What are the details for owning a horse or pony?

There's a terrible lot to know really, and even when you think you know enough to get a horse.. they still throw things at you you've no idea what to do with!

Vet check-ups are only if something seems off as you need to get the vet out once a year anyway to file their teeth

Shoes are very controversial, my opinion is it depends what your plans are with the horse. For my horse, because we just stick to grassy fields and such he's not shod but he does get the farrier out every 7 weeks for his hooves to be filed. 6-8 weeks between farrier visits is necessary.

Feed depends hugely on where you live and the quality and quantity of the grass. it also depends on your horse itself - does the horse do well off little food or is it a high maintenance, hard to keep weight on horse. Ideally, you'd aim to have a horse who thrives off just pasture and water but you'd still supply a mineral lick and a salt block. My horse is on excellent pasture but i do also feed him a mix of chaff, copra (made from coconut), maxisoy (Soy protein), and a vit&min mix. he gets this 5 mornings a week as he's only young.

Really there's a lot a lot a lot to learn and know about them!! I read every book in the library on horses, spent endless hours researching online and watching videos. But nothing can beat hands-on experience!! work or volunteer somewhere with horses, take lessons and read books. Buying a horse is something you should only do if horses are your passion and you're 100% dedicated, their expensive and worth it all in one! I waited 14 years to have my own horse, good luck to you :)

As suggested, you should read constantly; anything and everything about horses and the internet makes this super easy. Keep the good and throw out the bad-you'll learn what works as you go along. Remember that horses, like humans, are born with their own individual personalities and you have to learn to work with that. Spend some quiet time just watching horses, figure out how they think and why they act in certain ways.

Take as many lessons as you can and try to find an instructor who will teach you horsemanship, not just riding. Someone you can hang out with and ask questions of and pay them just like a riding lesson. They won't always be right but hands on experience is priceless.

Start a little savings account just for your future horse goals. Remember that it is rarely the price of the horse that is the expensive part, it's the day to day, month by month upkeep and care of them that really runs you into money.

A horse can't live by itself. They are social animals

money, shelter, constant attention, food, water