Your First Horse

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One of my dreams since I was a little girl was to have my own horse. I still don’t own a horse, but I do love them. They are just so beautiful. My current favorite are Gypsy Vanner horses. I’ve been following Westmoreland Farm on Facebook for a couple years now and OMG their horses are amazing.

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So I got to thinking…if I really were serious about getting a horse…what would be required. Of course there would be adequate housing, feed, pasture, tack, etc… But what else would I need, so I did some research.

The very first question you should ask yourself is, Can I afford a horse. Horses are not a cheap pet. They will require a large commitment of time and money.

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Based upon some surveys, below is a breakdown of total annual expenditures to keep a horse (keeping in mind that these do not include such considerations as emergencies or the initial purchase). Other costs include training for you and your horse and transportation for your horse:

Feed	50%	Insurance	6%
Veterinary care	19%	Tack	5%
Farrier	10%	Insecticides	2%
Bedding	8%

If you can afford the cost the next question is, what do you want a horse for? Pleasure, riding, working, jumping, showing, etc… My reason would be strictly for pleasure and riding around the country side. This Guide by the University of Maine gives excellent information.

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Do you have the facilities necessary to care for a horse or will you be boarding it somewhere? You would need somewhere to shelter the horse, a pasture, and the proper zoning to keep a horse. You will also need to figure out what you are going to feed your horse and find a supplier. Research the correct type of food and what nutritional supplements your horse will need. You will additionally need to have the appropriate grooming tools on hand. I would recommend volunteering at your local animal shelter or a local horse rescue to learn what is involved in caring for a horse.

If you are boarding, you will want to research stables in your area. Get references and contact the references. Also, ask who they use for vet services for their own horses and contact them to see how they care for their own horses. You will also want to research veterinarians, farriers, trainers, etc… to make sure you have a good team on hand to help you care for your horse. Not to mention the cost of tack and gear, bridle, saddle, harness, blanket, etc…

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Once you have done all this research, you now need to decide, what kind of horse do you want? This would depend on what you want a horse for. There are literally hundreds of breeds of horses out there. This is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Look at many before making your decision. Again, I recommend working with your local animal shelter or horse rescue to determine what kind of horse will suit your needs. You should also take an experience horse owner with you when looking for your first horse. This article gives you some good tips on searching for your first horse.

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Research is always the key before you get your first pet, no matter what kind it is, but it is especially important with horses. They are beautiful animals and a joy to ride, but they do require a lot of care. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa does rescue horses and provides some good information on horse ownership. Yet again, I recommend you volunteer for a horse rescue to see what type of care is needed for owning a horse.

Be Well & Be Happy,

Pet~Pourri