Horse Accomodations

Horses are large, needy animals that require food, shelter, veterinary care, training and exercise. Obviously, you can’t purchase a horse and then house it in the back yard to graze on the lawn . Unless you own an acreage or farm, you’ll have to think about where you will keep your horse and whether you can afford it . Most urban areas have plenty of riding stables and boarding facilities within a short drive , so there are lots of choices when it comes to where to keep your horse . Some boarding facilities are “no-frills”, where your horse is kept in a pasture with other horses, and provided food and shelter in the way of a communal lean-to or other building where your horse can get out of the sun or wind. This type of arrangement is usually cheaper, and can be quite acceptible.

Otherhorse centers offer your horse a taste of the “good life” with a private box stall, paddock,grooming, regular vet visits and more. Many horse accomodations also have an indoor arena and offer group and private riding lessons.. This is all very nice, but this type of boarding facility can hit the pocketbook – hard!. The monthly tab can start at over a thousand dollars or more, depending on where you live.

Can you afford to have a horse? You’ll have to give serious consideration to that question . If the answer is yes, your next step is to decide on a horse, taking type and breed of horse into the equation. If you’re just starting out in the world of horses, you’re going to want a horse that is less exciting and more dependable and predictable. There’s nothing that turns new riders off more than being thrown 20 feet into the air and landing on their head! (I’m speaking from experience, here!)

Selecting A Horse

Some breeds of horse are less “spirited” than others, but the most important factor in choosinga horse is it’s history. Just like us, horses can acquire bad habits, and can be molded by badexperiences in their past. It’s important to choose a horsethat has been well-trained, and has not been abused by either owners or various inexperienced riders. There are plenty of irksome habits horses can develop. These include, but are not limited to:

• Scurrying off when you are late for riding lessons. You can spend literally hours trying to catch a horse. Horses can be just plain ornery when it comes to being caught. Don’t let the cute long face and big brown eyes fool you. Be sure to get a horse that either likes to be caught, likes food more than freedom, or hasn’t figured out that it’s a matter of choice for it.
• Nipping your butt when you try to get on . Many a large butt bruise has resulted from this devious horse trick.
• Jumping to the side when you try to mount it. Some horses love to see you fall on your butt, repeatedly, and it can be difficult to stop this behavior.
• Suddenly halting to graze as you ride. This makes for a very inconsistent riding experience, and can result in injury if you aren’t ready for it.
• Walking as slowly as possible as you ride away from the stable or pasture (think of trying to pull teeth), then suddenly turning into a race horse on the way back, despite your attempts to slow down.
• Kicking the horse behind it while riding amongst others.

A horse with one or more of these tendencies can make riding less than fun, and horse ownership a chore. It’s best to avoid horses that exhibit this alarming behavior and choose a sweet, agreeable nag for your horse.

Choosing How To Ride

If you’re a new horse owner and haven’t done a lot of horse riding, you’re probably going to want to take riding lessons . There are various options for lessons, ranging – you guessed it – from reasonably to very expensive. Many boarding facilities offer group lessons, where you and your horse join others for lessons. More intensive, one-on-one lessons are also usually available, and you can generally find riding instructors that will come to you – for an extra fee, of course.

Did you know there are different styles of riding? If you are John Wayne or Clint Eastwood fan (think of the old Western movies), then “Western Pleasure” riding is probably what you would enjoy. Western riding is pleasurable and laid back, but still requires good horsemanship and a good seat on your horse. Sports involving Western style riding include barrel racing, trail riding, roping and much more.

On the opposite side of the fence is what is known as English riding. English riding is a very controlled, exacting style of riding – almost an art. Mastering English riding, dressage, and jumping can be a life-long pursuit – as enjoyable as it is addictive. You’ll see English style riders at horse jumping events.

It’s a good idea to give both styles a whirl to see which you prefer, but once you decide, it’s best to stick to your choice, since the different riding styles develop an entirely different set of skills, balance and “seat” on your horse. There are plenty of good books and online resources dedicated to both styles of riding. I recommend reading up, visiting some local riding stables and talking to riders before you make a decision.

Horse Equipment

Did you know that horses need plenty of equipment? At the very least, your horse will need a halter and lead, hoof pick and set of grooming brushes – and that doesn’t include the horse tack. For riding your horse, you will need a bridle and bit, saddle blanket and saddle. If you want to get fancy, you may want to buy a horse blanket (like a house coat for your horse), tack box, saddle care kit and more. (Remember, I told you it was going to be expensive!) Graciously, the internet offers free horse classified ads where you you’ll find good quality used horse tack for reasonable prices.

And that’s just for the horse! To ride your horse, you are going to need a good, comfortable pair of riding boots, a riding helmet and riding gloves. Dressage or English riders usually wear “breeches”, special pants designed to help you move with your horse and to prevent chapping of your legs and thighs as you ride.

So, as I mentioned above, there is much to consider beforeinvesting in a horse. I highly recommend that you “try before you buy”. Find a local riding stable that offers horses for you to ride, along with lessons, and make sure that you really are ready to accept the responsibilities that go along with being a horse owner. If the answer is yes, the returns are great .

Debbie Dallison Moore is the webmaster for “Horse and Pony Central”, a web site dedicated to everything horsey.
She is an avid animal lover, and has owned a horse since a very young age.

If the horse is passive and indifferent, they might be sick or drugged. Good horses can show overall good condition and can easily walk with no signs of limping. With the noisy environment of an auction, a healthy horse should be able to act alert plus a little nervous.

It’s also wise to give thought to the way the owners treat the horse when they unload them. If they are gentle and depressing about selling their horse, then you can certainly deduce that this horse is taken proper care of. But if they treat the horse roughly and find no problems in whipping and hurting it, then you can assume that it is often abused or neglected before.

Observe how they are stabled. Carefully watch the way the horses conduct themselves and eliminate individuals with abnormal behavior. Verify them for virtually any scars, blemishes along with other signs of injury or abuse. By this time, you’ve already think of a short list of likely horses you would consider to get. Talk with the owners and ask them to inform you of the horse you want. Do a research about the horse’s history, problems, health, bad habits or behaviors. Learn how they have been used and kept.

Once you’ve your final short list, make a price limit for each of the horses you’ve considered. Auctions will get you caught up, so you should be ready to stay in your set budget. Before you bid for a horse, make sure that you are already prepared to consider it home. In the case that you still aren’t, you possibly can ask the auction staff if they have other options in your case. At this point, you are prepared to bid for the horse.

Once you feel comfortable enough to select your own horse, don’t forget to take into account the level  at which you ride along with the experience you might have looking after horses. An individual recommendation is definitely a great way to find a horse that suits your needs, however, you should still make sure that you see the horse in person before you sign any agreements.

In the event that you are curious about finding out a lot more concerning horses for sale you will need to take a look at horses for sale.  This site offers all the details you might possibly need.

One way of discovering horses for sale is by visiting competitions. If you spot a horse that you want, make sure you address the proprietor to determine if he would be willing to sell the horse. Locating a horse for sale can be carried out using the classifieds, however, when doing it in this way, you have to find out everything you can about the horse for sale. A new way of discovering horses for sale is through equestrian websites that enable people to buy and sell horses on the web.

Locating horses for sale couldn’t possibly be any simplier and easier if you go to www.thehorseexchange.com where you will find a multitude of horses for sale in addition to a lot of additional relevant information and facts.

Make sure you are absolutely clear on what you are looking for, as well as requiring from a mount before buying, this will help to make the procedure a whole lot easier and also you are more prone to find a horse most suitable for your preferences. Not all the horses that you can get will be ideal for everything, that may possibly be due to the actual instruction they’ve experienced or even due to their physical characteristics. Whenever you locate a horse you like, make sure you visit it as well as ride it on numerous occassions because this should help you determine its actual character and the training it’s experienced. You might like to request a trainer to go with you when you visit the horse to provide you with a proffesional viewpoint, it will be better still if he could also take the horse for a ride just to be certain.

For one of the most popular horses and ponies for sale websites in the UK and USA that list thousands of Horses for Sale as well as Horse and Ponies for Loan check out Horses Wanted.

If your horse sales adverts don’t send the right image you’re not going to get the results you want.

A good sales advertisement is one that can convince a potential buyer to come take that first look at your horse. Be sure to include a basic description of your horse, including their age, height, location, breed and chronic health problems that might influence their performance. Thoroughbreds are also defined by their pedigree, particularly their dam and sire. How well their dam and sire performed on the oval or in the ring is a strong indicator of how effective your horse will be as well.

If you are looking for one of the most popular top equestrian websites for the Sale and Loan of Horses and Ponies then check out Horses for Sale.

It’s good to mention their training and performance history. Is your horse a professional, or are you looking to sell a comfortable hack that would make a great riding horse for a beginning rider? Their training is going to heavily influence your buyers’ ability to recognize that your horse is the right choice for their needs.

How is their disposition? Dedicated riders know that no two horses’ personalities are exactly the same. Some horses demand an experienced rider, while others are perfect for beginners. Their disposition (including their ability to travel and interact with other horses) is going to be a considering factor in their appeal on the sales market.

The key to successful horse sales is to condense their disposition, history and talent, price and location into a small, single advert. When you’ve done that you can be confident that you’re in the perfect position to attract the kind of buyer your horse deserves.

For one of the most popular horses and ponies for sale websites in the UK and USA that list thousands of Horses for Sale as well as Horse and Ponies for Loan check out Horses for Loan.

If your horse sales adverts don’t get the message across you’re not going to get the results you want.

Effective horse sales ads are those that are able to lure a rider into coming out and taking a look at your horse in its natural environment. Be sure to include a basic description of your horse, including their demographics. Thoroughbreds should also come with their pedigree, particularly their dam and sire. After all, the performance of their dam and sire is a strong indicator of how they themselves will perform.

Information on training and performance should be included as well. Is your horse a competitor, or are you looking to sell a comfortable hack that would make a great riding horse for a beginning rider? Experience and training are going to be vital in establishing to your rider that your horse will be able to meet their needs.

Is their personality sweet and cooperative or stubborn and willful? As much as some sellers would like you to believe that all horses are cut from the same cloth, if you’re selling a beloved member of the family you know better. A tempermental mount demands an experienced rider, while a gentle gelding may be the perfect choice for a young rider. Their disposition (including their ability to travel and interact with other horses) is going to be a considering factor in their appeal on the sales market.

The key to successful horse sales is to thoroughly present their disposition, history and talent, price and location into a small, single advert. That’s the only way you’re going to be able to catch the eye of the type of buyer your horse deserves.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and it has given you an insight into the world of “how and where” to buy horses for sale and horses and ponies for loan. For a huge selection visit one of the top equestrian sites online today please visit: Horseboxes for Sale.

You have been

Before you buy a horse, you will need to find a place to keep it. In addition, you should be aware of how much money you will need to spend to keep your horse. Budget very carefully before you fall madly in love and buy a horse you cannot afford to keep.

Having said that, most horseback riders are willing to give up a lot of life’s little luxuries to be able to keep our horses and we never regret a single one of them. Most horses need to be shoed every 6 weeks (even unshod horses need to see the vet every 2 months), they need to receive vaccinations and they need to be fed.

You will need to spend a substantial amount on bedding, grooming supplies and equipment as well as tack. However, the most important thing you will need to do is to be sure you will recognise a good horse when you see one (and a bad one too!).

Green Horse, Green Rider  Depending on your own experience, there are lots of horses that you shouldn’t buy out there. Some have bad habits like biting, kicking or cribbing (chewing on the edge of a stall door). Others are not well trained yet. Although they may know some of the basics, they are still very green, meaning they may be willing to wear a saddle, but do not know all of the signals that a thoroughly trained horse knows. A green horse and a green rider are the worst possible combination.

Further, some horses may be unsound or unhealthy. A serious problem with hooves or legs can render a horse worthless for riders. Owning a horse that can only handle a slow walk around the ring with a child on its back when you were hoping for an animal that could compete in shows is heartbreaking for a new horse owner.

Check his background, not just his pedigree Now that you are aware all of the things that could be wrong with a horse, how do you find the perfect horse for you? You should be careful about buying horses at an auction or through the newspaper. A better idea is to ask around at horse shows, competitions or other events. Serious competitors often move up to more challenging or flashier horses as they gain experience. Their old, dependable beginner horses are perfect for people who want a first horse.

Should you find a horse that you are interested in, ask around before you hand over your cash, especially if the horse has competed in horse shows and competitions. Other horse owners will have heard if that horse has a nasty disposition or always balks at the flagpoles. They may even know about health problems the horse had experienced.

Full Vetting Once you have investigated the horse’s background, call in your veterinarian. Your vet will test your prospective horse’s eyesight, hearing, heart and teeth. If you aren’t sure how old the horse is, the vet can even estimate the animal’s age by inspecting his teeth. Most importantly, however, your vet will take a look at the horse’s legs and feet. He will be looking for swollen hocks, leg splints or thrush, which is a dangerous hoof infection that often is caused when a horse is left standing in dirty, wet bedding for long periods of time.

Finally, it is time to see if the horse is YOUR dream horse. Tack him up yourself to be sure he doesn’t have any unsavoury habits, like refusing to take the bit or kicking and biting. Mount the horse and put him through his paces. Be on the lookout for flaws such as the inability to change leads or the refusal to back up on command.

Some of these behaviours can be corrected with the help of a good trainer, but you will want your first horse to be well trained and well behaved. In fact, if possible take your instructor with you to view the horse. And remember, keeping a horse can cost anything from $4000-10 000 a year!

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About the Author: Discover the exclusive equestrian magazine I Want A Horse, based on an easy-to-understand-and-implement strategy enabling techno phobic horse people to earn enough money online to buy the dream horse/equestrian boots/saddle/trailer they always wanted at I want a Horse Equestrian Magazine