Horse caring questions...

[lovechick]

I wanna get a horse, but I'm not sure if it will fit in my budget, because horses are really expensive to take care of.. is it really expensive? I got some books from the library about horses and I know they need right food and vet visits and shoeing are one of the most important things.
I was wondering, how much approximately does a horse eat in a day, and what food, I know theyre outside grazing alot of time, but how much do they eat other than grass? About shoeing, I think it says in a book every 6 months.. is it still necessary, to shoe the horse so often if you dont ride it much? and is shoeing expensive? about vet visits, I read the you have to take your horse to a vet like every month for de-worming or something like that, and is it really expensive to do that? cause every month I think is too much.
I know i'm not to experienced and i need to do more research and i might not get a horse afterall, maube later when i get my own place.. But it will be really helpful to know these things..
I love horses theyre just so adorable!! see I even changed my avatar to a horsey one, lol
<---------------------------------------------:eyebrow: :flippy: :eyebrow:

Thanks a lot!!!

[SacredWarGirl23]

Hey,
Really on how expensive it is depends on how you take care of it. Are you going to board it? If not how much pasture does it have? My horses have a 9 1/2 acre pasture so really they just get sweet feed. We usually give them hay but we have a big round hay bale in our barn. They can eat on that and grass. You do not have to shoe your horses unless you are going to be riding them ALOT on hard(pavemented) and rocky ground. Mine have never been shoed, except one because he got a rotated bone in his ankle, but I don't show. I'm getting in to barrel racing so I might have to get my mustang shoed. Our farrier only charges $26 to shoe. And about the de-worming, you can do that yourself. You could go to a horse supply store and get a de-wormer like Quest, but if you are getting a mustang don't use that kind. There are many different kinds. If you don't know what kind to get ask your vet and the vet should be able to tell you what is the best kind. With pregnent mares you would want to use a gentler de-wormer. If you need to know anything else I would be glad to try and help you if I can.
Good luck
Haley

[lovechick]

Thanks for reply, i also wanted to ask some more questions.
about food, i wonder if hay and grass is enough, I think they should also eat like oats and other grains for protein and get vitamins. About shoeing, how do u tell if a horse needs to be shoed? do u look at shoes and see if theyre worn out or something? cause I dont think i'll ride on hard ground, theres a horse trail in forest by our house and the ground is soft there. now about de-worming, If I buy that medicine in equine store, how much it costs (about) and is it every month I have to give it to horse?

I also wanted to ask where do u buy horses? I know there are horse auctions, but how do u know where they are(location&time)? can u just buy a horse of a clasified ad? Can u adopt a horse from a rescue that u can also ride it? and when u buy a horse is it necessary to take a vet with u to ensure the health of a horse? And what is the evarage price for a horse? maybe a thoroughbred.

Thanks a lot!!

[MagnoliaFly]

I wouldnt advise buying a horse at an auction unless you have a vet with you or a REALLY experienced horse person. Some horses that are sold there have alot of health problems and some cant be ridden.
Shoeing isnt necessary (unless like she said, are riding on hard ground or competing alot), but getting the hooves trimmed are. It depends on what farrier you get to how much it costs.
Keeping a horse is very expensive. The cheapest board fee for an app I was going to buy was 200 a month. That didnt include vet bills, shoeing, a stud fee if I planned on breeding her, and training fees. Horses can get sick easily and for no reason sometimes and vet bills can build up.
Different horse breeds eat different amounts. Thoroughbreds eat ALOT and require alot of excercise. Every horse has a different dietary need. Some are easier than others to keep.
Find a barn owner near your town and talk with a trainer or horse broker to explain to them your budget and level of riding training. You dont want to get a green horse that has never been ridden if your just starting lessons.
Not only do you have to worry about buying the horse, getting feed, fencing, a lean-to or shelter, but also a blanket for the winter, bedding for his stall, hay, ALL your tack equipment, feed buckets, a horse trailer if you plan on transporting it anywhere,.... the list goes on and on.
You may want to find a place that leases horses. The stable you ride at may do this, it is somewhat cheaper than buying the horse outright and it can include board in some cases. Be sure you ride and spend time with the horse before you spend any money on it. Horses like and dislike certain people just like humans, and you wouldnt want to bring a horse home and find out it hates you.

[lovechick]

Thanks a lot for the info, as I said i'm not sure i'll get a horse maybe someday later when i get a job of my own and the lady who own the equine center where I ride is a vet and she knows a lot too, so I might ask her too.

Thanks again

[SacredWarGirl23]

How much pasture will it get? Really I think that you owuld need to give them atleast just plain osts too. My horses get sweet feed also. You would probably need to get your horse a salt block to and mayde even a horse power block(it has the minerals). If a horse need shoeing they would probably have really cracked hooves and possibly some hoof problems. If the horse has had any hoof problems before like a rotated bone in the ankle or gets lame alot because of rocks I would shoe it. About the de-worming talk to your vet. If you go through a farm suppy store or a catolog it would be cheaper. About the buying I don't think you should start off with a horse from a auction or a rescue group. They can be meaner because they have been abused and don't trust. If you get a horse I would say that you should get one from a farm or if you know someone that knows someone that has a horse. Also I think you should start off with a gelding. They are usually the calmest. A good ranch gelding.
Haley