Owning a horse is unlike owning any other kind of animal. They are known for their incredible personalities, stunning agility, and grace, and who wouldn’t want to head out into a field and be greeted by a beautiful piebald pony every morning?

It is the dream of millions to own a horse, but they need a special type of care too. 

Horses have a curious nature, they are intuitive and soft. Which is why they are so fantastic as therapy animals. They manage to communicate in so many ways. 

But the realities of owning a horse aren’t as cheap as some animals, and it isn’t always as glamorous as it might look in the movies. 

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Before you launch yourself into owning a pony, you should ask yourself a few questions:

• Where will you buy your horse?
• Can you commit to daily care?
• What about the affordability of general care, plus emergency expenses?
• Do you know what type of equipment you will need?
• What type of horse will be best for you?

Horse

When you are looking at the type of horse that you want, you have to consider what they will be doing. Are you looking for a horse that will want daily hacking out or a life of being pampered and brushed in a field? Is the horse going to be shown? Is it for lessons and to learn how to take care of a horse in general? If the horse is for you, you will be able to purchase one that suits you almost permanently. If, however, the horse is for a child, you’ll need to consider the rate at which the child will grow. 

Most first time owners will look for a horse that has already been broken in, which means they are trained and used to riders. For a performance horse, you will want one with a strong bloodline, training, and a good temperament. 

Purchase

When you are ready to buy, there are a few things that you can look into. Private sales and auctions are the typical routes. Auctions are a little more tricky, and you should take someone who is experienced in horse buying and know what to look for in a good buy. With a private sale, you will get more time with the horse before making your decisions. 

There is always the possibility to have a horse on loan. 

The purchase can be complicated, and there will likely be a range of people involved. Trainers, insurances, advisors, and occasions lawyers too. 

Daily

The horse will need to have their regular schedule gently manipulated, or stuck to rigidly. You will need to make sure that you keep on top of things that they need for their daily care, which you can do with Equi Supermarket. Stables are a great option for people who will sometimes need extra hands on deck and don’t have their own grounds to house the horse. 

General

In general, horses have a lot of patience and respect for their owners. Taking care of a horse can be a big responsibility, but the returns are huge too.