Aaaahhhhhh! Horse ownership. It would be so great to own my very own horse and be able to ride whenever I want to. Just saddle up and go!
First of all, owning a horse is more of a luxury these days. I'm sure you've heard jokes about how horses will eat up your money. Don't laugh. It is true. Before you decide to embark on horse ownership, there are many more things to consider than the convenience of riding. It takes lots of, not only money, but time, to own a horse. It is nothing like owning a cat or a dog. The cost of horse ownership has dramatically increased, in time and money.
Statistics show that 80% of first time horse owners will give up horse ownership within 2 years. It's sad, but true. During our present economy, Horse Neglect Is On the Rise This is possibly due to many factors, one of them being that people just don't understand how much time, money and energy it takes to become a true horseperson. Plus, many are inexperienced.
Boarding a horse at a facility is not cheap, nor is it keeping it on your own property. Horses need lots of 
food. The prices of grain and hay, along with everything else, is continuously rising. You also have maintenance of your barn, fences, pastures, etc. All this costs you time and money. If you are constantly running your kids to their different activities, when will you fit in taking care of your horse?
Then you have veterinary fees, fees for the farrier, dental bills (yes, the horses see a dentist, too). It all adds up.
Next, is horsemanship. Are you knowledgeable about horses? Do you know how to ride? Just because you have ridden at one of the many stables that offer trail rides, where the horses follow each other, and have never fallen off, does not mean you are capable of riding. Those horses are different from one you would own. Real horses have minds of their own and you need to learn about how the horse thinks. It takes many years to learn about horses and to ride. Inexperience will only give you an unpleasant experience and may land you in the hospital. There is a saying among the true horse people: "It takes a minimum of 3 times to fall off of a horse to be a true horseperson."
If you are serious about getting a horse, go ahead and get one. Make sure you have the time and energy, plus a long term financial commitment to owning a horse. Spend some time learning to ride, care and communicate with horses. This way you and your horse will have an enjoyable experience.
Stay tuned to Part 2, where I will explain what to look for when acquiring your first horse.
Jennifer:
Donkeys make nice pets. They are a bit less expensive because of their size. But, because they are related to the horse family, you should still learn about the care and their behavior. Ponies can be another option. To find out where to get one, check your local tack or feed stores. They will have information for you. A veterinarian would be another source, especially a large animal vet. If you need more information, feel free to contact me. I'll me more than happy to help.
Michelle:
I know what you mean. Whenever I mention to my husband that my horse needs something, he asks me "Now, how much is that going to cost?" Over the years, I have learned to cut back on costs without cutting out the quality care.
BLR Guy:
Hey, Mr. Ed did tend to take care of himself (and Wilbur). If I come across one like Mr. Ed, I'll let you know. LOL
Nicholas:
Believe it or not, owning a horse, you learn many different responsibilities. Once these lessons are learned, they can be applied to real life. Owning horses is a serious commitment. This is how we end up with many neglected and abused horses.
Horses certainly are NOT pets. Their digestive system has not evolved in the billions of years that they have been around. You should NEVER hand feed a horse and certainly educate yourself about WHAT they can eat. They can colic and die within hours of getting the wrong feed or TOO much of the right feed. I am watching an abused horses news report, right now, where 4 were found dead and frozen in the pastures and 3 were found in the house and the family's rotweiler dog had chewed one of their ears off and the rest are barely alive and "skin & bone" starved. It certainly is very important to educate about this ranch animal.
Donna:
I am seeing more and more horses being neglected and abused. The reason being that many horse owners have no clue about horses. They feel a horse is like any other pet. Not so. There is so much to learn about horses. I am still learning about horses and I've been in the horse business for over 30 years. This post was intended to inform educate first time horse owners.
Yes, as with many things...one needs to get educated before jumping on board and riding off.
Hi, Cynthia!
Unfortunately, many just jump into horse ownership without the knowledge, thinking that it can't be difficult to have one. This is where the accidents happen.
I always suggest to find somewhere you can be around someone that has horses before you buy. Often you can help out and see what is envolved.
Bonner
Bonner:
That is a great suggestion! The only problem with that is if the horse happens to be at a boarding stable, the one on one exposure is not there. Plus, not all boarding stables have the ideal atmosphere.
Tracy:
Thanks for your input. Respect is definitely a huge part of owning a horse. Can't wait to read your post on this subject.