Help!

[sloopy3]

I need so much help! I have always wanted a horse. (Paint to be specific) I have the opportunity to buy a year old horse. As you can tell, I do not know anything about how to care for, train, ride, or keep a horse but do not want to give up the opportunity. Any suggestions, advice, or warnings would be greatly appreciated. I just have to break down and do this before I get too old to ride! Please help!

[Heather]

Please, Sloopy,


Don't whatever you do buy a young horse if you don't know what you are doing. Working with a youngster is a very skilled job, even for an experienced rider, and even they have problems at times.

Do get yourself some decent lessons first, and then look for an older schoolmaster, perhaps on loan, and then look for a slightly younger horse later. It takes a long time to learn to ride with real skill and the knowledge and feel needed to back and school a young horse. It is a case of the blind leading the blind, often with disastrous results.

Heather

[Jo]

Hi Sloopy,

Listen to Heather's advice if you want to continue to enjoy your riding and make horse ownership a pleasure.

I bought a young horse (7 year old) which hadn't done much after little riding experience and believe me if it wasn't for the help and expertise at the yard I keep her on, I would not be riding now. A year after buying her, she is still throwing me challenges and she is a sweet, placid and willing mare who was settled in her temperament when I bought her. I have seen four year olds behave abominably in experienced hands and have witnessed the time, patience and expertise that have combined to overcome the problems. Take your time and do it properly - or run the very real risk of falling out with riding for good.