Do you picture yourself riding barefoot on your galloping horse with the wind blowing through your hair? If so, you may want to reconsider your riding apparel. Although it may not be quite as comfortable and relaxed as going barefoot and hatless, some riding apparel is designed to keep riders safe so that they can continue to enjoy those refreshing morning gallops.
Whether you prefer to ride English or Western style, you should always be sure you wear boots. In fact, you should wear boots even if you are just going to feed and groom your horse, because having one of those heavy hooves come down on top of your foot when you are wearing sandals or sneakers can really hurt. Of course, although cowboy boots can be quite comfortable, English riding boots can be a bit stiff to walk around in. You may want to invest in a pair of barn boots or hiking books to use for stable work.
If you are figuring up the cost of buying a horse and haven’t added in the cost of tack, you will need to reevaluate your budget. Horse tack is an essential part of owning a horse, whether you plan to ride your horse for pleasure or compete in equestrian sport events. Tack doesn’t just allow you to control your horse. It also helps protect you so that you can enjoy riding horses more safely.
If you buy a foal or a horse that is green broke, you will need to be prepared to train your horse. After all, a badly trained horse is not just unenjoyable. A horse is a big animal and can be downright dangerous if he is not properly trained.
Of course, it is not easy to train a horse if you are a novice to the world of horses. If you already have an untrained horse, you may want to look for a trainer who is willing to train both the horse and his rider. If you haven’t yet acquired the horse, you may want to consider buying a horse that is already trained, instead. However, if you are trying to train a foal, you can and should do some preliminary training before you ask a more experienced trainer to take over.
Many new horse owners are completely unaware that horses need to be vaccinated regularly, just as other pets do. However, since a horse is so large, providing these animals with preventative health care may be even more important than it is for dogs or cats. After all, you can’t exactly tuck a sick horse into a corner of the bedroom at night to keep an eye on him. When horses are sick, their owners often end up bunking on a nearby hay bale.
If you’ve never groomed a horse before, looking at that pile of mysterious looking equipment, brushes and combs can be overwhelming. How do you use these tools and when do you use them? Should you start with your horse’s mane or with his hooves?
While people may all groom their horses a bit differently, there are some steps that should not vary. The first, and most important, step you should take when you are grooming your horse is to be sure he is safely and securely attached to the cross ties. Be sure that your horse’s halter is properly fastened and hook the halter to both cross ties before you pick up any of the equipment.
