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Purchasing a horse is for sure a great decision, yet a huge one that needs to be carefully considered. This particularly refers to those who have never owned or ridden this animal. Taking care of it is not as simple as it may appear to be.
The question that you need to ask yourself before you take any further steps is why do you want to purchase it? Whatever the reason may be behind this decision, there’s no such thing as a wrong or right answer.
However, it’s still important to determine that because you need to acquire a horse based on your preferences and needs. If this is your first time, then it would be advisable to take these tips into account.
Crucial Factor To Consider Before You Obtain A Horse
Horses Aren’t Cheap
One of the biggest surprises when it comes to this is the price. Unfortunately, a lot of buyers tend to overlook this factor, especially if you want to purchase a well-trained, registered horse. These cost normally around $10,000 or even more.
On the other hand, you can always opt for the ones that are older or have some health issues. These are typically more affordable. But as previously mentioned, it’s of huge importance to pick the one who will perfectly match your needs and demands.
Another thing that must be emphasized is maintenance. Namely, boarding this animal can also be pricey but it depends on the stable and the place you live. It usually costs somewhere between $500 and $1300 per month.
Besides these expenses, don’t forget the ones you’ll have when you hire a vet and for horseshoeing care. Additionally, you will also have to spend some money on the equipment and tack, the cost of training sessions and riding lessons. Therefore, if you are currently tight on the budget, then it would be wise to postpone this step.
Feed & Supplements
These animals are natural grazers, they eat frequently and not too much. As far as the horse feed is concerned, their natural diet primarily consists of grass which contains high roughage content. Further, they should be provided with a fiber-based diet, either haylage, grass, or hay replacement so you can mimic their natural feeding pattern as much as possible.
It’s worth mentioning that a lot of horse owners tend to feed these wonderful beings additional minerals and vitamins in the form of supplements intended for horses. The main reason why these supplements are added is to make sure nothing is lacking from their diet, to boost performance, and to address a particular health problem.
Experience Matters
When it comes to this, you need to be completely honest with yourself. Is your experience with this animal vast, or little, or you’re totally inexperienced? Now, this doesn’t necessarily refer to a certain riding discipline but rather to your familiarity with it and capability to deal with specific, potentially complex situations.
If you do not have any experience, then it would be advisable to invest some time and money in riding lessons, or a horse management program. By doing this, you will learn all important things regarding ownership and at the same time, uncover what you would like to have in your own horse.
In these instances, riding is definitely not the most important thing. You need to figure out whether you’ll be able to take care of it the right way and whether you can handle any potential issues that may arise at some point.
That’s why you must carefully think this segment through because if you don’t, you might regret this decision later.
Let’s Not Overlook The Age
In these types of situations, age is not just a number. On the contrary. You must look at the health of a horse, as well as its experience level. For example, if you’re relatively inexperienced, then you need to consider a horse that’s not younger than seven years old.
On the other hand, if you want to grow with this magnificent creature, then you should avoid horses that are older than twenty. Generally speaking, many seasoned horse owners will tell you that 10 to 20 years old is something that most horse buyers opt for.
Buy A Horse You Can Trust
Just like humans, some horses are more or less trustworthy. Do not purchase it from just anyone or anywhere. Instead, obtain it from a dealer (you trust) who has had a great experience with it and who thinks that you two are a great fit.
You are not acquiring a horse every single day. As stated in the beginning, this is a huge decision that comes with numerous responsibilities. Therefore, if you’re unsure about it, then you should definitely go through this article once again.
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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