Conference noted::equitation

    Back when I was a riding instructor I gave very strong advice on the
    subject of going out and buying a pony or horse for the 1st time.
    
    1.  Don't do it...yet!  This is a big responsibility and horse care
    takes a lot of knowledge.  There is a lot of work involved if you keep
    the horse at home (maintaining fences, cleaning the stalls, feeding,
    exercising, grooming, being there for blacksmith/vet) and a lot of money 
    involved if you board it out ($200+/month).  If your daughter loses 
    interest when the going gets tough (like in mid-January when its cold and 
    icy out) the care needs don't just magically disappear.  And finding a new 
    home for the pony can take a long time. Also, horses are herd animals
    and really should have another horse or pony around for company.  
    Unless you're prepared for the financial commitments of boarding out
    don't even start the process, because once its in your blood, you're
    done for!
    
    2.  1st - have her take riding lessons at a nearby stable.  Some kids
    who "always dreamed of a pony" find that the reality is a bit different
    from their dreams and lose interest real fast.  Not most kids, but
    some.
    
    3.  2nd - if she still wants one after taking some lessons (and she
    probably will) try doing an on-farm partial lease of a school pony at
    the riding lesson place.  Do it for 1 year so she deals with the
    problems inherent to summer (bugs/heat) and winter (cold).  If
    possible, have it a working board type of sitation.  
    
    Advantages:  you will learn horse care from people who know what they're 
    doing rather than trial and error (which spells disaster for the pony); 
    its less expensive than ownership or full lease; it puts a limit on 
    the commitment time; its a pony she already knows; if it all works out, 
    chances are you can buy the pony; if it doesn't work out, you either
    agree to end the lease of simply don't renew it at the end of the term. 
    
    Disadvantages:  none that I can think of!
    
    Happy thinking!
    Mary

    
    
    
    
    I agree with .1. 
     
    I would also like to suggest your daughter joining a 4-H group.  That
    is how I started out and loved it.  It is a fun way to learn about
    horses.  She would learn horse care, about different breeds, ailments
    and lameness's, how to saddle and bridle etc etc etc.
    
    This will also be a good way for her meet other kids her age to ride with
    and for you to meet other moms.  
    
    Sue
      
    
    

              The first two replies hit the nail right on the head.
    It's a lot of work and time and money etc....Don't jump right
    into it, take the time to be sure.  It will work out better for
    all concerned.
    
                  Bob

    I worked 3/4 nights a week at a private boarding stable.  No one
    thought I'd stick with it (horses....I was born and raised in the city
    of Boston).  I found myself looking forward to the nights I would work
    there, even in the dead of winter.  And this barn had no heat (except 
    for where the office and water was). 
    
    I boarded my first horse at this barn too.  although there were no
    instructors there, I made some wonderful friends.....we are always
    doing horsey type activities together.  And I learned a lot from them
    too!  There is more to basic care than meets the eye.
    
    I bought many books (and got some from the library).  Each book was
    a little different, but the main idea, good horse care, was prevailent
    throughout each one.
    
    I have met many people w/ horses, and some have not had the same
    experiences as I was lucky to have, thus their care boaderlines
    on neglect.  (I wanted a horse, so I built a shed and bought one....  
    what do you mean you're not supposed to feed 4 lbs of calf manna???
    the farrier is supposed to come how often????)
    
    Read books and ask questions.....Michele
    
     
    

    Here is a quick estimate of expenses you can count on for a pony or
    horse (ponies eat a lot less and don't dirty the bedding as quickly, so
    that counts).  As to vet bills...partly luck, but quality of care is 
    critical (correct feeding, safe turnout, clean and safe barn environment, 
    sufficient warmup/cooldown when riding, safe equipment, correct tying, 
    and the list goes on).
    
    basic maintenance (food & bedding): 
    $50-100/month at home	minimum $200/month boarding out
    
    blacksmith:
    $20/trim every 4-6 weeks if barefoot
    more money for shoes, but every 6-8 weeks
    (these times depend on how quickly your pony's feet grow, not you
    budget)
    
    veterinary expenses you can count on: 
    $50-100/year basic innoculations
    (lower amounts if you board out because the vet call is lower when split 
    between boarders)
    
    paste worming:
    $50/year
    
    Plan on the pony costing a minimum of $1500/year if you keep him at
    home, $3000/year if you board at one of the less expensive places,
    remembering that $200-300/month counts as a less expensive place!
    
    Most illnesses and injuries can be prevented by good barn
    management/horse handling practices.  If the horse needs a vets
    attention, itsmuch the same as people.  It just all depends.
    
    Mary

    I got my start by going to a summer camp. This camp had a program for
    teaching children total care of the horse. We learned to ride but we
    also had seminars with vets, trainers,farriers and made a field trip to
    a stud farm. After their 2 month program I knew enough to handle basic
    care. Such a camp could really help find out if your daughter is
    serious, or just going thru the "I want a pony" stage that many little
    girls go thru.
    Sandy
    

    Thanks for all the responses, As I said, "IF".   I knew it wouldn't be
    cheap or easy (is anything?)  but figured I might as well ask.  Mind
    you my daughter is young (almost 3) but loves them, but may easily change 
    her mind, but I do like them too.   Again Thanks for the great advise.
    
    Karen   

    I, too, always wanted a horse.  However, the cost associated with
    it was a little bit of a deterent.  My solution?  I leased.  I had
    all the fringe bennies, along with the learning experience.  All
    I basically knew was that I loved horses, which end was the head
    and which end was the tail...that was it.  I learned quite a few
    things and it was a good way to break into being around the big
    guys.
    
    I'm not leasing at the moment, but I'm glad I followed someone's
    suggestion from the file to try it first, rather than going in hook
    line and sinker.
    
    Good luck!
    
    Lynne
    

    
    I guess everyone gets to the age that they want to fulfill their dream
    of owning their own horse. I am at that age, but I had no idea what is
    required to take care of one. So, I am currently leasing a wonderful
    horse and am learning as much as I can in riding and maintenance and so
    far it has been an eye opening experience and I love it!
    
    What I'd like to know is, what does it really cost to maintain a horse
    properly?
    
    Can anyone develop a good checklist of requirements and necessities,
    boarding costs, etc.?  Kind of like a "starter-list" checklist for a
    newcomer.
    
    And what would you consider to the the ideal horse for someone who is
    not into showing, but riding trails only?
    
    Thanks!
    
    Mary
    

   Here are some other topics which you may find helpful:

    12   3-MAR-1986    21  Your First Horse or Pony
    59   12-MAY-1986   10  Riding for Novices
   966   5-JUN-1989     9  How much time required to take care of the beasts?
  1281   30-MAY-1990    6  Cost/Questions On Vet for Soundness check etc.  

   These notes were located by doing DIR/KEYWORD NEW_OWNER.
 

    Thanks for all the notes in this conference!
    
    Wow, have I learned A LOT in the past 3 months from you Noters!
    
    Questions: I would like to purchase a PLEASURE horse...but pleasure can
    come from doing a job-well-done. I am looking for the right "riding
    mate" but can't figure out the wisest choice. I've read and heard that
    I shouldn't get into a five-year old paint gelding that's green when
    I'm green (3 mths western pleasure once-a-week)...I've gotten over the
    romance that happened cause he's so cute...
    
    1. Should I lease? The ones at the barn I go to I wouldn't have access
       for weekends...after all "Moms" come first! Got any suggestions of
       someone you know? I live in Tewksbury, MA.
    
    2. Should I shop in the Want Advertiser? I have made a couple of calls
       in the $2000-$2500 range...let them know I'm interested in Western,
       might decide to learn English, will definitely sign up for dressage,
       Horse will most-likely be boarded at Aindimar Farms In Billerica,
       but I'm not committed there.
    
    3. Got anything that fits the above description? Oh, I'm an-ex Texan
       that rode for two years of jr high school...all western...so, of
       course, I'm partial to paints, but I'll look at a sweetheart above
       above all else!
    
    4. Should I be reckless and take the challenge of learning with the
       paint?! It kind of excites me, but EVERYONE says "don't do it",
       except my instructor, who knits her eyebrows and says "lots of
       work, but it could happen"...it's not her horse. Oh, the paint
       is Shilo, former stud (stud muffin!) from California, been at 
       Andimar for 3 weeks today, when I "rode" him he just was "duh"
       just like my basset hound! But he did pick up "walk" after 
       20 minutes. There is someone at the farm that can train me to
       lunge line, get his muscle tone back, get him educated. Heck,
       I'm not in this for ribbons, I want a kid! (have 2 teenagers)   
       
    I'm open to suggestions from you experts out there...I'll learn
    from someone else's mistakes!
    
    Thanks in advance, Becky

  In most cases green rider/green horse doesn't work. But...
   IF you are HONESTLY prepared for some tought work ahead 
       *and* you get the right horse (a basicly sensible creature) 
       *and* you work with a trainer or have expertise easily available,
   THEN yes, it can work.

   For every case I know of that worked out, I know of three who didn't work
   out. Some people found they just couldn't spend the time required to 
   work a green horse, some were unnerved by a bad experience, some were 
   just too proud/afraid/embarrassed to ask for help when they were having
   problems, so they just gave up. And even the quiet ones have a few 
   good bucks or spooks in them...are you ready for that?
   
   If you can't make the time commitment, or won't have a trainer or expert
   around, then go for a horse with more training. The more pleasant the 
   horse is, the more time you'll spend in the saddle.
    

    -.1
    I'll second and third that!
    
    Find yourself a good, honest, trained gelding (or mare).  And if it takes
    months of looking, than that's what it takes.  Just make sure you're
    not the one who gets "taken."  
    
    Buying a horse is such an emotional decision!  And it's real easy to
    make an emotional, impulsive decision based on a sweet face.  But I
    have the scars to prove that it can be a major error!
    
    If it's possible, I would recommend a "shopper's assistant" to protect
    you from yourself.
    
    Good luck...I hope you find the friend of your dreams.
    
    gwen
                                   

    Yes, I checked 11,243 and 1290, good info...I was hoping
    to tie some more specific questions down...like is the
    Want Advertiser a good resource for horses. I found my
    instructor and her barn that way. She's agreed to go with
    me if I found someone interesting to look at...and Laurie
    is into HEALTHY horses. They may not be healthy when they
    come to her barn, but she'll work with the owner closely
    to get them up-to-par as quickly as possible.
    
    Same as my riding training.
    
    Someone brought up that Shilo might cause a problem down
    the road because he's been at stud...that he could possibly
    mount again when the mare (?) has a rider.
    
    How long does it take a gelding to "get it out of his system"?

    The Want Advertiser is a good place to find a horse but the same rules
    apply that exist in other advertising mediums.  You or YOUR OWN
    accompanying expert must determine if the horse is the right one at the
    right price.  Never believe what the buyer says about the value of the
    horse, most are honest but some *few* are not.
    
    You can expect a gelded stallion to become disinterested in three to
    six months after the procedure.  This is less a problem when under
    saddle because of the domination of the rider.  A stallion in the wild
    will not attempt to mount a mare if there is a dominating animal close
    by, unless he is willing to stand up to the dominant stallion.  A
    similar relationship exists with a rider, where the horse is in a
    subserviant role.  Having a rider on your back is probably a real drain
    on the libido anyway!
    
    Bob