Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
In about a year I will be getting my daughter her first horse. It will be a back yard horse. I have 3 1/2 mostly wooded acres in a nonrestricted area. I have purchased several books with alot of helpful info and I have been researching on the web as well. I would really appreciate any advice or info from people that already own and have their own experiences with horses. I think that message board knowledge is really helpful.

Thanks so much

Hi, welcome to HorseHobbyist!

Congrats on getting your first horse. What kind of riding experience do you and your daughter have? I think that is key to how a first horse experience will work out. When I moved to the country in 1989 I wanted to get a horse right away, but realized that the best thing to do was to take riding lessons and get a horse later, when I was more adept. The horse you want when you're just learning to ride is not the horse you want when you've figured things out.

On the other hand, for all I know you and your daughter can ride like the wind.
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PHChristy
Director of Community Services
PetHobbyist.com

Thanks for the reply. My daughter took riding lessons for about a year and learned all the basics about grooming, feeding, watering and preparing it for a ride, saddles and reins and such. She took these lessons from a friend of ours that has been in the horse business forever. I used to ride when I was younger and do trail riding on occasion

Good ... you wouldn't believe how many people get a horse and THEN learn how to ride and care for it. I was trying tactfully find out without making you feel judged. <G>

So, which books are you working with? I have "Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage," which is so-so, and "Backyard Horsekeeping." I also liked, despite hating the title, Audrey Pavia's "Horses for Dummies."

I have the last two you mentioned and another one that talks more about what type of horse is best for you. I will look out for the first one you mentioned

The first thing you need to do is to make sure your fence is horse proof - horses have a bad habit of trying to "get out" of enclosures - be it a small paddock or a hundred acres or more. "THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE"

Secondly - when you are ready to purchase your horse - you need to take a horse-wise person along with you.

Thirdly - you need to have this horse vet-checked and it should be made clear to the owner that if the vet finds a major problem that you will return the horse for a full refund of any monies you may have paid out
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PHritters

Reading about the pet that you are preparing yourself to purchase is always a wise move. After reading through the previous replies to your post, I must concur on several points.

Speaking from experience ( I currently own 3), horse-proofing is always wise. For the most part, barbed wire and wooden posts will do just fine with most horses for their enclosures. Like any animal or person, horses have their own personalities and they well definetly aquaint you with them.

Shelter: It doesn't need to be grand. A simply lean to will suffice as long as the horse has a place where it can get out of direct weather...though my Shetland would disagree. This will prevent Rain rot from occuring as well....here's a great site with more horse care info...www.equusite.com

Feed: Make sure that it is in a sheltered area and always in the same spot so the horse knows where its next meal will be. You should have a salt block (purchased at any feed store) stationary in the padlock as well. Grain is not a stable source of food and should be considered more or less treat for the horse along with alfalfa.

As for the *very* first horse....considering your child's experince with horses to date and her age, I would recommend a Shetland pony. They have pretty mild temperments, they make good friends and they aren't much taller then about a thirteen year old. Might I also suggest getting an older horse? Now when I say older, I mean somewhere in the ballpark of six to ten years old. Because like people, they older they are, the more medical problems they have.

Also, when you do go shopping for that first horse, don't buy the first one that you see. Shop around, find one that not only suits your personality, but your child's as well.

The most important aspect of shopping for *any* horse however, is to know what a healthy, well-taken care of horse should look like. Take someone who has horse-sense with you. It isn't a bad idea as well as to consult a vet prior to purchasing the animal. And set a maxium amount that you are willing to pay for the horse itself.

Hope that helps, if you have further questions I'm on here nearly daily.

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