How to find the best horse for your child
Owning a horse is a huge responsibility for an adult, much less
for a child. Owning a horse requires a lot of time and money,
both from the parent and the child, therefore, before you decide
to go horse-shopping, it's best that you sit down and discuss
the responsibilities and tasks involved in owning and caring for
a horse with the child. A horse, remind them, is not a mere
domestic pet. It's unlike a cat, dog or hamster. Horses require
more than that.
Let your child know that the owner of the horse should be ready
to take on the responsibilities of grooming, exercising,
feeding, washing, playing with and caring for the animal. These
responsibilities should be done daily, otherwise, both the horse
and the owner will suffer.
Before you actually go out and buy a horse, parents are strongly
advised to bring the child to a stable, let them take some
riding lessons. This will help your child understand and
comprehend the responsibilities ahead of him or her. Parents
should give the child adequate time to adapt and adjust
accordingly. Under the supervision of an expert, they should be
able to grasp the whole concept of owning a horse in about a
month or two.
Buying a horse that suits your personality. It is important for
a horse buyer to understand that there is a very special
relationship and bond between a horse and the owner/rider. The
more nervous or jittery the rider is, the calmer the horse
should be. Hence, the best kind of horse for a child is one with
a very good temperament. The pony or horse should not have a
history of bolting off whenever they are scared. Compare this to
the needs of an experienced rider who needs a very sensitive
horse who is responsive and understanding.
Riding experience and testing the horse out As mentioned, before
a parent decides to buy a horse for the child, the child should
be given a chance to take riding lessons and familiarize herself
or himself with horses. Not only does the child have to take
riding lessons, it is best that the horse is a trained one as
well.
The child and horse should get to know each other before the
parent actually purchases the horse. Test the horse out by
taking the child out for a test ride. Let them get to know each
other and then let the child decide which horse is best for him
or her.
Horse to suit the occasion Depending on what the child intends
to do with the horse, there are many different types of horses
trained for different purposes. Some horses are suitable for
riding on the flat, some prefers a horse that will jump and
perform. Some prefer a horse that can be taken hunting or ride
through rough terrains and some prefer show horses. Consult with
the horse trainer so that you do not get the wrong type of horse
for the wrong purpose.
About the author:
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla
lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of
http://www.horsebuzz.info on which you will find a longer, more
detailed version of this article.
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