What is the one bit of advice you'd give to a first time owner?

As others have said, a good trainer/instructor is THE most important ally you can have. And that goes for those of us who've been around horses for a while too:)

Ask around, ring up a few people, ask them what their approach is; have a lesson & see how you feel about them. Do they make you feel good about your riding even if you're not terribly confident? Do they correct you in a way that builds you up rather than knocks you down, i.e. is their criticism constructive not destructive? Do they challenge you and your riding ability without scaring the wits out of you? If you have a problem/issue, can you discuss it with them and expect a considered response? What are their own horses like? Are they nice friendly, well mannered/schooled horses? What's their yard like? Clean and orderly, or organised chaos???

If you/the horse you're riding encounter an issue, how do they deal with it? Do they beat the **** out of the horse or do they work with you AND the horse together to find a solution? Are they well recommended locally?

These are some of the questions you could ask.....

Enjoy your riding.
 
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My advice is...

You will find you get a lot of advice off a lot of people, whether you ask for it or not. Be grateful for most of it, listen to all of it but don't believe any of it until you have gone home and researched it for yourself!

Everyone has an opinion. Lots of them differ, they cannot all be right and cannot all be wrong so use all the advice you get to get learning for yourself and you'll be a much better horse owner for it.

Good luck xx
 
I will keep having lessons, it always surprises me the amount of owners that don't. I would always try and find a solution to any problem , I take care of all of my pets because they are my family, my horse would be the same. As for research research more research, no problem.:D
 
Don't stay awake at night worrying if the weather has changed and you think your horse has too many/not enough rugs on. Spent many a sleepless night panicking about this when I got my first horse, but finally got to the stage where I accept horse will not freeze/melt in one night :p
 
Thanks Pigeon, i'll be looking for something as tough as old boots. I do know a person that has dashed to yard to rug up when a rain shower has started. I won't be wrapping up in cotton wool i'll give the horse what it needs. I might still worry though, as a virgin owner I bet that will be normal. Funnily enough I never stressed about my part loan, she got what she needed, and too much more thanks to the owner. Killing with kindness......
 
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