| Horse ownership is the ultimate dream for many riders | | | | experience. |
| and horse enthusiasts. Some wait years for that | | | | Tip #2: Understand that owning a horse is costly. The |
| dream to come true and when it finally does, it really is | | | | initial purchase price of a horse is the easy part. You |
| fantastic and rewarding but at the same time, a | | | | need to take into careful consideration, the ongoing |
| demanding experience. | | | | costs such as livery fees, veterinary fees, feed costs, |
| If you are lucky enough to find yourself in the position | | | | stable supplies, worming, insurance, farrier fees etc. |
| of looking to buy your very own first horse then you | | | | These costs pop-up throughout the year and most are |
| need to make sure that you are fully prepared for the | | | | continuous, for example weekly/monthly livery fees, |
| responsibility that goes with it. It is no use trying to kid | | | | and you need to budget for everything. |
| yourself that the first horse you see is going to perfect | | | | Tip # 3: Understanding that horse ownership requires a |
| for you. | | | | lot of your time. You need to remember that your new |
| As I found out the hard way two years ago rushing | | | | friend is going to be depending on you! That means |
| into horse ownership will more than likely end with a | | | | you are going to have to make "enough" time available |
| hefty price tag in both your time and your money! The | | | | every day to visit, muck out, groom, check for any |
| wrong decision I made when buying my first horse, | | | | injuries, feed, ride and exercise him mornings and |
| Auricula cost me a great deal of stress, heartache, | | | | evenings. This is going to be slightly easier if you are |
| time and thousands of "extra" ££'s, all | | | | keeping him at home. You can have a yard take on |
| because I took bad advice and did not take my time | | | | partial or full responsibility for caring for him but be |
| or do my homework properly. | | | | aware that this can become quite costly. |
| The fact is, you're more likely to get the wrong horse | | | | Tip #4: Never buy the first horse you see. It is |
| than the right one, so what can you do to make sure | | | | understandably difficult to walk away from the first |
| the horse you buy is really the perfect companion for | | | | horse that you go view because he seems to be so |
| you? There are a few things you can do, but first it is | | | | perfect, but it is imperative that you view many horses |
| more important to understand the things you should | | | | as you can in order to get an idea of market prices, |
| not do. | | | | gain more confidence in dealing with sellers and have a |
| Tip #1: Make sure that you are 110% certain that horse | | | | range of potential horses from which to choose a |
| ownership is for you. You need to ask yourself | | | | better-suited companion for you. This way you will be |
| whether or not you are ready to buy your first horse | | | | able to walk away from or question sellers overpricing |
| and you need to be honest. This means that you have | | | | their horse. |
| exhausted the other options available to you such as | | | | Tip #5: Always, always shop with an experienced |
| horse sharing and loaning a horse. These two options | | | | equine buddy. More preferably a buddy who not only |
| are more like a stepping stone of experience and | | | | has equine experience but someone who has also |
| getting a taste of what it really is like to own a horse | | | | helped others find their ideal first horse. A second |
| of your own. The advantage of horse sharing and | | | | opinion is always helpful. |
| horse loaning is that you can share the costs and take | | | | You need to become like a sponge and gain as much |
| on the responsibility of horse care but if you find that | | | | valuable horse buying advice as possible to help you |
| you don't have the time or you would prefer to just | | | | but make sure that the advice is right! Remember, |
| continue riding lessons, it is relatively easy to terminate | | | | your aim is to not find "The Perfect Horse" but to find |
| the commitment. The disadvantage is that the horse | | | | the horse that is "Right for you!" It is both exciting and |
| will always belong to someone else, but this is why | | | | challenging, but armed with the right information you will |
| you should look at it as a stepping-stone of | | | | have a better chance at succeeding. |