Question:

I need to know things about horses! Like how to put on a <span title="saddle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?">saddle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...</span>

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I am getting and I HAVE to know where to put the saddle and how to put the rien on and most inportantly I need to know how much it would cost!

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  1. You need to find a barn near you and learn about horses before you even consider buying one.

    As to cost, a horse can be dirt cheap or $50,000, but that&#039;s only the beginning.  There are all kinds of added costs that no one seems to think of until they&#039;ve bought the horse and suddenly have to pay for vet bills, farrier bills, feed and hay, board, tack, grooming supplies... maintenance of a horse will set you back thousands of dollars a year.


  2. Like everyone else is saying, you shouldn&#039;t be buying these things until you know how to use them properly. Find a lesson barn in your area. I know the barn I go to offers intro lessons before you enroll, and they make sure you know how to groom and tack. In my experience horse people are really nice and would teach you if you ask.

    I strongly you also learn how to fit tack to whatever horse you will be using it on, because an ill-fitting bridle or saddle can seriously hurt your horse. Also, with such a wide range of bits available, you need to know whats what in order to pick the right one for you and your horse.

    I ride English, and a good quality bridle can cost 400 dollars and up. You will also need a bit- thats the metal piece in the horses mouth. A good saddle is in the thousands. The tack shop I go to sells tack on consignment, where you could find a pretty good deal. The Dover catalog also sells some &quot;imperfect&quot; saddles that have little bumps or scrapes at a discounted price. Hope this helps!

  3. Before you have your own horse, you need to learn the basics. You need to learn how to groom, tack up, basic care, safety, and basic first aid (and common diseases like colic and founder knowledge). You need to be confident around horses, handling them.

    A horse can cost anywhere from nothing to millions of dollars, depending on it&#039;s bloodlines, training, breed, etc.

    A saddle can be anywhere from $300 for a synthetic to a couple thousand dollars. A girth can be anywhere from $20 to a few hundred dollars.  A bridle can be anywhere from $30 to several hundred dollars. Reins can be anywhere from $20-$200. You also need a halter, which can range from $20 to a couple hundred dollars.

    Keep in mind, on top of tack, you also need grooming tools. A well stocked grooming box can be about $30-$75, depending on what sort of box you use, and the tools you buy. You have to have a hoof pick, a soft brush, a hard brush, a curry comb, and a mane/tail comb/brush.

    You yourself need to have appropriate riding boots (low heeled sturdy boots)($10 at Walmart to several hundred dollars for a good pair). a helmet ($30- several hundred), gloves.

    You most likely will have to board your horse, which is several hundred dollars a month depending on the facility and what they do for you. If you have your own place, you need to have hay, shavings, feed, first aid kit. The amount varies greatly depending where you live and what sort of horse and how good the horse is. But hay is generally $7 a bale, grain is &gt;$10 for 50lb bag, shavings are about $7 a bag.

    Remember you also have to worm the horse on a regular basis (varies on the type of workmer you use) and the farrier comes every 6-8 weeks (cost depends on what shoes and the area you live and the expertise of the farrier). The vet has to come at least annually. If you have an emergency, it can cost over $1000 very easily.

    A horse is a huge amount of responsibility. Your best bet is to take some lessons at a local barn and then decide.

    As far as where the saddle goes, it sits just behind the withers (the bump on the back where the shoulder blades meet). The girth goes just behind the horse&#039;s front legs. It should be fastened snugly.

    The bit goes in the mouth and the reins attach to the bit and go over the horses neck and should rest so you can hold them.

  4. Hi, we all have to start somewhere.

    TACK PRICING

    It’s tempting to want to have all your equipment ready and waiting for your horse.  Improper saddle fit can cause a lot of problems so you’ll want to be able to try the saddle on your horse, and you’ll want to sit in the saddle to try it out for your fit and comfort before you buy it. Same too for the bridle.  

    Prices vary depending on where you go. NEVER buy second hand tack from anyone.  Saddles range in price from a few hundred upto thousands, this all depends on what your buying.  Your bridle too depends on where you buy it ranging from under a hundred to anythings upwards.

    GROOMING

    *********************

    First you need to groom your horse.  This done regularly will enable to you to keep his coat and hooves in good condition as well as monitor his health. Your your grooming kit should consist of:-hoofpick, curry comb, stiff- and soft-bristled brushes, comb and towel.  He need to be either tied up on a loose reign or quick release knot if you groom him outside otherwise he needs to be his stable.  It is always better to have to chase after your horse than to have the horse get hurt if it gets hung up in the rope.  Pick up each hoof in turn and, using a hoof pick, remove all dirt and debris from the hooves, checking for loose shoes and lost nails.   With curry in one hand and a stiff-bristled brush in the other, begin behind the ears and brush the entire coat to remove dirt.  After every few strokes with the brush, use the curry to remove loose hair and dirt from the brush.  Switch to the soft brush, begin behind the ears again and brush with the coat to remove any remaining dust.  Be sure to brush the entire body and use hand while brushing to feel for lumps, bumps and cuts.  Using a small, soft brush, brush the face. Spray de-tangler spray on mane and tail. Use brush, comb or fingers to untangle mane and tail gently. Use towel to give a final polish to the coat.  Apply hoof conditioner as recommended by your farrier.  

    YOU NEED TO GROOM HIM EVERYDAY, BEFORE AND AFTER RIDING HIM.  Grooming him makes sure the coat is free of any mud, dirt or hair clumps that can become irritating under the saddle when being ridden.

    THE SADDLE

    Check to make sure there are no sores on your horse&#039;s back or cinch area. If there are saddle sores present, use extra padding or a girth pad. Though you may want to consider letting the sores heal before riding.  Make sure the saddle blanket is also clean and free of debris and is dry. Place the saddle blanket well forward and pull it back toward the rear of the horse so the front of the pad rests just in front of the withers. Always slide the blanket with the horse&#039;s hair and not against it to prevent any hair from getting clumped under the blanket. Be sure to use a large enough blanket so it shows all the way around the outside of the saddle. Using too small of a blanket will not adequately protect your horse from the saddle and make it very uncomfortable.  Before putting the saddle on also make sure this is clean and dry and that your stirrups are short. Place the girth over the saddle. Ensure you lift the saddle high enough so none of the flaps hit your horse. Gently lower the saddle onto your horse&#039;s back. Place the saddle so at least an inch of blanket is in front. Placing the saddle too far up on the blanket will cause the blanket to work its way backward under the saddle while riding. The fork or swell should rest neatly over the withers.

    Lower each stirrup at a time, don&#039;t just toss them over so they slap the side of your horse.  Always keep a hand your horse&#039;s rump when walking around to the opposite side so your horse is aware of your presence.  Once the saddle is on the blanket, lift up the front part of the saddle pad to create an air pocket between the blanket and your horse&#039;s withers.  Reach under your horse&#039;s belly for the girth.  Tighten the girth just enough so it&#039;s up against your horse&#039;s belly. If the saddle is on your horse in the correct place the girth will be just behind your horses front legs.  The girth should not be able to rub or cut into the horse&#039;s front legs. Walk your horse around to make it relax (some horses will puff out their stomachs and lungs when first putting on the saddle making it impossible to fully tighten the girth.  Then tighten the front cinch making sure it is tighter than snug (you don&#039;t want the saddle to slide off the horse while mounting or riding). Then go to the front of your horse and pull your horse&#039;s legs forward to get any pinch skin out from under the girth.  Mount your horse and once on you can then tighten the girth a little more.  Then adjust the stirrups to your required length.  

    BRIDLE

    Put the reins over the horse&#039;s neck before removing the halter and slipping it around the horses neck.  Put the bit in the horse&#039;s mouth. Make sure to unbuckle the nose band of the bridle first.  Guide the bit into the horse&#039;s mouth, avoid hitting teeth, or getting fingers munched on.  f horse is resistant to opening mouth: Slide a finger into the area on the gums the bit rests on (approximately 2 inches up cheek).  If it&#039;s cold, remember to warm the bridle! Before putting on any piece of the bridle, cup the halter in your hands and quietly blow on the bit (the metal piece that goes directly into the horse&#039;s mouth) until it is comfortably warm.  Slide bridle over the ears.  Attach throat band loosely, it can cut off the horse&#039;s air supply if too tight.  Attach the nose band snugly. Rule of thumb is to see if you can slide one finger in between the horses nose and bridle, this will be a perfect fit.  Put the girth through the martingale (if using one) and attach to the other side of the saddle.  

    TIPS

    *********

    Make sure you put the saddle and bridle on from the left side first.  

    When approaching your horse with an item, always walk slowly so your horse won&#039;t get spooked. Never walk directly behind or in front of the horse.

    Martingales are designed to keep the horse from raising its head too high. Opinions on the need for martingales differ, and depend on the rider.

    When you go to pick your horse&#039;s hooves, bring the horses hoof to you so you won&#039;t get kicked.

    Keep emergency contact information close by.

    To find instructors and trainers in your area, ask your local tack stores. They usually have an inside scoop on who the best trainers and vets are.

    In the winter, be sure to warm up the bit so the horse will not become bit-shy.

    Make sure that when putting the bit in the horses mouth, you do not hit the horses teeth, or they will become sour to the bit.

    With some headcollars, you can slip it around the neck by unbuckling the noseband. This way there is less chance of the horse getting away.

    Make sure the girth or bridle isn&#039;t too small for the horse.

    Riding is a dangerous sport, do not attempt to learn by yourself.

    When carrying a saddle over your arm make sure your sleeve covers your watch and other jewellery or remove them to prevent scratching the saddle.

    Don’t drop the saddle. It is breakable and very expensive.

    Some horses are &quot;girthy&quot;, that is, they don&#039;t like their girth being tightened. They may attempt to bite you if while you tighten their girth, so if your horse is like this, simply be wary.

    Always talk before you walk behind your horse, just to let it know you are there.

  5. This is the horse racing section.

  6. If you are going to buy a horse without knowing these basic things then you have more money than sense!  Oh my god, would you consider buying a car without having drving lessons first?  No!

    Get yourself down to your nearest riding school and book yourself in for some lessons in riding AND stable management.  Horses are very difficult creatures to look after, it&#039;s not like having a cat or a dog.

    I&#039;d beg you to reconsider getting a horse for at least a few years so that you can gain the necessary experience.  I worry for your safety and the welfare of the horse.

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