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Post by tomrabbit on Jan 12, 2011 5:06:12 GMT 1
... what didn't you know that you wish you had?!
If like me you come from a non-horsey family, you won't have grown up knowing how to look after and handle horses. No matter how hard you try to prepare for owning your first horse, I think you will find huge gaps in your knowledge when you finally have sole responsibility for that half tonne of furry complexity! Over the years, I've learned loads from this forum, which is my virtual livery yard as I keep my horses at home now, and we regularly see posts from first time owners who are struggling with the reality of horse ownership, and maybe had rose tinted expectations (I know I did!).
It has taken me years to feel on top of the intricacies of feeding and get comfortable with my hoof care options (solution to both - keep it simple!), and I honestly never realised until I bought my second horse, how very strong willed they can be! But my hugest knowledge lack was this:
I wish I had understood that an unshod native who can live out 24/7 in just his fur isn't necessarily the low-cost, low-maintenance option!
What gem of wisdom would you pass on to a prospective first time owner?
(modified to correct my spelling!)
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icarus
Intermediate Poster
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Post by icarus on Jan 12, 2011 6:45:55 GMT 1
I too came from a non horsey family, so had no help or guidance at all. I would say most importantly correct feeding and worming, perhaps via one of the large feed companies nutritionists help lines? I remember at the age of 12yrs i had no idea how much or little i should have been feeding! But also to read as much as you can from books, magazines and forums of course! You never stop learning, there is always something new :-)
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Post by nich on Jan 12, 2011 8:26:36 GMT 1
I was going to say keeping her on working livery for a year, but if I hadn't done that, and got the support that entailed, I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to take the leap to own a horse. or the cost at a livery yard near London. but once you have them you find a way lol!
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Post by Furiey on Jan 12, 2011 8:57:59 GMT 1
I was 8. I wish I'd known that sole exfoliation doesn't mean his feet are going to drop off. I still remember the panic to this day at that first bit of sole coming away when I picked out his feet.
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Post by happysnail on Jan 12, 2011 9:56:54 GMT 1
Non-horsey family but +25 year riding, never had my own. Don't think you can ever know enough! I think what's important is being open to learning and knowing when to seek advice (and from what source).
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Post by jennyb on Jan 12, 2011 10:10:20 GMT 1
I did my BHS Stage 2 before I bought my first horse, so although I knew a lot in theory, it was still scary having sole responsibility for my very own horsey!
The advice I would give to anyone before buying their own horse would be to do a few of the BHS Horse Owners courses. I teach them locally and we have great fun in the lessons and the students give great feedback about how much they have learned.
I don't wish I knew anything extra when I bought my first horse. There was a lot I didn't know, and I have learned TONNES since then, but I have loved learning and the journey that I have been on. Long may the learning continue, I love it!
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Post by tomrabbit on Jan 12, 2011 10:31:46 GMT 1
I was 8. I wish I'd known that sole exfoliation doesn't mean his feet are going to drop off. I still remember the panic to this day at that first bit of sole coming away when I picked out his feet. lol That reminds me of when my kids were little, and learned to pick out hooves at pony club. We were all learning at the same time, and they explained to me very ernestly how careful you have to be about the delicate frog, or you could hurt the horse. I took this in, and was always very careful about the delicate frog. Then the first time I had the farrier to my own horse, my eyes nearly popped out of my head when he took his knife and pared off the edges of the delicate frog that I had been so carefully picking out for fear of hurting the horse!
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Post by clara81 on Jan 12, 2011 10:45:32 GMT 1
I wish I'd learned sooner that just because someone who is considerably older than you has had horses "all their life" it doesn't mean they know everything (or in fact much at all)!
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Post by wabuska on Jan 12, 2011 11:07:05 GMT 1
I was 13, and I wish I had trusted myself and bought the lop eared slightly sharper but giving and intelligent gelding I first saw over the schoolmistress who just dragged me all over the hunting field. That first mare and my inability to ride her well ruined my attitude for years.
*trust your gut *give a horse at least six months to settle and don't think too much until he does *come up with routines that promote a relaxed horse and owner. 24/7 out is bliss.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2011 11:16:10 GMT 1
Lol at sole exfoliation!!
I think I'd say two things, trust your gut feeling, and someone owning horses all their life does not mean they know what they're talking about!
I've learned loads about feeding and hoof care too but i don't think I could have learned so much without owning my own horse, because I've learned a lot of it by trial and error!
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pd
Grand Prix Poster
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Post by pd on Jan 12, 2011 12:33:35 GMT 1
That's an easy question for me. I wish I'd been aware at how pitifully lost vets are with front foot bilateral lameness. I followed their advice to the letter and had the horse put down 3 years later :-(
I don't blame the vets or the farriers, but I do blame the entrenched blinkered approach they stick to, for insurance purposes to this day, even when they can see that alternative approaches are getting positive results.
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companymagic
Grand Prix Poster
Horses are for life not just for riding....
Posts: 1,739
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Post by companymagic on Jan 12, 2011 13:45:32 GMT 1
I wish I had really known the true cost of horses... No matter how many times you write your horse budget down, its always more than you think.
And secondly to trust my own feelings on how to look after my horse, and learn not listen to the yard know it all..
I made so many mistake when I first had Magic, I was only 19 and everyone knew more than me so I listen to them not him. I am so grateful he allowed me to make up for those early mistakes with a long and happy life together!
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Post by mags on Jan 12, 2011 17:42:49 GMT 1
I only got my own horse two years ago, but have been around horses all my life. So I had a fairly good idea what I was letting myself in for.
One of the things I learned the hard way in that first year with the new horse: Buying a treeless saddle does not guarantee that the saddle will fit. I also learned that having a good doer out 24/7 is not always the easy option (though this wasn't really a surprise).
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Post by limepickle on Jan 12, 2011 18:03:23 GMT 1
I wish I'd known about probiotics. I lost my first youngster, a 7 month weanling, to a gut infection having just owned him for 6 days I also wish I'd taken more notice of a more recent youngster's plight in being weaned by his breeder far too early. He did not have enough calcium with that lack of milk, and we lost him with a broken leg at 14 months old. Maybe their deaths wouldn't have been prevented by any knowledge of probiotics or calcium, but there's always that underlying guilt complex. Sorry to put such a downer on this otherwise great thread!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2011 18:44:36 GMT 1
I wish I had really known the true cost of horses... No matter how many times you write your horse budget down, its always more than you think. That is SO true!!
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