7 common mistakes first time horse owners should avoid

The last guest of Nikki’s horses and ponies.

It was my first experience with horses in a long time. I was five years old when my dad took me on a short trip.

However, even though I grew up on a farm with horses and animals, I made some mistakes when I bought my first horse.

This is actually something many horse owners who are first beginning to experience horses do.

They don’t know what to really expect and usually face one or more of the following challenges.

1. Buying the wrong type of horse.

You may have fallen in love with the idea of ​​riding a fiery, lively horse, but if you are just getting started, this is not the horse for you.

Find a horse that is well trained, elderly, stable and safe to learn with.

Once you know what you’re doing, you may find that this is the type of horse you’ve always wanted. Beautiful older horses in a good home are often given a small adoption fee or for free.

Partnering with this type of horse can be a life-saving decision for the horse and maybe even for you!

See also: 101 Questions When Buying a Horse

2. Do not understand all the costs involved.

Be realistic about the cost of giving your horse a good home.

Getting a horse is the least of your expenses. Before you begin shopping for a horse, do a little research to find out what grooming a horse involves.

Check how much you have to pay for insurance, food, forage, hay, vet and farrier care, saddlery, grooming equipment, trailer costs, and utilities.

If you have a lot of pasture yourself, your feed costs will be lower, your horses will be healthier and your veterinary costs will be lower.

No matter how healthy your horse is, you need to visit the vet at least once a year and the farrier should come every two months.

See also: How to cost a horse on a budget

3. Do not invest in some riding lessons.

Horse riding is an art and skill. Nobody can jump on a horse and ride it safely and efficiently.

Before buying your own horse, invest some time and money in riding lessons and volunteer for a rescue service, riding service, or similar organization.

Riding lessons will help you behave in the saddle. Volunteering will help you understand what daily horse grooming means.

Working with the ambulance service gives you a good idea of ​​what can go wrong and what it takes to fix problems caused by poor care, total neglect and abuse.

Formal classes and volunteer work will help you gain confidence.

4. Skip the security measures.

When you ride or work with or around horses, you need to make sure that you are dressed appropriately for the occasion.

You need one ASTM/SEI certified riding helmet, high-heeled shoes, comfortable pants that cover and protect your legs and a long-sleeved shirt.

Without a helmet, you could suffer serious head injuries in the event of a minor fall.

SEE ALSO: 5 Best Selling Horse Riding Helmets Under $100

Without shoes or closed shoes, you could lose your toe if your horse accidentally steps on your foot.

Without an inch of heel, your foot can slip through the stirrup and be pulled in.

With so much skin exposed, you could suffer cuts, scrapes, and/or rashes on the road if your horse escapes through trees, gets thrown into bushes, and/or drags you.

If you decide to ride or work with horses bare-headed, in sheer slippers or canvas shoes and with a lot of exposed leather, you’re doomed to disaster and you deserve everything that happens to you!

The same goes for your horse’s bridle. Always drive with a properly adjusted saddle.

Make sure the saddle and bridle fit your horse and that all clips and fasteners are attached correctly.

Make sure your blankets and pillows are clean and free of tags, bumps, or other things that could bother your horse and horse.

Check your seat belt before you begin your journey and sometimes while driving to make sure it is securely in place. Never drive with an incomplete, broken or damaged saddle.

5. Ignore the correct vaccinations.

Your vet should come in once a year, do a full examination, and give any recommended vaccinations for your area.

If you do not vaccinate your horse, you invite trouble and expense.

Keeping your horse up to date with all of their vaccinations is an inexpensive way to prevent the spread of disease in your local equestrian community while protecting your horse from suffering, disease or even death.

6. Neglecting nutritional supplements in your horse’s diet.

This is actually optional. There are some great formulas on the market these days that (along with plenty of quality hay and pasture) can provide all the nutrients your horse needs.

Discuss with your veterinarian whether a complete feeding is appropriate for your horse.

In some cases (for example, if a horse has a metabolic disease such as Cushing’s), full feed can be processed and very rich.

In this case, the main diet you have to feed is hay and other forages such as beet pulp, and your horse will need supplemental fodder. Again, work closely with your vet to determine exactly what your horse needs.

See also: 10 signs of nutritional deficiency in horses

7. Don’t ask for help ahead of time.

If you have a problem with your horse, whether it’s a behavioral issue, a health issue, or any other issue, seek help if you can’t come to a solution quickly.

Talk to your vet first. Even if the problem does not seem to be health related, your vet can give you good recommendations for professionals who can help you.

In some cases, what appears to be a behavioral problem may be overeating, an improperly adjusted saddle bag, or illness or injury that is causing the pain.

Your vet can help you determine the cause of the problem and make good recommendations on how to solve the problem.

In the long run, this will save time, money, and frustration.