13 minute read
Getting Ready for Horse Ownership
FEATURE
So you think you’re ready to own a horse?
A horse of our own! For many of us it’s a lifelong dream, but the reality is tough, writes JANE CAMENS, who came to horse ownership later in life.
Jane Camens with her third horse, Beauty, enjoying a trail ride. Photo: Candida Baker.
Afew months ago I offered to lease one of my horses to a young woman who was keen to get back into horse-riding, but couldn’t go as far as buying one. She looked good on Harley, a quiet easy-going Quarter Horse, and he responded well to her aids. But after several days consideration, she decided she wasn’t ready to take on the responsibility of caring for the horse.
I take my hat off to her. Not everyone is so sensible. To be honest I was one of the many people who bought a horse before I was really ready.
There are many of us out there who buy a pony or horse with no real idea about the time and financial commitment. There’s also a large emotional investment we sink into our horses, and a roller coaster of emotions we experience if the horse becomes ill or lame, or we need to sell it on because we’ve realised that it doesn’t quite suit ourselves or our discipline. It’s expensive to collect horses, and tough selling them, or even giving them away.
My horse journey has had some very rough patches, not only for me but also for my beloved horses. So before you dash out and buy a four-legged best friend, here’s some advice on what you need to know, according to people with a load of experience with horses.
The first thing you need to ask yourself, according to Victorian-based natural horsemanship practitioner and Equine Facilitated Learning coach Elaine Russell, is why you want a horse!
“I know this will be unpopular, but a horse isn’t a toy. It’s a living being. It’s not like a Christmas gift that can be discarded, like a used Lego set,” she says. Her advice is to think carefully about what you want to do with the horse. Different breeds of horses are better suited to certain things. It’s horses for courses, as they say. At its most simple, if you want to do trail-riding probably a Warmblood isn’t going to be your first choice of equine companion; likewise if you want to do dressage a Quarter Horse may not quite cut the mustard for you. (Although, that said, there are plenty of horses that break those rules but the best thing, however, is to stick to the tried and true in the beginning.)
FACT 1
Be informed or beware
Every riding coach interviewed for this article sensibly recommended that before buying a horse you should spend time with people who know what they’re doing around horses.
“If you want a horse, go and learn as much as you can about them and how to care for them,” says Louise Te Oka, coach at Belmont Park Equestrian Centre, in the Northern Rivers. “Hang around with people who have that life experience. Listen to them because that’s their game. I wouldn’t buy a truck without talking to people who know something about trucks, or enter a Thai kick-boxing fight without knowing how to fight. It’s the same with horses. Let people who know about horses help you buy the right horse. To own a horse you have to be committed to it 100 per cent. You have to be responsible for that animal. It’s part of your family and part of your life.”
Tesse Ferguson and her young Warmblood, Charmer.
horse as long as they can, particularly children – who obviously are generally more inexperienced and not as strong as adults. “The longer you can leave it, the stronger and better the rider, the bigger window you have to choose a horse,” she says.
Elaine Russell recommends either volunteering or, if possible, riding with an adult riding club in order to learn more about handling a horse than simply rocking up for a lesson to an alreadytacked up horse.
“Hang out at a riding club or volunteer somewhere like Riding for the Disabled. Hang out with people who know about horses,” she says. But she adds a proviso: “On the other hand, don’t believe everything you’re told. You’ll get all sorts of advice, much of it contradictory. If you have a friend you trust who knows about horses, take them with you. One thing I know for sure is that if you get professional help when you are looking to buy, you have a greater chance of staying safe and finding the most appropriate horse for you.”
FACT 2
There is almost never such a thing as a cheap horse
Many of the give-away horses you’ll find advertised are cheap because their maintenance costs are high. This can be particularly true of off-the-track Thoroughbreds and horses that have had soundness issues.
Tesse Ferguson is manager of the Byron Bay Equestrian Centre. She’s known many people who’ve turned up to ride once a week, mounted a horse that’s already groomed and saddled, and then decided it’d be lovely to buy their own horse or pony. She said that people spot a ‘cheap horse’ on Gumtree and then, later, find themselves in a dangerous situation, or with bills and responsibilities they didn’t consider. As she says: “A three-year-old 16-hand Thoroughbred is unlikely to be a good horse for an inexperienced horse owner, whichever way you look at it. ‘Quiet’ and ‘Off-the-Track’, are generally words that don’t sit well together!”
Tesse runs holiday camps for young people that cover not only riding lessons but also lessons in basic horsemanship. She talks about feeding, grooming, the importance of looking after your tack, and tries to prepare kids for the responsibilities of ownership. She’d like to expand this to parents. “I feel that parents often don’t understand how much they are going to be involved,” she says, “and they certainly don’t realise the expense involved!”
FACT 3
The cheapest thing about buying almost any horse is its price, no matter what that price is!
Just some of the other expenses that need to be factored in include:
Feed, the cost of which varies depending on where you keep your horse and the horse’s particular dietary needs, will
probably not be less than $30 per week – even for a pony.
Will the pasture your horse is on need to be balanced with special supplements?
Do you need to pay agistment (livery) on top of the feed bill? This can be a major expense from approximately $20 per week just for a paddock to anything up to $300 for agistment and feed at an equestrian centre.
• Tack – as well as a helmet, halter, lead rope, grooming kit and rugs, the most important items you’ll need are a properly fitted saddle and bridle, which you’ll want a professional, or someone with real experience, to help you fit. A new synthetic saddle is likely to start at around $800, but if you’re buying leather you might pay many thousands of dollars for a good saddle. We recommend checking out options at The Saddle Hub (equestrianhub.com.au/shop).
• Hoof trimming and/or shoeing – usually every five or six weeks, for which a farrier may charge you between $50 to around $130, depending on whether it’s a trim, two shoes or a set of shoes.
• Worming – depending on where your horse is kept, might be from every six weeks to every three months, which will cost around $30 each time.
• Annual vet visit for dentistry and vaccinations, including tetanus and other vaccinations appropriate for your region. (Very rough price guide: $300-$400).
On top of this, if your horse has performance issues, you might want to have him seen by a body worker. An equine chiropractor, osteopath or acupuncturist may charge from $50 to more than $130 for each visit. And no doubt you’ll want to book more than one.
You might find your horse needs rugging, in which case there are many types of rugs, including summer, fly, winter rugs, and rainsheets, each ranging from about $60 to more than $150.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of expenses. Once the horse-owning bug has bitten, there are endless things you may feel you must have for your beloved horse, and then, of course clothes for you to look smashing in while you’re riding. (Weather, a sound-horse, and time permitting!)
FACT 4
Most domesticated horses need more than just grass and water
French Portuguese riding instructor Mélanie Fernandes Ferreira, head coach at the Gold Coast Equestrian Centre, says the biggest problem she’s found in Australia is that many people have land, which is generally not the case in Europe.
But leaving a horse alone in a paddock with just grass and water isn’t caring for your horse. Mélanie came to Australia from France bringing with her a wealth of knowledge. “A lot of people don’t have the theory or knowledge of how to take care of a horse,” she says. “They get on and ride and don’t see everything that goes on behind the scenes that’s part of owning a horse. Some people know how to trot and canter a little, then they go out and buy a horse which, in a few days or months, if it’s not a horse that is appropriate for their experience, can become dangerous,” she warns.
Horses are herd animals and need company. Elaine Russell suggests that a donkey friend is better than no friend. Horses left without mates can become bored and depressed. “Unhappy horses can turn and even become aggressive,” she advises. “We all need a friend.”
Find out what sort of grasses are in the paddock where your horse eats. There are weeds that are poisonous to horses, and in some regions grasses that don’t supply sufficient nutrients, so your horse will require supplements. Pony club and equestrian instructor Fiona Wilders said that when she lived in Canberra she had to worry about Paspalum in the paddocks. Now in the Northern Rivers she has to supplement calcium for the tropical grasses that can cause Big Head.
Tesse worries about people who don’t understand feeding properly. She tells people to dampen the horse’s feed, but some make the mistake of doing this many hours before they give it to the horse, which can cause harmful bacteria to grow. Particularly in hot and humid weather, this can lead to a horse developing colic, which can be fatal.
Overfeeding horses, or giving it sweet treats and bread, can also lead to
LEFT: Elaine Russell and Louise Crawford at Equitana. RIGHT: Mélanie Fernandes Ferreira, head coach at the Gold Coast Equestrian Centre.
serious health issues. It’s easy to do this out of ignorance, thinking you’re developing your relationship and being good to your horse. Read and learn so you don’t injure your horse.
FACT 5
Vet bills are expensive, professional advice pays off
It’s advisable to have a licensed veterinarian ‘vet-check’ (as it’s called) the horse you want to buy, although many of us baulk at the idea of paying for this. This smaller cost of a few hundred dollars can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars later. I chose not to have vet checks, and have paid a price unfortunately. It’s Buyer Beware where horses are concerned. It’s true that there are honest horse sellers out there, but there are almost as many who can tell fibs, or even bare-faced lies, about a horse’s soundness and temperament. Unsuspecting buyers have even had situations where sellers disguise problems with drugs that can wear off after you’ve owned your beautiful new horse for a few days, or weeks. Of course, some sellers might be ignorant about the horse’s health issues or how to address them, or may not even realise that the horse is not suitable for your particular purpose.
Purchasing a horse or pony that is fit for purpose is an essential part of buying a horse or pony. Create a list and only look at horses that tick all the boxes you’ve made for yourself, with the help of professional advice from your coach. Don’t let your heart overrule your head – work out the most important attributes your horse partner has to have in order to do the work/play you wish to do with it, and stick to the list no matter what.
You’ll also need a good veterinarian, and a licensed equine dentist for your horse’s annual dental check and a vet for vaccinations appropriate to where it lives. You can do your own worming, unless the horse requires drenching for tapeworm.
FACT 6
Owning a horse doesn’t mean you stop lessons
“When you do buy a horse it doesn’t mean that you suddenly don’t need professional advice and lessons. You need to find out what works for you and your horse to stay safe and in control,” says Fiona. On-going riding lessons and horsemanship clinics build your relationship with your horse, help you understand the horse’s language and help you stay safe. You need to be able to recognise when your horse is in pain or scared or angry. A supervised riding environment with an instructor will help you understand what you and your horse can do and what you can learn to do better.
“Lessons don’t have to be riding,” says Fiona. “Ninety per cent of the things you do with horses are not riding. In my opinion, you’re not ready to own a horse until you know the basics of good care. Don’t just fall in love with a horse you find in Horse Deals. I help students vet the ads and put the word out for my students looking for a certain type of horse.”
Remember that you can often fence sit at clinics, which you can do before and after you have your own horse. It’s a great way to attend a clinic and learn tips on a discipline you’re interested in.
Elaine Russell asks beginner owners whether they know why they chose the bit they have on their horse’s bridle. And
do they know how to take the bridle apart, clean it, and then put it back together? Do they know which way to brush their horse’s coat? Do they know when it makes sense to rug their horse? Says Elaine: “These are lessons that can be taught at pony clubs and should be part of the basics.”
The reality may be that, like motherhood, no one is ever ready for the responsibilities that come with horse ownership. But most of us who’ve been on this journey are rewarded by the joy there is in being around horses. That’s why we get up at dawn or plod through the rain, mud and sleet, the wind and the heat to feed our great friends. It’s why many of us have to spend hours each week picking up poo.
Is it worth it? You betcha. Just make sure you’re open to learning and you’re prepared to spend the money and time to make your horse ownership dream come true. Toby the pony and Seth with Elaine Russell. Fiona Wilder and her son Keiran on a forest ride.
