Learning to Own & Care for a Horse

[gisselletdean]

I have wanted to own horses for most of my life. Growing up with a veterinarian as a father, I have always had a special place in my heart for animals, as many of you on this board do. For as long as I can remember, I have had an affinity for horses. I have ridden several times throughout my life and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I am getting to a point where I want to put more into learning about owning & caring for horses as I have a little over a 1,000 acres in the Hill Country that I would like to be able to run on horseback. I would like y'alls input or advice as to how I can learn more and become a better rider.

I live in Friendswood and we have an equestrian center right down the street where I can take expensive lessons, and I don't doubt that my riding would improve, but that isn't going to teach me the most important lessons of owning a horse. In a perfect world, I would like to find someone who has been riding and owned horses for many years, someone who would be willing to let me take some of their work off of their hands so that I can learn the real part(s) of ownership. Someone who would give me lessons in exchange for my taking work off of their plate.

When I was in the military we had an equestrian facility on our base where we could volunteer and take lessons at decent prices and I kick myself for never really taking advantage of that. In all fairness, we rarely had any "weekends" where I could have, but I would kill to have that opportunity again.

[Cyrilesther]

I would recommend leasing a horse-This is an excellent way to find out if you really want to jump off in an investment

[capabilitieso]

Owning a horse is such an amazing experience, but it does come with a lot of responsibility. The first thing to remember is that horses need a lot of care, both mentally and physically. Make sure you have a good stable or pasture for them to roam and get enough exercise. Regular grooming is super important, too – it’s not just about keeping them clean, but it’s also a great way to bond with your horse. You should also look into things like proper feeding, hoof care, and keeping up with their vaccinations. If you're just starting, it might be a good idea to get some gear and supplies from a place like ranchhand.store to help you get going.