Posts Tagged ‘Purchasing’
What expenses should I consider when operating a horse boarding facility.?
I’m considering purchasing a facility and establishing a horse boarding facility in the SF Bay area. I have done some research, including reading "Horsekeeping on a small acerage", and probably have a handle on the obvious per horse expenses. What are ballpark planning numbers for utilities, insurance, maintenance, stable hand, manure removal, etc? Where can I find them?
How to Buy a Horse
Want to know how to buy a horse? Finding the perfect horse is not an easy task. Every Equestrian have made some easy tips on how to buy a horse.
I have been there and done it. Making that first step to purchasing a horse can be a bit nail biting. I have listed a few suggestions that might help you out when getting ready to purchase a horse.
Things you should ask the owner:
- Confirm the information you see in the ad; age, height, color, breed etc
- The horse’s history and breeding
- Ask if the horse has show experience and if so how much experience (show results)?
- What is the medical history?
- How well the horse travels
- Any vices or bad habits (kicking, bucking, biting, spooking, and cribbing)
- Reason for sale
- Ask as many questions as possible to avoid wasted trips to view unsuitable horses.
Visit the horse at least twice:
On your first visit you should arrive a little earlier than scheduled to catch a glimpse of what the horse’s environment is like and what the horse’s behavior is like. You should come with your instructor or an experienced friend. Typically the owner or your instructor will test ride the horse first to see if it is safe and worth your time. After you have ridden and decided if you like the horse you should have a second visit. You should visit again and have another ride. Feel free to visit the horse as many times as you like. Remember, your the one who is buying! If all goes well and you like the horse the best advice is to “sleep on it”. Don’t just accept the horse and hand over the money. On the second visit, maybe try negotiating the price.
Final steps in purchasing:
- Tell the owner if you want to buy and negotiate on pricing. The most important first step in buying a horse is to getting a vet check. Having a vet check is a must, you never know what kind of problems you could be dealing with down the road. If the vet approves the horses overall health you can then proceed to taking your dream horse home.
- Find out what the horse has been fed. If you are going to change the horse’s diet you should change the diet slowly over a week or two.
- Insure the horse before you transport him.
- Prepare a safe area, either a stall or a paddock. Get any basic equipment for feeding, grooming, traveling and blankets for the winter.
- Find a way to transport your horse to your horse’s new home. If you don’t have a trailer you can hire someone to trailer your horse.
- Allow your horse to settle in peacefully, and be careful introducing it to new horses.
If you have any questions with the processing of buying a horse feel free to contact Every Equestrian on How To Buy A Horse.
Good luck and enjoy your new companion!
Dani Nelson
Author: Dani Nelson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Buying an Equestrian Horse
An equestrian horse can be a wonderful friend but purchasing your first horse can be demanding of your patience. Go slow and follow some of the rules below and your chances of making a good purchase will be better.
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
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Some Basic Horse Care
When you are thinking about purchasing a horse, you will find that there are many things to keep in mind when you are thinking about looking after them appropriately. Far too many people purchase horses with only the vaguest idea of how to look after them and this will certainly lead to more problems down the line. If you are considering the responsibility of owning a horse, take some time and really consider what kind of care horses need. There are whole books written on the subject, but take a look at the broad outline below.
The first thing that you need to think about is where your horse is going to be boarded. If you have the land, you may keep your horse at home, but if you do not, you may also be able to board them at a boarding stable. There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to both sides. If you board your horse at home, you can develop a much deeper relationship with the animal. You will be the one that the horse sees on a daily basis and you will also be able to keep a much closer eye on the horse on a day to day basis. This can make identifying problems much simpler.
On the other hand, you may not have the land, and you might not have the time to care for your horse as he or she needs, and in that case a boarding stable might be preferable. Some people like the idea of keeping their horses at home during summer and then boarding them at a place with an indoor arena during the winter.
If you are housing your horse yourself, they are going to need shelter. Many people feel that horses do not necessarily need to be kept in a stable and that living outside is healthy for them. However, even if they do not live in a stable, they do need some sort of shelter. A shelter will keep them warm in the winter and give them a place to get out of inclement weather. The size of your shelter is going to depend on the number of horses you choose to keep. If your shelter has three sides, make sure that you plan at least 64 square feet per horse, with a ceiling that is at least nine feet high. Because horses are so very hierarchical, make the shelter wide rather than deep, so that one horse doesn’t prevent the others from going in.
You should also think about what kind of food your horse is going to get. In most cases, the food that horses eat is divided up into pasture, hay and concentrate. Mature horses that do light work tend to do well on pasture food alone, as long as the area has sufficient grazing for them. Pasturing a horse means that they should have an area that is large enough to meet their grazing needs. Many people will divide up their pasture land and rotate their horses through them in order to give the grass a chance to grow back.
Hay is another food source that you should not overlook. Always make sure that you inspect the hay before you buy it; ask the dealer to open up a bale so that you can see that it is dust and mold free. If it feels warm, don’t buy it; moldy hay can give your horse some serious respiratory problems. If you are looking at working horses, pregnant or nursing mares or growing young horses, look into concentrates to add to the hay. Sweet feed, manufactured pellets and cubes or cracked grains all constitute concentrates.
Always make sure that your horse has access to clean water unless they are very hot from work. If you are cooling down your horse, give him a few small drinks instead of access to free water. Your horse will drink between five and ten gallons of water a day. Also make sure that your horse has access to a mineralized salt block. Ask your veterinarian if there are any other supplements that your horse should have. Some areas are poor in certain vitamins and nutrients, and this can mean that supplements are required.
Take some time and really consider what kind of care your horse needs; there are many things to think about!
Author: Marilyn Witt
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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How do I know what breed of horse is right for me?
We are looking to buy land in the future and I will be purchasing two horses. I dont think I could handle breaking a horse. I have some experience but not years and years. I only want them for pleasure horses, no working. I would also like them to be sociable with other horses. Any suggestions?