When did you get your first horse?

Question

I'm trying to figure out if i'm old enough to get a horse or if i should wait. When did you get your first horse? Thanks for helping!!

Answer 1

I think as long as you have the right needs that you need for a horse I don't think you can be to young..I got mine when I was five on Christmas day and horses I think can really make a change in your life. I think you will really enjoy one..
Good Luck if you get one.. ;)

Answer 2

Owning a horse is more based on financial and knowledge well being. Some people are good horse owners and others are "wanna be's" but don't obtain the right ownership qualifications. Just as some people are good track runners, but not good enough to be on all star team. Or can play volleyball but not good on a team. There is a difference.

I got my first horse (still own her for 10 years now) when I was 10 years old. I bought her with my saved money I did from cleaning stalls, grooming, babysitting, doing choirs etc.

I paid for training by doing all that for the trainer and working hard at it. I was on my mare 2 months after I got seriously injured in an accident with her (two broken ribs, 3 places on pelvic, spinal injury, colasp lung). I knew I had to work hard and not at my parents expense. If I wanted my horse, I had to do the work. It made me appreciate being an owner and a better rider.

Able to have the confidence in being an owner, it would be best to gain experience by volunteering at farms and taking lessons. Start to work for money to pay for your horse and have a job, if not one already to pay the expenses. Know that horse will come first as a living thing before sports as the way I see it. If your horse needs the care, but you have a whole season of sports that takes your time up from morning to night, you then have to choose being an owner of a horse or being in that sport. Life is about choices.

Being a first time owner then, I knew I will make a lot of mistakes. That is how we learn is to make mistakes and apply it so it doesn't happen again. That is no doubt. Just get some volunteer experience and gain confidence in your owning ability. When you feel you are ready, then give it a go. No one on here knows you nor can judge you if you are ready or not.

Answer 3

i got my first horse when I was 25. I had to wait until I could but it, feed it, stable it, basically afford it all on my own. My parents never had the land, money, time, want, blah, blah blah.

If you are old enough to know how much responsibility a horse takes - get one. Try a dog first, because a horse is a lot more work and a lot more money.

You HAVE to exercise them regularly ... daily.
Feed them at least twice a day.
Pick up really big horse crap.
have the ferrier come out every 6 weeks or so

Horses are a lot of work, but they are fun too.
How much time can you spare, your horse doesn't care if you have homework or what boy you like

Answer 4

Actually, I leased horses and trained for showing since I was 5, but I purchased my first horse when I was 18. She was thorough bred/quater horse that I used as a hunter jumper. I recommend leasing the horse first and get to know what it is like to care for one. My riding instructor did me a favor when she made me get to the stables at 5 a.m. , feed, water and clean out the horse's stall before I could do anything else. Even though I was leasing and the stables were responsible for all that, my riding instructor made me be there when I got old enough and do it myself.

She taught me a lot and gave an understanding about this animal that goes beyhond just a saddle and bridle.

I hope you find what you are looking for and enjoy your search and your horse.!

Good Luck and Take Care.

Answer 5

I got mine later in life, but I know kids taking lessons up the street and they start at 7 yrs old! If you're going to get a horse I would suggest you do alot of homework, there is sooo much to having a horse! We ordered dvd's of Clinton Anderson as he's one of the best, so is John Lyons. You could go to their web sites and check out all that they offer. The visuals really helped us alot. Be sure you have someone who knows horses to help you get one, as some people will sell you anything for the money and you could get hurt very easily.
I got thrown off my first horse and cracked my back, the lady said it was a beginner horse, yeah right! Having someone with you to ride the horse and help you get a gentle one is really important.

Answer 6

Oh my,
My first horse that I bought was when I was 23 I think.......Worked my tush off around them and did not get my own till older (I had a string of show horses there for a while to care for, who wants your own after working with other peeps lol). Traded a small pickup for him. The owner had to get rid of him, wasn't going to let him (horse) go to the auction for just anyone to get him.

Remember there is the vet bill, the shots, wormer (you can buy these on your own at feed store, well some of them). Foot care, we do not have shoes on our two. Just for a basic trim 40 bucks (cheap to some) this is 80 bucks every 2 months depending on if you are showing your horse even more, this is just a trim!
I am sure I left out some there. You have a feed bill. In our part of the country we grow alfalfa, well we had rain at the wrong time of the year. Could not even find grass hay for a reasonable price!! So it was around 10 bucks a bail there for a while (a ton of hay 20 bails or so, yes hay was going for around 200 bucks a ton!! It was ridiculous but you got to pay it!).

Now we want a saddle on this horse? Used $200, bridle, headset, halter?,rains, saddle pad, lead rope,lunge rope if you want to work them in the round pen, room for a round pen (I think ours has 20 panels, $200 for a panel (I do not no what the price of them is now). We have to rent the land, this is fifty bucks a head a month $100.

Gosh this is making me depressed!!

OK so you say you want a horse, a ridable nag (just a horse nothing fancy) around here goes for $1000. You can try your luck at the auction for cheaper.....

Unless of course your parents want to flip the bill?

Go get a job, work around them. If you LOVE them you will stick with them until you can buy one, or if you want to buy one after working with them.....Quite a few of the groomers I worked with did not have there own. If they did someone else was caring for it (parents, friends, etc.).

Answer 7

Hi, I was 2 When I got my first horse !
Your never too young!

But you need to relise the huge responsability a horse is ...
You will be the provider of food and water and a trusted friend.

The costs of horses--- food costs , feet , teeth , rugs, saddlery ,
Vet , chiropracter ,lessons by a instructer.
There is alot more to it than just buying a horse and riding off into the sunset.

Hope this helps you .

Lana

Answer 8

I grew up with them.....got my first very own horse at 5.......my daughter got her first one at 4, my son was 6 and my other daughter 7. Actually I still have my first horse although he is now 36 and getting up there and is just left to live out his last days grazing.

Answer 9

I got my first horse in 9th grade. I was 1/2 leasing him, and the owner wasn't using him for anything else, so she gave my parents the option of taking him (for free.) They did.

Answer 10

I grew up around horses. As soon as I was able to sit up I think they sat me on one..lol Seen the pictures. I think you need to be old enough to take care of them. Alot of responsibility.
Check out this site, it may help with some of your questions.
Good Luck

http://www.thefunplace.com/house/pets/horses.html