| Responsibilities Of Ownership |
| Horse ownership can be a happy, rewarding experience. It is also a very large demanding responsibility. Be certain you are willing to accept these responsibilities. Consider the commitment that you will be making in money, time and emotional involvement before you acquire a horse. Horses need tending not only in nice weather but in cold and nasty weather as well. They actually need more care when the weather turns nasty. Financial Commitment Here are some of the expenses you will incur. Prices will vary depending on where you live. Use this list to research what the cost of horse ownership will be in your area : Stable or Barn / Boarding Fees Saddle Soap Worming Grain Barn Maintenance Bedding Hoof Dressing Water Bucket / Trough Muck Fork Lead Rope Treats Veterinary Care Blanket Saddle Yearly Check Up Boots Hoof Pick Injuries / Illness Hay Fence Maintenance Farrier Care Grain Tub Grain Container Shovel Brushes Salt / Mineral / Supplements Rake Halter Bridle Vaccinations Hard Hat Saddle Blanket Wheelbarrow Water Heaters There will be extra items that you will find out that you need that are not listed here. This is just a small basic list of items you will need. Time Commitment Plan to spend a minimum of one hour each day feeding and cleaning. More time will be spent hauling feed, hay and bedding. Fence and barn maintenance will use up several weekends a year. Weather will affect the amount of time needed. Winter will require ensuring that water is not frozen, horses can not healthily survive on eating snow, ice has not built up in feet, and blankets are used when needed. Ice balls in hooves can damage tendons and nerves and permanently damage legs. Hot conditions mean maintaining extra water buckets and controlling insects. Emotional Commitment Many abuse cases result from children left to assume total responsibility of an animal. Parents who aquire a horse for minor children should have knowledge of proper horse care and must personally monitor the daily care and feeding of the horse. Horse ownership can give parents an opportunity to educate children about responsibility and commitment, but only when the parents commit to daily reinforcement of the lessons. Is there a responsible person available to care for the horse if you go away for vacation or become ill? This is something to think about before the situation arises. Horse care without an emotional commitment is just a lot of hard work. A great deal of time will be spent on care and maintenance than on riding. If riding is your only interest, it would be better to ride at a commercial riding school or stable. Save yourself the cost, labor and time of caring for a horse of your own. Horses are a long time commitment and should not be taken lightly or as a short term commitment. It is not fair to the horse. Horses can live up to 40 years. Too often people raise a horse and keep them for many years just to turn around and sell them at an auction which usually means they will go to slaughter. Is that any way to treat a long time friend and companion ? Think long and hard before you commit yourself to a horse or any other animal ! |