How can I ruin a perfectly good horse?
OK - this is a rhetorical question, but I wanted a forum to post a few of horsemanship that people need to read from time to time.
HOW TO RUIN A GOOD HORSE _Top 3 TIPS for NEW OWNERS!
1) Love him to death.
Treat your horse as though he has no needs except to be there for you. Make sure that you spend every waking moment with him, groom him for hours on end, play games with him, keep him from his herdmates, worry about every muscle twitch and hair out of place. Never step back and wonder if the horse really likes this - of course he does! He is your best friend - your only friend.
2) Train him yourself.
Good trainers are too expensive, and besides, you've read at least two training manuals and watched videos galore about how to train horses.
3) Bring him right home.
You have a new barn and a pasture that is just begging for a horse to live in it. He will love all of the room and the peace and quiet. He has you for a companion, so he doesn't really need other horses in his herd. Plus, he knows how much you love him and he can forgive any mistakes that you might make in feeding and care - he understands that you have to start somewhere.