General to specific: Getting a horse.?

Question

Ok, so eventually (once I have the room and the $$) I'd like a horse. Where do I start. I'd like to rescue a gentle/ ridable one. I don't know about horse breeds/personalities associated with the breeds or anything. How do I pick a horse?

Answer 1

Horses are wonderful to have but a lot of time and money has to be spent on them.  I personally like Quarter Horses they are generally a good natured and solid horse.  I agree with the other answer you need to have the room and the money first.  Your horse is gonna cost you in feed, hoof care (farrier), vet, tack and if you want to haul your horse a trailer.  It is an expensive hobby I think that horses should earn their keep buy doing something ie., barrel racing, roping, or some other kind of sport. It is super fun to compete in something on them and it keeps them happy too.

Answer 2

Choose your breed based on what type of riding you want to do.  If you want to just trail ride and pleasure ride, then do you want to ride western or english?  Or do you want to show?  What events?

If you just want to pleasure ride, I suggest a stock breed, like a Quarter Horse or Paint.  These breeds (basically the same, but the paint has the color) are both known for being very mellow and laid back.  Mind you, its not allllll of them, but as a whole, they are considered a quieter breed.  If you buy something, lets say, between 10-15 years old, its already got at least 8 years of riding experience under its belt, and is kind of middle aged for a horse, so you can focus on your riding skills, and not have to worry about an untrained horse.  Specifically look for something considered "kid broke" for your first horse.  If you get a gelding as opposed to a mare, you will never have to worry about hormone issues.  Geldings are usually very steady.  You can ride a quarter horse english or western, and they are usually pretty smooth gaited to ride.

As for cost, if you are keeping it on your own property, consider price of hay and grain, shavings for a stall, shoeing or trimming bills, vaccines, random vet costs, etc.  If a bale has about 10 flakes, and you feed 4 flakes a day (average for a horse), then how much do you need a month or year, and what does it cost in your area?  

If you've never cared for a horse before, it might even be a good idea to board a horse for a few months or so, so you can learn a little bit from the people at the barn, and focus on enjoying your horse.  Then when you feel like you know how to handle everything, move the horse to your own property.

As a round-about expense list, this is what I pay per year:

Feed/shavings = about $200/month

Wormers = $60/year

Farrier = $720

Vet for teeth/coggins/W.Nile = about $200/yr

Vaccines (I do myself) = $60/year

I know I pay for other stuff, but just for an idea, my expenses before shows, chiropractor for my horse, fly spray, grooming stuff, tack, utilities, etc, is about $3500/yr.

Answer 3

c**p. I answered this price question before and can't locate it. Oh well, I'm not typing it out again. If you would like to look it up the please go to my profile and flip through my questions. I thouroghly listed out what it took to take care of you horse. What I will tell you here though is that you need to forget getting a rescue horse. If your asking that means that you've never had one before and problably haven't hade a lot of experience on horse though you may have. Regardless, unless you have a lot of horse experience then you shouldn't get a rescue horse. They often have lots of problems. It's for the same reason that a parent doesn't buy a ferrari for their 15 year old. They don't have enough experience to handle it or the time it takes to properly take care of it. You need a honda civic. A dead broke horse in it's double digit years. You need to take a friend who knows horses or ask an knowledgable horse person to take a look at horses with you if you buy them dinner or something. You need someone there who knows horses or they may try to pull a fast one over on you. If they horse doesn't have brains, a good personality, and good conformation, then you shouldn't be interested. You say you want to rescue a horse, but since you take the troubled one, an amazing horse gets left in the pasture to rot. There are too many good horses to take in a dead beat. It's not like a dog. I love mutts, but a horse is someone you have to be able to trust just as much as he trusts you. Also, you need to ask the owners to let you take him for a trial period. Unless they think you can't adequatly take care of him/her then this is not a request that a good horse person will turn down. At best you'll buy him at worst they save on feed bills. If they don't want you to do this then watch out, because they are problably trying to cover something up. They may be drugging him/her during your visits. Be prepared to walk away if it's not the horse for you. You need to click. He/she needs to fit with you physically, emotionally, and be right for your riding level. Good luck.

Answer 4

I, personally, would wait until you DO have the space and you DO have the money, and then ask. I have owned horse's my whole life and I find it best with new horse owner's to wait until the time come's then search for a horse. Until you have the space and money to care for a very dependent animal, research on horse care, training, health, I would strongly suggest getting lesson's from your local equestrian facilities.

Good luck =)

Claire

Answer 5

You want an old, broke one.  DO NOT get some untrained 3 year old, shoot for an older (over 10) gelding or mare, that is dead broke and bombproof.  Don't get one over 16 or 17, these can develop health problems.  I would not suggest an Arabian as your first horse, they tend to be high strung, spooky, and energetic.  Same with Thoroughbreds.  I would suggest a Quarter Horse or Paint Horse, they are generally reliable, slow,  somewhat lazy, and unspookable.  Before you buy, take a test ride.  Bring a plastic bag when you go to see the horse, and judge his/her reaction to it being flapped around him/her (ask the owner if it is OK to do this first though).  Never get a stallion, no matter how gentle it seems.  Always get a vet check before buying the horse, to make sure there are no heath problems.  Also, make sure that you can cover food, vet, and farrier bills, not to mention buying all the tack for your new addition.  Buying the horse is the cheap part.  Calculate how much it will cost annually to keep him/her, and decide if you can really afford it.  Too many people buy a horse, then find out that they can't keep it because it is far too expensive for them, then they can't get rid of it.  Do your research first.

Answer 6

picking any type of horse depends on what your looking to do with it. it depends on what kind of riding you want to do, how tall you are and how old you are. You should specify what kind of riding.

for western pleasure/trailriding- I'd go with a Quarter horse, paint or appaloosa. there all come in different sizes but they will usually be good tempered

for English riding- id go with a Morgan or Arabian. they can be a little spirited but not all the time

dressage/andusulians or Friesians  bigger horses but there are still like gentle giants

Answer 7

Boarding can be very expensive depending where you board your horse. Once you have a place to keep him I would look for a nice gelding. I have owned horses all of my life and the first thing a seller says that turns me off is that the horse is kid broke. Horses don't mind a little weight on them, but put a full grown adult on them and see how they tollerate the weight. When you go to look at a horse you want to buy, take someone with you that is knowledgeable about horses. SOme sellers will tell you exactly what you want to hear to sell you their horse. Never buy a horse just because it is pretty. I know people that have done this and have been very sorry. As far as breed is concerned, personally I would stay away from TB's and Arabians. They tend to be a bit nervous and flighty. Do a little research on breeds and narrow them down. Do not buy a mare for your first horse. They tend to be cantankerous and if you do not know how to handle them, you will be in trouble.

Answer 8

for money, i buy feed thats 9 95 a bag, and i had a cheap saddle that came with everything in it for around 600 dollars, and then u need to buy grooming stuff probly about 50 dollars, a feed and water boucket or trough, lead strap and halter is probly about 30

so i would say for "cheap" stuff around 1200 dollars not including the horse

and u pick a horse from research, a horse might be the most beautiful thing ever and go crazy wen u go to touch it, u really cant just see one and say i want it

o dont kno were u like but i have a cheap registered QH and palimino on horsetopia.com for 2500 bucks, great for beginners

Answer 9

I wouldn't suggest rescuing for your first horse. Rescue horses can be a big job, especially if you're new with horses.

So.... money...(monthly)

Monthly board is about $300

Lessons are about $150

Food can be cheap or way expensive, but lets average $100.

So $550 each month, that is if you don't buy any extra tack, brushes, shampoo, blankets, etc.

Answer 10

well first get a trainer. they will teach you all the basics and you can learn how to take care of a horse as well as ride a horse with a trainer.

second get a few books on different areas of riding (from the library to save money) and research different areas that you think you may be intersted in.

third for a first horse you do not want a rescue horse. . . as much as you want to help more times then not it is almost impossible to find one that doesnt have a trust or some other issue that can cause any first time owner a real problem. example: my second horse (unknown to me and my family at the time) was abused and mostlikely abused by a man.  my horse did not like my dad or many men for that matter and the horse ended up charging my dad when he went to feed him. (knocked my dad's shoulder out of place). . . i felt so bad for my horse and my dad. the horse that was abused and my dad b/c he got hurt by my horse.

go to a riding school or trainer and see if they're "retiring" any of their schooling horses. . . those horses can be hard as well but they also know how to teach beginner riders and the basics (and most are dead broke so you can teach yourself with them, ie if you need to give shots or worm the horse. . . shots can be given by almost anyone, but go to a vet to teach you first. . . it's a good skill to know when owning a horse.)

i suggest leasing a horse for a few months to get even more experience. also for first time buyers to board their horse at a boarding barn for 6+months so that if you have any questions or troubles there will be people there to help and know how to help. once you get them to your own place your on your own and the only people near are the vet and your trainer if you call em.  if so happens your horse gets hurt more people are around at a boarding barn to help you and the horse. . . so it's more of a safety thing i suggest. . . but that's just me.

how to pick a horse(my own suggestions):

figure out what type of riding you will be doing.

how much money you have to spend for just the horse.

where your going to keep it and how much a month it'll be (different prices for different areas, as well as different types of care offered).

how much you are going to ride (when i was younger and we lived in the city, we leased out my horse to a girl that was a friend of the family to ride the horse so he'd be getting exersize and have an extra person looking after him and splitting the boarding cost)

what size horse are you comfty with? i know i say that it doesnt matter as much as other things, but it is one of the last things i think about b/c i know i'd never buy a horse too small for me, and not many horses are too big for me, but other people may have that problem of not knowing the size...a horse can carry 20% of it's body wieght, and if you buy a horse that is too short for you, the chances are you are gonna feel like your going to fall off over it's head. (that the problem i face alot of the time when going out riding other horses i dont own).

conformation. . . that's my biggest thing and a major reason i take a trainer with me while looking for a horse. . . the trainer can look at the horse and tell if it has good conformation or not. you can teach yourself(like i am now) but it's always a good idea to take a trainer with you to go shopping, just for that second opinion.

i almost never look at breed unless i want to go to a breed show and win. . . other then that breed to me does not matter, i've owned a quarter horse, two arabs, a national show horse and i choose each of those horses b/c they had the skills to do what i wanted to do at the time, be it trail, jump, show ect. that's really the first thing to figure out what you want and research. some breeds will be better at one thing then another. . . but that does NOT mean that another horse of a different breed cant do equally as well for you.

great example: arabs are kings of the endurance world. . . ask anyone that's the number one answer. but now you can take any gaited horse in an endurance ride and being their fit and ready they can do just as well.

okay i wrote alot so i'm ending it here, i could go on, but i'm sure other's will cover the topics i missed, and if not just drop me a line and i'll dig up some web sites and books that are good.

good luck

edit:

omg i forgot one of the most important thing (the thing i'm ALWAYs warning people about, i must be tired) anyway ALWAYS get a vet check and go for the most expesnive/comphensive one you can get. . . that way you know the horse is going to be sound and healthy when you get it.

Answer 11

Good for you!  Horses are fun but do cost some money.  You will have food, shoeing, worming, vet expenses(hopefully not!), and other basic care stuff so be sure you have a big enough income.  It isn't fair to the animal to purchase it and not be able to give it good care so brush up on that stuff.  Rescue is really good or buy a quieter older horse but if you do that, be sure to have a vet check it out for lameness or disease.  Don't want to get a sick horse! :)  

Your best bet is a quiet Quarter Horse.  In general, they are sweet, laid-back, and in general very nice solid riding horses.  They tend to have good feet and good minds and are pretty easy to work with.  DON'T get one with Thoroughbred influence or what they call "appendix".   It will have Thoroughbred mixed in and be too wacko.  Stay away from Arabians and anything "exotic".  A morgan is a nice solid horse also.  They are smart and solid and pretty easy to keep.  

There is tons of info online about horses and maybe you can find a chat room or something with some good info.  Hope this helps and good luck!