For many enthusiasts, owning a horse is the ultimate dream, for a number of people this will always remain a dream. But there are lucky ones who can make their dream come true. In this article you will find a number of tips and tricks that can help you with the purchase of your first horse or pony. In addition, the costs of keeping a horse are discussed, because unfortunately these are not small.
Many people have dreamed of their own horse all their lives. Some can eventually realize that dream. What should you pay attention to and what are the costs?
Experience
Before you start with a horse, it is wise to already gain some experience at a riding school or with a care or co-riding horse. This experience comes in handy if you have your own horse, because then there are a lot of other things that you probably have no experience with. When you first buy a horse, it is smart not to buy a horse that is too young. A horse of about 12 years old has usually already been broken in and is already used to it. This way you can concentrate on keeping the horse and learning to ride it properly.
In addition, it may be wise as an inexperienced horse owner to stand in a stable where people with more experience are. They can help you with problems you will encounter. If there is someone in your immediate vicinity who can help you well, you can also stable your horse at home.
classes
Even if you have a number of years of driving experience at a riding school, regular (private) lessons never hurt. In this way you get to know your horse better and the horse knows what it is about you. Often you will teach yourself things that are not always clear to the horse. A good instructor / instructor can help you with this.
Buy a horse
Buying a horse is not something you do quickly. Find out which breed will suit you best. Don’t get a 3 year old sensitive arab if you don’t have much experience yet. It is better than to choose a horse or pony of a more robust breed with some experience.
Horses are offered for sale in many places, maybe you have acquaintances who have a horse to buy. Otherwise, you can go to the internet, such as a marketplace, or a trading stable. The price depends on the breed, age, sex, experience and pedigree of the horse. Would you like to make rides in the forest and do you not feel called to go to competitions or inspections? Then you probably don’t really care which parents the horse has and how well it can trot.
There is plenty of choice, so shop around and don’t make hasty decisions.
Approve
Once you have found a horse that you have a click with, the next step comes. Go for a test ride a number of times in different conditions to see if the horse meets your requirements. If you like to go into the woods, it is useful if the horse does not jump aside for every car. And when you ride competitions, it is nice if the horse concentrates well on you in the box. Sometimes you can also test the horse for a few weeks and ride it at home. This way you get an even clearer picture of the horse.
Once you have decided that you want to buy the horse, it is wise to have an inspection carried out. Always have this done by your own veterinarian, in any case make sure that it is not the seller’s veterinarian to prevent fraud. Because even if this is not allowed, it still happens regularly. Depending on the purpose of use of the horse, the inspection is carried out. Again, a recreational horse does not have to meet the same requirements as a sport horse. If you like to go into sport, it is smart to also have the horse x-ray tested. In this way, any deviations that are not visible from the outside can still be detected. The costs of the inspection are sometimes divided between the buying and selling party, sometimes it is agreed that in the event of approval the costs are for the buyer and in the case of rejection for the seller. This depends entirely on the persons themselves. The costs for an inspection vary per vet.
When the horse passes the inspection, you can complete the purchase. If the horse does not pass the inspection, be sensible. Do not buy the horse to avoid any problems. When you buy an unhealthy horse, this can entail high costs!
Storage
Before you buy a horse, look for a good stable. It is of course entirely up to you which features you would like to have at your disposal. Visit different stables and go for the one that gives you the best feeling. It is important that the stable has an eye for horse welfare and that it is not just about the convenience for the owner.
Stable money
The stable fee can vary greatly. This price depends on the facilities offered and the location (in the Randstad, for example, parking is more expensive than in Limburg). In addition, you often have the choice of self-service stables, half board and full board. The former will logically be the cheapest. Usually the price for this type of parking is around 100 to 175 euros. A stable where you can house your horse half board usually requires an amount between 175 and 275 euros. And the price of a full board garage is usually between 200 to 500 euros.
Veterinarian
Before you buy a horse, find out which veterinarians are in the area and register as a customer. A regular pet vet does not always treat horses. So pay attention to this! If you know in advance which vet is nearby, you will not be faced with any surprises if a vet is urgently needed.
Other costs
In addition to the purchase of the horse and the costs for stabling and lessons, you will also have to deal with a number of other costs.
Saddle and bridle
The prices of these items can vary a lot. But for a normal bridle of reasonable quality you will lose about 75 euros and a bit costs an average of 15 euros. You can make a saddle as expensive as you want. But for a reasonable saddle you spend about 700 euros, you can of course also buy it second-hand on the marketplace. But always take into account the fit of the saddle. A saddle can look nice and be inexpensive, if it does not fit on your horse’s back, it will only cause problems. Always have the fit of your saddle checked by someone who understands it. If you have a well-fitting saddle of good quality, you can use it for a very long time.
Brushes and care articles
To brush a horse properly you need a number of brushes, a set usually consists of a hard and soft brush, a curry comb, a mane and tail comb, a hoof pick and a sponge. The prices for such sets vary per brand, but a normal set from, for example, Harry’s Horse usually costs around 15 euros. With this you can clean a horse reasonably well. You can then expand your set with a soft sheep wool glove to make the horse shine, scissors for grooming and a small main brush to make cleaning the head easier.
In addition, various grooming products are available to make your horse beautiful, such as anti-tangle and shine spray. A fly spray and roller is useful if there are a lot of flies and with shampoo your horse will get its old color back.
Blankets
Blankets are not always necessary, most horses can survive the cold months without blankets. But many horse owners prefer to keep their horse’s coat short. Then a blanket comes in handy. In this case, make sure you have several blankets of varying thickness so you can build up in the fall and wind down in the spring. Normally, the following blankets are sufficient:
- Rain rug (unlined)
- Winter blanket 150 grams
- Winter blanket 300 grams
- Sweat blanket (wool or fleece)
With these blankets you can make different thicknesses so that your horse always has the right temperature. Prevent your horse from feeling ice cold or sweating when wearing a blanket.
When it is summer, flies can irritate your horse, a fly rug can offer a solution in such cases. To prevent your horse from getting an eye infection from flies that sit on the eyes, you can use a fly browband or a fly mask.
Prices for blankets vary widely. Depending on the brand and type, there are blankets from 20 to 500 euros.
Veterinarian and farrier
Your horse will need to be vaccinated against influenza and tetanus once or twice a year. A horse that is ridden recreationally only needs to get these vaccinations once a year. If you want to compete, the horse must be vaccinated against influenza twice a year. In addition, there are vaccines against a number of other equine diseases. These are not mandatory.
The farrier usually visits your horse several times a year. Horses with shoes generally get new shoes every 8 to 12 weeks. The prices for this vary from 75 to 150 euros, depending on the type of iron and the number of hooves that need to be shod. A horse without shoes generally does not need to see the farrier that often. When the hooves become too long or tear, it is wise to have the farrier come over again. How often this should be done depends on the quality of the hoof, the load, the season and the age of the horse.
Insurance
It may be smart to purchase insurance to pay for medical expenses if your horse needs surgery. Or when the horse is no longer suitable for its purpose. Always pay close attention to the small print of such insurance.
Cost overview
The overall cost of the costs depends on how a horse is kept. Someone who stables his horse at a farmer and only rides recreationally can be ready for 150 euros per month. Someone who competes fanatically can just lose 1000 euros per month. In short: you can make it as crazy as you want. But keep in mind that the average horse owner pays about 350-450 euros per month on his horse, excluding unexpected costs.
