| OK, you think you may have found the right horse. | | | | how to deal with them. |
| You went through all the check points in part one, you | | | | Before making that final commitment, it is to your |
| have made arrangements at the nearest horse | | | | advantage to ride the horse for more than just a |
| stables that meet the requirements that were | | | | minute or two. Make sure that you walk, trot and |
| discussed in part two, or you have made | | | | canter preferably more than once. Some horses seem |
| arrangements for a facility at home providing either a | | | | to be fine at first but as time passes with you on their |
| stall or a lean-to (a two or three sided building with a | | | | backs, they sometimes can change into a "horse of a |
| high roof and preferably built in hay racks). Remember, | | | | different color". It is not unusual, and actually |
| all horses need to have shelter from the elements. | | | | recommended, that you come back a second time to |
| Hopefully whichever place you will be keeping your | | | | ride the horse again. That way you have something to |
| horse, there will be a considerable amount of room not | | | | compare their behavior to. Meaning if the horses' |
| only for your horse to graze, but where he or she can | | | | behavior was very much the same the second time |
| run and play and have some fun; preferably with other | | | | you rode him or her without much variance, then he or |
| horses. But, before you pass over your hard earned | | | | she probably is the real thing. Remember that this |
| dollars, I want to give you just a few more things to | | | | animal may possibly be with you for the rest of their |
| consider, hence - Part Three. | | | | life. You want a horse that you will really enjoy and |
| What kind of mannerisms did the horse display when | | | | who really enjoys you. As I said before horses are |
| having the saddle and bridle put on them? Were they | | | | social animals, but it is important to understand that |
| putting there ears back, or acting like they wanted to | | | | they are emotional ones too. |
| step on the person trying to tack them up? Were they | | | | Unfortunately, there will always be horses that exhibit |
| moving back and forth, acting nervous or even starting | | | | bad behavior, and some, very bad behavior. My |
| to break out in a sweat? Were they difficult when the | | | | experience tells me that a lot of bad behavior is usually |
| bridle was being put on them, or were they interacting, | | | | the result of human error. That is why I am here trying |
| being friendly, wanting attention and not seeming to | | | | to talk to you, and hopefully in the future, you will be |
| care that they were about to be ridden? When you | | | | talking to me. It is so easy to buy a horse, bring that |
| started to mount the horse, did they stand there quietly | | | | animal home and find that you have an animal that is |
| and wait for their first command, or did they want to | | | | out of control, and you don't know what to do about it. |
| walk off quickly? | | | | Horses have a tendency to try to take advantage of |
| Did they do what you asked or was it a struggle to | | | | beginners. Trust me, they know! All they have to do is |
| get them to go forward or turn around? Is the horse | | | | take one look at you, the way you approach them and |
| trying to take control and go wherever they want to | | | | ride them. Your best defense is knowledge. I am not |
| go, or are you on an animal that really wants to please | | | | trying to scare you, I am trying to educate and help |
| you? If you are saying yes to these negative inquiries, | | | | you to understand that the more knowledge you have |
| then this may not be a horse for a beginner. The | | | | about horses, the more success you will have with |
| quieter and more agreeable a horse behaves, the | | | | them. Please don't be afraid to enter into the wonderful |
| better a prospect that animal will be for a first time | | | | world of horses. It is a fun place to be and learning |
| horse owner. He or she will enrich your life, and warm | | | | about horses is the best part as it is never ending. |
| your heart with pleasant experiences that come with | | | | Most of the riding horses out there are sound, quiet |
| owning a horse. As your experiences grow, you then | | | | animals. They have a lot to offer an owner who |
| can step up to meet the challenges of other horses. | | | | wants to know, love, and care for them, as they will |
| Horse behavior can sometimes be compared to that | | | | gladly return the favor. |
| of a child. So, if you have children you will understand | | | | |