SHOULD YOU
OWN A HORSE?
You may want to buy a horse
of your very own. Millions of people
do. That desire to have a horse is a
prerequisite for being a good horse owner, but it certainly isn't enough to
answer the question, "Should you own a horse?" in the affirmative.
Much more than desire goes into determining whether you are well suited for
horse ownership. If you are thinking
about buying a horse but aren't yet sure whether you are truly a "horse person"
or if you might be on the verge of making a serious mistake, there are a few
questions you should ask yourself before taking any action.
These questions can't provide a foolproof answer, but they will make you think
a bit about what it will mean to own a horse and might give you a better
understanding of whether you should buy a horse for yourself. Let's look at a handful of provocative
queries that will help you decide if you should take horse buying by the reins
or if you should let the prospect trot right by.
Why do you want a horse,
anyway? That seemingly simple question
can reveal a great deal about your suitability for horse ownership. Are you interested in owning a horse based
upon deeply held sentiments and feelings, or are motivated by whim or more shallow
rationales? Those who feel strongly
about horse ownership and who are able to sense a deep internal desire to have
a horse generally tend to be better owners than those who simply felt like it
was a "good idea."
Do you need a horse to meet
your goals? Take a few moments to think
about what you would like to achieve as a horse owner. Is it really necessary to own a horse in
order to accomplish those goals? For
instance, if you merely want to take occasional country rides, you might be
better off finding a stable at which you can do just that without being forced
to invest in a horse and to take on the attendant responsibilities of
ownership. On the other hand, if you
want to make a horse part of your every day lifestyle or have an eye toward equestrian
competition, horse ownership will make much more sense.
Can you afford a horse? There are less expensive pastimes than horse
ownership. Not only will you be buying a
horse, equipment and tack, you will also have ongoing expenses associated with
the care of the animal. If your finances
are tight and you don't have wiggle room in your monthly budget, you might not
be positioned for horse ownership. If,
on the other hand, you can bear the costs and will not find yourself forced
into difficult decisions should an unforeseen expense arise, you may be better
able to handle the responsibilities of horse ownership.
Obviously, three simple
questions like these won't give you an absolutely accurate idea of whether you
should own a horse. They should,
however, get you to think more about what it will mean to own a horse and
whether it would really be a decision that would suit you and that would fit
into your lifestyle.
There are thousands of
people who have decided to become horse owners without spending the time and
exerting the consideration necessary to make a wise decision first. Although those impulsive decisions may,
occasionally, work out wonderfully they are often a source of great frustration
and disappointment. Not only is the
mistaken buyer negatively effected, the innocent horse may also experience
unnecessary hardship.
Owning a horse can be an
amazing experience?for the right person.
For the wrong person, horse ownership can be a disaster. Take the time to consider whether you are
well suited for a horse before making a purchase. One great way of doing that is to look into
resources that discuss the horse buying process in greater detail. By learning more about what is involved in
preparing for a horse and finding the right mount, you can gain a much better
understanding of whether horse ownership is right for you.