_02.jpg)
Today I conclude my interview with Professional Hunt Seat Horse Trainer Holly Stello on the basics of horse care, and why anyone who wants to can own a horse.
You can work your way up to having the knowledge needed to have a horse as a pet. Having that knowledge influences the cost, because then you could pay less to board it by doing more for your horse on your own. Or you could always just be a working student and still get to spend a lot of time around horses.
Holly says working students are common in the equestrian industry. They are interested in learning more about horses, and they strike up deals with horse owners.
Working students might agree to muck out someone’s stables every day in exchange for getting to ride a horse each day. As far as I’m concerned that’s almost as good as owning a horse myself, for no cost.
Once you’ve considered the basic care of a horse and the costs therein, you also need to think about the process by which you will obtain your horse. Getting a horse is like getting a pet: you have to take into account the breed of the horse and to what sort of lifestyle it is accustomed.
As Holly says, “horses like to work; they are working animals.” Their temperament and needs depend upon their individual profession. For example, if you just want a horse to ride for recreation during the week, don’t procure a horse used to jumping at shows every weekend.
Vital to your process of choosing a horse, then, is hiring help. You need the advice of a horse trainer when buying a horse; even if that trainer doesn’t actually end up working full time with your horse, he or she has the necessary expertise for helping you purchase one.
Because the most important priority when thinking about buying a horse is “safety: what’s safe for you and what’s safe for your horse.” Unless you’re already a horse expert you need one to help select the perfect horse for you.
A horse trainer will understand the temperament of a horse to help you find just the right one for the sort of lifestyle you’re looking to lead with your new, large, and dangerous pet. People get hurt riding their horses much more frequently when they’re doing so, inexperienced, on their own time, as opposed to during a supervised lesson. “That’s the main difference between horses and dogs and cats,” says Holly. “Horses are bigger, more athletic, and they can take advantage of you. They can sense your nervousness.”
Hiring a horse trainer to help you find your perfect horse will go a long way to preventing any accidents you might have on your horse. The trainer will help you find a horse with a temperament perfectly suited to your lifestyle, so that you don’t run into any surprises along the way from a horse you picked out with your untrained eye.
If you really are dedicated to owning a horse, then like Holly has always said to me, it’s more possible than you might think to do so. If you are willing to pour enough of your discretionary funds into your horse, it’s more affordable for the average person than one might immediately think.
Thanks to Holly for all of this excellent detail on horses. As always, some specifics both in pricing and horse requirements may vary depending on your location and the type of horse you’re considering, so be sure to research the details in your area.
Related Articles:
Household Plants Poisonous to Pets
*(This image by bowlingranny is licensed under the morgueFile Free License.)