First horse, first year, anyone else find it hard?

Yes the first year has its moments! It can be quite overwhelming. I'm at 13 months of ownership and I wouldn't change a thing, totally in love with her. But there have been frustrations, stress, worry etc and just when you think you are getting somewhere something sets you back :rolleyes:
 
Mondy said:
There is a lot of 'blame the horse' being passed around here.

In Denmark you learn to ride and handle horses before you get your own. That eliminates almost all the problems being mentioned in this thread, most of which seem to spring from insecure people handling an insecure, possibly physically uncomfortable, animal.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes: and of course here in the UK we buy horses having only looked at pictures in books :rolleyes:

I think you'll find that most people over here learn to ride and handle horses before buying their own. Often they also share or loan too to gain experience, but there is absolutely no way to "practice" having that total responsibility for a horse day in day out.

The only possible comparison is children, suggesting that someone learns to ride and handle horses at a riding school before buying their own is kind of like suggesting that doing a bit of babysitting will prepare someone for having their own baby.

However I do think that if more people kept their first horse on good supportive yards with back up from knowledgeable staff they would have less problems. I had been riding and handling horses for 30 years before buying my own, but I have still been glad to have experienced staff on hand.
 
Yes, yes, yes, yes! Dont want to bore you, but I nearly wrote the advert to sell him several times. Buying what I was told was a bombproof, very safe cob, who turned out to be a bolshy little *****e with a bolting problem was fun to say the least. However, after nearly 8 years together, I think we have cracked it pretty much.

What gets me is that you can read all about the pitfalls of buying a horse and how to get that right, but nobody prints anything in any magazine or book about how to cope with that first year of ownership, particularly if its your very first ever.
 
Don't panic. Trust your instincts and find someone who is experienced to ask for help when you really don't know what to do. Find the person who quietly "gets on and does", rather than those that "talk a good game". Quietly effective is always better, IMHO.

There is a wealth of information and knowledge on here. Ask the daft question. You won't be the first or the last - and you might find someone is local who can just give you a bit of support when needed.

If we're honest, we have all had moments of doubt. You're not alone in that!
 
Oh yes, it can be hard. I was all for selling him and he, poor soul, must have wondered where he'd been brought to! He'd come from a safe herd environment to living with just one other companion and two novicey owners! Our confidence levels (his and mine) were at a low but a good instructor helped me to understand him and I wouldn't trade him for the world now. We still have our moments but at least we know each other inside out!
 
Kat said:
:rolleyes: and of course here in the UK we buy horses having only looked at pictures in books :rolleyes:

I think you'll find that most people over here learn to ride and handle horses before buying their own. Often they also share or loan too to gain experience, but there is absolutely no way to "practice" having that total responsibility for a horse day in day out.

The only possible comparison is children, suggesting that someone learns to ride and handle horses at a riding school before buying their own is kind of like suggesting that doing a bit of babysitting will prepare someone for having their own baby.

However I do think that if more people kept their first horse on good supportive yards with back up from knowledgeable staff they would have less problems. I had been riding and handling horses for 30 years before buying my own, but I have still been glad to have experienced staff on hand.
Click to expand...

THIS! I wish I had written this. Every word is spot on. Particularly the last paragraph . . . having supportive back up was our saving grace and invaluable IME.

P
 
Guys :):) you have made me feel so much better to know that I am not alone. Thanks so much I have enlisted help I think sometimes we can be very tough on ourselves trying to be perfect riders / horse owners.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top