So you want a horse...
I don't blame you. I started wanting a horse when I was about 2 years old - after the first time someone took me for a ride. Horses are beautiful, majestic ,and powerful - and it is easy to fall in love with them.
Before you can have a horse, you have to have someplace for him or her to live. That means at least an acre of ground, because horses need to run around and keep their muscles exercised, just like you do. If you live in the city you can board your horse at a stable, but then you need to get there often to see him.
The cost of feeding and caring for horses will depend on where you keep your horse. If you already have land, then the cost for his housing will be the cost of a fence and some kind of shelter for him to get under when the weather is bad. Feeding him will cost less at home, too, because at a stable you're paying for someone else to feed him, and probably to clean a stall. Then you have to add in the cost to get to the stable as often as possible.
The price of hay is different depending upon where you live and what kind of hay you feed. I buy grass hay, which is delivered to me for $125 a ton. My horse needs about 2 tons of hay to get through the winter months, and he has plenty of pasture and green grass for the summer months. If you fed your horse grass hay all year long, you'd need about 5 tons. It could be more or less depending upon the size of your horse and the amount of exercise he gets.
Then you need to buy grain. If a horse has good hay and doesn't have to work too hard, he doesn't need much grain. It's more like a treat. You can probably figure on spending $10 to $15 a month on grain. Salt blocks are inexpensive and last a long time - so maybe $5 or $10 a year is all you need for that.
Dinner time...
Horses also need immunizations every year, and de-worming medicine 3 or 4 times a year. The cost of immunizations will depend on where you live and what your vet charges. De-wormer costs about $10 per dose and you can give it yourself - although sometimes the horse objects and it turns into a big job!
If you're going to be riding on hard surfaces, your horse will also need shoes. Where I live that costs $80, but the price varies from place to place. Those shoes need to be taken off and re-set every 6 to 8 weeks because a horse's hooves keep growing even when there are shoes nailed on. During the times of year when you won't be riding, the shoes can be removed.
That's a general overview of the cost of feeding and caring for horses. So what do you get in return?
Love, friendship, a wholesome hobby, exercise, fresh air, and a big responsibility. When you have a horse you are responsible for his or her well-being.
- You have to make sure he's fed on time every day and always has plenty of fresh water to drink.
- You have to protect him by making sure no "junk" like metal or broken glass gets thrown in the pasture where he could get hurt.
- You have to make sure no neighborhood kids or dogs bother him,
- You have to keep his stall cleaned
- You have to brush his hair and check his hooves to make sure there are no rocks stuck between his shoes and his hoof.
- You sometimes have to put his needs ahead of your own when you want to go play but your horse needs attention.
Sometimes, you even have to give him a bath. Here's an Icelandic horse getting a wash down:
You also have to practice patience and understanding. Horses don't respond well to temper tantrums and yelling. If you want your horse to do what you wish, you have to be gentle but firm. You have to move slowly and speak softly, but with authority.
Even if your horse is well trained when you get him or her - which is what I recommend for a beginning rider - you have to learn to give your commands consistently so the horse knows what you want. And when he doesn't quite understand, you have to patiently tell him again, without losing your temper. Your horse will lose respect for you if you blow up.
Horses are very smart, and a good older horse will help you learn what you need to know by being as patient with you as you are with him. When you work in partnership, you'll soon be having more fun than you ever dreamed of.
Arabian horses have sometimes been called "too high strung" for young riders. But the truth is, well-bred Arabian horses are some of the gentlest, kindest, smartest horses in the world. They just don't react well to rough treatment. If you hit your Arabian horse or yell at him when he knows he didn't do anything terrible, he'll get excited and act goofy. He'll also stay mad for a long time!
Right now, I'm dreaming of buying a new horse this summer. I want a Bay Arabian Gelding, so I've been looking at web sites and learning where good Arabian Horse Breeders are near me. I'm even looking at websites for Arabian Horse Breeders who aren't near me, because it's fun to see the pictures of those majestic horses.
Is having a horse worth the work and self-discipline? Absolutely!
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