How do i get experience in looking after horses so i can get one for myself?

Question

i dont live close to many stables.

i know the basics but not enough to get a horse for myself.

Answer 1

Check into volunteering to help people care for their horses.  Call the nearest stables and vets and see if they know of anyone who could use help to care for their horse or horses.

Good luck!

Answer 2

There is only so much that you can learn from books, you need to get out and put all the theory into practice.

A very good way of doing this is by volunteering as a helper at some stables or maybe by offering your services to some horse oiwner who could need a hand ( be sure to let your parents check them out first though.)

Answer 3

you should try to work for somone at a barn and that will get you money and time to spend with the horses. workin at barn will give you experience with all barn animals

Answer 4

The only thing I can tell you is how it related to my personal experience. I was growing up in the city, very young and no money, come from a poor family and the nearest horses were about ten miles away. I had to be near horses for whatever reason it's how I'm wired. I walked to the nearest stables which were actually the horses of the county police and I watched the horses from the fence. I read every book I could get my hands on and watched every movie or TV show that had horses in it. I wasn't just watching I was studying.

  Whenever I could get transportation or I walked the countryside knocking on every door that had a horse in the field. I simply begged to be given a job working with their horses and my pay would be riding and learning time.

  One woman finally called me back and allowed to me ride an hour for every hour I worked and I got to keep track of the time. I mucked many stalls, groomed horses, installed windows and put up guttering and doors on her barns.

  She was very nice and got me started in horses. In a two year period, I was driving a car by then, I was training, shoeing, riding and breaking horses.

  It's determination, if you want something bad enough you can achieve it. Thirty three years later I'm less involved in riding, getting old, 50 with many injuries from rodeo and horse breaking. I still help people with their horses and love being around them.

  Good luck, go after it you'll get there, be patient.

  Most of all, I commend you for trying to educate yourself about horses before running out and getting one. I seen people do this before and it's not a smart thing to do. Congratulations on your integrity and intelligence. Respect the horse and it will respect you.

Answer 5

You know, I was happy when I read this question.  Most people on here say, "How do I get my parents to buy me a horse?", when they have no experience at all.  I am happy to hear you actually want to learn before you get your own.

Okay, so to answer your question, you can try several things, but I would recommend trying everything I list so that you learn the most you can.

1.  Read lots of books.  But remember, you can't get hands on experience from books.

2.  Volunteer at a stables.  Since you don't live close to any, then try going 1 or 2 times a week.

3.  Maybe you live close to someone who owns horses.  Why don't you ask them if you can work or just help out.

4.  Go to some clinics.  Normally people can sit in on clinics (which means you don't have to be on a horse, you can just watch).

5.  Do some research on the computer, but once again, you won't get hands on experience.

6.  Order some videos that professional horsemen have made, so you can get more of a feel of what to do.

I hope this helps!

Answer 6

I was horseless growing up and couldn't be around horses nearly as much as I wanted to.  I read alot.  I read books about horses, I read magazines about horses, just about anything I could get my hands on.  We had stables near my home and I would go down there just to be near horses.

Eventually I grew up and was able to purchase property where I could keep a horse.  I had some idea on how to properly care for one and soon bought two horses and got some horsey friends and have had not big problems.  My biggest fear was hurting them through my own ignorance but all the reading finally paid off.  There is nothing like practical hands on experience though.  It would be nice if you can take riding lessons for awhile.  You can learn to ride and you can learn to groom and tack them while you are there.

There are horse camps you can attend too.  Check in the back of your horse magazines for ads.  Perhaps your parents will let you go to one.

Answer 7

Volunteering any where you can.

Answer 8

Thers no point in reading books upon books of " How to look after your horse" or "How to ride a horse" because to be truthfully hones ther full of s**t !  Just like diet books for people half of the herbs and oils they use in ther recipies we have never heard of and never will and dont do any thing anyway! Jus like horse riding books e.g in book life u are ment to visit your horse every half an hour from 8 o'clock am to 8o'clock pm and in reality life twicw a day will do if your horse is stable kept and if your horse is filed kept once a day is fine!.... as for knowlage LEARN BY YOR MISTAKES ... YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE 2 LEARN FROM ANY ONE ELSES.. trust me on this one! I My parents do not hav a CLUE about horses and decided to by me 1 ! i was only 7 and didn hav a clue about horses myself! My pony was kept in a feild so ther was no1 2 tell me what i was doing right or wrong ... i learnt for my self! putting the bridle on seriously took me about 2 weeks lmfeoooo.. but falling off all the time and making minstakes make u a much btta rider because u tend not 2 do the same things again..aslong as your horse is regulary checked by someone who knows something about horses or is kept on a yard with other horsey people they can offer advice to u ... honeslty in my lie iv had 4 riding lessons from riding schools!! and about 12 from personal trainers and no im riding a pony for an international  horse rider helen rees she still cant belive that iv had like practicaly NO lessons ... making my own mistakes and not knowing what i was doing made me an extremely confident rider! iI compete all over the UK came 1st 2nd and 4th in the English Home Pony International... 3rd  6th in Blue Chip... 4th UK Internationl Derby... 1st 2nd Scope  Btw these classes range from the heights of 1.15 to 1.25 these wer sum of the classes that i managed 2 achive on helen rees'es  "Dreams of Stcaddo"..

Just do whateva u feel is best .. Good luck .. I made it GOD only knows how.. btw iv broken nearly every bone in my body but its been worth every break :D

x x x x

Answer 9

I would read lots of books. The Pony Club Manuals are fantastic teaching tools and give you a way to measure your progress. They teach english/eventing for the most part but all the horse management information crosses over into any disipline. The info in the books is also extremely reliable. After a point through, there is only so much a book can teach and you will need to find a stable near you to work at. You also might want to look into leasing an experienced horse on the owners property and getting the owner to show you the ropes at first. I know some nice horses that the owner has just gotten to old (or advanced) to ride the horse but is keeping it around.  I know this situation is hard to find but it is a really good learning experience. Good Luck

Answer 10

well, you need to be willing to take out the time of driving and being with your horse. you also have to realize the exspenses of caring for a horse. find that time first.

Answer 11

read alot, take horse riding lessons, and speak to horse owners at country fairs. my daughter took riding lesson which included learning parts of the horse and how to care for them.

Answer 12

Do\nate your time at a local riding stable as a tack helper

or a stable service person for free or for the riding in exchange for cleaning and brushing services. care and feeding of the stockk or border. there are riding stables all over everywhere within 30 minutes of most places in the bayarea. cheers volunteer

Answer 13

Ride at a lesson barn is going to be your best offer! You said many stables...pick one of the few stables!

Answer 14

The volunteering people have mentioned is a good idea. Also, read ALOT of books. May I suggest you start with mine, lol - http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

Good luck, feel free to email me.

Answer 15

volunteer at the nearest horse barn. ive been going to a horse barn for at least 5 months and i know all about taking care of a horse. but i only go like once a week so it really doesnt take long. if you have a friend that could help you out that has a horse that would be a good idea too.

Answer 16

The most likely source to use outside help would be a rescue.

Contact some local vets and find out who and where.  Perhaps they could put you in contact with other volunteers for a carpool.

Living close to a stable or not, you're going to have to find a way to get there to do the work.  Being somewhat older and having faced different challenges and finding solutions when I thought none were available, I've learned that we find ways to do the things that are important to us.

Answer 17

Start taking lessons. If you have a family friend or someone close by who is horse savvy try them first and see if they mind if you tag along once in a while. Also it may help for you to attend some shows. Just sit and watch...you can learn alot from that. Also as stated many times above...volunteer at local horse facilities. Dont bother with vets. They only take on co-op students and vet students and unless they are very large usually dont bother with teenage volunteers.

Answer 18

I have had horses in the past. They are very expensive. from vet bill to throwing a shoe. The price you have to pay to board them is the price of an apartment.  then there is food and grain. Then you have to buy tact. Which can be extremely pricey. you have to be picky about where you board them, Some places are cheaper then other but the cheaper ones don't care for your horse.

I would suggest going to a stable and take riding lessons. it is hard work having and caring for a horse. A horse will cost you anywhere from $2,000-$5,000. Then the stable cost $500+ a month. vet bills are anywhere from $250-$500 depending on the issue. To have them shod(shooed) is over $100. Every time. then you have to pay the for the vet to come out. If it is an emergency call it is more. Sometimes they get rain rot from being outside. The long and short of it is that they are so expensive!

I would suggest the ridding lessons maybe working at the horse barn. first before buying a horse. I know that having one sounds like fun but the fact is the cost is unbelievable! you would need to have at least 15K in the bank up front for a horse.