What to Expect When Owning a Horse
If you’re looking into purchasing your first horse, you may be wondering what exactly you are about to get yourself into. As a larger animal with a longer lifespan, owning a horse carries a lot of responsibility. You might be wondering if owning a horse is worth it instead of leasing a horse or participating in a 4-H club. Before you make the jump into horse ownership, make sure you know what to expect when owning a horse.
Feed
Horses are big creatures and they eat a lot of food. Expect a large portion of your budget to go towards feeding your horse. While the cost of the hay or grain may not seem that expensive, a horse needs a near-constant supply so it will add it up.
Boarding
If you aren’t planning on housing the horse on your own property, then you are going to have to pay someone else to board your horse. If you are just looking for a place to keep your horse, and you will do the rest of the work, boarding may not be that expensive. But if you are looking for a stable that will provide services for your horse, that will be much more costly.
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Veterinarian
A horse needs regular maintenance, and veterinarian care for a large animal is much more expensive than that for a cat or dog. Your horse will need standard check-ups, vaccinations and tests, dewormings, and minor care for non-emergency injuries. Always have room in your budget in case your horse needs emergency medical care.
Farrier
Caring for a horse’s hooves is another priority for every horse owner. Hooves that are not cared for properly can lead to infection, joint hyper-extension, and even permanent lameness. Owners should provide daily care for their horse’s hooves, and the horses should also be seen by a certified farrier every six to eight weeks to be trimmed or shod.
Training
In addition to caring for the horse, you may also need to consider paying for training or riding lessons. Your new horse may be younger and less experienced so you may have to work with a trainer. If you are buying a horse for your child, your child should be in riding lessons to learn how to work with the horse and become partners.
Preparation is Key
There are a lot of variables involved in horse ownership, aside from what is mentioned in this article. If you are buying your first horse, research and preparation is key to understanding what exactly you should expect as a horse owner. Providing your horse with a healthy and safe environment is the key to horse ownership.