now wants a horse so what they have done is in her school holidays is organised work experience at the stables i agist. So that she knows all of what is involved in looking after a horse. I think thats a great idea. Perhaps also if a person is willing to learn is to perhaps be a show groom for some people as i tend to learn best asking other people questions.

Muso · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 630

I think more people need to understand the ethics behind horse ownership and care.

Too many people see horses as a 'pet' to be 'acquired' (often for relatively small amounts of money). They see an animal that they can have fun on first, with the horse's emotional and physical needs coming a dismal second (sometimes not at all). They're not a piece of sporting equipment, a status symbol or a quick route to a few ribbons. They're a time consuming, expensive animal which encompasses an entire lifestyle no matter the level of involvment. They're a highly sensitive, dependant animal needing company, stimulation and training in addition to all it's basic needs (feeding, teeth, worming ect).

The actual commitment of horse ownership is rarely covered prior to the purchase - heck I know it wasn't for my first horse, that's for sure. Commitment to the horse, commitment to the finances, to time, commitment to the self (on-going education) ect...
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Tweedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 95

Well I only I bought my first horse only a couple of years ago, so prior to that this is what I done
-my daughter had lesson for about 5 yrs.
-for 2yrs my daughter helped out every weekend an old friend of mine who breeds race horses and she learned how to handle young ones,injured horses etc etc, basicly lots of ground work because apart from an old shetland none of the horses she could ride, she just helped looking after them.
-As a parent, I learned about horses and how to be comfortable handling them.
-when I did buy my first pony, I got lots of advice and bought an older pony who was well schooled, it cost me a reasonable amount of money but it was money well spent and I got back my money when I sold her.

The most important advice I would tell someone who was thinking about buying a horse, think how long a horse lives for and if your like me and don't own a property think about if and when you sell a horse on, cause it is heart breaking and I was so lucky because my pony was a well estabilised breed and had a great temperament and well schooled I basicaly was flooded with people wanted to buy her and I could afford to be picky with potential new owners and make them jump through some hoops to make sure they were the right new owners for my pony. But if you buy a horse that is cheap or rescue it may not be so easy to rehome and this may make trying to find the right home a little more difficult.

Secondly, the financial commitment and time to care for a pony, when I bought my pony it took over my life ( for the better ) working extra to make sure I had money to take care of her and taking my daughter out to ride, have lessons, clean stables. Horses changed my whole life, need to have a serious think about it before buying a horse.
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annanxv250 · Second Chance Mod Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 669

Before purchasing your new equine, always get a complete vet check done first. Vets bills are costly, you don't want to buy a new equine only to find out that they have a health condition that will cost quite a lot to maintain or repair. Unlike humans, equine aren't covered by Medicare.