| Deciding to buy your first horse is a big step and one | | | | considerable thought to. To start with, it may well take |
| that you will want to think carefully about before | | | | some time to find a horse that is suitable for your |
| committing yourself. Most people start horse riding by | | | | needs and the search may well involve considerable |
| joining a stables and increasing their riding skills over a | | | | travelling going to see horses. You will then have to |
| period of time. This is arguably the best option as it | | | | have the horse you choose given a check up by the |
| means you will be able to pick up the skills needed to | | | | vet and then if it is not suitable after all, begin the whole |
| master the sport and yet do it all in a safe | | | | search again. This can take up an awful lot of time |
| environment. | | | | and money and is something that many people |
| Having riding lessons through a stables also means | | | | overlook. |
| that you do not have to incur the expense of owning | | | | Once you have actually bought your horse then other |
| a horse and making the commitment of looking after | | | | financial implications come into play. You will need to |
| the animal on a full time basis. If you are thinking about | | | | pay for insurance to ensure your animal can be |
| owning your own animal however, you will have to | | | | properly looked after, riding equipment, feed, bedding, |
| consider the amount of time and money that you will | | | | grooming products and constant vets bills. They are all |
| have to invest in looking after the horse. | | | | thing things you will certainly have to think about and |
| One of the first things to think about is where you are | | | | decide whether you can or want to afford them. |
| actually going to keep the animal. The majority of | | | | It is important to talk to as many people as you can to |
| people do not have the necessary space available | | | | get advice and find out if there is anything that you |
| and may not be able to afford to rent land to keep an | | | | may have forgotten to consider. The main thing is not |
| horse on. The cost involved in owning and looking after | | | | to rush in and make a rash decision. |
| a horse is also something that you will have to give | | | | |