-Please note, i do not need you to explain basic horse care to me. I already know basic horse care. I’m more interested in finding a book that will help me understand advanced horse care- like arthritis and aging ect.

Here are some general rules to follow. Talk with the seller and find out how old the horse is. Horses best years are between the ages of five to ten. If you are new to riding, a more mature horse is a better choice.

Make an early decision as to whether you want a registered horse or whether an unregistered horse would be acceptable. This is a personal decision that is made primarily on budget considerations.

The size of the horse is important so inquire about his weight and height. A horse’s height is measured in “hands” where a hand is four inches. A good size for a pleasure riding horse is about 15 hands. Measure from the ground up to the withers of the neck along the front leg. Weight is not quite so critical. Some types of horses can simply be heavier by nature.

Ask how many people have owned the horse. Find out the reason for the sale. A horse with a bad personality or attitude problems is likely to be resold often. Do a little probing to determine if this is the case. Point out to the seller that you will require a vet exam before buying. This may uncover some problems the seller is not telling you about.

Determine if the horse has had any training and what the qualifications of the trainer were. Find out what the horse’s history has been as far as his use. Are you looking for a horse for competition jumping or everyday riding? You will find that you will spend less on a young, untrained horse because of the time you will have to spend with your new animal. This could be a good choice if your budget is tight and you have the background and time to spend with training. If you are a beginner and just getting to know horses you really should spend more money and get a well-trained horse. An older horse can be a wise purchase since they are generally less expensive but will most likely have been trained.

Here are some things you can do wrong when buying an equestrian horse. Don’t turn down and older horse just because he is older. They are typically more gentle and great for the new rider. You can ride a good horse until he is well into his twenties.

Never try to buy a young green horse for a young person. Your child should start with a more mature horse that is easier to ride.

Avoid auction horses. Horses sold at auction are more likely to have been sick or have been hard to ride. It is harder to research your purchase at an auction.

The horse’s coat pattern and color should not be the primary factor in determining which horse to buy. Fall back on the above rules first in picking a horse.

For more advice on horses please visit our website at: http://www.petinfoonline.com

Author: Reba J.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
PCB stencil online quote

How can you, as a buyer, be able to tell how healthy a horse is before having a vet do a pre-purchase exam?

As a first horse, what qualities would you really look for?

First of all, consider the age and skills of your child. For a very young child who hasn’t had lessons in horsemanship, an older “babysitter” horse is a must. Often there is a misconception that like with puppies, young horses and children can grow up together. A young horse needs the guidance and experience of a trainer or very experienced rider. It takes many months, even years of training to teach a horse his job, and this is something well beyond the scope of an inexperienced child. A “been there, done that” type of horse is much better suited to a young or inexperienced rider.

I initially look for several things when considering a safe, kid’s horse. First of all, the temperament of the horse is crucial. Will he stand tied quietly (for hours) without getting impatient, pulling back, or jumping around? Is he calm under pressure, like loud noises, sudden movements, and being touched all over? He should be easy and safe to saddle, bridle, have his feet handled, easy to catch, and trailer load.

Then I look at his past history. What has he been used for? A horse that has had a lot of miles on him may be a good bet. If he’s been sitting in a pasture for much of his life, he doesn’t have the exposure to the many situations that an old veteran may have. I also look at his age. Not that there can’t be a great kid’s horse that is younger than 6, but it would be much less common. I don’t discount the older horses at all, even the much older horses. My daughters all learned to ride on horses that were 20 years old and older. These horses were worth their weight in gold, and they took care of my girls. In return, we gave them a loving home in their golden years with light work, good feed, and lots of love. We lost the last of these great horses at the ripe old age of 36. The criteria I mentioned before still apply to these older horses; you don’t want one that is highly spirited, and some are, even at 20+years.

Also of equal importance is the horse’s training. “Whoa” is much more important than “Go”. The horse should have a good handle, and he should be easy to stop and steer. A horse that is hard to control is not only frustrating for a child, but dangerous as well.

Then, I look at the overall condition of the horse. Does he have any lameness issues? Some very mild lameness in a kid’s horse wouldn’t necessarily be cause for me to rule him out. A veterinary inspection should be done prior to purchase to rule out any serious health issues. Lastly, and probably most importantly, your child should be comfortable with the horse and you both should feel safe with him. If possible, a trial period of a week or two would be ideal. That way, you can determine if the horse or pony is a good match for your child. I always encourage horsemanship lessons because knowledge and safety are the key to a great relationship with horses. When you find the perfect kid’s horse for your child, you will be amazed at the partnership and bond they will form together, and the peace of mind you will have knowing that your child is being taken care of by his equine friend.

Article written by Adrienne Pietrafeso. Adrienne and her husband Ron own Missing Creek Ranch Cutting Horses, raising, training and showing cutting horses with their three daughters in Colorado. Visit them at http://www.MissingCreekRanch.com

Author: Adrienne Pietrafeso
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Programmable Multi-cooker

There’s a ‘magic’ place where you know your child is at that point where they are not just horse crazy. If they:

- hang out at the barn more than home,
- talk about the horses more than school friends,
- spend countless hours trying to braid a forelock,
- have picked out colors for blankets, saddle pads and boots,
- and they jump on their mounts bareback and wander off into the sunset,

then you can be sure that this is the life for them at this juncture.

That was the easy part.

Finding a pony or horse that gives your child hours of fond memories and experiences can be a daunting task. Let’s look at the difference between pony ownership and horse ownership.

Ponies

Ponies have had a bad reputation ever since we domesticated them. While many people believe it’s just pony breeds in general, there are many good ponies of all breeds that have no vices and pack their little riders around like an old schoolmaster. Those who breed ponies will also tell you that ponies’ vices are a product of humans misunderstanding.

There are sound reasons why ponies misbehave and get vices. Pony owners tend to treat them and train and discipline them differently than horses. They get pampered more, and fed by hand more often. Because they are cute and cuddly, it is often overlooked that they are in the horse family, and have all the same abilities to become aggressive and dangerous, the same as horses.

Because they are small, it is difficult to retrain them if they need it. Most riders competent enough to retrain are too big for ponies. Unless you can find someone small and skilled, the pony usually gets a very long vacation, or the auction mart. Therefore little children are often left to deal with the pony’s vices, which only leads to more problems and more mistakes made.

Ponies are also subject to abuse from their small riders. They are often mishandled, kicked around and suffer mouth damage, eventually turning the pony ‘sour’ and evasive to catch and work.

As for personalities, most breeders will tell you that ponies are actually one of the quieter and better mannered mounts for children, and I have to agree. When you find a good pony, they are worth their weight in gold. Bad ponies are the fault of mishandling and spoiling, more so than breeding.

Is a Pony Right For Your Child?

Before you go looking for a pony check with your child to make sure THEY want a pony. Does their instructor recommend a pony or is the child able to handle a small horse?

When deciding on a pony, always remember that it will be outgrown before a horse would, in size and performance abilities. If keeping the pony for life will not be possible, just remember that one day your child and pony will likely have to split up.

Ponies should be bought to fit the child right away, as larger ponies may become too difficult for the child to handle, and the child/horse relationship will be lost. Never buy a pony a child can grow into.

What is The Right Pony?

Pretty is in the eye of the beholder, so before you start looking at show ponies and fall for the fancy, clipped and groomed one, there are many backyard ponies who may give you years of serviceability.

The pony should have ample experience to deal with a fairly new rider. Ponies under the age of 10 may not always have the time in to be able to handle their new responsibilities. Often the best pony is older and has had more experience with life. Ponies can spook, shy and bolt just as easily as a big horse. They’re just a little closer to the ground.

Show Ponies

Many ponies have moved from home to home, babysitting and teaching young students the basics of horsemanship. Show ponies tend to fit that description. They are bought to bridge the time of deciding whether a horse is in the future for your child. Show ponies have the training for at least one discipline, and most are able to pin a ribbon at the local shows. The majority of show ponies are registered purebreds, are better disciplined, and have been exposed to travel, bathing, clipping and being fussed over. Because of their reliability and scarcity, they will cost more, but may be easier to sell in the future.

Is The Pony A Backyard Or Boarded Pony?

Backyard ponies tend to have more freedoms and often mingle with other animals and horses. If this is the case, make sure that one of the virtues your new pony has, is the ability to be caught easily. Ponies that can’t be caught can’t be ridden, and children often give up on animals they can’t get near.

Boarded ponies can often live in isolation. Because they are small, they are often left in stalls, with the false belief that they do not need the outside turn out as a big horse would. Being small has nothing to do with tossing aside the need of movement or herd instincts. Keeping ponies in a stall can be a cruel form of loving. They are often too short to see over the stall walls, and their movement is limited to circling. Remember; they have the same instincts as horses, and can get depressed and aggressive when treated improperly. Ponies (as well as horses), need the ability to run and move forward every day. Forward movement allows the stretching of muscles and keeps joints working. Circling does not do this as well.

If you have to board your pony, ensure it is treated with the same dignity as any large animal. Movement and the company of the herd are necessary for a pony’s physical and mental well being.

Choosing a Horse

Horses come in all sizes, and that’s good news for beginners. Any horse over 14.2 hands high is considered a horse. Let’s go over the pros and cons of horse ownership.

Pros

1. Horses have greater flexibility to learn new disciplines, as they are larger and can be ridden and retrained by a professional.
2. A child can outgrow a pony faster than a horse.
3. Finding a good horse can be easier than finding a good pony. There are simply more to choose from.
4. Parents can ride the horse.

Cons

1. They are larger. This can be intimidating at first, if the child has a bad experience early in the relationship.
2. They eat more.
3. They require larger trailers, saddles, blankets, bridles…

As for vet costs, horses and ponies are pretty much equal. When it comes time to resell them, you may make or lose money on either, depending upon age and abilities of horse or pony during time of sale.

(On that side note: it has been my experience that a good pony will retain it’s value throughout most of it’s lifetime, even as it gets older. Horses seem to peak in their mid teens and then drop in value. A 17 year old pony with show capabilities is likely going to sell for the same price as when it was 8. A 17 year old horse may drop each year. This may be because it’s harder to find a good pony (market demand) and that ponies are often bought with short term use in mind.)

I’ll be saying this a lot throughout this series: “It costs the same to feed a good horse as it does a bad horse.” Keep that mantra in your head when looking at ponies and horses.

April Reeves
Clinician, Instructor, Trainer
http://www.HorsemansU.com

Author: April Reeves
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital economy, mobile technology