so what should i know

M

madeleine1

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 June 2010
Messages
1,745
Visit site
everybody goes on about how you should know so much to own a horse and how worried on here they are that people dont no certin things and i sometimes worry thats me.

so riding wise what should i know?

tack wise?

vetinary?

competition?

road safety?

stable and field and yard management?


i know its not easy to put into words but im wondering if anyone whos willing to be so picky about others will share their knowledge.

also in a less sarcastic way would honestly like the know xx

custard creams and hot choc for any really good answers
 
When I bought my first horse I didn't know much at all but I did learn very quickly and had a lot of help and support when needed from friends with experience and some professionals.

My horse never suffered due to my lacl of knowledge.

If you want a horse and you have people who can help when needed then go for it. :)
 
thing is i dont have many people to help. i have 20 years of riding but never at much of a level and a bit clueless about getting them rounded and stuff.

however my yard knowledge is nvq level two or pony club c test level

just wondered what people thought you should know
 
If you want feeding advice you can ring a feed company and ask them, if you want help with your riding you can find an instructor, if you need help on stable management you can ask your YO and if your horse is ill or injured rig your vet. There are also lots of good books on the market that you can learn from so, stop worrying and if you can afford to buy and look after a horse then go for it :)

If you want any books PM me what type you want and I might be able to find you a couple from my collection
 
As first guide you won't better the Pony Club's publication "The Manual of Horsemanship", easily obtained through ebay for very little money.
 
I think it depends on what kind of support system you have and what sort of horse you buy

as long as you have someone around that can help if something goes wrong ie colic or a nasty cut. someone who will know whether you need to get the vet or not. or have the money to call vet out just in case.

A good riding instructor and can afford lessons as well as your own horse

a horse suitable for a novice is the most important

Read as much as you can!!!!!

I do find on here sometimes you get told not to buy a horse until you know things that will take a lifetime to learn. I know some people who have been around horses 20 years but never experienced colic or serious injury so how long should they have waited to buy a horse ??

When we got our first horse we knew so little that we didn't realise how dangerous it could be not too know Luckily we had good advise and help

Sounds too me like you are ready to take the plunge
 
I worried no end about knowing enough, and I think to some extent if you are worried that you don't know enough that it a good sign. It is the people who think they know it all who are the problem.

Like you I've been riding for donkey's years but hadn't owned my own horse. So my advice......

Consider doing something like the Horse Owners Certificate or BHS Stage 1 to brush up your skills and add to your confidence. My friend is taking this route and I think it is very sensible.


Make sure you find a yard that can offer full livery if required, the back up and availability of knowledgeable staff will be invaluable. It is a big commitment and having the option to have your horse done for you is great too. My horse is kept on livery at a yard that is also a riding school, having someone experienced to ask about cuts and to see your horse trotted up etc if you are unsure is brilliant, some people go a step further and have their horse ridden or on working livery too which is great if you aren't up to schooling the horse yourself or aren't confident hacking out.

Have the number of a good freelance instructor who will give you lessons, preferably one you already know and like and book lots of lessons when you first get the horse to nip any problems in the bud and to teach you what you need to know.

Don't overestimate your abilities when looking at horses, and remember that temprement is the most important thing and the thing you can't change. Look for an honest horse that will help you out and look after you rather than one that will try to catch you out. Try it lots, see if you can have a bit of a lesson on it too, see how it reacts to difficult things, spooky stuff and being pushed outside the comfort zone etc.

Good luck in finding the perfect horse, and the perfect yard (it can be the difference between horse ownership being pleasurable and successful or a nightmare)!
 
I never knew much when I got my first but I think experience is more help than anything you could read. U will only know let's say about absess If u have experienced one.
I would say as long as you've got someone for a second opinion, all u really need to know before u buy is how much of a commitment they are!
 
as long as you are sensible in the choice of what type of horse you buy, then you should be fine. obvioulsy an unbroken youngster would be unsuitable and would also probably end with a load of problems for both of you
 
I think that someone with a c test is perfectly capable of looking after their own horse.

As someone else said, other than the basics, you need to know the number of a good vet, farrier and someone you trust - like a good instructor/YO/YM that you can ask for advice.

When we first moved our horses home, my novice husband had to look after them when I was away, and I bought him a book called The Complete Equine Emergency Bible which has loads of advice and photos - on all sorts of topics from cuts to colic to human first aid. I left it in the stables for him (and later for general use when we had DIYs) to refer to if he was worried about anything, and also he knows to call my old instructor and friend if he didn't know anything.

As for competitions - all you need to know is what to wear and rules for the competitions that you are doing.

I think the main thing you need to know nowadays is that once you've got your basic "backup support" - ie your instructor/vet/farrier etc you really shouldn't ask generally for advice, or else you get 1001 different opininons and very confused! Learn to have confidence in those that you trust and yourself!
 
Tiffany said:
If you want feeding advice you can ring a feed company and ask them, if you want help with your riding you can find an instructor, if you need help on stable management you can ask your YO and if your horse is ill or injured rig your vet. There are also lots of good books on the market that you can learn from so, stop worrying and if you can afford to buy and look after a horse then go for it :)
Click to expand...

Many novice (as in first time) horse owners know more about horses (and have clocked up more hours with them one way or another) than a huge amount of first time parents know about babies. You learn all the time on the job with horses, it never stops.

Tiffany's advice is spot on (don't forget your Farrier too) never be afraid to ask questions, or to try different methods of doing things. What works for one person with a cob may not work for someone with a wiley little welshy etc, nothing is written in stone and nobody knows everything.

If people didn't do things until they felt they were absolutely ready for it, we'd never have horses, get married, have children, leave home etc.

I started with ponies in the back garden 40 years ago, my parents knew nothing, just that ponies ate grass, we learned though (sometimes painfully or somewhat embarrassingly, but we learned) and we never killed any of them.

Good Luck.:)
 
Last edited:
I part loaned for several years before buying my own. Though, I must say I wouldn't be as confident in my choices regarding my horse now if i hadn't but thats not to say buying before loaning is a bad thing, so long as you are prepared to admit when you need help and seek advice.

People are too quick to judge or offer opinions and I always say ones given so freely mean very little. There is always more to learn about the animals and the sport so anyone who thinks they know it all misguided at best.
Its wonderful to see people who are new to the game learning and getting to know their horses. Its all to easy to get complacent when you have looked after horses for a while and you forget how you were when you first started with them.

Lord knows your equine friend will make you look like a fool at any given opportunity and have you worrying more about them than yourself!

best of luck to you! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top