leasing..

[equinekrazed]

I'm thinking of leasing my dream horse soon, and my instructor says that I'm ready. She said that since I can now tack my own horse up, groom him, ride him, etc. that I can lease whenever I think I'm ready. Half of me feels like I'm ready, but the other half doesn't. I feel that I don't really know a lot yet. Like, after a workout, are you supposed to give your horse free access to water and food right after the workout? Should I rinse my horse off when he's sweaty? Should my horse have eaten right before a workout, or should I wait to feed him until later, or else wait before riding? I know these are pretty basic questions that almost everyone knows, so I feel pretty stupid asking them, lol, but I want to know as much as possible before I lease.

[Wild_Fiesty]

I'm in the same situation as you, although I haven't asked my instructor. I thought I knew it all 2 years ago when I wanted my own horse. Luckily I didn't get him, as I soon found out that a 15 year old horse wouldn't be worthwhile, as he was that age. I would have of been so lost, and confused! Now I'm planning on one next August, if I work hard enough in school. There are still things that I haven't discovered yet. I have read and re-read my horses for dummies, my pony book and my horse book thats more about origins. I am looking at getting another soon, the big book with all the breeds. If you think you're ready, then why not? I am doing so much research on the web and in books to figure out whether I'm ready or not.

I have been thinking about horses so much, I couldn't sleep last night, then woke up around 11 am.

Good luck!

[equinekrazed]

I'm just worried about the health stuff. I heard that if you give your horse free access to water and feed right after a workout, he will most likely get colic. But, after a lesson my instructor untacked my horse and put him in a stall with hay and a full bucket of water in it. I want to make sure I won't hurt my horse in some way, so if you have any tips or answers to my questions, please tell me!! Thanks!! :)

[Wild_Fiesty]

Thats another thing too. Vet bills are so expensive, maybe thats why I'm not getting a horse until I get a job.

[Kezzabelle]

I was the same b4 i took on Cleo but I got "The horse masters notebook" and read up on everything. Dont worry tho, i assume the horse is at a riding school? You will be surrounded by knowledgeable people :) Cleo is kept at a very friendly quiet yard where the yard owner is always there to help me out and her owner is only a phone call away.

go for it, it might not be the easy at first but you will learn a heck of a lot about horse ownership and you will find it very rewarding.

Let us know how you get on

Kez xx

[equinekrazed]

Okies.:) Maybe I'll read up, too, as there seem to be many good horse books out there.:D

[FreedomStar]

hehe, I'm sure you're ready, but if you don't feel like you are, give it a week or so, and in that time learn as much as you can. To answer some of your questions, it is usually a lot better to cool off a horse rather than stuffing it back into a stall after a workout. Horses can usually control themselves with food and water, but it's better to be careful. If your horse is sweaty, then do hose it off!! You don't have to bathe it, just hose off all the sweat, and cold water is a great way to cool off a horse quickly. But make sure that the weather is fine!! You don't want to hose off your horse if it is a bit chilly outside(some horses do work up a sweat in cold weather). And I think it'd be a lot better to feed a horse early in the morning, so that way you have time to do other stuff, and when he's done, you acn spend some time grooming and tacking up, and that'll give him the time he needs to digest is food.

[Lovecat]

It's fine to take a horse off a haynet and exercise it, but if they've had hard feed it's better to wait an hour or so to let them digest properly.

Similarly, when you bring them back from exercise, they can (and will!) go straight to their food. Water should be watched - as FreedomStar said, they do self-regulate, but if they're really, really hot it's better to offer them water, let them have a little drink, take it away for 10 mins, offer it again for another little drink - & so on until they're cooled off.

If it's cold and your horse is sweaty or wet, one thing I was told to do was spread hay/straw on their backs and then put on a sweat rug (looks like a string vest!) on top to hold it in place and dry them off.

If you're leasing your horse at a school or livery yard there'll be loads of people who can offer advice and help - I was SO ignorant when I started sharing Pride last year - I've still got tons to learn (!) but I asked loads of questions (many of them stupid!) and now I'm so much more confident in my ability to care for a horse.

Have fun - you sound more than ready to me!

Cathy:D

[SwiftwindSpirit]

If your horse is a bit hot and sweaty after a workout, walk him/her around a bit (on halter and lead) to cool it down. If the horse is REALLY sweaty, walk around a bit with it, but walk at a faster pace.

[trick_pony19]

Hi Leaseing is pretty Kool hey! I lease a 15:5 Chestnut stallion named Bailey! If your worried about all the health and stuff ask for advice from your coach he or she will be sure to help you! :)

Good LUck Whoever said Money cant buy Happiness haven't cheaked into the HORSE world!!

[ilovecobs]

Originally posted by trick_pony19
I lease a 15:5 Chestnut stallion named Bailey



you cannot have a 15.5 horse it is 16.1hh. you also said in another post you rode a 15.4 black stallion he is 16hh. one hand is 4 inches therefore you can only have something at (example) 15.3 add another inch it is 16hh not 15.4. just thought i would point that out to you. sorry if i offended you or anything.

[trick_pony19]

I dont really ride a black stallion I was at a different school with Girl Guides :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: