What are some things I need to know about owning a horse?

If you really want to get a horse, I'd suggest taking riding lesssons for at least a year and preferably more. This will teach you important horsemanship skills that you'll definitely need when you have your own horse. If you've already done that, here's some stuff that's important to know:

- how to tell if your horse is sick/injured/lame, and what to do

- basic horse care: haltering, leading, grooming, blanketing, riding, lungeing, bandaging, tacking up, etc

- how to deworm your horse, and how to make a schedule for that

- what to feed your horse (if you're not sure, consult a vet - it varies from horse to horse)

- how often to get your horse's teeth floated (generally once a year for mature horses, every 6 months for young/old horses); how often to get their feet done (generally once every 6-8 weeks); how often to get the vet out to give your horse shots (generally once a year, spring is best)

Basically you need to be able to deal with any situations that might arise with your horse - eg, if you get him one day from the field and he lost a shoe, or if you notice that he is getting bad bumps from bug bites in the summer, etc. Really the only way to do this is experience. It helps to board your horse somewhere reputable with a good barn owner who has plenty of horsey experience, so that if you need to ask questions (and believe me, you will!) you'll have someone trustworthy.

Major costs:

- horse: costs vary enormously!! If you're looking for a project horse that's green but workable, you can probably get one for $800. If you're looking for a horse who's well-trained, good age, knows what they're doing, but isn't super fancy, you're looking in the $1500-$4000 range. If you're looking for a show horse, probably $5000 and up. That's in my area though and horses are fairly expensive here.

- boarding: depends on whether you want pasture board or indoor board. Pasture board (no stall) is around $150 to $350 a month; indoor board (stall at night/in bad weather) is generally around $450-$750 a month (in my area, again)

- tack: you can get a used saddle of decent quality for around $500 and a bridle for like $60; or show quality stuff for $2000

- farrier: you're looking at around $40-$100 every time he comes

- vet: $200+ mine only costs $200/year since my horse is super healthy and he just comes once a year, does her teeth and shots, and leaves...if your horse injures himself, this will go WAAY up. Vets are extremely expensive

- There's loads of other stuff you'll find out on the way ;)

Good luck :)

There are endless things that you need to know, and that's why there are countless books written just for the purpose of educating new horse owners. However, if I had to narrow it down, I'd say that these are some of the most important things to know:

1) Horses have extremely delicate digestive systems and can't throw up. They colic easily and can die in bad cases. Make any feed changes very gradually (like over the course of a week or two), don't let them eat lawn trimmings, and try not to feed them in a sandy environment (get a feeder if you need to)

2) LESSONS come first, then LEASING, and then finally owning. Make sure that you have a good grip on basic horse care and riding before you go to purchase. When the time finally comes, the biggest mistake people make is going too cheap and/or too young and inexperienced. Your first horse should be at least 9 or 10 with several good years under it's belt. If you can't afford to buy an appropriate beginner horse, you likely won't be able to afford care either and shouldn't be getting one at all. If you think that you can buy a green horse and you two can learn together, let me tell you right now that that is incorrect. Green on green makes black and blue.

3) When in doubt, ask your vet, your trainer or instructor, or other knowledgeable people in your life, especially if it's important (not people on the internet).

4) Invest in good equipment.

@River Lopez: STOP SCREAMING

Major costs -

Hay - $6 / bale, at least where i'm from. Total of about $200 a month.

Grain - $20 / bag. I use 4 bags between two horses in a month, so $80.

Boarding - varies from place to place, generally in the $350 area. I pay $160 for both of my horses.

Vet - this is the bare minimum, annual check up-y cost $300 between both horses.

Farrier - barefoot trims are typically $30 every 6-8 weeks, being shod $60.

Plus all the little extras - tack, tack box, emergency vet kit, then I have an account at my bank specifically for any accidents or emergencies (which horses are very prone to)

What you need to know-

Horses aren't a hobby you can pick up then put back down whenever. Their welfare will come before yours. If it's 40 degrees and raining, and your sick, Mr. Ed still needs to be fed. Stalls need to be cleaned daily, fresh water is a given. Picking out feet everyday after he comes in from being out in the pasture. Basic things like that. Hang out at a local stable and you'll get an idea. Hard work.

Well you need to first have a place to keep it! This can really change things. If you board the horse, then you won't have to buy things like feed buckets, you most likely won't have to buy feed or hay. You need grooming supplies, a halter and lead, tack, a helmet, etc. You need much more experience before you buy! Major costs (not gonna say the actual prices, because it varies so much!): Board, feed (if you keep the horse at home or your barn doesn't provide it), tack, vet, farrier, show and haul bills if you show, and of course the cost of the horse.

To anyone who's going to call her stupid, chill out. It's not like she's one of those little girl who "wantz her poneh rite nao".

I'm not even going to bother typing out "everything" you need to know because it would take forever and a day but with some googling, books and (of course) lessons, you should be able to own and properly care for/ride a horse in a few years. Don't rush into it, it's a huge commitment to own a horse.

owning a horse is A LOT OF HARD WORK MONEY AND TIME AND RESPONSIBILITY,

horses are not like owning cat or dog, my personal opinion is study as much as you can and get as much hands on experience as possible, take lessons help out with barn chores, know the common illnesses and injuries with horses, know the basics of riding as well, what horses eat how much what times, study the horses body make up, what kind of tack you will need and have your finances planned, keeping a horse at home you will need a shelter of some sort and a pasture at least 2 acres per horse, hay for at least 6 months at a time average about 20 bales a month, a horse will eat at least 15 lbs of forage a day, you will need buckets gates hooks storage needs for your barn, horses need fresh water at all times and access to it, grain should be fed twice a day am and pm every horse eats different amounts, grain will run you close to 75.00 to 100.00 monthly, horses should get at least 4-8 hrs of turn out daily and should have a stall at least 10ft by 10ft bedding at least 3 inches deep of some type of wood pellets or shavings cleaned daily and refilled when necessary, bedding can cost easily 50.00 monthly. have all you basics for the horse as well, grooming supplies like brushes, halters and lead ropes, a vet kit for wounds and injuries medication for colic and pain relief bandages,stethoscope etc, properly fitted tack bridle bit reins saddle girth saddle pads that could run up to the 1000.00s any type of training tools or boots for the horse will be necessary depending on the horses needs, a horse needs a yearly check up for shots and a physical done by a vet, horses need to be wormed every 6 weeks can be done at home with over counter tubes of wormer, horses need their teeth floated once a year some times twice depending on the horse, horses need there feet trimmed or shod every 4 to 6 weeks as well, personally before getting a horse have a fence shelter hay stall good vet farrier and equine dentist lined up your basic supplies and a lot will come in time there are many books on basic horse care and riding as well but the best way to learn is hands on hope this helps some

you will need shelter for it and also a field for it to graze in. You will need to have easy access to water because horses need to drink a lot, you will need hay or haylege for it to eat. straw, shavings or other bedding for its stable. you will need some feed such as cool mix, chaff or other options. you will need to find a place to keep it where there is space to ride easily. you will need a tack (saddle,bridle, ect...) the list could go on, for the best answers do some research over the internet rather than asking everyone to tell you stuff the outcome will be much more reliable :D you can also purchase some very good books!

STOP!!!

OWNING A HORSE IS REALLY EXPENSIVE!

FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH HORSES BEST THING TO DO IS

LEASE A HORSE FOR SIX MONTH OR MONTH TO MONTH IF POSSIBLE.

YOU WILL LEARN A LOT BY TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE AROUND YOU WHO

OWN HORSES.

I AM ASSUMING YOU ARE NOT RICH AND THAT IS WHY YOU ARE MOST LIKELY

ASKING THIS QUESTION.

AFTER FINISHING YOUR LEASE, YOU WILL HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT WHETHER YOU STILL

WANT TO BUY A HORSE OR NOT.

I SEEN PEOPLE GOING BROKE BECAUSE ALL OF THE SUDDEN THEY WANTED A HORSE.

DEPENDS WHERE YOU LIVE THE PRICE OF BOARDING CHANGES. WHERE I LIVE

RUNS AROUND 500 DOLLARS PER MONTH. PLUS SHOES, VET CHECK, BLANKETS, TRAILING HORSE AROUND IF NECESSARY, HORSE LESSONS, AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED FOR A HORSE IS INDEFINITE..

BUY A HORSE IF YOU ARE RICH. RENT A HORSE IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE.

WHERE I LIVE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET A HORSE FOR FREE, PERIOD. I AM NOT

KIDDING. I AM A HORSE FARM MANAGER FOR MANY YEARS. AND SEEING A LOT AROUND

HERE. A HORSE CAN BE A LOT OF FUN BUT YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU WANT. AND

SOMETIMES YOU PAY MORE FOR WHAT YOU DON'T WANT. SORRY BUT THAT IS

THE REALITY OF THE HORSE PEOPLE WORLD.

WARNING: Don't listen to rude comments.

What do I need to know? Well, basic care and information. You should know how to catch and lead a horse. You need to know how to feed a horse, water a horse. How to tack up, ride(mounting, walking, etc.).You should know a lot of breeds, history, different things about specific breeds(health), all about horse health, Health- what to do if a vet can't get to you in certain situations (i.e. lameness, colic). You should know about different bridles, saddles, bits, girths,wraps, and boots. You should be able to stay on a rearing/ bucking/ spooking horse. You should be able to get on any horse asked and take it easy and ride him gently.The parts of a horse, saddle, bridle, different equipment for horses. There is so much more. You are never READY to own a horse.

P.S. Don't worry, I don't know half that stuff! I am still learning too! A great website for some of this http://www.greenhorn-horse-facts.com/ Then just google!

2. I wanted to know what major cost are? Well, this depends. What are major cost to you? Tack could be major. I will list everything but tack and supplies:

Feed: $120 a month.

Hay: $110 a month.

Bedding: $250 for matting(optional). $185 every four months.

Vet:$500 a year. This is without colic, lameness, etc.

Farrier: I just have $120 a year. This is REALLY cheap because they insist I don't pay anything. The farrier is my friends dad.. We are like really close, me and her dad and her of course!

Dentist: $120 a year. I made up this cost.

Horse: Personal Choice. I don't want to spend more than $1500 on a horse. And then again, I don't want a trophy winner.

Emergency:$10,000. I will have $10,000 and insurance. I haven't gone through insurance cost yet.

Misc.- $500 a year. This is anything else.

These are some of the bigger cost. Besides tack and any supplies you need.

ETA: I won't pay board either..

ETA1: Why am I getting TD? I mean really? It's a legite and good answer. Isn't it? Curious. who Thumb Uped ?

Dear God, will these stupid questions never end!