Owning a horse is a dream waiting to come true for many people
Motivations are different and often go back to the childhood. Sometimes it’s about the possibility of improving riding skills, other times it’s about breeding a remarkable animal on your own miniature ranch. But first you need to have some knowledge, which will allow you to consciously consider such a responsible step. Here is some important information.
Especially such a large and demanding animal as a horse, which deserves respect and proper care. We can’t decide to buy it just because we managed to collect an amount for which the seller will agree to sell the animal. It is worth being aware that the average lifespan of a horse is 25-30 years. From this results a huge range of duties, which for all these years will rest on the owner.
Experienced breeders are aware of the fact that the purchase of a horse is relatively cheap compared to the expenses that have to be spent on its maintenance for a number of subsequent years. It is estimated that the monthly cost of maintaining such an animal is from 350 to 500 PLN – provided that we have our own stable. Of course the prices of hay, straw, oats and specialist supplementation vary depending on many factors. It will also be necessary to shoe the horse, trim the hooves, carry out veterinary inspections and – if necessary – also treat the horse. One should also add the cost of the riding equipment, where, however, there is some freedom. To sum up: we will buy the horse itself already from 5000 PLN, but the additional costs in a yearly scale can be many times higher.
To breed a horse you need a large and well-equipped stable. The animal needs its own box. It is estimated that you need 9 m2 for one horse, and 12 m2 for a mare and foal. Safety is important: the floor must be even, the walls must be strong, and the manger and drinker must be well and comfortably fastened for the horse. There must be no protruding parts that could injure the animal.
In planning the purchase of a horse it’s necessary to realize what kind of animal we’ll need. We can choose between sport horses, for work or typically recreational. It is also recommended that an inexperienced rider have a steed with a calm temperament – older and arranged
This point seems trivial, but some people still make the mistake of buying at a distance. First of all we should see the animal ourselves, get to know it and its character. Find out if this particular horse will suit us. Apart from that, when buying from a distance, we run the risk of falling victim to fraud
Even a personal visit and inspection doesn’t guarantee that we won’t make a mistake or be cheated. So it is necessary to go for a visit with an experienced breeder, who will be sensitive to issues that may escape the novice.
A valuable source of knowledge about the horse’s history is its passport. You should verify its authenticity if there are any doubts about it. It is advisable to buy a horse in the case of which the seller doesn’t want to show the passport. You can also check the chip implanted in the neck. It’s also worth doing a TUV examination by a vet right before the purchase/sale. Its cost is high, we’ll pay even PLN 1500 for it, but sometimes it allows to avoid unexpected consequences of buying a horse without sufficient knowledge
It is very important not to buy animals from people who have a bad reputation. A source of information can be industry internet forums, other horse breeders, sometimes even mutual friends or neighbors. The contract should be drawn up according to the prevailing standards so that there are no doubts about the rights to the animal
