First Time Horse Buyer? Here's What You Need To Know

In this article I would like to share some useful tips and advice for people who are planning to buy a horse. I'm a big fan of horses and I try to ride them every single weekend. As a result of my passion for this amazing animal I have spent hours reading various magazines, books and other sources learning as much as possible about horse care and in today's article I would like to talk about things every person who is planning to buy a horse should know about.

The first and probably the most important thing that you need to do when buying a horse is to find someone who has been riding for at least five to ten years. I know that this is probably not the greatest analogy, but just like when you are buying a car for the first time you want someone who is more experienced than you to be with you so he could ask the right questions and see whether there is anything wrong with the car. The same rules apply to buying horses. You don't want to end up spending thousands of dollars on a horse that is not right for you or even worse buying a horse that is suffering from a health problem that cannot be treated.

Secondly when buying your first horse you also need to be clear about why do you to own a horse in the first place. I know that this probably sounds a little bit weird, but the fact is that there are a lot of horse riding disciplines. Some people ride horses because they compete at racing events, others compete at dressage events, some ride because they like to do show jumping, whereas others ride horse simply because of recreational reasons.

Being clear about your motivation will greatly improve your chances of finding the right breed that will meet your needs. Just like with cars there are hundreds of potential breeds to choose from and each of these breeds have their own advantages and disadvantages. Just like certain cars are really fast in the straight line, but burn their fuel very quickly, the same rules apply to horses. Some horses are really fast, but lack endurance, whereas other horse breeds such as Arabian Horses have amazing endurance.

You need to be clear about your motivations, because once you will know why do you want to own a horse it will be much easier to determine the right breed, age and budget.

Finally you also need to know that horse ownership can be costly. In addition to good shelter you also going to have to spend quite a bit of money of things like equine joint supplements and other supplements in order to keep your horse strong and healthy.

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Equestrian Supplies Checklist For Horse Competitions

With the equine competition season fast approaching, many riders will be planning their spring and summer show schedule. While now is the ideal time to be putting in some extra training hours, for both equine and rider, it is also the perfect opportunity to make sure the duo have enough of the necessary horse supplies to get them through the year.

Equestrian supplies are often cheaper out of the competition months, and some good deals can be had during winter or end of season sales. Here is a list of items that are absolutely vital and may well need replacing before that next set of events. It can be useful to go through such a checklist, deciding whether what is already owned is sufficient or more equestrian supplies need to be purchased.

A horse and human first-aid kit - It pays to be prepared for any unforseen circumstances.

Water and feed buckets, water carriers and sweat scrapers.

Spare saddlery- reins, stirrup leathers and so on. Having a few extra shoes in the horse's size can also be a competition saver...

Grooming kit, including body brush, curry comb, water brush, stable rubber, sponge, towel, Vaseline (or horse show specific make-up), hoof oil and brush)

Spare headcollar.

Spare lead rope.

Plaiting kit, including scissors, tape, cotton, needles and hairspray.

Summer sheet/cooler.

Saddle soap and sponge.

Once that first event of the year arrives, it is important to get back into a pre-competition routine. Make sure all the relevant equestrian supplies and rider equipment is ready well in advance- if anything is forgotten it is not often possible to dash home to pick it up. It is a good idea to double up with the most important equestrian supplies and leave them permanently in the horse truck or float. This way, vital items such as grooming kits and plaiting aids are always in there. On top of the aforementioned points, remember to do the following before setting off to that all important debut competition:

Check each piece of horse and rider equipment is in good condition. If anything is showing signs of excessive wear and tear, do not use it.

Get everything ready for the show the night before, because equestrian events usually involve early starts.

Make sure water and a haynet have been packed, along with everything the horse might need to keep comfortable and any equipment required for competition.

Don't forget to take a mobile phone- if the unspeakable happens (a breakdown) it can be a godsend.

If preparation is done well in advance and the vital equestrian supplies are bought in plenty of time, there is no reason for things not to go smoothly. Leave the yard early so the horse has enough time- probably about an hour- to settle once it is on the showgrounds. Have a warming up strategy in place leading up to the class and allow enough time to get them looking presentable before you enter the show ring, dressage arena or jumping class.

Once the competition is over, make sure everything that came to the show goes back home. It can be easy when horse and rider are tired, to miss that body brush that has slipped under the float ramp or those gloves next to the car door. Have a look at the checklist again and tick off each item as it is put back in the car or on the truck. Put in a couple of extra minutes before heading home and there will be no need to spend money on unnecessary replacement equestrian supplies.

Search our huge list of equestrian supplies from New Zealand on our website.

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Horse Care - Excellent Tips and Tricks for Stable Cleaning

Stable cleaning is one thing that all horse owners will agree to. The importance of a clean and organized stable cannot be ignored. Whether you own one horse or twenty, the importance of cleaning the stable does not decrease. Stable cleaning and organizing not only contributes to a better health of your beloved pet, but also makes taking care of your horse safer, easier and less costly.

Storing the entire supplies within a single bar can be quite challenging to a new horse owner. Therefore, it is very important to list down the factors you need to account for. First, de-clutter your stable. Divide the space and select different sides of the barn for storing different items.

For example, you may decide you keep the feed on the left, while the right one is dedicated to the grooming accessories. Potable toolboxes may help at times but they are considered a poor substitute when compared to a proper management plan. The following tips may help you better:

Your beloved horses can be really messy. Sometimes it is shocking to see how much mess a horse can create in just eight to ten hours. They poop anywhere they like, starting from the deed dish right till the entrance of the door.

However, no matter how much the mess is, you still need to clean it up. Stable cleaning is imperative because a poorly cleaned or dirty stable may cause diseases and bacteria to fester and will make the stable stinky.

For yard cleaning or stable cleaning, you will need a bucket or wheelbarrow and a stable rake/fork. It is always advisable that you remove the horse from the stable during the cleaning process as it will make it easier for you to move around.

Remove the piles of poop using the large stable rake/fork. Use the same tool to remove wet patches too. Make sure you dig down the floor in order to expose the bedding and then continue until you reach the point you initially started from.

If the floor still seems wet, give it enough time to dry. You may be required to remove the entire bedding in the horse stable on a regular basis for cleaning purposes. You can even use cleaning products for yard cleaning or stable cleaning to get rid of hard stains and smell. Once you are done, you can tie back your horse in his stable to enjoy the quality environment.

Regarding more info on equine infection control and equine rug wash, for more visit the website http://www.cleanround.co.uk/

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Geriatric Horse Care: Feeding Challenges For The Older Horse In A Herd Setting

As the owner of a small horse herd containing several geriatric mares, I have found feeding time can pose several challenges. Having spent the first couple of years of horse ownership without a barn, I had to sometimes get a bit creative during feeding time. I also learned the hard way that feeding time can be one of the most dangerous times to be around horses, especially when you are not so savvy in the ways of herd behavior. For the benefit of those that are new to horses or to a herd scenario, I would like to share with you some of what I learned.

Recognize The Herd Pecking Order

Understanding this one thing can save you a ton of grief at feeding time. Horses have a pecking order, and they live by it every day. It can occasionally shift, as horses decide every day on who will be the leader of the herd. Unfortunately, in many cases it's not the human! Pay close attention to your herd and know who moves whom around and you'll quickly learn who is in charge. The horse that can move the other horses around is usually the leader, and it may not always be the biggest horse, or the oldest horse. There will usually be a lead mare and a lead stallion (or gelding) in a mixed sex herd. Observing this pecking order, as well as the dispositions of the top horses, will help you determine if your older horse is getting bullied by a higher ranking horse. Severe bullying cases may require splitting the herd for the safety of your older horse.

When it comes to feeding time, always recognize your herd's pecking order when passing out the feed. You will find there will bea lot less chaos and less potential for injury if you feed the lead horse first, then second in command, and so on. In my herd, everyone has their very own spot that I always bring their feed bucket to, and they must be there in that spot before they get their bucket. I feed in the same order every time, so they learn the routine. My herd's lead gelding (stallion in his mind!) will sometimes round everyone up when he thinks they are taking too long to get to their spots, and he gets very upset when they aren't in the correct spot! Horses are pattern learners. They like consistency and they like to know what comes next.

I always dread having to go out of town and leave the feeding chores to others. My husband always scoffs at my routine when I give him my feeding instructions and tells me it's silly. But it never fails that if my horse sitter doesn't feed the horses in the correct order and put the buckets where they normally would go, it's like a free for all! Horses charging and kicking at each other and the higher ranking horses crowding around while trying to put the feed out. Very scary!! Horses become very defensive of their space during feeding time, and it is very easy to get between two horses' hind feet (or teeth) at the wrong moment or to get trampled. It is extremely dangerous for a human and can also be dangerous for the horses, especially for the lower ranking older horse that maybe doesn't move so quickly. Make sure and establish a solid routine for your herd to help make it as safe as possible for both horse and human.

Separate Special Needs Horses

One of the most frustrating things for me before I had my barn and the ability to separate my horses at feeding time was making sure that my older horses got all their feed and supplements. I had one mare that just took forever to eat her food. It would literally take her 1-1/2 to 2 hours to finish! She was a very challenging mare to keep weight on and needed all the help she could get. She was on a senior formulation, as well as soaked alfalfa cubes and several supplements. The other horses were just getting regular hay and a small amount of feed which wasn't nearly as appetizing. She was higher ranking than the two geldings at the time, so she was able to fend them off for a while, but eventually she would be harassed away from her food well before she was done. I had to find a way to separate them.

Since I didn't have stalls, we installed tie rings on the larger fence posts and started tying each horse up to eat until the older horses were finished eating. This worked very well for us until we were able to build our barn. This, however, may not be practical for larger herds. Sometimes just tying up the offending horses is all that is necessary to ensure that the slower horses get to eat. Some situations may require a bit more imaginative solution. Creating a temporary stall in a corner of the pasture or lean-to using a couple of old stock panels attached to the fence or support posts for confining a single horse. Putting up a small portable electric pen works for some horses if they respect the electric fence.

Whatever solution you choose, it is important to provide an environment that allows your older horses to eat in peace! It also gives you the opportunity to make sure that your horse is eating its full ration. If you have a couple of stalls, you are already way ahead of the curve! If your older horse goes off its feed, you'll know it right away! You can monitor their fecals if necessary, as well as ensuring that they get all supplements and medications that you intend for them. Not to mention that allowing your older horse to eat in a stress free environment is much better for their digestive health. A stressed out horse is less likely to eat and also compromises its ability to digest its food properly.

Proper Equine Dental Maintenance

A common area of neglect for the older horse is proper balanced equine dentistry. A lot of people just don't realize that horses even need to have dental maintenance. This is particularly important for geriatric horse care. As horses age, they lose teeth. As their teeth wear, they develop hooks and ramps (sharp edges and ledges on the teeth) that impede the horse's ability to properly chew its food. If they've lost teeth, the opposing tooth has nothing to wear against and can continue to grow into the gap left by the missing tooth, again impeding the normal movement of the jaw. A large percentage of older horses that have problems holding their weight have dental problems that can be addressed through proper balanced dentistry.

Not all equine dentists are created equal! Do your homework before deciding on who to take your horse to for dentistry. Talk to other horse owners, get referrals, find out what experiences they've had with the dentists in your area. A bad dentist can do an enormous amount of damage to a horse's health and shorten its life expectancy. A horse only has so much tooth to erupt over its lifetime. Once it's filed away, that's it! There's no more tooth. A good online resource is Advanced Whole Horse Dentistry, where you can find helpful information on equine dentistry.

While geriatric horse care in a herd setting can be very challenging, having a herd is a very rewarding experience which far outweighs the negatives. Horses living in a herd are much happier and healthier (both mentally and physically) overall. It provides your horses with stable relationships, socialization skills, and living conditions much more natural than being alone or stalled all day. Your older horse fills an important role in the stability of your herd; teaching socialization skills to the younger horses, providing discipline when necessary, and adding to the safety of the herd through their experience and knowledge. I love watching my herd play in the pasture. It provides me with endless hours of entertainment!

About The Author:

Lisa Carter is a Certified Equine Massage Therapist (CEMT) with multiple certifications in equine bodywork.  She incorporates her knowledge and experience with Parelli Natural Horsemanship, equine bodywork and as a veterinary technician to provide her clients with the resources they need to make informed decisions for their horses.  She encourages and facilitates network building between equine health care professionals, working together to find the best combination of therapies to meet the needs of the "whole horse".  

Are you ready to get better results with your horse?  Put your equine health care team to work so you and your horse can be doing what you were meant to.   Click here to get started!

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How To Choose The Right Horse Feed For A Child's First Pony

The moment a child gets their first pony is an incredibly special one. After months of searching, a choice has been made and that perfect first equine partner, the one that ticks all the boxes, has been found. However, it is important to realise that the arrival of the child's new four-legged friend is not the time to start thinking about how to look after him. One of the most important things to think about is the horse feed he will be provided with.

Firstly, it's vital to ask the previous owner what the pony has been fed so far. Is there a specific brand or type of horse food that the pony has been eating? A horse's digestive system is very sensitive and doesn't cope well with sudden changes. It is a much better idea to change the horse's diet over gradually. This might mean sticking with what the pony was used to at its last home, and slowly introducing it to whatever diet the new owner has in mind. Be prepared and make sure there is enough hay and feed to give the pony, for when he arrives at his new home.

One of the main mistakes novice owners make is feeding too much. While it can be tempting to give a pony an extra scoop of hard feed, especially when he is new to the yard and everyone is trying to help him settle in and bond with his new owners, it is always advisable to feed according to the horse food manufacturer's guidelines. Feed too much and the pony might put on too much weight and the extra energy might have a negative impact on his temperament. Most pony breeds are very hardy and don't need an awful lot of hard feed. In fact, they can be susceptible to painful conditions such as laminitis when they are overfed. Stick to low-energy, high-fibre horse food and plenty of forage.

A number of other factors will determine how much food the pony needs to receive. If the child is a beginner rider and will only be doing light hacking and a bit of schooling, he will need much less hard feed than a more active pony that is being used for show jumping and cross-country training. How he is being kept and what the season is will also dictate the amount and energy content of the feed. If a pony is being kept outside 24/7 over winter, he will need more horse food to help him keep warm and to prevent him from losing too much weight. If he is on lush spring grass, a pony will probably need minimal hard food, and might even need to be put on restricted grazing if he is putting on too much extra weight.

Buying a child's first pony can be a huge learning curve, with choosing the appropriate horse food being just one of those lessons. Some of the best things a new owner can do is keep it simple, educate themselves as much as possible and never forget that horse food company Help Lines can provide excellent feed management advice.

Search our huge list of horse food suppliers from New Zealand on our website.

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Horse Retirement - Your Horse's Golden Years

Retiring a beloved horse is an emotional journey, but you can take most of the worry out of it by doing your homework first.

Horse retirement facilities offer a place for your horse to live out the rest of its days and although most retirement facilities specialize in geriatric horses, not all old horses qualify. Retirement farms generally accept only those horses that are in reasonably good health and will not require extreme veterinary care.

Most retirement homes are not free. Many of the nonprofit types require a one-time donation at the time of the horse's placement to help cover the costs of their operation while other farms, that are operated on a for-profit basis, have annual or monthly charges.

To ensure that your horse will be cared for as you wish, it is important to check out the facility's physical layout for adequate space for the number of horses on the premises and safe stalls, run-in sheds and fencing, the feeding program, the hoof care program and the veterinary program. Climate, altitude and topography are also important considerations and depend on your horse's state of health.

Even though your horse is no longer being ridden, it will still require minimal de-worming, annual dentistry, vaccinations and hoof care (trimming as needed) to stay comfortable and healthy.

Retirement programs differ from farm to farm. Find out how your horse will be turned out and if stabling is available during adverse weather conditions. Will your horse be pasture grazed or hay fed? Is supplementation available? What about grain? How will your horse be integrated into the herd? There are many questions you will need to ask to ensure that your horse will be taken care of the way you wish.

A quality horse retirement farm will allow you to visit your horse. If this is not the case, be wary of putting your horse there.

Horse retirement farms are plentiful and offer a variety of services. To begin your search, first rely on personal recommendations from trusted sources. Another option is to search the internet. Horse retirement websites should offer a description of the facility and have pictures of the property and their retirees. But don't just take the website's word for it... go and inspect the facility in person.

Selecting a facility that provides good, consistent care and an appropriate preventive health care program will go a long way in maintaining the well-being of your aged equine companion during its "Golden Years".

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