If you’re a horse lover, you may have dreamed about owning a horse. However, such animals are a lot more work than your average pet, thanks to their size and needs. Allow us to teach you a little bit about what you should know before getting a horse so that you can prepare accordingly and ensure your horse lives in comfort.
Basic Needs
Before you even consider buying a horse, you need to know the basics of caring for one and acquire the necessary equipment. A feeding trough, a reliable source of fresh water, and a place of shelter meet the basic needs of survival. However, if you want your horse to thrive, they need plenty of space to roam and graze. Furthermore, consider familiarizing yourself with horse health basics, like common diseases. Some common health conditions that horses often develop include arthritis, gastric ulcers, and desmitis.
Consider Leasing First
It’s possible to find sellers that allow you to fully or partially lease a horse instead of outright buying it. Rather than committing right away, this allows you time to get a feel for the horse and decide if it’s the right one for you. Or it can help you decide if you’re up to the challenge of owning one. Either way, this makes your decision to buy a lot less stressful since you’ll have experience with the horse first.
Have the Horse Vet Checked
The last thing you should know before getting a horse is that a veterinarian should look at the horse before you buy it. You wouldn’t want to buy a horse only to discover its suffering from a disease or health condition. A veterinarian won’t outright “pass” or “fail” a horse but will tell you their observations about your potential horse and if there are any warning signs that you should heed.