I bought my very own horse!!

[JoL]

:D We actually bought two. I am new to this forum and a new horse owner. I am so excited I could burst! (the short version) I have always loved animals(always had cats and dogs), horses in particular. Rode a little as a child, a handful of times as an adult. My husband has ridden very little. Children are grown, husband retired and we decided to start riding. !! I'm not sure what kind of horses we have. I really only asked for slow ones. seriously. We took an experienced horseman with us to find our rides. My horse is huge or she looks that way to me. She is about 16 hands and weighs 1550, and I call her "Cookie". (I was told she was a little fat) We are working on getting her in better shape. She is presently on 40 acres with my neices horses and should slim down a little. My husbands horse is just beautiful, supposedly has a great bloodline. (I wouldn't know about that kind of thing yet)
We are looking at land today to try and get the horses close to home. I want to care for them myself. We are looking at 5-6 acres w/us building a house onsite. Is 5 to 6 acres enough room for 2 horses? I want them to have enough room to roam.
Let's see I think my Cookie is a redlined dun? and one Vet told me she was a buckskin? She was kept on a farm in Mississippi and was not registered but she is beautiful. I just love her already. She has the sweetest face.
Off to work now, back later to read all I can. Have a good day all!!:)

[Gruntfuttock]

Wow, from no horse to 2 horses in one go ! You lucky things ! LOL at "slow ones"...I am sure they are both gorgeous. Have you got pictures? We like pictures :)

PS. 5 or 6 acres should be ample for two horses plus a house, unless you are planning on building the next Southfork ! Usually I believe the rule of thumb is a minimum of one acre per horse,so you will be fine.

PPS. Welcome to NR

[lisae]

you have come to the right place for great advice and input from other horse lovers. Also, searching the archives of posts will be helpful as well!

Congrats on your new horses, what breed is your husband's?

[Kathryn128]

Can I just ask you a few things? This might sound really harsh, but I'm assuming you posted because you wanted opinions, and here's mine.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I really took my time before entering into horse ownership,it's a huge step, and it doesn't seem fair to the horses to buy them, when you don't know much about them, as you said, and you haven't ridden much, your husband even less. Wouldn't it have made more sense to have lessons first, at least for a little while??? You never know, six months down the line, you might find the horses have medical problems (if you didn't get them vet checked when you bought them), which could cost you more than lessons would have. A part lease could have worked well, lots of people have horses up for people who want to get back into riding.

That way, you'd know where you were going with your riding, and whether or not Cookie's what you want in the long term, not just in the short term.

Maybe it's because I live in England, here it's highly unusual for two people who are very novice, by the sounds of it, to own horses already, I think it's a little irresponsible. I don't mean any rudeness, it's just how I see it.

However, no one ever said there were hard and fast rules about this, and it could still work out, and really well, and you could prove me wrong; it's up to you, this is just my point of view. I really would have waited, and I like to know much more about them before I even consider purchase. Like you said though, you took someone experienced to choose for you, so fingers crossed, that was enough.

Good luck, and if you get any pics, post them, NR people love them!

P.S. No horse can lose weight when given 40 acres of grazing, unless 39 other horses are on it, but 5 or 6 acres for 2 horses + a house will be fine, so long as she gets enough exercise if she's overweight.

:)

[curlycal]

Hello and Welcome :)

I look forwards to hearing more about how you get on with your horses, and seeing some photos hint hint ;)

Cal x

[Joyscarer]

Congrulations on the horses. I hope you find someone experienced to be able to guide you into making me most of your own skills and those of the horses. If you need help then get it quickly, don't wait. It sounds like you are going to need riding lessons at the very least given your lack of time in the saddle of late :)

I look forward to hearing how you're are all getting on together.

[JoL]

Kathryn128, No offense taken and I appreciate your opinion as I do the others. [my] plan was to ride a while, get used to the feeling again, relearn some things as an adult and then buy a horse. My husband is the one that made the decision to buy and you would have to know my husband, there was no point in arguing with him. He is very dedicated in caring for all our animals and I am sure the horses will be no different. Did we leap w/o much knowledge? Absolutely. Why do you think I found this site? I will need help I am sure.
We have quite a few friends and family w/horses, therefore loads of help. It will be an experience for sure.
I look forward to soaking up all the "horse sense" on this board.
Thank you,
JoL

[Kathryn128]

JoL

that's brilliant, just wanted you to know what you were getting into, glad you know what you're doing and that you'll need help.

now, i must say, help in the NR forum comes at the price of 100000 piccies of the horses :p

[MDLawGirl]

Congrats Congrats Congrats!

About 5 years ago I did the exact same thing....purchased two horses (one for me and one for my then 6 year old daughter) and I never looked back.

Enjoy the journey!!!!!

[Snowyboy]

Sounds fab - hope you have a fab journey with your two new ones

We are desperate to get one for us - our 5 year old has her own pony but me and hubby want one oursleves!

Hope you have a ball with them

[JoL]

Thanks so much guys, I have read posts until I have a headache, no more today.
I will post pics as soon as I get the new camera software loaded on the pc.
I did find my husbands papers on "Little Red", who is a Quarter Horse. It seems he has some interesting ancestors.. (not sure what order you place these in, but since some are passed on, you will figure it out) Dam-Doc Bar, Doc's Hickory to Hickorys Little Red and on the Sire-Peppy San Badger/Doc's Starlight, Nu Rendition to Spook Charmer and we have Little Red! He's 5 now.

Off to get rid of the headache...

[Kalypso]

those are some impressive names in his line :)

Welcome to the board, can't wait to see the pictures :)

[colettybetty]

Congratulations ! Thats massively exciting, particularly as you and your husband are doing this together, plus you have the time and resources to give your new horses a happy life.
In an ideal world, we'd all have loads of experience before leaping into horse ownership, but I didn't either and my first horse and I had the most incredible fun together.I read everything I could, asked endless questions from vets, farriers, saddlers, RI's ,other owners... and decided what was best for me and my horse.
Good luck with your new arrivals...and hurry up with the photo's !

[pedilia]

Welcome to the world of horse ownership, you sound like you have plenty of experienced people around you and are seeking advice which is always a good thing.

Make sure you keep us updated:)

[sancho]

Hi there and welcome. How exciting!

Horse ownership is a daunting prospect and not something to be taken lightly but, as I have said on another post, a friend once said to me that I would never learn enough about caring for a horse until I actually had one!

Wise words and in the three years I have owned one (now two horses!) my learning curve has gone off the scale, as I am sure yours will too!

Keep asking questions of all the professionals around you and maybe think about restricted grazing for your 'cookie' to help her slim! ;)

NR is invaluable for information and help and advice but it si very addictive!:D

Good luck and keep us posted...I cant wait to hear more developments! :D

[chunky monkey]

I brought my first horse six months ago. I haven't looked back.

I have never had any lessons from an instructor, have taught myself to ride (I have had a few tips from an experience rider who is a friend). Okay if you want to do competitions then thats different. I would have lessons if I wanted to do that. But for just having a general hack out you don't have to have lessons. Its good fun teaching yourself. It lets you get in harmony with the horse.
Sorry not sure whether you gave the ages, but if they are young horses you may need some guidance to help bring them on. Mine is a 10 year old so he's kind of be there done that, set in his ways.

I only found this site a couple of months ago and I have found everyone so friendly. I've picked up lots of useful information that I am already using to help me.

Would love to see some pics.

[NoviceNic]

Agree with the others about the pricelessness of this site. Have fun with your new horses and dont be too long before you update us on your progress....;)

[cinammontoast]

So jealous!!!! Good for you, girl! Rule of thumb in UK seems to be 1 horse per acre for grazing and enough to run around. Can't blame you for going ahead and buying despite the lack of expertise etc-would do exactly the same if I were in your position. Do load some pictures and let us know how it all goes: I honestly think you will do well: best way is to learn at your own pace and enjoy the steep curve! Ask away when you want advice-I've always had fab responses from this forum. Bonne chance!!:)

[clarabella_78]

Congratulations and best of luck - I too am new to horse-owning world. I got my boy on Saturday. I am determined to do the best by him, and have already asked advice of many people and am devouring horse-care books by the day! I have ridden for some time, but never cared for my own. Personally I think riding is the easy bit!

[rhsw]

Wow congrlations and all the best of luck, enjoy, go with the flow, ask for help as and when, if in doubt vet can come out, one day this will be me, and maybe by then you can offer me advice, you are lucky to have a great hubby who enjoys this too, this is rare, keep posting and get some pictures up when you can. Happy Hacking.:D