14 GAZETTE 19 April 2012
GazettePETS PETS
Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THE FACTS: WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN YOUR CHILD ASKS FOR A HORSE
Horseplay can cost, so beware o your little darling thinks it would be “fun” to saddle up and ride her own pony. Ah, bless. I mean, you’ve scrimped and scraped your few euro together, sacrificed your monthly manicure and sent her to horse-riding lessons every Sunday morning for the past six months. But it’s backfired. Now she’s begging you until y o u ’r e a t b r e a k i n g point. What’s a hassled mam to do?
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Should you buy her a pony, I mean; it’s nice for her to have an interest in animals. Right? To be honest, as a mam I would want to make sure my child had a “passion” for horses, rather than just an “interest”. Yo u s e e , h av i n g raised two children to
adulthood, I know that an “interest” is nearly always just a passing phase, that will fizzle out and become so last year; kinda like that whole major Blondie look you had going on when you were 14. (Or was that just me?). So mammie dearest, before you take your daughter horse shopping next Saturday, keep the following guidelines in mind.
Riding lessons for at least six months to a year. This will give your daughter the opportunity to learn from a professional who will be familiar with her abilities and who can be available in case she requires help. It will also give her an insight into grooming, handling, safety, etc., as well as the obvious, riding.
What type of horse does she want? Can you afford it? A mare or a gelding should only be considered. A stallion will be far too difficult for her to handle and can prove dangerous. Remember there is no such thing as a bad horse and all horses need training; patience and quality time is the key. Personality is impor tant. Ask your daughter to have her instructor give her a selection of horses to ride over the course of her lessons, and have her list the things she likes/dislikes about individual ones. Does she like the quiet, laid back animal or does she feel the need for something a tad feistier? Would a pony be better suited to her needs?
Horses can cost and be time-consuming, so weigh up the pros and cons before buying
What type of riding is your child interested in? Competitive show jumping? Trail riding? Does she just want a companion animal? Where will she keep her horse? Do you have a boarding stable on your land? If not, is there one locally? Can you afford the rent? Remember mam, if W W 111 b r e a k s o u t ever y time you ask your daughter to clean her bedroom or do her homework; is she really likely to give a commitment to this horse?
She’ll need to give the animal two hours a day, five days a week – minimum. Half an hour to groom and tack up, at least one hour to ride (remember a happy, healthy horse is the one that is ridden at least five times a week), another half an hour to cool him down and settle him back into his stable.
Monthly Budget? Boarding! Do you have a stable at home? Do you need to rent stables? There will be a cost for feed, hay, stall bedding, etc. What happens if your horse becomes ill? You’ll need to have
access to an equine vet. They cost money. You’ll have recurring expenses like a farrier, vaccinations, worming, tack and other supplies such as grooming brushes, first-aid kit, a good quality shampoo, etc.
Worst Case Scenario? When you take ownership of a horse, or any animal, you give an undertaking to care for him for the entire duration of his lifetime. However, what if something happens to your daughter and she can no longer ride her horse; or you lose your job and can no longer afford his upkeep.
You can’t just abandon him and hope for the best. Abandonment is cruel and punishable by prosecution. Horses can live until they are 30 years old so, in the event you can no longer take care of him, it’s your responsibility to find him a new home in an environment best suited to his needs, with an owner you can trust implicitly. Remember, finding that special new owner can take time and lots of research. For more information, contact your local equine vet or log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie