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Posted on October 24, 2007 by Jason Petrina | Posted under Recreation and Sports
Purchasing a Horse: When is the Time Right?
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For families, it must be understood that the purchase of a horse can affect the entire family unit. This is great, if the whole family intends to become involve in the care of the horse; however if only one member of the family is really interested in horseback riding this may present a problem because a horse require a lot of care and maintenance that can detract from family activities and events. There is a tremendous amount of time involved in owning a horse and properly caring for him. That amount of time can be reduced if the owner wishes to board the horse and have someone else pay for the care and maintenance of the animal, but that convenience will come at a price. Horses that are maintained at home must be fed and tended to at least twice a day. Each round can take about thirty minutes or more, depending on grooming needs. Anyone considering the purchase of a horse should also give some serious thought to whether they are ready for a horse and have enough experience to care for a horse. If they have not performed any actual horse care in the past, this may not be the best time to take on such a responsibility. The stall will need to be cleaned on a regular routine basis and health maintenance routines will need to be observed in order to keep the horse healthy. In addition, the prospective owner should be able recognize potential health problems common with horses and know when to call in a vet for help. A prospective horse owner should also feel comfortable with their own physical ability to properly care for a horse, consider the size and strength of these large animals. As with any other purchase, the cost must be considered. The cost of a horse goes far behind the initial purchase price. The upkeep of a horse can vary, depending on many factors. One of the largest factors involved in the upkeep of a horse is in whether or not the owner plans to board the horse or keep it at home and perform most of the maintenance themselves. Horse care will generally include the initial purchase price as well as equipment and supplies, health care costs and any expenses related to competition, if the owner wishes to compete with the horse. Health care and equipment/supplies alone can be quite expensive. At a minimum, an average horse will eat at least 20 pounds of food per day. For individuals who decide that now is not quite the right time to purchase a horse, but still want to enjoy the pleasure of horseback riding there are numerous options. One of these is to take lessons in order to improve riding skills and horse care knowledge. Leasing is also a great option that builds self confidence and knowledge at a far cheaper price. The cost and amount of time per lease vary. One idea that works out well for many people is sharing the cost and responsibility of a horse with someone else. This makes it possible for two people who enjoy the pleasure of owning a horse and horseback riding to fulfill their desires while splitting the cost and amount of time that will need to be involved. About The Author: Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com |
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