Horses playing in the snow.

Visitors at your barn, the helpful, the welcome and the unwelcome!

     Visitors at your barn can be helpful and welcome and some may be unwelcome!   There are the two legged kind, some with four legs, some crawl, some hop, a few fly and others that we cannot see.   Let’s discuss the two legged kind first.   Yep, we are talking about people!   If you have a barn, you will attract children and adults simply because you have a horse.  Remember when you didn’t have a horse or pony and longed to just touch one or smell them or look over the fence at one.   It may seem harmless enough to let your neighbor’s drop by or visit, but it can become complicated. 

Let’s talk practical, does your homeowner’s insurance cover you if someone gets hurt while around your horse or on your property?  It may surprise you to know that most don’t and may even drop you if they know about the horse.  You need to talk to your agent and see what is covered and not.  There is some very reasonable equine liability coverage, just get online and do some checking.

There are ways to help yourself legally with very little cost.  In Virginia the Virginia Horse Council has information on their website about the Liability laws concerning this.  You can look up online about your state and local laws.  A simple sign can help and can be purchased for each state with the liability laws and a warning.  Check with your lawyer or local legal advisors and you can also require anyone that comes on your property to sign a waiver release.  These can also be drawn up by your lawyer or if you don’t have one you can find some online doing a search.  You don’t want to lose everything you have just because someone fed their fingers to your horse!

Post Barn rules, these can be very simple or detailed.   You decide what is important to you and your situation.  They will help if a legal case is ever brought against you.  After thinking about this please don’t stop those friends and neighbors from visiting, just use some good old common sense when they come around.  You can even get some work and help from them by teaching them how to take care of horses and the barn and pasture.  You can have a party and cookout in return for their help and have a lot of fun making a game out of work.  Remember Tom Sawyer and the fence…. It still works.  If done right you will be the hit of the neighborhood.

Ok now for the four legged visitors!  We are talking about cats, dogs, raccoons, opossums, mice, rats, the neighbor’s equines and other things. 

Cats can be most helpful around a barn by keeping mice and rats under control, but you need to make sure they have been spayed or neutered and had their rabies and other vaccinations.  If they are feral you must trap them and have these things done, before allowing them to stay.  Keep them fed with a good dry cat food and have a water supply.  Cats can be bothersome if not spayed or neutered because you will be overrun with them in no time and disease will run uncontrolled.  They will also spray on your hay and tack and make a smelly mess.  Horses tend to like cats around.  Each of our horses has their own cat friend.

Dogs are good to keep the varmints away like the raccoon and opossum. They will also let you know when someone is around and keep you company.  Again have them spayed or neutered and vaccinated.  You will also need a flea and tick control.  Don’t let your dogs run around loose unless you have a lot of property, so be a good neighbor by not letting them bother the neighbors.   If your horses are used to your dogs they will not be afraid of the dog you may run into on the trail.  You must also teach your dogs not to bark or bother the horses, if they are out of control they can cause the horse or pony to run and hurt themselves and run away with you when riding or even throw you.

Raccoons, opossums and foxes are not friends you want around the barn.  They can cause a lot of damage to your property and can carry many diseases like rabies and parasites.  The opossum is also a link to the EPM disorder we are experiencing in horses.  So trap them and move them somewhere far away or find another way to keep them away from your horses.

Groundhogs are cute, but they can cause lots of field damage with holes and horses running in the field can step in a hole and break a leg.  Get rid of them anyway you can.  You can call your local extension office or animal control for advice.  Have-a-heart traps work well and you can then move them away.

Mice and rats are a disaster in the barn; they carry many diseases and can cause untold damage to your property.  They will get into your feed bins, chew up your tack and saddles, carry brushes off and you name it they have done it.  Again call your local extension office or your local farm and feed stores for ways to safely rid your farm of them.

You may find a new horse, pony or donkey in your barn or yard one day.  Well, be careful when you go to catch them, because you do not know them and surprise you might have a stallion to deal with.   If you know the animal call the owners and let them come and get them, but if you must, get them in a place of confinement as soon as possible.  Outside horses can carry parasite and sickness, so you need to keep them away from your animals if possible.  Call your veterinary if your animals have been exposed and you are not familiar with the visitors.   If you don’t know who owns them call animal control as they may have had a report from the owners looking for them.  If you lose your horse, call animal control to report them missing. 

Ok let’s move onto the crawlers, flyers and other things.   Snakes, the nonpoisonous type can be good if you don’t mind them.  They can help with the mice and rats.  Remember they will not be there if you don’t have a food source like mice or baby birds.   Now the poisonous type is dangerous to you and your horse.  If your horse comes in with a very swollen face or leg it could have been bitten.  As a general rule snakes do not like to be around a lot of horses, because of the vibrations from the horse’s hooves beating the ground.  I have found that moth balls will keep snakes away, but you must place them where nothing can eat them.  You can also find repellent at your local farm and feed stores.

The flying friends are many in nature.  Bats eat bugs which are great, but you don’t want them in your barn do to the poop.  Bat guano is good if composted, but not on your hay or in you barn as it can carry unwanted problems.  One website www.batmanagement.com/Batcentral/eviction/health.html is one of many resources to look up.  This doesn’t mean we need to completely get rid of them we just need to create a better place for them to live.  Putting up bat houses in nearby woods is a great way to have them around to help with the bugs, but not have them as house or barn guests.   There is always a chance of rabies, so do not touch them or let your pets bother them.

Other flying friends we don’t need in the barn are birds.  They are cute but can be dirty and carry lice, so discourage them from living in the barn.  Chickens can help with eating bugs, worms, breaking up manure, but they too can carry lice and problems.  They will poop everywhere and nest on the hay and then the horses will not eat it.   Then we have the not seen visitors, these can be the most harmful.   Parasites, viruses, bacteria and insects can wreak havoc with your horse.  Ask your veterinary about things you can do to prevent and help overcome them.  

When cancer attacks horses can help, from a survivor’s point of view.

The experiences we have in our lives are part of what makes us who we are.  The choices we make and how we react is the rest of the puzzle of who we are.  We can change at any time in our lives what path we choose.  If we learn to look for good, then we find good even in the most horrific experience, however if we look for bad, then we can find it even in the most wonderful of times. 

  Horses and riding had always been a big part of my life.  The visual sight of the horse’s body and motion was intriguing and I used it in art when I was a child.  I was absolutely fascinated with them, so not having a horse as a child I drew them and had models and dreamed of one day riding.  After finally getting the chance to ride and then own a horse, it consumed my whole being.  I learned all I could.  Then the unthinkable took over my life.   The feel of a horse's movement, the connection under your seat, the flow of footfall in each gait and just the freedom riding gives you from the rest of your life, had been slowly taken away from me.  For years it slowly started sneaking up on me.  At first I noticed I was not as balanced and not as good a rider, with less and less strength in my legs and lower body, less stamina and then started to be unable to mount from the ground.  At only 40 years, I could not go over a jump anymore without loss of balance.  My canter work to one side felt off and I became discouraged and started to think it would never feel the same.  I had been able to ride a buck out of a horse, go for hours on end in the saddle, working several horses, one after the other, but now I was lucky to ride one for a few minutes with increasing pain in my knees, legs and in my lower abdomen. 

I started learning more on ground schooling, line driving and working the horse with me on the ground instead of the saddle.  I learned more about the movement of the horse now because I could watch the feet and the body.  I could refine movements and discovered greater collection from the rear end and created more roundness and bend in the whole horse now.  I was enjoying riding again from the ground. 

It still bothered me that when it came time to be in the saddle I was less than ideal.  My doctor would say " well you know you are getting older "  , now at 45,  BULL $&%*  I knew lots of people much older than me that could still ride well and it made me mad.  I knew there had to be something wrong inside me.  I went to doctor after doctor and they would just say the same thing.  They would want to put me on medication, but didn't know why.  So I would refuse to take anything unless they could pinpoint my problems.  The only relief I got was from my Chiropractor, but he was confused and concerned that there was something causing my problems. 

After 12 years of increasing pain, enlarging lower stomach and a feeling as if I was pregnant again, (but when I was pregnant I still rode and trained right up to the last few days with no pain or problems), I had almost given up on riding.  I still gave lessons and took care of my horses.  I rode very little now, only enough to get on a horse to do a quick demonstration or correction of a student’s horse or one of my school horses.  Making up excuses was easy now, the more painful it became the less my interest in riding became.  Enjoying the students and my son’s riding was more in focus now.  Learning new technics and fixing things from the ground was easy now, but still missing the feeling you get when you ride was in the back of my mind.  Other problems like bending over, lifting, mucking and just getting in and out of bed was difficult and painful.  My knees were gone, no more swatting in the garden and working in the flower beds.  Keeping close the bathroom was always in the back of my mind now as holding my water was impossible.  Long car rides were out of the question without lots of potty break stops. 

Finally it was so bad I had given up doing lessons except for a few. No more training or gardening or much of anything else.  I felt useless and old at 48. In the back of my mind was a nagging feeling that I would not make it any longer than my dad did.  He died at the age of 49 from cancer.  He had thyroid cancer and it went into his bones and all over him.  It was terrible to watch him go downhill so quickly and painfully, making the end almost a relief.  I had other relatives on his side of the family that died early from cancer also, so I just figured my time was going to be short as well.  I continued to go to doctors that didn't find a thing and just wanted me to take Rx's without a diagnosis.  Nope, I took nothing.  I still had my horses and they kept me going even though it was hard to take care of them.  Their eyes and ears were always there for me.  Kindness from deep within them surrounded me whenever I was at the barn and kept me focused.

The year of 2004 was devastating.  We had some older horses that were going downhill and the discussion had to be made that all horsemen dread.  We had a 40+ year old pony Daisy which we rescued out of the slaughter pen when she was 28.  Blossom, my old pal, which had sever high and low ringbone making her walking very painful and Sandy at 22 was in a terrible way and my vet didn't know what was wrong and we had tried everything. Then my husband's horse BB, at 10 years old had unexpectedly jumped a ditch, did a nose dive, flipped and fractured her first cervical vertebra, developing wobbles.  I could hardly take seeing 4 of our buddies in this shape.  It kept being put off, but when Sandy got down and couldn't get up for hours, that did it.  We had to do something. 

My old pony Daisy was now 40+ she was getting where nothing could keep her body weight reasonable.  Food fell out of her mouth after she got all the juices out, even soaking it in hot water was not enough.  Her frail little white and black body was hard to look at.  With BB nothing could be done as she progressively became more unable to walk.  It was another heartbreaking decision that had to be made.  During this time my big palomino mare Sandy was 22 and losing weight and getting stiffer to the point she could no longer get up and down.  (Then the veterinaries knew little about EPM, which we now think was the problem) Last but not least my old buckskin mare Blossom, which was my first horse’s first filly, and was my barrel racer and best buddy for 28 years, was at the point with her high and low ringbone, the veterinary and farrier could not keep her comfortable any more.  These horses had been my friends, taught many children and adults to ride, carried my son from a little squirt to adulthood and didn’t deserve to be in this shape.  I didn’t want to make this decision, but it had to made, no more postponing. 

With my own pain and discomfort there were times I wish someone would put me to sleep, too.   My husband’s horse was getting much worse so the call was made and we put her and Blossom down at the same time, then the other two the next month had to be taken care of.  I felt horrible, but relieved to know they were out of pain and would no longer suffer. It was the right thing to do. 

After that I kind of went downhill, I gave up on everything.  I had been doing Yoga for the past several years which helped a lot with pain management and kept me focused in the now.  Massage therapy also helped, but nothing could stop the nagging in the back of my mind.  One day I fell and the pain in my abdomen was so bad it kept me in bed for a couple days.  I knew something was terribly wrong and called a doctor that a friend had recommended.  Turned out the lady I talked too lived just up the road from me and got me in that day.  He was a very kind and older gentleman.  After examination he sent me over to the hospital for a scan and wanted me to return back to his office stat.  The news was not good, but at least I now knew what was wrong.  I had Ovarian Cancer with large masses.  Well for the first time in a long time I had peace, knowing what was causing my long standing problems was somehow comforting.  He immediately scheduled my appointment with a specialist as my prognosis was grim, He suggested I tell my family and get my affairs in order, because it was so advanced I more than likely world not have long. 

Well I told the family and a few friends, then called the specialist and postponed my appointment and drove to Florida with a friend.  I told them all “If I am not coming back then I might as well not go until I'm ready” Boy did I get in trouble with my doctor for that one.   I had a great time with my friends on the trip and came back ready for whatever they found.   More and more people were sending me their sympathy and saying prayers.  The whole time the horses were there, silently comforting me and supporting me.  I was so glad the 4 was not there if I didn’t' come back.   They were no longer suffering.  The horses that we had left were always comforting to go and talk to and it was almost as if they understood something was wrong. 

After my appointment and another more complete scan I found out in detail about what was going on in my body.  The 3 large masses the ultrasound had picked up and the cancer was not exactly the same as what the last scan had detected.  Either the first one was wrong or all the prayers had changed things in there.  I don't know what had happened, but was glad for the changes.   I did have ovarian cancer, but instead of stage 3 it turned out to be stage 1.  The masses turned out to be one eight pound fibroid tumor, my left ovary was all cancer and enlarged by 3 times the normal size and my uterus was somehow enlarged and engorged.  After lots of tests, prodding, poking, needles and choices to be made, surgery day was here.  All went well and when I woke up my doctor came by to tell me what they had found.   They got it all, it was a massive tumor, but it seemed to be contained and had not metastasized to the other organs.  They would do more testing on the tissue, but he was happy with the surgery and had a good prognosis.  The next day was good, pain but nothing like what I had been going through.  The tumor had been so large it had pushed things around inside and had cut off most of the nerve and blood flow to my legs.  I felt great.  I was on the bed doing Yoga Seal when the doctor came in the next morning.  He said “well I guess if you can do that then you can go home as soon as we can get your bowels moving”.  Three days later I was back home and almost 15 pounds lighter.  I felt great and it    didn’t matter if I did have cancer at least I had this time to enjoy riding and living without the discomfort that had robbed me for so long. 

   In less than 2 weeks I was up on a horse and riding.  The first ride the old feeling was back.  Pewee, one of my best school horses, was my pick.  He was smooth and a good ride with a wonderful canter.  I took it slow at first working at the walk, then the jog, then trot and did some lateral movements.  My legs were back the pain was gone.  YIPPY!!!!!!    I could ride again.  I could hardly control myself, I was able to canter again without any problems.  Poor Pewee, for the next couple weeks thought he had died and gone to cantering hell.  I don't think he had had to canter that much in his whole life. 

As the first month passed and my body returned to almost normal, soon the chemo had to start, at the doctor’s strong suggestions; I was reluctant and feeling great.  My father had done the chemo and I saw it take away any life he had left.  I just wanted to enjoy the time I had left.  My family and friends didn't want to me to take a chance with my life so I agreed to go to therapy.  Luckily my oncology nurse had been one of my favorite students and a friend.  She took very good care of me and looked out for me as well as possible. 

After the first session, which they had to stop due to my sever reaction, my health went downhill again.  Each treatment was torture with worse reactions and growing disabling side effects until my specialist agreed with me that it was better to stop.  I could hardly walk, see or hear.  I could not even enjoy the birth of my granddaughter as much as I should have.  I had been one of those few that develop really bad problems from the chemo.  This was not a surprise to me as I have always had allergic reactions to most every Rx I was prescribed.  I lost the feeling in my hands and feet, roaring in the ears was so bad I couldn't sleep or hear,  chest pains and rapid heart rate, swollen joints from lupus and trouble thinking and focusing were just a few of the problems.  With lots of time on my hands I started researching cancer on the internet and looking for more natural treatments with fewer side effects.  Looking up ways to help myself through other means.  I always came back to my horses for my sanity and to keep me going.  Yoga and doing for others were part of the recovery.  I set myself to work at helping community and horses. With the help of some students and fellow horseman we formed an old people’s ride club, a community horseman/ business network and an equine rescue.  Over the next several years I continued to develop my horsemanship and teaching skills.  The problems and pain that were once my foes were now my incentives to develop more complete and balanced horsemanship techniques and teaching tools.  Because of the problems cancer had caused I developed my Balanced Awareness methodology.  Horses helped me get through my cancer and become a survivor instead of a victim.  On my continued journey through this life my horses will always be there with me.  My horses are my life and always will be part of me.  The look in the eyes that gave me comfort, the soft nicker of recognition when they see me coming,  the feel of the nose against my face, the muscles under my saddle as they move are just a few of the memories I will carry with me.

Well so far so good going on the seventh year I am still hear.   During that time I was busy with doing things I wanted to accomplish before I left this world.  I am ready to go anytime but will continue to try to do things that are right and good.  When you look at your own life and know it is short, you want to make it sweet.  The song at that time in my live tells it well.  It went something like this “when you get news like that what did you do?” response “Well I went sky diving, I went …” well you know the rest.

We all need something to keep us going. I had a granddaughter born that I wanted to see grow up, family and friends to laugh with, a lot of horses to ride and work with, students to develop into great horsemen and people to tell this “Live as if this is your last day, love all you have around you and make a good impression on those you meet, be honest with yourself and the most important is to do the right thing.

I hope I can be still doing the right thing for a long time, but if not then the last thing I do will be the right thing!

Thank you Nancy for suggesting this blog.  This month marks my seventh year with out cancer returning.  I feel blessed and thank all the people that prayed and thought about me.

I need Ideas for the next blog and the winner will receive a free riding lesson.

Folks I needed some suggestions on my next blog at http://ofhorsesandhumans.blogspot.com/
I sent this out on my facebook  (send me a subject and see which one I pick... A free riding lesson for the one I choose...)

Here are some of the responses I received back.
            Holly :
Pregnancy and riding :) just kidding. I miss coming out and seeing you. Give everyone a pet for me.
            Vanessa :
What about how to tell if a horse is misbehaving b/c of attitude or pain?
            Nancy:    
  Several thoughts -
            1. Your experience dealing with cancer and how your horses helped with that.
            2. The intelligence of horses - what are they smart at and what are they
            dumb at? (Same for humans. :)
            (Or, Same for physical abilities.)
            3. Nutrition for horses and humans (may tie into No. 1)
            4. Go into detail about balanced riding. Take one aspect at a time.
            5. Running a horse-related business - advantages and disadvantages
           MEG
I am so gonna win this! Suggestions for blog topics:
-Winterizing your farm, horse and barn
-Basics of the round pen-working your horse on the ground
-Recognizing abuse and neglect and what you can do about it
            Claudia Swisher well ladies you have given me lots to consider.Thanks again.
    COME BACK SOON TO SEE WHO WON THE LESSON AND WHAT THE BLOG IS ABOUT.
IAM SURE YOU WILL ENJOY IT.   

When is a riding school not a school?

You get out a phone book or go online to find riding lessons in your area.  You have found lots of places that offer lessons and now to see which one to go to.  Whether you don’t know what kind of riding you want to do, you have a good idea of what you want, you have never ridden before, you have had limited lessons and experience, you had been to a school as a youth or you want lessons for your children, you will need to consider a few things to make the right choice.

First thing you want to ask when looking for a good and safe facility is “Is this really a school or is this place giving lessons just to draw in clients to sell horses".  The owner of the facility should be the main person in charge of instructions or have a very good and experienced head instructor.   I have found that most places that offer lessons may not have your best interest at heart.  There are lots of “sale barns” now masquerading as schools and camps.  They may have someone that gives lessons there part time, has a very young person (teenager) or they may do them themselves or have their spouse give the lessons.   If there are lots of horses constantly going and coming from the barn, then you can consider them a sale barn.   Most instructional schools will at times have a horse available for sale, but not a regular thing unless they are a breeding facility also, in which case, would have a trainer and young horses being trained for sale.  They may have student’s horses there for sale or a boarder’s horse, but the barn is not the one selling the horse, the owner is.  

Sale barns or trail barns my not be the best place to take you lessons at.  Some may be very good though.  You need to do your homework and find out what their main business is though.  If it is selling horses, then they will be only trying to sell a horse not give you lessons. Selling is in their interest, so if they keep you unknowledgeable then it is to their benefit.   If they are a trail barn, they may or may not have the skills to give lessons in the type riding you want to do.  Again do your homework and find out what they do know well and if it is what type riding you want to do then it may work out.   I personally do not think most people should be out of an arena until they master the skills of riding and controlling a horse well.

The next thing you need to know is how much experience do their instructors have and do they know how to help a person of the age and experience and discipline you need instruction for.   Someone that knows how to get children started may not be as good for an adult beginner.   You need to find someone that can assist you safely and be knowledgeable about the type riding you wish to do.  Example:  If you want to learn to jump then you need someone that can teach you basic flat riding until you are accomplished and then start you over fences when your level of riding is good enough, you would not go to someone that only knows and does trial riding if jumping or dressage or western pleasure is what you want to learn.  If you are a beginner or you are getting lessons for your children and you do not know what you exactly want, then you may need to find a school that has an instructor that is experienced in many styles and types of riding and in starting the beginner with good basics that can grow into correct advancement. 

   

The best way to judge a place to see if it is right for you is to set up an appointment to watch a lesson and visit the barn.    They should require the students to wear a safety helmet or strongly advise it's use if they are a beginner no matter what age and they should have an equine liability insurance.  Even better if their instructors are certified. There will be a number of things to watch for while you are there:

1.        Does the place look clean and orderly?

2.         Do they have an arena and round pen or a designated place to take the lessons in? 

3.         If they do is it level, clear of debris, a safe fence made of board or pipe panels, not junked up, good footing or is it in disrepair?

4.          Does the instructor take time to check the horse’s bridle and saddle for proper fitting?

5.          Do they spend time with the rider to make sure they understand everything in a patient manner or are they yelling and sarcastic?

6.         Are the horses and ponies in good health and in clean stalls and paddocks or are they skinny, unhealthy looking, dirty stalls, no clean hay or water around?

7.          Does the animal giving the lesson seem pleasant and alert or are they dull, impersonal, ears pinned back?

8.         If they are doing a group lesson, does the instructor take time to give each one individual help or do they ignore the riders that aren’t as good.

9.         Do the other clients seem happy and satisfied with the barn?

1       Ask yourself if this is the kind of place you will be happy at?

There is one thing that I do have a problem with and it is instructors that are not experienced and are not competent.   I do not like to see riders falling off.  You are there to learn to ride and stay on the horse not to fall off every time you ride.  If riders are constantly falling then something is wrong!  I also do not like using young horses for lessons.   I feel a horse needs to have more experience than the ride so the rider can learn from the horse.  Most horses under 8 years old are still learning, not to say there are not exceptions to any rule.  I have also had horses that have had more riding time at 7 than ones at 20.   It depends on the barn and the horse.   I also like to see horses that have been at the barn for a number of years. Horses being used that are new and only been there for a short time is not a safe idea.  The instructor needs to have ridden the horse and know what the animal is likely to do in all experiences that might happen in order to keep the rider safe.

My instructors were very experienced in what they were teaching and had many years in doing so. Young instructors are sometimes alright as long as you have a head instructor with many years of experience to guide them and step in if they are not correctly instructing you.   You develop a feel with the more students you teach.  You know when to push them and when to wait.  Each student is an individual and needs to be treated that way.   

Another thing you need to think about is if the instructor can help you if you have a physical problem.   You may need closer attention if you do and they need to know something about human as well as equine anatomy and biomechanics.

If you think you have found the right place then sign up for one lesson and see how it goes.   You need to feel confident in the instructor and not intimidated.   They need to take time explaining what it is you will be learning and the structure of the lessons.   The horse should be suitable to your needs and the saddle should be comfortable.  Your horse should be quiet and mannerly as you are taught to groom and saddle it up.  The instructor should be patient and helpful, giving you time to understand everything you are expected to do.  Your instructor should give you confidence and make you feel as if you can accomplish everything and not move on until you can master simple tasks.   If you feel in danger or do not feel comfortable at any time, you need to tell them.  If they cannot help you work through it, then stop and leave!   Always be safe never let them hurt you.   If after the first lesson they have a horse or the horse you were riding is for sale, you should become a little suspicious.   If it is really a good school of instruction and has an ethical business, they would not suggest you buying a horse right away.

Get references from students that have been there for years, veterinaries, neighbors or anyone that knows the business.   You should also call your local county/city officials and see if they have a business license to teach.   This does not mean that a very experienced teacher that only has a couple of students is not great.   Sometimes the hidden back yard teachers are your best.   They don’t have a big business, but may have your best interest at heart.

The best way to find the best school for your situation is to do a little research and study.   Read about the different types of riding and breeds that are best for the type riding your think you might be interested in.   After you find a place take a few lessons and see how it goes.   Good luck on finding the right place for you.

To Buy or Not to Buy, That is the Question!

Choosing your first horse has many factors in it to make it successful.  I advise my students not to rush into it.  First you need to learn to ride and care for a horse.  Some instructors will let you help around the stable or even have school horses you may lease or do a partial lease on.   This will give you or your children the experience of having a horse without all the complications.  During this trial period you may find out that you can’t live without a horse or you may find out that it is too much expense or work for you at this time.  

Going to a barn and having a horse or pony already tacked up and waiting for you to take a lesson on is not the best idea.   You really do not get to know all the other aspects of owning a horse.   There are many elements that are involved.   If you go to a good stable you will learn how to groom your horse, tack up, lead and handle your horse.   They will instruct you in all things involved in how to care and feed each individual, how to clean stalls daily and clean your tack.   Horsemanship involves learning to know when your horse is healthy and when they need the veterinary, you need to understand the parts of your horse and how the confirmation of each horse lends it to the best type of riding for it.  You need to know how to care for your horse and what good care is even if you are planning on boarding it at a stable.   You are the one truly responsible for its care, even if someone else does the work.  If you don’t know these things, how are you going to know if your horse is being taken care of properly? 

All the following things must be thought about before you make a purchase.  Where are you going to keep your horse?   Are you going to keep it at your riding school, at another stable, at your farm or at a friend’s?  If you are boarding it at your instructors stable you can continue lessons on your new horse and get help when you need it and even be able to participate in its care, spending more time with it.  If you must take it to another stable you are not familiar with, you will need to see if your instructor can come there or if you need to transport it to your instructor.  Do you have a trailer and know how to drive it safely or will you pay someone every time to do so.  If you plan on horse-keeping at your own place, do you have safe fencing, a good barn or shed, a place to store hay, grain, tack and other things you will need in a good mouse proof place?  Do you have the right type of grass in your pasture that will keep it healthy?  Can someone take care of it when you go on vacation? Are you able to care for it when it gets sick?  You need to talk with your instructor to see if they can come to your place and have a safe place to work your horse.  If you keep it at your place you will need a trailer and truck to transport it in an emergency.  You can’t always depend on someone else to do.  There are many benefits on keeping them at your own place, but it comes with much more responsibility and a lot more education to keep it healthy and safe.  If you are planning on keeping it at your friend’s place, are they knowledgeable, are they going to take care of it or are you?  What about winter weather, can you get to them if there is a big snow storm, will they have water that is not frozen and hay that is not molded or is accessible?  What kind of riding are you going to do?  Are you going to just pleasure ride or show?  These are all the things you must think about before purchasing your first horse. 

You will need to have a veterinary and a farrier.  If you know some already great, then pick the one you can talk to and get along with the best.  Communication between you and them is a must for the horse’s best interest.  Horse care can be very simple or more detailed, it is up to you to discuss this with your instructor/trainer and your veterinary.  You will need to conform the care to your horse and your pocketbook! 

Some breeds may be more suitable for you and what you want to do than others, so study about the type riding you want to do and the breed most suitable.  As you start your search ask lots of questions don’t give up and learn something every time you look at a horse.  

After thinking about all of these things and you start your search, there are a few things you want to remember as you start trying out horses.  First never ride the horse without seeing someone else ride it first.  You want to watch them catch the horse, tie it, groom, tack it up, and lead it to a safe place to ride.   There are a lot of tricks people use when selling horses, they may not be telling you the whole story.  If you don’t see the horse do what you want then figure out one thing, it probably doesn’t do it.  Example: They don’t tie it up and make an excuse or say “see how wonderful he is, you don’t have to tie him” or he bucks or rares and they say “well he has never done that before” or they ride with only a halter and no saddle and say “see how good he is you don’t even need a bridle or saddle to ride him.”  Chances are the horse is not broke to tie, he does buck and rare, or you can’t put a bit in his mouth or the back has an injury.  BUYER ALWAYS BEWARE !!!  I cannot say that enough.  Then you may run into the owner that tells you all the problems and things they know about the horse.   They are trying to be as honest as possible about what they know.   Don’t overlook that horse just because they are telling you all these things, realize that the others you have looked at had just as many things wrong, the owner just wasn’t telling you about them or didn’t know.

 If the horse has done everything you expected and you really like it, then have your trainer or instructor go back with you to look at it and see if it will be a good match for you. They will usually charge a small fee to do so, but it will be well worth it.  If they like the horse and think it might work then the last step is to have your veterinary do a vet check.  This can be a simple or a complex checkup.  If you only want a horse to ride on the weekends then just a simple examination is fine.  If you are going to do lots of work or show, then you will need a more extensive examination.  Find out what your vet will charge in advance so you can plan to include that into your budget.  Doing a vet check may save you thousands of dollars, headaches and heartaches later.  I also like to recommend using a different veterinary than the one the seller uses, even if you are planning on using the same vet.  The reason is for everyone concerned, a different vet may see something the horse’s regular vet might overlook because of seeing the horse all the time and thinking you are already aware of it. 

A vet check does many things, it will let you know exactly what you are buying and how to best care for the horse and will help you decide if the horse can do what you want.   When I sell a horse I always ask the buyer to do a vet check, that way everyone is aware of the condition of the horse before it leaves my place.   If the person buys the horse and then something comes up later, we have proof that the problem was not there before the purchase.

If the seller does not want you to take the time to have your trainer come nor do a vet check, then move onto the next horse.  There was more than likely a reason they don’t want someone to look at it with a professional eye.  If they give you the hard sell “Well I got someone coming tomorrow and it may not be here for you later” or “I really need the cash right away because of a divorce, bad luck or whatever” Then run don’t walk to the car and leave.  They are trying to force you to make a snap discussion before you have time to think about it.   There are very good and reputable dealers and owners out there trying to sell horses and some that may not be as good or trustworthy, but just remember they are all trying to sell that horse.   Be prepared, ask questions and be wise.   Pretty is as pretty does!

After you have read all this you might think I am trying to stop you from owning a horse, but I am only trying to help you think about it and make a good choice for your first horse.  I love horses and want them to have the best owner for them.  We become very attached to the first horse and if it turns out to be the wrong one, then the heart ache out ways the enjoyment. 

In the equine market today, there are many horses for sale out there and lots of free ones too!  The economy has forced owners and dealers to have to move lots of horses, so the right one is out there, just use your head and not your heart for you and the horse’s sake.

Free is not always free, the horse may come with lots of baggage or it may be the most wonderful horse possible for you.  Look at the free ones and the ones at rescues as well, there are good horses there, just check them as if they were for sale and read all the fine print in the contract or adoption.  The pricey more expensive horse may be a wreck waiting to happen or it might be a real barging when it comes to safety.   Now go out there and start the search, be safe, be well advised and have fun, because you will meet lots of other horse people and may make some friends long the way.   You will learn a lot as you go from place to place and experience is the best teacher.

Let me know how your search goes!!!