Reprinted from www.equestroom.com/blogs
Are you ready for your first horse?
Getting a new horse is always an exciting time! It would bring you a lot of happiness, as well as responsibility.
Make sure you are ready for your first horse before you make a final decision. Here is a checklist for you, so you can make sure everything is ready to welcome your new friend!
You have to understand the basics of feeding the horse. Each horse is different and accordingly has different needs. The amount of feed your horse needs will depend on many factors, such as weight, age, and physical activity. Consult with your local vet to be confident you are providing the best possible feed for your horse!
Basics of feeding the horse:
There's good hay, and there's hay that can cause health problems to your horse. Make sure you do your research before buying hay for your horse!
Your horse might need other supplements other than hay. It can include separate vitamins or feed that already contains necessary minerals and vitamins.
Water. Fresh water is pretty obvious, but there are a lot of rules regarding giving water to your horse, such as the right timing and amount.
2. Grooming is a very important part of horse care. You have to make sure there is someone who will groom your horse every day if you can’t do it yourself every day. It’s also good to rinse your horse during summer time after riding to wash off the sweat.
3. Finding the right boarding environment for your horse.
You have to make sure barn provides qualified workers that will be attentive to your horse’s individual needs. They have to be very responsible.
Sometimes the neighboring horse might fight with your horse which can even cause injuries to both. Make sure barn workers are paying attention to small details because you will have to trust them with taking care of your horse while you are away.
4. Providing the right equipment for your horse is crucial. Make sure your saddle perfectly fits your horse and try it on before buying. You can also use a table of measurements provided by your saddle brand.
Make sure you always wear some kind of leg protection (depends on which discipline you are practicing with your horse). Wearing protective boots will decrease the risk of injuries. Leg injuries can be very serious and it might take years for your horse to recover (not talking about expensive vet bills).
5. You have to exercise your horse daily.
If you are not capable of doing that, you should hire someone who would lunge your horse or ride it for you. Horses are genetically programmed to move and always be active as they were evolutionally created to “run”.
If you can't afford to hire a person, you can try to do it yourself or tell your barn manager to let your horse out in the pasture (if there is one available).
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