Are you looking for helpful horse information?

If you are looking for helpful horse information about developing a meaningful relationship with your equine and getting the most out of your new ownership, read on...

Whatever you are thinking of doing when venturing into the horse world by either owning or loaning there is no doubt that it is full time hobby which cannot be picked up and dropped at any given moment. There is tons of information out there, and ALWAYS people who want to tell you what to do with your new horse, but is it helpful to you and your horse's personal needs?

You need to consider how much disruption it will cause in your daily activities, especially if you have a family who are also demanding your attention... Have you really got time for a horse? How are you going to fit it all in? It's not simply a few minutes in the morning and then off for a spot of retail therapy.

If you are constantly going to be doing things in a rush...remember this is when things can go wrong and therefore potentially dangerous...checking rugs, water and picking feet out..all can take a sizeable amount of time, and then of course this doesn't include mucking out, grooming, exercising, general time spent with your new horse.

Horses thrive on routine, so you can almost certainly say goodbye to your lie ins! However over time you can try and adapt your horse and her routine to work a little more around your life style as long as its not too extreme, changes in feeding routine can lead to horse colic, but a 6am start would be helpful if you gradually moved this on a couple of hours over time, but try to stick to what your horse has been used to with her previous owner to begin with as much as possible.

Don't forget that when you are away on holiday, you will have to arrange for someone who is prepared to look after your horse for you, as well as you do. Before you commit to a yard, ask whether there is someone who maybe up for doing this. Sometimes the yard manager will organise this for you. But it will come with a price!

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

The first few weeks of ownership are vital as in your newcomer will be settling into her new environment and routine. You will be bombarded with enough horse information to make your head spin.

Your yard manager will give you helpful information and the lay of the land, but may also suggest you ask your vet for a faecal egg count (FEC) to check that she doesn't have a high worm burden. It's surprising how many horses slip through the net when it comes to worming, depending on where they came from, this maybe because it's just another added financial burden, and also it can be quite a complicated exercise.. (see Worming...why make it complicated?)

One point worth mentioning In an ideal situation it would be better before you even collect your new addition, to register with a farrier and a vet.

It takes patience and time getting to know your new horse, so introduce her to her new companions in the yard gradually.

If she is thrown into the field straight away, you will have to expect bullying and possible injuries whilst her field mates sort themselves out. Your new addition will be at the bottom of the pecking order .

Any decent yard will hem off an area for you, where your new addition can still see and sniff at her new friends, safely over the fence but where she can easily get away if need be.

The first few days and weeks should be spent slowly getting to know each other. It will take quite some time for trust to develop and for you to establish a strong partnership between you both.

ALL THAT JAZZ....AND SOME EXTRA HELPFUL HORSE STUFF THAT YOU MAY WANT TO ADD

Wheel barrows - saves arguing or waiting for a barrow

Poo picker

A sheet to keep your hay dry and untouched by other people

Your own storage box for bits and bobs

And all the normal bits for grooming, cleaning,exercising your horse

First aid kit

Couple of spare lead ropes and head collars

Small shelving unit to keep all lotions potions bits and pieces on

Lockable boxes for storage - stop spiders and mice getting in

Saddle and bridle racks

An alarm clock (so you can get out of bed early to do your horses before going to work!)

A thermos flask (unless you have kettle with a stove)

Yard brush (essential)

Shavings fork

Pitch fork

Shovel

3 feed bins

2 of each weight rug, i.e. 2 winter heavy turnouts 2 light spring turn outs

2 water buckets

2 feed-buckets

4 to 6 hay nets

About 4 hoof picks, 2 or 3 mane and tail combs (helpful as they always go missing)

Other grooming and exercising things

2 or 3 Feed scoops and wooden spoon for stirring

Permanent marker pen for marking your belongings is a definite..at some yards, things can go walkies

TIPPEX (yeh!) for marking black feed bowls..

Scrubbing brush for scrubbing out water/feed bowls.

Towels- freezing cold wet hands are not nice in winter after scrubbing buckets and muddy legs

If on DIY livery to save time, buy a hay nets and fill them up over the weekend ready for the week. Also it is helpful if feeds are made up in batches and kept in Tupperware boxes ready for your horse in the week.

Go from helpful horse information to homepage