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I always wanted a horse when I was young, but, living where I
did, had nowhere to keep one that I could get to easily. I
remember as a teenager, going to the Mt Gravatt horse paddocks
(in the days when this now busy, populated suburb of Brisbane
was unoccupied and had large paddocks where people could keep
their horses). We used to catch any unsuspecting horse, throw a
rope around its nose and ride it bareback for as long as we
could stay on! What great fun!! However it remains a problem
today that you can't keep a horse in a suburban back yard unless
maybe it's the size of the one in the graphic!
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QUICK
FACTS: |
Life Span -
Up to 30 years or more
Care - High maintenance
Food
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Good quality grass, quality hay, vitamin supplements, clean water
Housing -
Stable, coat for colder weather
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GENERAL
INFO:
 Horses
can make a delightful companions and are great fun to ride. Many
people have a strong affection for all horses, and, especially
young people, would like to own and ride their own horse.
However, I can't stress too strongly that you should be prepared
to accept the many responsibilities of horse ownership before
deciding upon the purchase of a horse.
Horses are also very expensive
and once you've gotten over the expense of the cost of the
horse, there is the saddle, bridle, blankets, grooming
brush, feed tin and water container. Then there is the cost of
agistment (having your horse kept in someone's paddock) which
isn't cheap. There will also be costs for shoeing,
veterinary attention for your horse's teeth, worm control,
coughs and colds, and for vaccinations against diseases such as
strangles and tetanus. Young people should join a Pony Club
where they can meet fellow horse owners and receive expert
riding lessons.
What type of horse you buy will
depend on many factors - how good a rider you are, where it will
be kept and what it will be used for - e.g. showing, jumping
etc. Always buy your horse from a reputable dealer.
Don't purchase a horse from anyone who can't provide a
satisfactory history of the animal. Tell the seller what you
wish to use the horse for. It is important that you and your
horse are well-matched so great care should be taken in its
selection. Find out all about it: background, age, vices (e.g.
buck, kick, bite, and bolt) and health history. If this is your
first horse make sure it has a quiet temperament. Examine the
horse and have an experienced friend ride it for you and ride it
yourself. Have your own veterinary surgeon check the horse for
fitness and suitability prior to purchase. Maybe the person
selling the horse will let you have a 1 week trial with the
horse where you can ride it daily to see how you get along.
Choosing where to keep your horse is also important. If you
live on acreage and can house the horse yourself that is of
course the best solution. Other places include boarding stables
and agistment paddocks. The
paddock should be a minimum of 1 acre, should have some natural
shelter, good grass cover and adequate drainage.
The paddock should be:
- properly fenced (not barbed wire) and free from all
rubbish and debris, especially old wire and iron.
- close enough to home to
permit daily visits .
- kept free of droppings to discourage flies and
aid worm control
- suitable for catching and working the horse
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CARING FOR YOUR
HORSE: |
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 Morning feed - the horse may
need to be brought in if it has been in the field
overnight.
- Muck out stable - if possible, the horse should
be tied up outside to decrease the risk of airway
disease caused by dust and spores in the bedding. It
is polite and often a necessity to keep the area
around your stable neat and tidy so sweep up here
too.
- Clean and refill water buckets .
- Put hay-net if the pony is to be kept stabled
during the day.
- Pick out feet and groom thoroughly
before tacking up the horse for exercise.
- Exercise the horse - daily exercise
at least once a day is essential for most horses.
- If the horse is sweaty following
exercise, ensure that the horse is rubbed down and dried
thoroughly before putting back in the stable or turning
out - a sweat rug can be useful in this situation.
- Return in the evening and feed
the horse, skip out the stable (brief mucking out to
remove droppings and wet areas of bedding) and ensure
there is plenty of water and hay available if the horse
is to stay in overnight.
- Repeat exercise if possible -
alternatively, the main exercise of the day can be
performed in the evening if that fits in with your
schedule better.
As you can see, being a horse owner is a lot of work
and these steps must be followed to keep your horse
happy and healthy. Horses like company and long periods
without seeing its owner is distressing for the horse as
well as dangerous to its health. Don't think you can
just put a horse in a paddock where it can eat grass and
visit on the weekends.
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PRO & CONS
-
 Horses are very high maintenance requiring daily
care, feeding, grooming and exercising. -
There's nothing greater than going for a long
ride on your horse.
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Horses need ready access to food and fresh water to maintain
health and vigour. Finding a suitable home for them could be
a problem.
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You will need to find someone to mind your horse
who can exercise and groom them as well
if you go away on holidays.
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You need to be aware of the local rules for riding and keeping
horses in your area. Some councils have rules about these
things which can attract fines if not abided by.
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Horses need to be fed little but often.
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Horses can get colds just like humans. They
also get colic which is a serious condition in horses. Vets fees
can be very expensive.
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Horses also need shoeing as part of their care and this is an
extra expense.
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Horses are a long term commitment living up to 30 years and
being able to be ridden for around 25 of those years.
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Getting to know your horse and forming a partnership takes time
and effort on your part. All animals need time put into their
care and well-being and, far from being the exception, horses
actually need more than most other pets. But don't think of this
time being spent with your horse as a chore, but as the
cultivation of a friendship. If it is a chore then perhaps a
horse is not the pet for you!!
LINKS & RESOURCES:
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