This is Article 2/2.
Horse Dreams - Broken Dreams
The real cost of owning your own horse is not just time and money - you must plan ahead before you buy or you could be without an equine friend. I had my own horses when I was young but due to family issues, my horse had to be sold when I was about 15. For many, many years I yearned to have another equine friend. After sharing a few horses, the craving for my own became too much to bear. Basically, I was going to have my own, no matter what. Five years ago, after looking in the UK, I finally went to Holland with a respected trainer and found a beautiful horse. The only problem was that I didn't do my List and I was not strictly objective (oh, and I had a 4 month old little girl!) Now, my beautiful 17.3 KWPN Dressage horse is on loan with a view to sale, because I really didn't have the time or the lifestyle to meet his needs and to fulfil my dream. I spent most of my time moving from one livery yard to the next and mucking out in pitch black darkness. I couldn't afford my training due to no job and being Mum to little baby girl. My bank balance is still reeling after forking out a small fortune for my horsy habit! So, I am now horseless again and very sad about it too. Writing this has been a little bit cathartic maybe, although, I just want to grab a horsebox and go and pick him up. Just devising my plan for buying the next one, one day. This time, I will do The List before I go horse hunting! Please read on and if you know of anyone about to buy their own, please ask them to read it too!
Look around - Ring around
There is no harm contacting trainers and breeders in the UK who you may not know and asking if they ever go abroad and if they can recommend any yards abroad. But also be careful. It is always better to see any horse with a trusted, able individual who can objectively look at the horse, and you when you try it out. Search the web as there are many horses on line here - even if its simply for research purposes. Best to take a trainer, I think, rather than a vet. A vet will be able to check that the horse is fit but not necessarily whether it is the right horse for the job you want it to do. Do be aware however, that some of the prices you pay abroad will be higher simply because you are from the UK - hence, going with a trusted, well known individual who really knows the true value of horses in today's market really makes sense. They will charge - but it is better to pay them what they are worth and what the horse is worth, rather than paying over-odds for your equine friend.
Horse dealers?
I have mixed opinions about these. Sometimes, the horses they bring over are the ones that cannot be sold abroad and they are not necessarily quality ones as a result. However, you should visit a few and try out some horses. It is a good experience, will test your nerve a bit and help you establish what you really want and don't want. If you do go to a dealers yard (and when visiting any prospective sale) ensure it is ridden by someone else first before you go anywhere near it. Watch it in the stable, the yard - how does it react to other people and horses. If it comes out rearing, unless you are particularly daring, I suggest leaving that one alone and perhaps, if you liked it, let it settle in its surroundings for a week before coming back and seeing if it has settled. I think dealer yards are quite unfair places to see horses really, as they are very unsettled by the process so it is difficult to see them at their best. If you do see one and your instinct is good, even if the horse wasn't, then try it again (and again!). You may be able to loan it for a brief period, or if the yard is within sensible travel distance, perhaps try it out for a week (every day) to see if your instinct is right. Let the dealer know you are interested and they may stave off other prospective purchasers for a week or so. Don't mess the yards around.
Buying abroad
Many good horses come from abroad so if you are up for the challenge, find a good trainer with contacts abroad and spend a few days looking at horses. Don't go on your own to any yard - you should always have at least one more opinion. If you can, try and see any horses you like again before you return home and make a decision. Take videos to review when you return home. Well organised yards/studs will have a selection of suitable horses to view. Some yards may charge over odds for their horses, so ensure you have a knowledgeable person with you. I would suggest a 5 stage vetting with blood checks just to be on the safe side. All paperwork will be carried out before the horse is exported and these will be handed to you when he arrives! At the end of the day, any horse is worth what you are willing to pay for it in the end - but don't pay more than you should, regardless of how lovely he/she is and remember The List!
Sharing or loaning a horse?
Another option is to find a quality horse to loan. I would highly recommend this option if you find the right horse and the right owner. You must have a loan agreement and be honest about what it is you want to do and how long you would expect to keep the horse on loan. Don't mess the owner around by changing your plans unless you simply had no choice. It is a great way to own a quality horse for a while without having to pay the money up front to purchase, and you could spend a few years getting some excellent experience and training before you do later decide to buy your own. I would recommend it if you can find the right horse and owner.
Sharing
You could also find someone with a good quality horse who needs help. There are very often many owners struggling and needing help. Provided you are realistic and honest about your abilities, look for a good quality horse whose owner needs help (for free!) You can gain invaluable experience and also, it's a good way to test out your skills and see if you are really ready for ownership. You must be committed - horses need regular attention, even if you are sick, tired and have other commitments. So, I really suggest sharing - particularly if you have been away from horses for a while and are getting back into it, or haven't owned for a while.
Some sharers are looking for money. Personally, I try to avoid paying and opt for ensuring you are helping with all the horse duties including early morning muck outs, turn outs etc,. If the owner is looking for money instead of help with mucking out etc,. ensure that you are happy with the owner and horse before you hand over any money. Perhaps opt for a 2 week trial before you get involved with handing over any finances. Also, if you are sharing (and loaning) you must respect and pay attention to what the owner asks regarding their horses care, any particular pointers regarding the type of work the horse can/cannot do, etc,. You will quickly be horseless again, possibly out of pocket too, if you blatantly ignore the owners instructions. (I had a sharer who did this and my horse was off for about 4 weeks with blown up tendons because he had been pushed too quickly following time out when I removed his shoes). You will have to learn a large amount of tact and patience when dealing with horse owners (and visa versa) but it is an excellent way to get 'back in the saddle' (excuse the pun!)
Trust your instincts
If you are honest with yourself, when you look at a horse, you will have an instinct about it. You may not like the instinctive decision that comes to you, but I urge you to listen to your senses truly on this occasion! If your mind says 'No', but your heart says 'yes please', listen to your mind, because at the end of the day, owning a horse is not about your heart. It is about your time, your money, your relationships. Heart has to play second fiddle to basic common sense. Particularly, if you don't want your heart broken later when you realise your equine purchase was really the wrong one! Riding down the centre isle on a beautiful 17hh dark bay Dutch Warmblood is romantic, but he may not be the right one, on this occasion! (Trust me, I know about it - I've been there already!) Now, you need to deck you and your horse out with kit and decide where you are going to keep him!
Kitting you and your horse out for the occasion
You must also factor in how much your horse will cost once you get him home. The main cost of a horse is not his purchase, it's keeping him. Firstly, if you buy a horse locally, chances are he will come with some kit. But, it may not be right for you and it may need replacing soon anyway. If you buy a horse abroad, he is most likely to turn up with a rug and an old lead rope and head collar. That's it. Kitting out from scratch is expensive: you will need feed buckets; hay nets; grooming kit; bandages; stable rugs; various turnout rugs (goods ones are about £200+ I think); another rug just in case he damages the others; bridles & saddles (can range from £50 - £3000); numnahs, special training aids and equipment; Insurance (normally about 10% of the value of the horse insured, depending on cover required) and of course, livery and shoeing (or foot care if you opt for removing their shoes). If you are bringing a horse from abroad you will need to pay his travel costs (from about £300+ depending) and he should be insured before he leaves on the lorry (although often, the policy has an initial 2 week settling period during which cover is limited).
Make sure you sit down and write a list of what you will need to buy, how much it costs and make sure you have the money in the bank. Particularly, if you need a new saddle, because there are so many saddles and saddle fitters it can be quite mind boggling and a cheap one will not necessarily be a good answer. You sit on the saddle, and the saddle sits on your horses back - so spend a lot of time trying out saddles and find the right one! There are many options including treeless. Worth looking into all options - you should be able to ask a fitter / reseller to bring a selection for you to try out.
Where will you keep your horse - Livery is expensive and not always reliable
One of the biggest issues I have had has been livery. Again, what you require will vary depending on the type of horse you purchase. Make sure that the people who run the yard understand the type of horse you are buying, what you will be doing with him and your needs regarding help and if you are doing DIY, ensure that they won't mind you being there when you need to access the yard. Some yards can have strict cut off times and if these are too early then getting to your horse could be difficult.
Will stable help, be helpful?
Ensure that any yard helpers will be able to manage your horse effectively. Not everyone is really comfortable with a 17.3hh KWPN warm blood. So, know your horse and ensure that yards are aware of particular habits and methods of behaviour management. If you horse eats rugs make sure that put, in writing, this point (and any others) so that you cannot be held liable for any rugs he eats left by stable help and owners. I was bullied into paying a hefty £100 for a rug even though I had told them to keep rugs away from my horse (he had ripped it to shreds in his stable). Put everything in writing to the yard manager/owner and keep copies.
Managing your horses nutritional needs
It is surprising how many 'knowledgeable' yards are oblivious to the amount of food a big horse needs. Regardless of whether a horse is ridden every day or 4 times a week, horses need to munch hay and lots of it (to my mind, ad hoc) - of course, the bigger the horse, the more he is going to eat, especially if grazing is poor. This is particularly relevant for horses boxed for long periods of time. It is better for their gut and it is much better for their mind to keep them occupied and prevent boredom and frustration. There is nothing worse than seeing your prize purchase thoroughly fed up, miserable and frustrated, and be unable to do anything about it (except move him). It is not as easy to find good, safe and happy accommodation for your horse as you might think. An unhappy horse can result in him, through no fault of his own, being given a bad name when all is required is simple respect for his basic equine needs.
Grass Livery
Personally, I would try my utmost to keep a horse at grass, in a safe, well-fenced, appropriately sized field with some equine friends. Even expensive competition horses! This is the ticket to a happy horse - it is natural and enables them to follow their equine instincts and needs. However, some horses from abroad may freak at the concept of a lengthy turnout in a field at the beginning! In these instances, seek professional advice, as I have not had to manage this myself, although I have seen horses ill at ease in a field. The field was small, and whilst other horses were in other paddocks, none were in its own field - perhaps this was part of the issue? My horse was certainly happiest in his field with friends - he was a terrible pacer if he was on his own - it's not natural for your equine to be void of other equine company and contact. A sniff over a stable wall does not do it for most horses and the constant lack of other equine contact can cause stress. If they are stabled, try to find well thought out stabling which enables horses to see each other with ease. This will fulfill their herding instinct and help to avoid nervous stable pacing and other habits than can develop in a stressed, bored horse.
Found the horse - now what?
Once you have found the right horse, ensure he is thoroughly vetted before buying. Also, when possible visit them a few times for a few extra rides and watch him with his current owners.
Vetting your horse
There are a number of different options ranging from basic check to a 5 Stage Vetting which includes X-rays to check their bone structure and hence, ability to perform. You can also have a blood check to ensure that no illegal substances are being used to hide any sore limbs or injuries. Whichever vetting you choose, ensure it's carried out by a qualified vet; never use the same one as the owner of your prospective purchase. All horses, by law, have to have a Passport and be vaccinated against Tetanus and Equine Flu (in the UK) so ensure these are up to date (the vet will check this). Horses from abroad will be checked by a vet abroad before being allowed to travel and will arrive with Export papers which you must keep, along with their Passport. These you will be handed by whomever you choose to bring your horse over the channel.
Bringing your horse home
Watching your horse come down the ramps of a horse box (or trailer) is one of the most exciting and exhilarating sights, EVER! After all the waiting, planning and disappointments of horses that weren't right or didn't pass the vetting - finally, your equine friend is all yours. Home safely. I am sure you will have quite a lot of apprehension too! Well, now your horse is home, the work really starts!
If you need to bring your horse from abroad, there are a number of quality, professional horse transport companies who regularly bring horses to UK from abroad. They know what they are doing, so use one of these.
Settling In
It will take time for your horse to settle in to his new home. Horses can seem quite different when they arrive at a new yard. Don't panic! Everything is new and they are sensitive animals so they will pick up on any nerves you have as well! The best approach is patience. Do not think that by next week you will be winning first prize, jumping 4"fences or doing the best piaffe of your life.
Start with what you know - build trust first at ground level
You may need to start at a basic point - do work that you know well, that he knows well and which you will both find easy - build trust. It is worth starting with plenty of ground level, in hand or loose schooling work to build trust and respect for each other. Watch your horse on a lunge (with no gadgets) or even better, provided he is calm and it's safe, loose school and jump him. Watch how your horse moves and see what he reacts to.
Help him to respect your voice and associate its sound with good, positive reinforcement. Learn to understand and respect his equine voice and needs. Try join-up if you feel it is safe to do so (search the internet and you will find plenty of good advice for this.) Remember, this does involve your being on the ground with a loose horse (or one on a long line) so you must be careful - if you are not sure about this, I would strongly suggest finding a good natural horsemanship trainer who can give you a few lessons and get you on the right tracks. There is something very magical that happens when your horse accepts you and wanders around after you quite happily without being forced or pushed to do so.
Start riding - do what you both find easy at first
Once you have established respect and understanding on ground level, it's time to get on and start your ridden training. Again, don't start with the hardest moves and biggest jumps. Spend the first few ridden weeks doing what you know is easy for you both. Build trust now and you will reap the rewards later on. If your horse has travelled he may well be stiff from boxing and if he has come from abroad he will have had quite a long journey. Travelling on the boat is bumpy, so it does no harm to have them checked over by an equine physio on arrival. Don't feel pressured to 'show off' your new horse with impressive new moves and high jumps - ignore the 'know-it-all' crowd that will develop each time you are on your new steed.
I really recommend that you have lessons & training as much as possible, particularly when you start riding your new friend. You will save so much time in the long run by getting on the right tracks from the very beginning.
Regular training / lessons
If you only want to plod about then that's fine - but I would still recommend a few lessons for the first few months to keep you on the right tracks, and then at intervals to keep you in the right direction. If you have bought yourself a quality horse with a view to competing and taking it all quite seriously, and you cannot afford a quality trainer at least every 2-3 weeks - forget it! It's harsh, but from my experience, without a good trainer every 1-3 weeks you are really wasting your time. Don't kid yourself about this. Mum teaching you (unless she is a well established, experienced rider in the discipline you are interested in), won't be enough. This will also help stave of the 'I know more about it than you' know-it-alls that a new horse seems to attract!
Everyone 'knows' more about your horse than you!
The riding fraternity can be quite cruel - through either envy or sheer ignorance, you will no doubt come across a vast amount of people who will see you with your new steed and be convinced that they know more about it than you. At the beginning, it may well be the case, whilst you build confidence in your new friend and visa versa. But don't let it undermine you. If you follow basic common sense, build respect for your horse and get a good trainer - you will be the best person to understand your horse/pony (within reason). So don't let other people grind you down and spoil your time and fun with your horse. This is why finding the right yard, with people who understand and respect you and your horse, is so important. Of course, don't take this advice as meaning that you ignore all professional help and close the book to advice - but don't be ground down by others ignorance and envy. It takes time to build a relationship with a new horse and we buy a new horse because we know it will be a challenge - we want the challenge and learning experience it will provide. Assuming you have purchased the right horse for your experience, ability, way of life, and which you can afford to maintain, then it is only a matter of time and patience before all the buttons work (well, most of them - we are speaking about a living, thinking animal at the end of the day!)
Stay open minded to other opinions
At the end of the day, the odd person will say something that is worth noting and learning more about. But don't be put off by a wealth of 'I know more about it' advice. Watch those people with their horses - I am sure you could find plenty to comment about their methods and way of riding. Often, the ones who give the most unconstructive advice are the worst horse-persons, because they think they know it all already.
The wisest person is the one wise enough to know that they don't know it all!
Watch other's ride - if you like the way they ride, ask them for advice. If you like the training methods, ask for advice. If you don't - then, don't listen to them - just smile and say thank you and walk on by! The essence of any advice should be to the benefit of the horse and your relationship with him.
Routine
Ensure your horse has a good routine for turn out, feed times, bring in etc,. It is a good idea, if you can, to find out exactly what his routine had been before he came to you - try to replicate this as much as you can for the first month and slowly change it to suit your needs once he is settled in. There's nothing worse than expecting your breakfast & turnout at 7am when it doesn't come until 9am - especially, if you are in a new home, with new sounds and smells. So, respect his old routine and slowly amend it to suit your needs, if you need to.
What to feed/When to feed
Find out what feed he was on and try to provide the same for the first 6 weeks to ensure he doesn't get an upset stomach - ensure they have plenty of good quality hay to munch. Introduce new feed and supplements (if any) gradually. You should consider the grazing he was on previously. If he was on limited turnout on poor grass, turning him out all day on rich grass is not a good idea - the sugar can go to their head and you could give them tummy troubles! Build things up slowly. If he is going to be turned out 24/7 then manage it appropriately, including the introduction to new friends to avoid any accidents and injuries. (Remember, the first 2 weeks of your insurance policy are often restricted so you may want to play it very safe for the first few weeks!) A healthy horse does not have to be stuffed full with loads of hard feed - quality hay & grass should be the bulk of their diet, with additional hard feed given in moderation and relevant to their age, work levels, breed and build.
DIY Livery vs Part vs Full Livery
The more time you spend with your horse, the better - and for this reason, DIY is excellent. However, unless you have considerable amount of free time and a stash of money somewhere, then the time you spend looking after him will eat in to the time you have to ride him. Full livery is probably my least favourite option - you virtually hand over the responsibility of your horse to a group of 'knowledgeable' staff, pay a small fortune for the honour and then will perhaps, spend a lot of time disagreeing with them about how your horse is looked after.
For me the best option is DIY with help, or Part Livery. Spend as much time doing horsy chores as you can, ensuring that you still have plenty of time and energy to enjoy your horse. I spent more time in the end mucking out, heaving 20 bails of hay every 2 weeks, dragging poo filled wheelbarrows up cracked wooden runners to the muck heap, than I did actually riding my beautiful horse (hence the very important Checklist!)
The only time Full Livery may be a good option is for the first few months while you adjust to your horse - spend all your time grooming, working in hand and then riding, before all the mucking out commences! However, don't underestimate how fit you can get mucking out - and the fitter you are, the better you will be able to ride! I think Full Livery, all the time, is a bit of a cop-out! Real horse people should have a good hands on approach and the time spent around your horse whilst you poo-pick his stable, walk him to and from his field and give him his feed and hay are not to be underestimated. You want the bond with your horse to be between you and him, not him and all the stable help!
How fit are you?
This probably isn't something you have thought about. If you have been riding a lot already and mucking out then it really isn't an issue. But if you have not ridden much and have not been mucking out then the arrival of your horse will be that bit more of a shock! Suggest getting fit as much as possible. Also, consider the work your horse will be requiring and whether you will be able to offer it - perhaps you will need help keeping him exercised a few days a week whilst your aches and pains have time to settle in and disappear!
Explaining Horsey-Love to non- Horsey person - Good Luck!
Given up on this one! I don't think that any amount of explaining can help a non-horsey person understand why you want to go down to a horse (a smelly animal!) at 6am every morning (and evening) and clean up its poo and pee, and spend all your money on it. They just don't get it. Even more amusing, try explaining lunging. " Well, the horse is on a long line and it goes round you in a circle?... UH? What's the point in that then? Even much more amusing than that is - try explaining Dressage to them! What do you do - go around in circles. Anyone can do that! Don't horses jump.. why don't you jump - That's fun - I've seen it on the TV.
For goodness sake, such ignorance! It is unlikely that you will be able to convert most non-horsey people it to the beautiful life of the Horse Lover. We seem to be a distinct type of person!
Further updates to these articles and further articles will be available. Best of luck with your new Horse and I hope you have found these articles interesting and helpful. Let me know... leave a comment!
This article is written and submitted by Vanessa Moctezuma who lives in Shropshire (without a horse at the moment, unfortunately). I run an online jewellery store offering up to 6000 items of high quality jewellery including earrings suitable for the discerning rider and competitor. http://www.jewelleryedition.co.uk/. Visit Jewellery Edition online high quality online jewellery store offering a wide range of collections. Rings, Bracelets, Earings, Bangles, Diamonds - Elements Gold, Elements Silver, Catallina Diamonds (high quality diamond jewellery collection), Fred Bennet and other quality jewellery collections at excellent prices. Jewellery Edition UK online is owned and managed by Edgar and Vanessa Moctezuma.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Moctezuma
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Monday, 5 April 2010
Horse Ownership - The Real Cost of Owning Your Own Horse - Article 1
I had my own horses when I was young but due to family issues, my horse had to be sold when I was about 15. For many, many years I yearned to have another equine friend. After sharing a few horses, the craving for my own became too much to bear. Basically, I was going to have my own, no matter what. Five years ago, after looking in the UK, I finally went to Holland with a respected trainer and found a beautiful horse. The only problem was that I didn't do my List and I was not strictly objective (oh, and I had a 4 month old little girl!) Now, my beautiful 17.3 KWPN Dressage horse is on loan with a view to sale, because I really didn't have the time or the lifestyle to meet his needs and to fulfill my dream. I spent most of my time moving from one livery yard to the next and mucking out in pitch black darkness. I couldn't afford my training due to no job and being Mum to little baby girl. My bank balance is still reeling after forking out a small fortune for my horsy habit! So, I am now horseless again and very sad about it too. Writing this has been a little bit cathartic maybe, although, I just want to grab a horsebox and go and pick him up. Just devising my plan for buying the next one, one day. This time, I will do The List before I go horse hunting! Please read on and if you know of anyone about to buy their own, please ask them to read it too!
Horse Dreams - Broken Dreams
The real cost of owning your own horse is not just time and money - you must plan ahead before you buy or you could be without an equine friend.
Do you dream of owning your own horse?
Have you really, I mean really, thought about it - objectively? Forget romantic notions of rosettes, winning dressage competitions, learning new ways to communicate and just spending time with your equine friend. Stand back and look at the 2 key realities of owning your own horse - because once you have him/her in your life, letting go again can be very hard and expensive! Are you truly ready for the commitment, both financial and time, which owning your own horse involves?
Owning a horse will change your life immeasurably
It will offer you an amazing opportunity to bond and enjoy a relationship with a sensitive, affectionate and intelligent animal who, provided you respect the fact that he is a horse and not an equine machine, will become one of the best friends you have every had. But, besides the enjoyment you should have from your new friend, you must be prepared for the commitment that owning your own horse involves. They will become a way of life - a focal point for both your time and finances and not everyone in your life may appreciate this!
Which horse to buy?
Starting from the top then. What sort of horse/pony do you want and what can you afford? What do you want to do? Are you a happy hacker sort, who just wants a quiet friend to hack out, groom and do the odd fun ride and competition? Do you want to take part in Pony Club activities, or are you even ready for the big move to a serious competition horse with show jumping or dressage in mind? This is a very, very important point. Again, ignore romantic notions of what you want to do, and consider very harshly, what you can afford to buy, to keep, to maintain and really, what are you actually honestly capable of dealing with, and (an easy one to overlook) what are you going to actually have the time for. Don't pretend to yourself - you will do yourself and any horse you buy an injustice. A happy hacker will be fine with the odd ride and you will benefit from the occasional lesson. However, a competition horse, like a KWPN DW, will be wasted if you planned to compete but spend all your time mucking out (because you cannot afford help) and juggling your family commitments at the same time (speaking from experience on this point!) Think about it a lot (and then think about it again, and again).
Which breed of horse/pony?
Different breeds of horse have varying personalities and needs which will all add varying requirements on your finances and time. What is your true level of knowledge with regard to stable management, horse management and welfare, horsy first aid, feed & nutrition and your riding skills - are they really up to the job? It is very easy to be seduced by thoughts of high-grade competition wins on your beautiful steed. But, be realistic. There's no point buying something that you cannot cope with - you will spoil the horse and just spoil your dreams! So think very hard. Forget what you want - look hard at yourself and without emotion, write a list of what you really know are your abilities (get some friends to do a list too), what are your goals and realistic timeframes for achieving certain milestones. Then think hard about what horse/pony to buy. What is your lifestyle - what sort of horse/pony will be happy with the life, attention and training you will be able to afford him? Ask a friend to video your riding and look at it objectively.
Age of the horse matters, think long term
The main point about age of your purchase, training needs & your abilities aside, is resale. If you only want to keep a horse for a few years, then you need to ensure you buy an appropriately aged horse for your abilities, so that you have a sellable horse in a few years time. Horses can live a long time. Well past the point when they are able to compete, jump big jumps and perform technically correct dressage moves. You must have a plan for an older horse once his needs are different to yours.
The age of the horse you buy is pertinent when purchasing
Consider how long you will want/be able to keep this horse/pony? What are your abilities? What training can you afford? How much time do you have, realistically, taking into consideration all your other commitments. How often will you be able to exercise him? Trainers? Do you have a box (for competing)? All of these questions should be considered and answered objectively before you go looking and ensure you have budgeted, realistically, for all the training, livery and help that you will need. W ho will help you if you are away / on holiday (consider the extra cost implications). There's no point wanting to compete, if you cannot afford the transport to get there.
Once you have your horse, selling may take time. The market may be reduced; he may be too old; not experienced enough; not fit enough; not competed enough; not advanced enough for his age. For these reasons buying the right horse, for you at this moment in time, not just your abilities but what you are really going to have the time to keep, manage and maintain. Because, like me, you may simply not be able to bear the thought of selling him and not having him in your life, even when you know deep, deep down that you cannot fit him into your life at the moment.
An older vs younger equine friend
An older horse/pony could be harder to sell on if kept for a long time, whilst a younger horse if you were to keep for about 4 years and provided it's been well trained and looked after, would perhaps be a quicker horse to sell on. Really, the point being to just consider the longer term effects of your horse purchase, as like a dog, they are 'not just for Xmas'. They are a long term commitment for your time, finances and once committed, to your heart strings!
A younger horse requires a considerable amount of training expertise and time, whereas an older horse will be easier in some areas because of their experiences and training (provided, of course, they are good ones). A younger horse, if you have the experience, time and a number of good trainers, will be very rewarding if you do it properly. You will not have to spend time undoing others poor and possibly detrimental training methods. However, you don't want to be the one that applies them either. A well schooled, competed (if that's what your looking for) / more mature horse, could enable you to progress slightly quicker than if you had a young horse needing to be trained. But it all depends on so many factors. An older horse may be slightly easier simply because he is more mature and confident. But of course, it all depends on the past experiences and training which will not always be evident initially.
The age of the horse vs your experience & expectations
At the end of the day, the age of the horse you purchase should fall in line with what you are capable of now, what you will be capable of in the near future and allow sufficient time for you to achieve enough so if necessary, you can sell him on, well trained and happy, in a few years time. Or, ensure you have long term arrangements in mind to keep him in a field with a few pals, happy for the rest of his years (there are some special equestrian centres that offer a retirement liveries).
What you expect vs what will happen
Owning a horse will be full of surprises. You cannot plan what will really happen. The experiences that you will have will far outstrip anything you imagined. What do I mean. Well, when I bought my horse I wanted to take dressage very seriously. Firstly, this was totally impractical given that I had just had a baby girl and we run our own companies so time limited and funds need to be invested in other things that hay and horse feed!).
What I actually learnt was a) how to muck out a lot and split myself into eight b) horsey feed/nutrition c) managing a big 17.3 KPWN e) natural horsemanship works f) how quickly you can move a horse to a new yard when you have to g) how not to be bullied by mean livery owners h) the tact of dealing with yard mangers/owners.i) I will never have a horse again until I can keep it at home j) I can move 20 hay bails really quickly now k) everything I have written in this and the other articles to follow.. plus... it's endless. Dressage - no, didn't really have the time to take my dressage any further but I have nevertheless, learnt a lot of very useful information that will be used in a good and positive way when the time is right for me to get another horse! There are a lot harder lessons I could have had to learn, so I thank God really that all the lessons I did learn are positive ones which will make the next experience easier (and yours too, if you take heed of what I am writing here)!
Just because he does it with current owner, doesn't mean he will do it with you
Don't think that by buying a horse that has already competed a lot and jumps or 'does dressage' very well with its current owner, means that the story will be the same for you (or not at the beginning anyway). It takes time to learn to respect each other and you will have to start at the basics and build up your knowledge and trust in each other before you embark on the big steps forward that you are looking for. You may never get there - sometimes it doesn't work out! I can almost guarantee that whatever you are expecting from your new equine purchase, the journey and adventure you will have will be completely different. However, you will learn so much (just look as this article I am writing!) Maybe because you didn't really write your list objectively, or simply because life changes; also, horses have accidents and can be ill - things do go wrong, or not as expected - so, expect the unexpected!
With horses, you really never know what's going to happen!
The main thing when you buy your horse, however much he cost you, is that you buy him/her because you simply Love Horses. If you are not really besotted with horses, simply for Horses Sake, then you are not in the right game! (However, don't let this adoration cloud your purchasing judgement, please!) At the end of the day, to take part in horse ownership and anything horse oriented you must truly love them from the bottom of your heart. Anything else that happens is just a bonus! The true horseperson knows that the real point of horses is their beauty and their company; learning how they speak and speaking back to them in the same way. It's not about control, showing off, having the latest designer gear, the best looking horse (although it's does feel good!), the most success. It's really just about understanding each other and enjoying each other's company.
For the Real Horse Person: Love is..
You must love mucking out; love early mornings; love late nights in the freezing cold; love wet winter feet; love mucking out to the lights of your cars 'cos you don't want to put money in the meter; love schooling in the dark (ditto); love jumping down with frozen feet that tingle with pain when they hit the tarmac; love coming back from a hack with your hair stuck to your face from the pouring rain; love being stuck in a foot of mud when you take them to the field in the morning; love falling in mud as they decide to move, anyway; love the hypnotic munch of hay; love ripped new rugs; love mud all over; love freezing-freezing mornings; love frozen hands and fingers; love Summer showers that tingle on your nose; love the way they chuck all their carefully measured out feed on the floor; love it when you just manage to hang on; love it when you don't; love it when you win, love it when you lose; love it when it all works (finally!); love it when your horse says 'thank you'; love it when he understands; love hot breath from warm muzzle; love that special Horsy cuddle! (The list here is endless by the way).
It's funny, whilst I love the riding aspect of equine engagement, the really great memories are the little ones like icicle noses on a winter morning; frosted winter muzzles that gently poke you for a polo; the happy sound of your equine friend as he whinnies when your car pulls up - we like to think he is happy to see us, but really he just wants his breakfast!
Have excellent, regular training
A good trainer is vital. Just having someone who tells you how to grab the rains, hang on and get the horse over the jump; or someone who forces the horse in an outline until his muscles are so pronounced he appears to be holding himself when actually, there's no power going through his top-line and he is almost deformed by all the gadgets - No, this is not the answer. The key to success on your horse/pony is your ability to ride them in an effective, efficient and considerate manner, being part of their movement.
The key to a good trainer - Train the rider, not the horse
The horse has not chosen to do jumps or dressage. He would quite happily eat grass all day with his pals. He only knows how to be a Horse. You, on the other hand, have chosen to invite this horse into your life and you, being superior in intelligence (presumably!), have the ability to learn his way of doing things. You need to meet him at his level. The term, as you may well be aware, of natural horsemanship, applies here. If you don't get to know your horse on his level, at ground level - inviting him to understand and respect you, because you have made the effort to understand and respect him as a horse and not a machine, will pave the way to a much easier ridden relationship. Horses, by their very nature, want to please, provided you give them the mechanism to trust you because you now, understand them. There are many good, well known methods and trainers and you should go out of your way to find a trainer who does not put the blame on the horse when it all goes wrong - and absolutely, won't let you! It is almost never the fault of the horse.
Give a child a piggy-back
This is one of those 'light bulb' moments! Sounds funny, but this is very important for the future development of both you and your horses relationship together. If you have a little cousin, sister, brother, niece, you may well have given them a piggy back (either whilst you stand, or if they are very convincing, been on all fours racing around the living room).
Next time you see them, offer to do this once again (watch the big smile on their face). If you don't have one to hand, try this with something quite heavy (like a loose back pack filled with some apples/potatoes... basically, things that will move around). Try the following list of exercises whilst standing up and on all fours (with your chosen rider)!
1. Walk in a straight line, turn around, and walk back again - without dotting all over the place;
2. Move around in a circle in a balanced, consistent movement;
3. Try a little jog whilst keeping your balance;
4. Try jumping over a small obstacle, keeping your balance and without knocking anything down;
5. Try to lift your back upwards, tucking tummy in
6. Try again... and again... and again!
Do you see my point! What we expect and ask from our equine friends whilst we wobble and bump around on their backs!
Learning balance and centered riding
Whether you want to jump, 'do dressage', or just ride out on long hacks and have fun - the true art to good ridden horsemanship and mastery is balanced, centered riding. That means - YOUR balance and YOUR centered riding - not the horses! He is most likely to already be well balanced until you sit on his back! Good centered and balanced riding is not gained by your forcing your horse into an outline with gadgets and tight reins. He must have good top line to hold you comfortably but without good riding he will not be able to do develop his top line correctly.
Finding your balance and developing centered riding
Don't be afraid - your balance is not something mysteriously hiding inside of you! It is there - you just need to establish it. There is, however, one point I need to stress here and that is body shape! This is a harsh point that you may not appreciate but it is very relevant and true. I have had to face this exact point head on. If you are over weight, unfit and not particularly well proportioned, being a really good rider will be hard. (Look at the good riders - they do tend to be well proportioned and fit). If bits of your body are waving around in ways you cannot control or you cannot sit straight and long because other parts of your body are rebelling against the saddle and sides of the horse, you really will find it hard to find your balance and develop centered riding! But do not fear - there is any easy solution. Mucking Out - yep, I got so fit doing this so off you go and get rid of some puppy fat and develop your stamina! I don't mean you need to be a waiflike, streamlined athlete. But muscle tone and strength is important for riding. Riding is an energetic sport - although most non-horsey types think you just sit there like a sack of spuds and won't understand why you are so tired after your 3 hours down the yard of 'having cups of coffee' and 'chatting to all your mates'!
How do you find your balance and develop centered riding?
Patience, time, lots & lots of riding, steer with gentle shifting of your weight and arm movements and take off the stirrups (make sure you are in a safe place for this). Some of you will find it quite easy (the more natural horse people); others will slowly develop it; many of you may give up finding it. But, if you can persevere it is really worth it. A good trainer will help you to establish and develop this. I won't go into how I found mine at this moment. It will be what distinguishes you as a good rider amongst the many poor ones.
Suffice to say, whether you are just hacking out, show jumping or eventing, establishing good balance and centred riding is vital - I cannot emphasise it enough. It is not just for those patient and elegant horse people that 'do dressage'!
Why is it so important? Well, if you are hacking down the road and your horse spooks, the well balanced, centered rider is most likely to still be on afterwards. The unbalanced rider will be on the floor - maybe with the reins in their hands, but most likely their steed will be legging it down the road in a panic. See my point? If you are jumping 4" fences, the well balanced, centered rider (watch Mark Todd riding) will excel against other clumsy riders. Yes, horses can jump, but it is not enough just to get them over the jump - it's the strides and the turns in between and how horse & rider cope with these movements together that will pick out the poorer riders from those that have mastered the true essence of horsemanship. Needless to say, if you want to 'do dressage' you won't get anywhere without a good balanced seat and confident, centered riding! I am surprised to see some dressage riders, after a ridiculous amount of lessons, still bouncing around on the back of their horse in sitting trot, whilst their trainer tells them to reel the horses head down in an attempt to create some kind of control! The right trainer is paramount - you will be restricted to low grade dressage if you don't crack your balance from the onset. Make it your main priority and other movements and riding will be so much easier for you, because you are making it so much easier for your horse.
Other people do it differently
The few, true horse people out there realise that your horse is an animal. Not a machine. Not an equine-XBox. He is a living creature. So, sticking living creature in loads of gadgets, slamming your legs round him, gagging him in hard bits, tightening fixed hands on tight reins. It Won't Work no matter how much you paid for the lessons!
He's not an Equine-Xbox
Your horse will try his hardest for you... but if you don't push the right buttons for both his mind and his body, it won't work in the end for either of you - he is not an Equine-Xbox. If you should be lucky enough to realise this, you will be in the minority. Finding and crafting the art of true horsemanship, both ridden and on the ground - requires time, effort, considerable patience and understanding at the beginning. You will reap the rewards further down the line when everyone else's horses have said "Forget it, no more".
In the meantime, whilst you are being more patient and taking the time to establish ground work and master basic riding technique, you may meet with criticism and cynicism from other less patient and educated horse people. Many will see your 'Equine-Xbox' as an object to be dominated and forced into doing it now. You will just have to ignore them, somehow. Don't be pushed to push yourself and your horse into cracking on with harder moves when all you really need to do is establish the basics. Without good basics (balanced; centred riding; a supple horse and rider; in hand respect & good groundwork), the rest will be hard to attain.
Gizmos and gadgets
I don't propose to know much about all the gadgets out there. Many are well thought of when used in an appropriate manner by a trained and knowledgeable person. The problem is that many are abused, as are the horses being forced to wear them. Get good, sensible advice. Imagine you have to wear it and do whatever it is you are expecting your horse to do in it, first. The tricky bit is really knowing who knows what. This is why a natural, less-is-more mind set can be the best approach. Speak/read/watch training methods in use before you use them. I had a 'knowledgeable' person look after my horse for 5 weeks whilst I was on holiday. I had asked them to lunge him and develop his muscle and top line whilst I was away. It turned out she had been putting a pesoa on him almost every day- quite tight. He was not happy - when I got back and attempted to lunge him with his saddle on, he went ballistic. So, care needs to be taken when using training methods and when asking for help - people don't often know as much as they think they know! And be clear about what is and is not acceptable to you, the owner. Remember, it is your horse, your money - and if you listen to your horses voice, you should be making the best decisions for your horse.
Buying your horse - where should you look?
A big and extremely important decision. Be very careful. There are a lot of time wasters advertising horses which do not fit the true reality of the horse. Depending on what you are looking for, there are a number of different options and avenues. If you are just looking for a happy hacker, speak to local riding establishments, friends, trainers, go to tack shops and get the word around. Word of mouth is good -you could find a lovely friend who you could even try out first, either by helping the owner out for a few weeks or perhaps having the horse on loan for a few weeks or months with a view to purchase.
If you are keen to compete and take it all quite seriously, I suggest a couple of lessons with a high quality trainer and their horses. Explain your intentions and aspirations and ask them to give you a very honest opinion of your ability now and what they believe your future abilities could be. You may need to travel to someone new for this and it will cost a bit, but it will be worth it. Listen to what they say, even if you don't really like the reality of it. Try out some friends' horses, if you can. Before venturing out in to the big wide world of 'horses for sale', ensure you have your list: What I can do; What I want to do; What I can afford to buy; What I can afford to keep & maintain; How long I will have the horse; What style of Livery will I be offering. Then start. It may take a very long time to find the right horse. Options are local papers, again word of mouth, ring up trainers and training yards (ie dressage / show jumping yards); contact equestrian centres and studs locally and further a-field. Also, you can look abroad - but ask around.
Look around - Ring around
There is no harm contacting trainers and breeders in the UK who you may not know and asking if they ever go abroad and if they can recommend any yards abroad. But also be careful. It is always better to see any horse with a trusted, able individual who can objectively look at the horse, and you when you try it out. Search the web as there are many horses on line here - even if its simply for research purposes. Best to take a trainer, I think, rather than a vet. A vet will be able to check that the horse is fit but not necessarily whether it is the right horse for the job you want it to do. Do be aware however, that some of the prices you pay abroad will be higher simply because you are from the UK - hence, going with a trusted, well known individual who really knows the true value of horses in today's market really makes sense. They will charge - but it is better to pay them what they are worth and what the horse is worth, rather than paying over-odds for your equine friend.
More to come in next article:
Horse dealers; buying a horse abroad; Share vs Loan; Managing your horse once he is home and lots more...
This article is written and submitted by Vanessa Moctezuma who lives in Shropshire (without a horse at the moment, unfortunately). I run an online jewellery store offering up to 6000 items of high quality jewellery including earrings suitable for the discerning rider and competitor. http://www.jewelleryedition.co.uk/. Visit Jewellery Edition online high quality online jewellery store offering a wide range of collections. Rings, Bracelets, Earings, Bangles, Diamonds - Elements Gold, Elements Silver, Catallina Diamonds (high quality diamond jewellery collection), Fred Bennet and other quality jewellery collections at excellent prices. Jewellery Edition UK online is owned and managed by Edgar and Vanessa Moctezuma.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Moctezuma
Horse Dreams - Broken Dreams
The real cost of owning your own horse is not just time and money - you must plan ahead before you buy or you could be without an equine friend.
Do you dream of owning your own horse?
Have you really, I mean really, thought about it - objectively? Forget romantic notions of rosettes, winning dressage competitions, learning new ways to communicate and just spending time with your equine friend. Stand back and look at the 2 key realities of owning your own horse - because once you have him/her in your life, letting go again can be very hard and expensive! Are you truly ready for the commitment, both financial and time, which owning your own horse involves?
Owning a horse will change your life immeasurably
It will offer you an amazing opportunity to bond and enjoy a relationship with a sensitive, affectionate and intelligent animal who, provided you respect the fact that he is a horse and not an equine machine, will become one of the best friends you have every had. But, besides the enjoyment you should have from your new friend, you must be prepared for the commitment that owning your own horse involves. They will become a way of life - a focal point for both your time and finances and not everyone in your life may appreciate this!
Which horse to buy?
Starting from the top then. What sort of horse/pony do you want and what can you afford? What do you want to do? Are you a happy hacker sort, who just wants a quiet friend to hack out, groom and do the odd fun ride and competition? Do you want to take part in Pony Club activities, or are you even ready for the big move to a serious competition horse with show jumping or dressage in mind? This is a very, very important point. Again, ignore romantic notions of what you want to do, and consider very harshly, what you can afford to buy, to keep, to maintain and really, what are you actually honestly capable of dealing with, and (an easy one to overlook) what are you going to actually have the time for. Don't pretend to yourself - you will do yourself and any horse you buy an injustice. A happy hacker will be fine with the odd ride and you will benefit from the occasional lesson. However, a competition horse, like a KWPN DW, will be wasted if you planned to compete but spend all your time mucking out (because you cannot afford help) and juggling your family commitments at the same time (speaking from experience on this point!) Think about it a lot (and then think about it again, and again).
Which breed of horse/pony?
Different breeds of horse have varying personalities and needs which will all add varying requirements on your finances and time. What is your true level of knowledge with regard to stable management, horse management and welfare, horsy first aid, feed & nutrition and your riding skills - are they really up to the job? It is very easy to be seduced by thoughts of high-grade competition wins on your beautiful steed. But, be realistic. There's no point buying something that you cannot cope with - you will spoil the horse and just spoil your dreams! So think very hard. Forget what you want - look hard at yourself and without emotion, write a list of what you really know are your abilities (get some friends to do a list too), what are your goals and realistic timeframes for achieving certain milestones. Then think hard about what horse/pony to buy. What is your lifestyle - what sort of horse/pony will be happy with the life, attention and training you will be able to afford him? Ask a friend to video your riding and look at it objectively.
Age of the horse matters, think long term
The main point about age of your purchase, training needs & your abilities aside, is resale. If you only want to keep a horse for a few years, then you need to ensure you buy an appropriately aged horse for your abilities, so that you have a sellable horse in a few years time. Horses can live a long time. Well past the point when they are able to compete, jump big jumps and perform technically correct dressage moves. You must have a plan for an older horse once his needs are different to yours.
The age of the horse you buy is pertinent when purchasing
Consider how long you will want/be able to keep this horse/pony? What are your abilities? What training can you afford? How much time do you have, realistically, taking into consideration all your other commitments. How often will you be able to exercise him? Trainers? Do you have a box (for competing)? All of these questions should be considered and answered objectively before you go looking and ensure you have budgeted, realistically, for all the training, livery and help that you will need. W ho will help you if you are away / on holiday (consider the extra cost implications). There's no point wanting to compete, if you cannot afford the transport to get there.
Once you have your horse, selling may take time. The market may be reduced; he may be too old; not experienced enough; not fit enough; not competed enough; not advanced enough for his age. For these reasons buying the right horse, for you at this moment in time, not just your abilities but what you are really going to have the time to keep, manage and maintain. Because, like me, you may simply not be able to bear the thought of selling him and not having him in your life, even when you know deep, deep down that you cannot fit him into your life at the moment.
An older vs younger equine friend
An older horse/pony could be harder to sell on if kept for a long time, whilst a younger horse if you were to keep for about 4 years and provided it's been well trained and looked after, would perhaps be a quicker horse to sell on. Really, the point being to just consider the longer term effects of your horse purchase, as like a dog, they are 'not just for Xmas'. They are a long term commitment for your time, finances and once committed, to your heart strings!
A younger horse requires a considerable amount of training expertise and time, whereas an older horse will be easier in some areas because of their experiences and training (provided, of course, they are good ones). A younger horse, if you have the experience, time and a number of good trainers, will be very rewarding if you do it properly. You will not have to spend time undoing others poor and possibly detrimental training methods. However, you don't want to be the one that applies them either. A well schooled, competed (if that's what your looking for) / more mature horse, could enable you to progress slightly quicker than if you had a young horse needing to be trained. But it all depends on so many factors. An older horse may be slightly easier simply because he is more mature and confident. But of course, it all depends on the past experiences and training which will not always be evident initially.
The age of the horse vs your experience & expectations
At the end of the day, the age of the horse you purchase should fall in line with what you are capable of now, what you will be capable of in the near future and allow sufficient time for you to achieve enough so if necessary, you can sell him on, well trained and happy, in a few years time. Or, ensure you have long term arrangements in mind to keep him in a field with a few pals, happy for the rest of his years (there are some special equestrian centres that offer a retirement liveries).
What you expect vs what will happen
Owning a horse will be full of surprises. You cannot plan what will really happen. The experiences that you will have will far outstrip anything you imagined. What do I mean. Well, when I bought my horse I wanted to take dressage very seriously. Firstly, this was totally impractical given that I had just had a baby girl and we run our own companies so time limited and funds need to be invested in other things that hay and horse feed!).
What I actually learnt was a) how to muck out a lot and split myself into eight b) horsey feed/nutrition c) managing a big 17.3 KPWN e) natural horsemanship works f) how quickly you can move a horse to a new yard when you have to g) how not to be bullied by mean livery owners h) the tact of dealing with yard mangers/owners.i) I will never have a horse again until I can keep it at home j) I can move 20 hay bails really quickly now k) everything I have written in this and the other articles to follow.. plus... it's endless. Dressage - no, didn't really have the time to take my dressage any further but I have nevertheless, learnt a lot of very useful information that will be used in a good and positive way when the time is right for me to get another horse! There are a lot harder lessons I could have had to learn, so I thank God really that all the lessons I did learn are positive ones which will make the next experience easier (and yours too, if you take heed of what I am writing here)!
Just because he does it with current owner, doesn't mean he will do it with you
Don't think that by buying a horse that has already competed a lot and jumps or 'does dressage' very well with its current owner, means that the story will be the same for you (or not at the beginning anyway). It takes time to learn to respect each other and you will have to start at the basics and build up your knowledge and trust in each other before you embark on the big steps forward that you are looking for. You may never get there - sometimes it doesn't work out! I can almost guarantee that whatever you are expecting from your new equine purchase, the journey and adventure you will have will be completely different. However, you will learn so much (just look as this article I am writing!) Maybe because you didn't really write your list objectively, or simply because life changes; also, horses have accidents and can be ill - things do go wrong, or not as expected - so, expect the unexpected!
With horses, you really never know what's going to happen!
The main thing when you buy your horse, however much he cost you, is that you buy him/her because you simply Love Horses. If you are not really besotted with horses, simply for Horses Sake, then you are not in the right game! (However, don't let this adoration cloud your purchasing judgement, please!) At the end of the day, to take part in horse ownership and anything horse oriented you must truly love them from the bottom of your heart. Anything else that happens is just a bonus! The true horseperson knows that the real point of horses is their beauty and their company; learning how they speak and speaking back to them in the same way. It's not about control, showing off, having the latest designer gear, the best looking horse (although it's does feel good!), the most success. It's really just about understanding each other and enjoying each other's company.
For the Real Horse Person: Love is..
You must love mucking out; love early mornings; love late nights in the freezing cold; love wet winter feet; love mucking out to the lights of your cars 'cos you don't want to put money in the meter; love schooling in the dark (ditto); love jumping down with frozen feet that tingle with pain when they hit the tarmac; love coming back from a hack with your hair stuck to your face from the pouring rain; love being stuck in a foot of mud when you take them to the field in the morning; love falling in mud as they decide to move, anyway; love the hypnotic munch of hay; love ripped new rugs; love mud all over; love freezing-freezing mornings; love frozen hands and fingers; love Summer showers that tingle on your nose; love the way they chuck all their carefully measured out feed on the floor; love it when you just manage to hang on; love it when you don't; love it when you win, love it when you lose; love it when it all works (finally!); love it when your horse says 'thank you'; love it when he understands; love hot breath from warm muzzle; love that special Horsy cuddle! (The list here is endless by the way).
It's funny, whilst I love the riding aspect of equine engagement, the really great memories are the little ones like icicle noses on a winter morning; frosted winter muzzles that gently poke you for a polo; the happy sound of your equine friend as he whinnies when your car pulls up - we like to think he is happy to see us, but really he just wants his breakfast!
Have excellent, regular training
A good trainer is vital. Just having someone who tells you how to grab the rains, hang on and get the horse over the jump; or someone who forces the horse in an outline until his muscles are so pronounced he appears to be holding himself when actually, there's no power going through his top-line and he is almost deformed by all the gadgets - No, this is not the answer. The key to success on your horse/pony is your ability to ride them in an effective, efficient and considerate manner, being part of their movement.
The key to a good trainer - Train the rider, not the horse
The horse has not chosen to do jumps or dressage. He would quite happily eat grass all day with his pals. He only knows how to be a Horse. You, on the other hand, have chosen to invite this horse into your life and you, being superior in intelligence (presumably!), have the ability to learn his way of doing things. You need to meet him at his level. The term, as you may well be aware, of natural horsemanship, applies here. If you don't get to know your horse on his level, at ground level - inviting him to understand and respect you, because you have made the effort to understand and respect him as a horse and not a machine, will pave the way to a much easier ridden relationship. Horses, by their very nature, want to please, provided you give them the mechanism to trust you because you now, understand them. There are many good, well known methods and trainers and you should go out of your way to find a trainer who does not put the blame on the horse when it all goes wrong - and absolutely, won't let you! It is almost never the fault of the horse.
Give a child a piggy-back
This is one of those 'light bulb' moments! Sounds funny, but this is very important for the future development of both you and your horses relationship together. If you have a little cousin, sister, brother, niece, you may well have given them a piggy back (either whilst you stand, or if they are very convincing, been on all fours racing around the living room).
Next time you see them, offer to do this once again (watch the big smile on their face). If you don't have one to hand, try this with something quite heavy (like a loose back pack filled with some apples/potatoes... basically, things that will move around). Try the following list of exercises whilst standing up and on all fours (with your chosen rider)!
1. Walk in a straight line, turn around, and walk back again - without dotting all over the place;
2. Move around in a circle in a balanced, consistent movement;
3. Try a little jog whilst keeping your balance;
4. Try jumping over a small obstacle, keeping your balance and without knocking anything down;
5. Try to lift your back upwards, tucking tummy in
6. Try again... and again... and again!
Do you see my point! What we expect and ask from our equine friends whilst we wobble and bump around on their backs!
Learning balance and centered riding
Whether you want to jump, 'do dressage', or just ride out on long hacks and have fun - the true art to good ridden horsemanship and mastery is balanced, centered riding. That means - YOUR balance and YOUR centered riding - not the horses! He is most likely to already be well balanced until you sit on his back! Good centered and balanced riding is not gained by your forcing your horse into an outline with gadgets and tight reins. He must have good top line to hold you comfortably but without good riding he will not be able to do develop his top line correctly.
Finding your balance and developing centered riding
Don't be afraid - your balance is not something mysteriously hiding inside of you! It is there - you just need to establish it. There is, however, one point I need to stress here and that is body shape! This is a harsh point that you may not appreciate but it is very relevant and true. I have had to face this exact point head on. If you are over weight, unfit and not particularly well proportioned, being a really good rider will be hard. (Look at the good riders - they do tend to be well proportioned and fit). If bits of your body are waving around in ways you cannot control or you cannot sit straight and long because other parts of your body are rebelling against the saddle and sides of the horse, you really will find it hard to find your balance and develop centered riding! But do not fear - there is any easy solution. Mucking Out - yep, I got so fit doing this so off you go and get rid of some puppy fat and develop your stamina! I don't mean you need to be a waiflike, streamlined athlete. But muscle tone and strength is important for riding. Riding is an energetic sport - although most non-horsey types think you just sit there like a sack of spuds and won't understand why you are so tired after your 3 hours down the yard of 'having cups of coffee' and 'chatting to all your mates'!
How do you find your balance and develop centered riding?
Patience, time, lots & lots of riding, steer with gentle shifting of your weight and arm movements and take off the stirrups (make sure you are in a safe place for this). Some of you will find it quite easy (the more natural horse people); others will slowly develop it; many of you may give up finding it. But, if you can persevere it is really worth it. A good trainer will help you to establish and develop this. I won't go into how I found mine at this moment. It will be what distinguishes you as a good rider amongst the many poor ones.
Suffice to say, whether you are just hacking out, show jumping or eventing, establishing good balance and centred riding is vital - I cannot emphasise it enough. It is not just for those patient and elegant horse people that 'do dressage'!
Why is it so important? Well, if you are hacking down the road and your horse spooks, the well balanced, centered rider is most likely to still be on afterwards. The unbalanced rider will be on the floor - maybe with the reins in their hands, but most likely their steed will be legging it down the road in a panic. See my point? If you are jumping 4" fences, the well balanced, centered rider (watch Mark Todd riding) will excel against other clumsy riders. Yes, horses can jump, but it is not enough just to get them over the jump - it's the strides and the turns in between and how horse & rider cope with these movements together that will pick out the poorer riders from those that have mastered the true essence of horsemanship. Needless to say, if you want to 'do dressage' you won't get anywhere without a good balanced seat and confident, centered riding! I am surprised to see some dressage riders, after a ridiculous amount of lessons, still bouncing around on the back of their horse in sitting trot, whilst their trainer tells them to reel the horses head down in an attempt to create some kind of control! The right trainer is paramount - you will be restricted to low grade dressage if you don't crack your balance from the onset. Make it your main priority and other movements and riding will be so much easier for you, because you are making it so much easier for your horse.
Other people do it differently
The few, true horse people out there realise that your horse is an animal. Not a machine. Not an equine-XBox. He is a living creature. So, sticking living creature in loads of gadgets, slamming your legs round him, gagging him in hard bits, tightening fixed hands on tight reins. It Won't Work no matter how much you paid for the lessons!
He's not an Equine-Xbox
Your horse will try his hardest for you... but if you don't push the right buttons for both his mind and his body, it won't work in the end for either of you - he is not an Equine-Xbox. If you should be lucky enough to realise this, you will be in the minority. Finding and crafting the art of true horsemanship, both ridden and on the ground - requires time, effort, considerable patience and understanding at the beginning. You will reap the rewards further down the line when everyone else's horses have said "Forget it, no more".
In the meantime, whilst you are being more patient and taking the time to establish ground work and master basic riding technique, you may meet with criticism and cynicism from other less patient and educated horse people. Many will see your 'Equine-Xbox' as an object to be dominated and forced into doing it now. You will just have to ignore them, somehow. Don't be pushed to push yourself and your horse into cracking on with harder moves when all you really need to do is establish the basics. Without good basics (balanced; centred riding; a supple horse and rider; in hand respect & good groundwork), the rest will be hard to attain.
Gizmos and gadgets
I don't propose to know much about all the gadgets out there. Many are well thought of when used in an appropriate manner by a trained and knowledgeable person. The problem is that many are abused, as are the horses being forced to wear them. Get good, sensible advice. Imagine you have to wear it and do whatever it is you are expecting your horse to do in it, first. The tricky bit is really knowing who knows what. This is why a natural, less-is-more mind set can be the best approach. Speak/read/watch training methods in use before you use them. I had a 'knowledgeable' person look after my horse for 5 weeks whilst I was on holiday. I had asked them to lunge him and develop his muscle and top line whilst I was away. It turned out she had been putting a pesoa on him almost every day- quite tight. He was not happy - when I got back and attempted to lunge him with his saddle on, he went ballistic. So, care needs to be taken when using training methods and when asking for help - people don't often know as much as they think they know! And be clear about what is and is not acceptable to you, the owner. Remember, it is your horse, your money - and if you listen to your horses voice, you should be making the best decisions for your horse.
Buying your horse - where should you look?
A big and extremely important decision. Be very careful. There are a lot of time wasters advertising horses which do not fit the true reality of the horse. Depending on what you are looking for, there are a number of different options and avenues. If you are just looking for a happy hacker, speak to local riding establishments, friends, trainers, go to tack shops and get the word around. Word of mouth is good -you could find a lovely friend who you could even try out first, either by helping the owner out for a few weeks or perhaps having the horse on loan for a few weeks or months with a view to purchase.
If you are keen to compete and take it all quite seriously, I suggest a couple of lessons with a high quality trainer and their horses. Explain your intentions and aspirations and ask them to give you a very honest opinion of your ability now and what they believe your future abilities could be. You may need to travel to someone new for this and it will cost a bit, but it will be worth it. Listen to what they say, even if you don't really like the reality of it. Try out some friends' horses, if you can. Before venturing out in to the big wide world of 'horses for sale', ensure you have your list: What I can do; What I want to do; What I can afford to buy; What I can afford to keep & maintain; How long I will have the horse; What style of Livery will I be offering. Then start. It may take a very long time to find the right horse. Options are local papers, again word of mouth, ring up trainers and training yards (ie dressage / show jumping yards); contact equestrian centres and studs locally and further a-field. Also, you can look abroad - but ask around.
Look around - Ring around
There is no harm contacting trainers and breeders in the UK who you may not know and asking if they ever go abroad and if they can recommend any yards abroad. But also be careful. It is always better to see any horse with a trusted, able individual who can objectively look at the horse, and you when you try it out. Search the web as there are many horses on line here - even if its simply for research purposes. Best to take a trainer, I think, rather than a vet. A vet will be able to check that the horse is fit but not necessarily whether it is the right horse for the job you want it to do. Do be aware however, that some of the prices you pay abroad will be higher simply because you are from the UK - hence, going with a trusted, well known individual who really knows the true value of horses in today's market really makes sense. They will charge - but it is better to pay them what they are worth and what the horse is worth, rather than paying over-odds for your equine friend.
More to come in next article:
Horse dealers; buying a horse abroad; Share vs Loan; Managing your horse once he is home and lots more...
This article is written and submitted by Vanessa Moctezuma who lives in Shropshire (without a horse at the moment, unfortunately). I run an online jewellery store offering up to 6000 items of high quality jewellery including earrings suitable for the discerning rider and competitor. http://www.jewelleryedition.co.uk/. Visit Jewellery Edition online high quality online jewellery store offering a wide range of collections. Rings, Bracelets, Earings, Bangles, Diamonds - Elements Gold, Elements Silver, Catallina Diamonds (high quality diamond jewellery collection), Fred Bennet and other quality jewellery collections at excellent prices. Jewellery Edition UK online is owned and managed by Edgar and Vanessa Moctezuma.
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