What First Time Horse Owners Need To Know About Horses
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Owning a horse is exciting and something that first time owners may have been waiting a long time to do.
In order to make the experience a rewarding one, first time horse owners should take the time to really understand the horse they are buying to be sure that the horse fit the purpose for which it is being purchased.
You want a good match between horse and horse owner or the experience will be frustrating and perhaps an unhappy one.
When purchasing a horse for the first time there are many things besides a good match in purpose to look out for.
You need to look at the training the horse has received, the competitive record if the horse is being purchased to race, the breeding of the horse, you want to have disclosed any defects and have them inspected by a vet,
You also want to discover what the seller’s reason is for selling the horse as this may have a bearing on the quality of the horse.
Young horses and stallions are not suitable for first time owners.
A horse for a first time owner should be trained by a knowledgeable person for the task that the first time owner is purchasing the horse for.
A horse that is suitable for a first time horse owner would be a horse that is at least 6 years of age, is well trained and has a good disposition.
First time horse owners will also need to be sure that they are prepared to shelter, feed, groom and see to the medical and dental needs of the horse.
One necessity of a horse is for shelter. They will need not only an outdoor pasture and corral but also a stable with a stall. The stall size depends on the size of the horse.
8′ X 8′ stalls are fine for ponies and horses up to 12 hands
8′ X 10′ stalls will fit horses from 12 to 14 hands
10′ X 10′ stalls will be good for horses that are 14 to 16 hands
12′ X 10′ stalls will fit horses that are 16 to 17 hands
Horses that are over 17 hands will require a stall that measures 12′X 12′
Grooming tools that a first time horse owner will need to have on hand before the horse is purchased are:
A dandy brush, which is a stiff, bristled brush and used for thick-coated horses and ponies. It removes heavy dirt or is used to clean a long coat.
The bristles may irritate or tickle horses, so care must be used when this type of brush is used on a horse. You can use this brush to damp to lay the mane down.
Shedding blades or combs have a variety of styles and are strips of metal with blunt teeth and a handle on each end. It is used to remove dead hair. When horses shed their heavy winter coats the shedding blade comes in handy.
A body brush is a soft bristled brush with a handle that is used on the head and other boned regions of the horse’s body. They are used with metal currycombs.
Feeding a horse:
Grass or timothy hay is usually a good hay to feed a horse. If the horse is hard working, high energy or young you may do well to give it an additional flake or two of alfalfa.
Horses on average will eat 2 lbs of hay for every 100 lbs of body weight. Horses eat 3 times each day.
When you feed a horse 3 times a day it mimics grazing which is a natural digestive state for the horse and eliminates boredom for horses that are stalled most of the time.
Your feed store will have grains, sweet feeds, and other combination mixes to give to your horse on occasion or if your horse has additional nutritional needs. Your vet can give you advice on the particular nutritional needs of your horse.
A horse needs an unlimited supply of fresh, clean, cool drinking water at all times. Water a horse using buckets or an automatic waterer, or large trough for when the horse is turned out in the pasture.
Free choice minerals or salt blocks are essential for the health of your horse.
You should have these mineral blocks or salt blocks somewhere in the stalls, or in a turnout area where they cannot be rained on.
Previous Articles By This Author
- Buying Your First Horse
- Equipment for Horses
- Basics of Horse Care
- Grooming your Horse
- The History of Horses
