I realy want a horse...

[Kayley]

I know that horses are very dificult to care for. I am only 12 (not very old), my dad said he might get me a horse. I am an experianced rider, i ride every chance i can get. But, i want everyone here to help me with some things:

*What should i look for in a feed? What do you use?

* How often should the hoves be done? Do you know of any good books on grooming?

*Whats a good rate to buy an unregistered, Quarter horse?

*what is a good book to read about horses?

*The sattle and bridle that you have had the best experiance with

*whats a good rate for boarding a horse?

[KatzChinzDogz]

I don't own a horse, but I do look after my Grandpa's horses most of the time since they live right across the street from me and he really likes it when I do. He's getting really old and it's getting hard for him to care for such large animals. Horses do need alot of attention and grooming, and you gotta have strength in yourself because sometimes horses can show alot of back talk to you. You can own a really beautiful animal as a pet if you capture the heart of a horse. You be ready to ride it every day at least, horses need alot of exercise and horses need a gallop around the field (or at least a lead around the field) in order to keep in good shape. Horses need to be ridden as much as dogs need to be walked. I cannot answer all those questions, but I hope my advice helps.

[MangoLaska]

Hopefully you already have a good coach, take lessons at least once a week and ride more often than that, the most important thing is to have a great coach and barn! But 12 isn't too young if you're dedicated and are willing to work really hard, be at the barn every day (rain or shine), and truly love the animals.

Feed depends on the type of horse you have, what kind of work you're doing, the age of the horse, there are a lot of factors! I consulted with my vet about my horse's feed, if you have a barn that you're riding at you can talk to your coach, the barn vet, and other boarders and see what they recommend for the horse when you get one. My pony eats nothing but hay, except when she was competing every weekend, since she is a little pig and doesn't need anything else, but my Thoroughbred needs a concentrated feed even when he's not working because he has more trouble keeping weight on. I personally love extruded feeds, just talk with your vet to pick the appropriate one for your situation.

Hooves should be done every 4 - 8 weeks. Horses that are competing or have special hoof problems need them done every 4 weeks, 6 weeks is for a normal horse, but some can go 8 weeks.

Prices vary by area. Where I am you would expect to pay at least $2500 for a nice, well-mannered unregistered horse with no medical problems or vices.

I ride English, so I don't know much about Western tack. I would assume that the same rules apply, though? In general, get used, because you pay the same amount of money for a used fantastic saddle as you would pay for a new crappy saddle, plus once it's "used" it doesn't keep losing value, and you can resell it for as much as you bought it for. Make sure that the leather is good, the stitching is good, and the tree is good. Make sure that the saddle fits both you and the horse.

Again, I think that boarding varies by area. Where I am, around $350 a month is average. Make sure that your horse will get lots of turnout time, at least 12 hours a day. Personally I would prefer my horses to be out all of the time with a run-in shed, and a stall if they need it for bad weather (ice storms, rain, etc.)

Just read as many books as you can get your hands on! Good luck. :)

[Kayley]

Thanks, i'm probably gonna wait, my dad (i've been taking lessons for normal riding) found me a coach who is going to teach
Show Jumping to me *nervous*......err......i know it's fun, just thought i could use a little more practice LMAO

[wisCOWnsoncheez]

i am 12 years old too. i got a horse last fall. he is a 15 year old palomino gelding, QH. i have to pay for everything for my horse but it's all good in the end. i paid $2,000 adn i'd say for a good horse would cost between $2000-3000. i pay $155 a month for his board at a real nice stable. i took lessons for about 3 years before i got him. i bought a nice saddle and bridle from a catolog called state line tack. the saddle is an all purpouse wintec english that cost $270 but i got it for x mas. i started out with a $30 bridle at fleetfarm but later on switched to an $80 wintec one to match the saddle.

and as for feed, the place that you board your horse should already have some availble for you. but generally horses eat grass in the summer and hay in the winter with no more than a scoop a day of feed. and for board if you keep your horse in a stall it will cost more and the horse won't be as happy. horses perfer living in the pasture with other horses and a place to run around. i wouldn't like to be locked up in a stall all day...but pasture board usually costs $150- $250 and stall board cost a lot more!
and also if you do get a horse never get a first horse that is for experienced riders even if you are one. get a horse between the ages 10-20 years.
i hope this helps!
ps a good book to read thet has everything in it is The Joy of Horses by Joy Roberts. i read the whole thing before i got a horse.
pps i usually trim my horses hooves every month and a half or when they a getting long i just call the ferrier to trim them which costs about $30.
email me back cause maybe we could call each other sometime. by the way where do you live?

[animallover66]

Hey, I just turned fourteen this December. I have not been around horses my whole life, but close. When I was five I rode for the first time, (other than lead line rides) and I loved it. My friends call me "horse crazed". Well, what I am getting to is that owning a horse can be really scary. You have a lot of responsability. If you feel sick, you ride, if it is storming, you ride, if you can't handle it or your horse gets sick or lame, you have to care for them. It's not quite like a dog or a cat. They need you 24/7, and if you forget to care for them, its not OK. I have confidence in you, as long as you take the time to get a horse, and understand what a comitment you are starting. I live in Washington DC, not really "horse country" but I have a horse. We pay 550 a month, which is a bit more than you will probaly pay, I use wintec, its a good easy to care for saddle and bridle thats not soo expensive. Any horsey book you read would be to your advantage. I sugest talking or working with a friend who owns a horse and they can really help you out. Don't foget you need a med set, tack, blankets (different weights), a vet, farrier, mabye a dentist, grooming set, and a whole other mess of stuff. Mabye you should lease the horse first. Sorry about how long this is. GOOD LUCK! :D

[Allyce]

hi,
i am 12 i have my own pony which my mum helps loads shes a welsh mountain pony so needs no shoes she gets 4lb of hay couple of hadfuls of applechaf few carrots and some spearmint treats. Some Pony Nuts in her treatball.

[choco horse]

okay i'm 12 also and this is my advice:
I know that horses are very dificult to care for. I am only 12 (not very old), my dad said he might get me a horse. I am an experianced rider, i ride every chance i can get. But, i want everyone here to help me with some things:

*What should i look for in a feed? What do you use?

okay that depends on what your horse is used too you should absulutly not change his feed as it could upset his stomack so ask the owner you perchase him off, it also depends were you are keeping him, wat sort of work he dose how much work he dose and if he is out door or indoor.
if you do change his feed introduce it too him very slowly so as not to upset him.


* How often should the hoves be done? Do you know of any good books on grooming?

okay your horse will need shoing and trimming evry 8-12 weeks.
i will answer your other question at the end.

*Whats a good rate to buy an unregistered, Quarter horse?

well that depends on what breeding and what type they are so unfortunatly i can not answer that!

*what is a good book to read about horses?

okay this is the answer to both of your questions about the books see if you can find a book called
*THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF THE HORSE AND RIDER*
it is a grate book i got it for christmas it has evry thig and i meen evry thing there is about horses!

*The saddle and bridle that you have had the best experiance with

well it depends wat you ride i meen do you ride english or western?

*whats a good rate for boarding a horse?

well i cannot answer that for you saddly as i do not know what country you live in i think it would be america as you cant get quater horses in england unless it's imported!

p.s good look and i hope this helps you.