How did you know that you were ready..?

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nia1994

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-sorry the title is such poor grammar!-

for a horse of your own? (particularly if you didn't grow up into a horsey family or anything)

I might have the opportunity to have a horse of my own next year, depending on if we move, and so I'm wondering how you know if you're ready?
I have had my share pony for 18 months and look after him as if he's my own when the owners go on holiday, and have helped out at my old RS. Yet I'm worried this isn't enough experience?

Basically, how did you know when you were ready, and looking back, were you ready when you got your first horse?

Thanks :)
 
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When I could prove to my family & instructor that I fully understood how to care for a horse i.e;

I knew about feeds, rations, the rules of feeding, basic nutritional needs of the horse
I could make worming regiemes for my horse
I knew and understood about basic first aid
I knew the signs of basic illnesses such as colic, azoturia, choke, colds, viruses
I could prepare a vaccination and shoeing routine for my horse

Basically I had to be able to do everything on the syllabus for BHS stage 1 and the basics of stage 2.


Going to college REALLY helped aswell :) I learnt so much and it has helped me to be a better owner and rider :D I felt much more confident looking after my horses once I completed the course :)
 
^^^ totally agree. Plus you have to accept that they are such a big part of your life, very expensive, and a massive tie. The commitment, being at the yard twice a day every day, breaking ice, mucking out, poo picking, on and on really does take over your life.

On the other hand, if you're like me and just adore horses, the routine is really nice, and if I don't see my horse twice a day, I get withdrawal symptoms. I'm broke, very tired atm, have a sprained ankle, a bad back, but still love every second - once I'm out of bed and ankle's strapped up that is !

let us know how you get on. sm x
 
I didn't, I wasn't.

I think I was about 6 when the first pony arrived in our paddocks, we didn't know anything. We had friends that kind of put us back on the straight and narrow when we deviated a bit though. I read voraciously (still do) had riding lessons (school syllabus - quite handy really) and joined the PC.

It was very much a learn on the job situation, 40 years on it still is really. We never killed or maimed anything.

I think it is good to prepare yourself, but quite honestly people worry too much, if you go into something with the knowledge that you will never know it all and you are willing to ask for (and accept/consider) help and advice then you are halfway to being a responsible owner.
 
i didnt... my folks felt sorry for me being messed about with a share and offered to buy me my own :o

i did know a lot already as i had done tons of work x and asked loads of questions.... etc.

i am now on horse number 3 - still learning (as is everyone)....she is a huge part of my life already and theres no way i would change anything.... without a horse i feel incomplete :o
 
I've had an equine friend since i was 6. My non horsey parents moved to a house in the country which had a Shetland pony in the back garden. It had been dumped so dad kept him to keep the grass down. A a girl (4 years older than me) in the village came to look after him!!!
I got friendly with the girl and she helped me learn the basics of care and riding.
When Smartie had to be PTS (old age) my parents bought both of us a pony each and we used to just charge around the fields...no worries of going on the bit or the correct leg...just tally ho!!!
When my folks moved i didn't have a pony anymore (the garden was smaller!!) and having non horsey parents they didn't feel they could help if anything went wrong but i used to go to the local riding school where i used to work for rides and learnt to ride properly and stable management!!!
Left to go to college and it wasn't until i had left Uni at 23 and got a job i felt i could start riding again so after about a 7 year break i started riding at a riding school, until it got to the stage when i was spending more on lessons than it cost to own my own!!!
I bought a horse (technically my first horse!!!) when i was 26...many moons later I'm still learning and fumbling though horse ownership!!!

It's always a worry that you don't know enough but there are experts out there who will always know more than you, but it's their job to!!!
You can phone people about feed, call a vet, farrier, dentists, back specialists etc for any thing that is wrong with your horse. It doesn't matter if you don't know the name of every bone in your horses body...not many people do but as long as you know the basics you'll be fine.
Try and find a yard where people are friendly and will help you out if you get stuck, build up a relationship with the pros and read loads of mags and books.

You probably know more than you think.
 
I still have no idea how to make worming plans. Instead, I have the knowledge to know I don't have a clue, therefore pay Intellegent Worming to work it all out for me :P
 
I think sharing a horse is a really sensible way of knowing, this is what I did before I made the big step to purchase. As per my post above, they are time consuming, so work out what free time you have and whether you have the money and the energy to commit 7 days a week to a horse. Finding a good livery yard really helps, as does a sympathetic instructor.
 
I wasn't ready - I had a very strict but incredibly knowledgable YO for backup. She stopped me being a typical teenager and riding my pony into the ground (I was keen :p ) and was there in case she went lame or cut herself. She was (and still is!) totally invaluable, and taught me most of what I know :)
 
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