Updated 991003

THINKING ABOUT BUYING A HORSE?

 

Below you can find some checklists that might serve as a guide for you to

verify if you have thought all things through - practical details as well as economical.

These things are important to consider BEFORE a possible purchase.

 

 

Feel free to print this page out to be able to fill in your own data at your leisure.

 

Do you think I have forgotten something, please let me know!

 

 

 * DO YOU HAVE THE TIME REQUIRED?  Checklist 1
 * MONTHLY EXPENSES  Checklist 2
 * THINGS REQUIRED FOR HORSE AND STABLE MANAGEMENT  Checklist 3
 * WHAT NEEDS TO BE ORGANIZED?  Checklist 4
 * WHAT THINGS DO YOU/THE RIDER NEED?  Checklist 5
 * DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE TO CARE FOR THE HORSE?  Checklist 6

 

Remember to bring an experienced horse person as an advisor when looking for a horse!

Do not forget to have the horse vetted plus a purchase contract written and signed.

 

 

 

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME REQUIRED?

Fill in the estimated time required in the right hand column
 Example  Explanation  Your estimate (min/day)
 Travelling to the stable  From home/school/work  
 Travelling from the stable  To home/school/work  
 Fetching the horse  Is the pasture/field far away from the stable?  
 Grooming & care    
 Saddling and riding    
 Mock out  The time of year the horse may be in during night  
 Feeding morning & evening  Maybe more frequently?  
 Letting the hors(es) in/out morning & evening    

Sum (min/day)

  

* Do you know anybody that could take care of your horse if you just can not go to the stable one day?

* Do not forget that the horse needs looking affter in the pasture AT LEAST once a day also during summer - more frequently (during winter) if wearing a blanket or rug.

 

 

 

 

 

MONTHLY EXPENSES

Fill in the estimated amount in the right hand column (use your own currency)
 Example  Explanation  Your estimate (money/month)
 Stable rent  Stall, box  
 Bedding (if not included in the rent)  Straw, shavings, peat, paper etc.  
 Insurance    
Farrier    
 Trips to/from the stable    
 Hay    
 Horse feed & minerals    
 Worming    
Vaccination    
 Rent for pasture    
 Electricity (if not included in the rent)    

Sum (money/month)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

THINGS REQUIRED FOR HORSE AND STABLE MANAGEMENT

Fill in the estimated amount in the right hand column (use your own currency)
 Example  Explanation  Your estimate (money)
 Saddle  Incl. girth, numnah, stirrups, stirrup leathers  
 Bridle  Incl. reins and bit  
 Head collar and lead rope    
 Rugs and blankets  Rain, Turnout, Fleece, Sweet itch etc.  
 Fork  Common and/or shavings  
 Stable barrow    
 Shovel    
 Broom    
 Fencing  Posts, insulators, tape/rope, energisers  
 Grooming equipment    
 Water bucket(s)

 Is there running water in the stable?

Is there running water close to the field?

  
 Stable pharmacy  Important if you or your horse gets injured.  
 Fly repellant during summer    

Sum (money)

  

* All items may not be needed (to start with) - make an assesment of what is relevant for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT NEEDS TO BE ORGANIZED?

Thick the box in the right hand column if it has been taken care of
 Exemple  Explanation  Check
 Pasture  Fencing/renting (if not included in the rent)  
 Stable  Stall/box  
 Hay    
 Bedding  Straw, shavings, peat, paper etc.  
 Horse mate(s) !  To keep your horse company  
 Veterinary examination    
 Insurance    
 Registration

 Verify that your (Icelandic) horse is or can be registred.

Registration is usually done by the breed association in your country.

  
 Transportation of your new horse to your stable    
 Travelling boots etc. to protect the horse During transportation to your stable  
 Vaccination    
 Worming    
 Lessons for a good instructor  A good way to get started together with your horse  
 Storing possibilities for the equipment

 Tackroom for saddle and bridle

Storing for rugs (drying wet rugs?)

  

* Do you know anybody that could take care of your horse if you just can not go to the stable one day?

* Do not forget that the horse needs looking affter in the pasture AT LEAST once a day also during summer - more frequently (during winter) if wearing a blanket or rug.

* Where do you intend to ride? Are there woods nearby with good bridle paths, is there a dressage arena or an indoor school that you can use?

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT THINGS DO YOU/THE RIDER NEED?

Fill in the estimated amount in the right hand column (use your own currency)
 Example  Explanation  Your estimate (money)
 Helmet  For ALL riding!  
 Riding shoes or boots  Summer  
 Shortchaps  Summer  
 Rubber wellington/boots  Autumn/winter  
 Winter riding boots  Winter  
 Breeches/Jodhpurs    
 Winter riders  Thermo quilted jodhpur for those cold winter days  
 Warm riding gloves  Winter (nothing beats sheep skin gloves!)  
 Winter jacket

 Put your money in a GOOD jacket, for ex. a so-called 3-in-one jacket

that you can change to suit the temperature and weather.

  
 Fleece warmer  Autumn/winter/spring  
 Rain wear  Jacket & trousers (even if it's not raining it can be very in the woods!)  

Sum (money)

  

* All items may not be needed (to start with) - make an assesment of what is relevant for you and the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE TO CARE FOR THE HORSE?

Thick the YES/NO columns to the right (be honest!)
 DO YOU KNOW...  YES NO
 How to groom a horse?    
 How to pick the hoofs?    
 How to put on a head collar?    
 How to lead a horse?    
 How to catch a horse that does not want ot be caught (do you know any tricks)?    
 How to saddle up a horse?    
 How to put the bridle on?    
 How to adjust the bridle to fit a certain horse?    
 What kind of protection gear the horse needs during transportation?    
 How to load a horse?    
 How to tie a horse for transportation?    
 How often a horse needs to see the farrier?    
 How often a horse needs to be vaccinated?    
 How often a horse needs to be wormed?    
 What kind of wormers there are and why you should change frequently?    
 Where the nearest vet is located and do you have the phone number?    
 How much hay the breed and type of horse you're thinking about needs per day and feed?    
 Where to get your hay and oats analyzed for nutrient contents?    
 How much hard feed and minerals your horse needs per day and feed?    
How large a stall/box your horse will require (according to animal welfare regulations)?    
 What rules are applicable for transportation of a horse (according to animal welfare regulations)?    
 What traffic signs you as a rider need to know and abide by?    
 How to dress a wound on a horse?    
 How to take the temperature (if you suspect fever for example) of a horse?    
 How to lounge a horse?    
 How to get a an unfit horse fit?    

Sum (YES resp. NO)

    

* If you have thicked several NO you should probably not get a horse OR at least

stable the horse at a farm where you are sure to get, and can rely upon, their knowledge of horses.

 

To admit lack of knowledge and to ask questions is never wrong - nobody knows it all!

 

 

Many answers to the above questions can be found if following some of the links on my links page.

 


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