First time owners - what have you learned?

Oh and the yard is like some kind of weird timewarp. You turn up for "just an hour" at 8am and before you know it it's 6pm, you've not eaten all day, you haven't been home and done any housework, the husband is sending out a search party and you still haven't cleaned your tack :rolleyes:
 
Where to start! Great thread by the way..

Ok so here goes - Ive been a horse owner for 7mths...

Ive learnt.

*Owning a youngster is a Marathon NOT a Sprint
*Doing as much on the ground as well as ridden work works wonders
Always expect the unexpected:)
*There are many lows as well as highs but if things don't go to plan tomoro is a new day & don't dwell on a frustrating days riding.
*To toughen up , people are people & will talk about you behind your back, this has given me a thicker skin & made me more determined to succeed
*Don't be afraid to ask for advice & help
* Dont take riding so seriously all the time, loosen up & make sure Im having fun.
* Be firm & consistent in handling

* Disable email alerts from various equestrian websites!
* Don't plan to go up to the yard for 2 hours as 4hours later Im still there
* Don't leave smelly boots lying around the kitchen for fear of annoying the other half AGAIN
* Don't buy a selection of new rugs because you " Like the colour of them"
* Don't engage people who are very negative
* Be friendly to people at yard & yard staff
* Be approachable by people looking for advice
* Embrace the fact that kids at the yard just want to learn & be open to talking & letting them watch sessions & help with small things.
* Be prepared for many people to "unfriend" you from Facebook due to the volume of " horsey pics put up " :rolleyes:
 
Kat said:
Oh and the yard is like some kind of weird timewarp. You turn up for "just an hour" at 8am and before you know it it's 6pm, you've not eaten all day, you haven't been home and done any housework, the husband is sending out a search party and you still haven't cleaned your tack :rolleyes:
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I thought that was just me :D
 
That when the only advice someone ever offers you is "give it a good pasting" they probably haven't anything else in their tool box (or maybe they're just a tool ;-) )
 
AdorableAlice said:
What a lovely post and a nice subject. My first horse was 40 years ago, an ill judged purchase, chestnut TB mare and the only memories I have are a) painful, b) visits to hospital and, c) my father telling me I would regret it - and he was right.

Anyway a fair few fabulous horses and many years later I think regardless of being new to horse keeping or an old hand we never ever stop learning from them. I most certainly don't and all I hope to achieve is the health to keep learning and enjoying them.

For you new owners, your horses are lucky to have such fabulous homes and everything they teach you, can be taken forward to more lucky horses in the future.
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thanks :)
 
Cob is a full loan but still treated very much as my own and most likely will be to the very end. The little brat was my 'first owned pony' for the mere price of £1:D

Each one teaches you something different:

- Never be conned by the sweet, dopey cob who everyone thinks is a plod until they see him on a sponsored ride. Dopey but can still bronk, throw me off and move faster than horses twice his size.

- Only you can notice the smallest of differences in your horses behaviour whether it be if they are having an off day, having a great day with their arthritis or the tell tale sign of impending laminitis.

- Learn why your pony's very misunderstood nature was kicked out of 4 loan homes before buying him, and give him the life that turns him into mellow, sweet old man.

-Just because the fencing 'looks solid' doesn't mean the brat can't escape. I have developed a keen eye for methods of escaping with the latest being him climbing through the middle of a 5 bar gate. (I was impressed!)

-My ponies routines in their head work like clockwork and will wait by the gate etc right on time.

- I am an outdoor person, always will be and seeing and sorting 2 ponies everyday, twice a day are set parts of my day...everything else is worked round them:rolleyes:

Tonnes more but I'll restrain:)
 
I have owned a horse before my current one and had various on load but all were at a livery yard where I didn't really have to do much thinking. Just moved to a new yard which is much quieter so although not alone I do have to use my brain a little (harder some day than others)

These have all really made me laugh as they are so true, especially not buying rugs just because you like the colour, definitely guilty of that one and the same applies for saddle cloths. Also not buying every single bargain you come across, you will end up with thousands of things you don't need.

Most of all it actually isn't rocket science as some people may say and more often than not common sense will prevail. And if your not sure there will always be someone to lend a hand be in on here, vets, friends etc. it's impossible to know everything!

And lastly that just because you don't do or know something someone else does doesn't mean your an idiot, maybe they are :)
 
Thanks for all your replies . . . it's lovely to hear all your stories/thoughts. I've been thinking all day about the day we brought GD home (three years ago today) and how steep the learning curve was and how terrified I was . . . and marvelling over how far we have both come.

What's truly wonderful . . . and I do somewhat take it for granted a little now . . . is the greeting he gives me every time he spies me set foot on the yard - I don't just get a nicker, I get a full on, long, whinny - every single morning. When he was in his old stable and couldn't see me coming, he would do it just by hearing my footsteps. THAT feels good :).

P
 
Im coming up to owning pud for 5 years, shes my first horse and I've learnt -

- Not to ride someone elses horse in the 1st year of owning your own & then fall off and break your pelvis!

- Always laugh, laugh if things are good or bad!

- Trust your horse and your horse will trust you. Its taken me a few years to truely believe she isnt going to kill me everytime i ride, and ive even joined our local riding club gone are the days of nervous nellie (well nearly hehe)

- You can never have to many pairs of boots especially wellies!!

The main thing ive learnt is that i couldnt be without my girl, she cheers me up, listens to me, makes me laugh, does as shes told (most of the time) and genuinely is a joy to be around.
Im lucky as i have great family and OH that help out but she loves me the best even if she always runs to my dad before coming to me!!

Great post and lovely to hear people gushing over their horses, there are too many people who poke their nose in to other peoples business and need to concentrate on their own horses!!

:)
 
Brilliant thread!!!!!

Daughter advised me last night that we have owed Dolly 27 months, so this is good timing for this thread!

What have I learnt.......

1. That I should trust my instincts. I might be new at this, but my gut still tells me what is right.

2. Never stop learning. I absorb every bit of information I can, and then pick out the good bits ;)

3. I now smell permanently of horse. :o

4. So does the car.....must buy chocolate for OH :(

5. When wearing yesterday's jumper for work, check it for Dolly drool before leaving for the office. :cool:

6. When daughter is competiting, valium is my friend. ;)

7. Always carry polos in pocket for when golden angel pony turns into ginger monster, ditches daughter and pisses off across arena bucking and farting at high speed. It's quite talented to be able to do that isn't it.....:p

8. Daughter is MUCH braver than me. :eek:

9. Yes, we do REALLY need THAT many grooming brushes. :p

10. And rugs.

11. And numnahs.

12. That I am MUCH more of an outdoor girl than I thought I was. And quite a bit more hardworking too!!! That I enjoy shovelling sxxt more than I enjoy listening to it at work!!!

13. That I have an awesome OH who puts up with me and daughter, gives us money and fixes the horsebox! :)

I could go on forever, but quite simply, it's taught me that I have the best family and animals in the world, and I'm a very very lucky girl.

:D
 
PolarSkye said:
What's truly wonderful . . . and I do somewhat take it for granted a little now . . . is the greeting he gives me every time he spies me set foot on the yard - I don't just get a nicker, I get a full on, long, whinny - every single morning. When he was in his old stable and couldn't see me coming, he would do it just by hearing my footsteps. THAT feels good :).

P
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And today he did it when he heard my voice/footsteps when we visited him at the equine clinic . . . brought a proper lump to my throat. He was so obviously glad to see us that it warmed me heart . . . truly . . . especially as I'd spent all night worrying about him.

Horses get under your skin.

P
 
Aww it is lovely when they talk to you. Mind is very vocal and gives me a wuffle even if I've only been to the tack room.

She saves the really enthusiastic greetings for DH because 1. He has carrots in his pockets. 2. He's not as strict as me. 3. Sometimes he has extra strong mints.
 
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