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Chances are, your child has, at some point, asked wistfully for a pony or horse. Maybe it’s a frequent request you’ve been hearing for years, or maybe your child has recently fallen in love with one of the lesson horses at the barn where she rides.
For someone who loves horses, there is simply nothing like the pure joy of having one of your very own. To care for a pony or horse and be its only rider is an especially heady thought for a child who daydreams about having a nonjudgmental confidante with kind brown eyes and a velvety muzzle, from whom a soft puff of hay-scented breath says more than all the words in the world. This imaginary cohort is always ready and happy to share a jog around the arena and to provide a warm and furry shoulder to cry on when needed.
Talking the Talk
Prospect. A horse that may be suitable for a certain discipline but doesn’t yet have the necessary training.
Sound. Healthy, without injury or illness; used to describe both a horse’s legs and his wind (breathing capacity).
Grade horse. A horse without registration papers; often of no particular breed or a cross of two breeds.
Cribbing. When a horse gulps air while biting down on a fence rail or stall door; considered a vice.
Vices. Undesirable behaviors exhibited by horses; can include cribbing, pawing, kicking at walls, and chewing wood surfaces.
The love affair your child has with horses in general, or one in particular, probably doesn’t depend on a particular equine activity. Just being in the presence of horses brings its own sheer pleasure. Barns and stables are soothing places — the lovely, sweet hay aroma; the sun-dappled light streaming through open windows; the sight of a sleeping barn cat lying contentedly in a tolerant horse’s feeder. And the horses themselves are such beautiful animals. The measured way they graze across a green pasture; the rhythmic crunch as they chew; the casual swish of a tail after a tickling fly; a soft whicker, deep in the chest — the sounds and sights and smells of horses create an inner calm.
So of course your horse-crazy child longs for a pony or horse to call her own! But there are many ways to give your child the deep joy of connecting with a particular, special horse or pony without having to take on the financial responsibility and unique needs of a very large animal.
Leasing a Horse
One option is to simply ask the instructor if your child can ride the same beloved school horse or pony in every lesson. This may or may not be possible, as each child in the barn will have a favorite and they often overlap. Also, some instructors feel that students learn more if they ride a variety of horses. If it is possible, however, your child might derive terrific satisfaction from the situation while continuing to build her skills.
If at some point you do find yourself tempted by the idea of horse ownership, consider first the option of leasing. Just as you can lease a car, you can lease a horse; in fact it is a quite common arrangement. And as with a car, leasing can be a lot more economical than a full-out purchase, especially with the added option of sharing a lease with another rider.
For any lease to be workable, you need to make sure that all of the details are sorted out in advance and are stated in a contract, which you and the lessor (the horse’s owner) sign and date. In a shared lease, the expectations for and obligations of all three parties must be clearly spelled out and agreed to. The horse owner is typically responsible for drawing up the contract, but you might be able to ask the barn manager or your child’s instructor for some guidelines. There are sample leases available on the Internet, but they vary widely in quality.
The Advantages of Leasing
As you begin to look into a more permanent relationship with a horse, consider your child’s long-term interest. If her involvement with horses is still somewhat at the experimental stage, then leasing a horse and keeping him at the owner’s barn or your lesson barn is the ideal way to explore eventual horse ownership. People offer their horses for lease for a variety of reasons, including lack of time to ride, ill health, going on sabbatical leave, and so on. Many barns also offer partial leases on their lesson horses.
A major advantage of a lease is that it is not permanent. Of course, if you buy a horse you can always sell him should your child outgrow him or become skilled enough to warrant a more advanced mount. With a lease, however, you can avoid that situation entirely.
Trudging to the barn in poor weather conditions to feed a horse or clean out a stall can tarnish all but the most deeply passionate individual’s interest in horses. Even if you board your horse and don’t have the daily tasks of caring for him, buying a horse and taking on his upkeep is a tremendous responsibility. By making a more formal arrangement in regard to a particular horse while continuing to interact with experienced horse people, you and your child will learn just how much commitment horses require — physical, emotional, and financial.
Signing a Full Lease
Each lease will have its own specifics and nuances, but there are two basic types of leases: partial and full. A partial or shared lease entails sharing access to the horse with another individual. A full lease provides you with the sole right to use the horse, just as if you owned him but without full responsibility for the horse’s care, since you’re likely to share vet, board, and farrier expenses with the actual owner.
If you’re interested in a full lease on a horse, what will your responsibilities be? Here are some questions you should ask before signing any agreement.
What will be my share of the vet bills? Aside from unanticipated illnesses, horses need routine vaccinations, regular deworming medication, and annual veterinary exams.
What is my responsibility if the horse becomes seriously ill or is injured? Critical care costs can climb into the thousands very quickly.
What will be my share of the farrier bills? Most horses wear shoes and must have their hooves trimmed and shoes reset every six weeks, on average. New shoes may be required every other visit. Find out what the annual cost of shoeing is for this particular horse.
Will I be expected to pay half the cost of upkeep? The expense of feeding and housing a horse can fluctuate significantly. The cost of grain and hay is affected by gas prices and weather conditions. Boarding fees might be inclusive but some barns charge extra for blanketing, giving supplements or medications, and catching and holding your horse for the vet or farrier if you are unable to do so. Find out what the arrangements are where the leased horse lives.
Are there any limitations on the horse’s activities? Will your child be able to take this horse to shows or out on the trail? When your child is ready for the next step in learning to ride (jumping or going on trail rides or showing or working cattle), will the horse’s owner permit this? Does the horse have the experience, disposition, and physical abilities for this next step?
What if the owner decides to sell the horse while the lease is in effect? What if the horse dies or has to be euthanized? Your contract should specify your and the owner’s legal responsibilities (and liabilities) to ensure fairness and adequate protection for all parties — as well as for the horse’s well-being.
Whose Tack Do We Use?
If you lease a horse, the owner will most likely already own tack and grooming equipment for the horse and will prefer that you use them rather than buy your own. This is especially true with regard to tack, because the owner will have fitted the horse with a bridle, saddle, bit, and girth; if a lessee buys new tack (most likely a saddle that may fit the child better), it may not properly fit the horse.
This is important because poorly fitting tack can irritate a horse and lead to behavioral issues; a pinching saddle, overly tight girth, or inappropriate bit can create all sorts of problems. It’s helpful to have your child’s instructor involved in this process to ensure that the owner’s tack fits the horse and is appropriate to his training level and disposition. Just because the owner has used a particular saddle and bridle on the horse doesn’t necessarily mean it fits properly or that it’s appropriate for your child.
Sharing a Leased Horse
If you’re considering a shared or partial lease, the details discussed earlier become even more complex because another rider (either another child at the barn or the owner) would have access to the same horse. And while a co-lease significantly reduces your financial responsibilities, for such a situation to succeed it’s even more critical that the details be worked out clearly and in sufficient depth, well before any issues arise. As with a full lease, shared leases should be formalized with a contract and signed by all parties — the lessor (owner) and everyone who will be leasing the horse.
Here are some questions that are specific to a shared lease:
• What days of the week will your child have the right to ride the horse?
• Are there specified times when the horse is available (or regularly not available) to be ridden?
• What about weekend use?
• What if one rider misses her scheduled day due to illness or vacation and needs to make it up?
• Is it acceptable for the horse to be ridden by both riders in a single day?
• If the students sharing the lease want to go to the same show, how will they share the horse equitably? (Especially if both children want to ride in the same class — a very real possibility if they are riding at the same level in the same lesson barn.)
• If this is a lesson horse, what will its lesson schedule be?
• Will your child have exclusive rights to the horse or will the horse remain in the lesson program? If so, will your child be given preferential access to the horse during her lessons?
• Will children who are not on the lease also be allowed to ride this horse?
As for upkeep and health expenses, be sure to spell out how the bills will be shared. What happens if the horse becomes ill and the vet bill is climbing? Suppose you and the owner are willing to split the costs three ways, but the other lessee wants a cap on what they’ll spend. Who covers the difference? What if the horse is injured while the other lessee is riding him? Does that increase their financial responsibility and lessen yours? What if the other lessee no longer wants to ride — will you be expected to cover the difference in the horse’s upkeep? Who will find another person for that half of the lease?
These issues illustrate why it is critical to address every possible detail up front, have them written into the contract, and get everyone involved to sign and date it. The best approach is to work out these details when everyone is calm and able to address the activity with a clear mind and no emotions. Never wait until there’s a squabble over who gets to ride the cherished horse in an upcoming show or, much worse, who’s going to pay for emergency colic surgery as the vet administers anesthesia. High emotions often result in bad decisions, not to mention lingering unpleasantness. So work out the details right from the start, when everyone is even-tempered and the exercise is intellectual, not emotional.
Making the Commitment: Buying a Horse
Leasing a horse is a wonderful way to ensure that your child is genuinely dedicated to the time, work, and commitment of owning a horse. Since the lease is such a great thing, why (and when) would you consider buying a horse? There can be several compelling reasons; for instance, if the horse your child has been leasing is being offered for sale and your child can’t bear the thought of parting with him. Some leases include an option to buy the horse at the conclusion of the lease period.
Sometimes the owner decides that his or her life no longer has room for a horse in it and feels comfortable that you and your child would provide a good home. Just as a lease is a tentative first step toward horse ownership, it can (for a horse owner) be a tentative first step toward giving up a horse. Leasing a horse before buying him is a great way to know exactly what you are getting into.
You may also decide to make the commitment to horse ownership if your child has truly shown the dedication and grit to own a horse, has been riding for several years, and has been improving her skills to the point where it makes sense to have one horse on which she can compete.
While leasing a horse can be extremely rewarding for all parties, it can also be a financial and legal nightmare. And never forget that the leased “property” is a living, breathing animal whose health and well-being depend on all the humans involved.
If your child has been involved with horses for some time and you have been active in your child’s interest, then you are well aware of the considerable commitment that owning a horse entails. If buying a horse is the right decision for your family, it’s strongly recommended that you board him rather than care for him on your own property. Although horses are large, powerful animals, they are deceptively fragile and vulnerable to myriad injuries and illnesses, even from something as seemingly simple as the kind of food they eat and how much of it they are given.
Why You Should Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth
If you are ever offered a free horse, run away. Fast. All horses have some intrinsic value and all horse people know it. Whether it’s a few hundred or tens of thousands of dollars, horses are worth money. When someone wants to give away a horse, there’s a darned good reason why. For example, people may be willing to give away an ancient horse because the effort to sell the animal just isn’t worthwhile. And while the combination of an older horse and a young riding student can work beautifully in the right situation, elderly horses often have special nutritional and medical needs that can equate to greater expenses.
The Horse and Rider Equation
Green Horse + Green Rider = Dangerous Situation
Green Horse + Experienced Rider = Good Situation
Experienced Horse + Green Rider = The Best Situation
“Green” describes a horse’s or rider’s level of training, knowledge, and skill, not their age. Just because a horse is mature, even elderly, does not mean that it can’t also be green (untrained) and therefore utterly inappropriate for an inexperienced rider or handler.
People may also be willing to give away a young horse before much time has been invested in his training. Even more so than with an aged horse, this is a situation to be avoided at all costs. Acquiring a young horse is nothing at all like adopting a puppy or a kitten. It takes a skilled and experienced trainer several years to properly educate a young horse, and a beginning rider should never be put on a partially trained horse.
The Problem with Ponies
It is not uncommon for ponies to be given away as children outgrow them, but they are notorious for having been allowed to develop horrible behavior. Horse people who have had bad experiences with spoiled, bad-tempered, even vicious ponies may avoid all ponies as a result of those experiences. This is a shame, because a pony with good manners and a kind disposition can teach a small, inexperienced rider a great deal, without the intimidating height, strength, and speed of a tall horse.
The reason so many ponies are little monsters is, frankly, the people who own them. Ponies are small and cute, so when they begin to misbehave, people often think it’s cute or funny and indulge the lack of manners. Poor behavior tends to spiral downward and become harder and harder to correct as it becomes habitual. Eventually the animal may turn into a confirmed biter, kicker, and/or bucker. It often happens that individuals who own ponies are not experienced with equines — they’re parents with a horse-crazy kid or an adult who longed for a horse as a child and never had one, so they purchased what might be called a “yard ornament” or “BYP” (backyard pony).
The phrase “never look a gift horse in the mouth” probably comes from the practice of determining a horse’s age by looking at his teeth.
Sometimes a non-horse person will feel that he or she simply has to manhandle the pony to teach him a lesson, to show him who’s boss, and to force the “proper” attitude. And the bad situation only worsens. Eventually, the pony becomes more trouble than he’s worth or the child begins to dislike horses because of the pony’s bad behavior. So the parents look around for someone else with a horse-crazy child and the pony goes to a new home, only to continue the cycle.
It is possible to find a gentle, kind pony with superb manners and an excellent disposition, but those individuals who are fortunate enough to have such a pony often keep him for life and won’t sell for any amount of money. That’s how rare they are!
Kid-Friendly Often Isn’t
Expecting the best of others is a terrific trait, but anticipating that someone who is selling a horse meant for a child will be honest in their assessment of the horse’s temperament and suitability for a young rider is naive and potentially dangerous. Unfortunately, there are some individuals with horses to sell who will describe those animals in any way necessary to find a buyer. The number of ads in newspapers describing horses as “kid-friendly” could easily lead an inexperienced person to believe that horses with the appropriate training and disposition abound and are simple to find. They aren’t and they’re not.
While there are many outstanding individuals in the horse world who are, indeed, candid in their straightforward evaluations of their horses’ qualities, it can be quite difficult to sort out the people with sterling characters from those who will do or say anything to sell a horse.
Always keep the following in mind: Ponies and horses who are genuinely kind and can be trusted to pack a child around are gems, and few owners will part with them readily. Always ask why an animal described as “kid friendly” is for sale — has the former child owner outgrown the animal, has he or she lost interest in horses, or has the family’s situation changed and they can no longer keep horses? All of these are legitimate reasons to sell a horse or pony.
Selecting a horse for your child doesn’t require you to be a horse expert. But you do need advice from trusted and knowledgeable horse people representing you and your child — the seller is not that person!
Finding the Right Horse
The ideal situation is one in which the instructor is your partner in finding the best, suitable, safest, kindest horse possible for your child. Chances are good that one exists in the barn where she rides, perhaps even her favorite lesson horse. Your instructor not only has expertise with horses but also knowledge of your child’s skill level, personality, and confidence. She has contacts in the local horse world and more than likely has considerable experience buying horses of her own.
If you do locate a horse on your own that you think might be suitable, involve your child’s instructor in examining the horse. You will want her evaluation not only of the horse himself but also her advice on how to incorporate a new horse into your child’s ongoing lessons.
A Word to the Wise
Although newspaper ads and online resources can provide good leads to potential horses, don’t be tempted to buy a horse at an auction. Prospective buyers know nothing of the horse’s background, his disposition, his health, or his training, and you don’t have the time necessary to make a considered decision. Only an experienced horse person has the skills and experience necessary to deal with whatever they might buy at auction.
Novice owners should also avoid rescue situations. It can be enormously tempting to “save” a neglected or abused horse; however, most horses in difficult circumstances require a great deal of rehab, retraining, and medical care to become solid citizens. As with an auction, you have no way of knowing what issues the horse may bring along.
And finally, never buy a horse that is listed as a “prospect” — this means that the horse has the potential talent or disposition to perform in a particular discipline but not the training or experience. Don’t even consider looking at horses with descriptions that read “intermediate rider” or have any other language that makes you question the horse’s disposition or dependability for a beginning rider.
The Behavior Check
Once you have identified a possible match, insist on visiting the animal and ask the seller to handle the horse or pony for you so you can watch. You’ll want to see the animal’s reaction to having his legs and feet handled, to being groomed and led around, to having his face and ears rubbed, and to being saddled. Watch for any telltale signs of resentment or fear — ears pinned, whites showing around the eyes, trying to evade the handler, a hitched hip (threatening a kick), lashing tail, pawing the ground, spooking sideways, or flinching.
Also watch how the handler interacts with the animal — is he or she kind and gentle or abrupt and rough? Does the handler seem genuinely fond of the horse or pony, or indifferent to his feelings and reactions?
If everything looks good so far, ask some questions: What activities did the former child owner do with the animal? Trail riding, play days, horse shows, lessons? Are there photos or videos of these activities? Ask for the former rider to climb up on the animal so you can see how well he responds; watch him move and get a feel for his behavior under saddle. If the seller is hesitant, you need to ask why. If the child has become frightened of riding, of course you would never insist that he or she ride for you or allow an adult to force them to. But you do need to explore why the fear exists — did something happen with this animal that has made the former child owner afraid?
And you need to ask some tough, direct questions (and hope you’ll hear some direct, honest replies): Has the animal ever bucked or reared? Does he bite or strike? Does he crib or chew wood? Very few boarding stables will allow horses or ponies with these habits because they destroy every flat surface they can reach.
Maintaining Objectivity
Although your child should be involved in the purchase process, be aware of the danger that one or the other of you (or both!) might fall in love with a particular horse before determining his suitability. Your child’s age and maturity should guide your decision on this issue, but it might be best for you and your instructor to narrow down your choices to several true possibilities before taking your child to visit any of them.
Once you’ve determined that a horse is a candidate, your instructor and then your child should handle him, tack him up, and ride him before a final decision is made. Making two or three visits to several different horses may seem like a huge hassle, but keep in mind that you are making a long-term commitment; it makes sense to take as much time as you need to make the right choice. You and your child will also learn a lot about horses from this process, so view the whole experience as time well spent.
A word about observing the disposition of horses you visit — you must always be on the alert for the possibility that the horse has been drugged. Again, just because a horse seller knows that an animal may become the mount of a child does not mean that person will not do anything it takes to sell the horse.
The saying “buyer beware” goes double for anyone buying a horse, and you cannot trust in the seller’s integrity or good intentions. This is why several visits to see the horse — at least one with your child’s instructor — as well as a vet check are so critical.
A horse without shoes is said to be barefoot. Though the majority of horses are shod, many horses can be ridden perfectly well without shoes, and interest in “natural hoof care” is growing.
The Unofficial Health Check
If the horse or pony being considered passes muster on the behavior front, the next questions should be about the horse or pony’s health regimen and feeding schedule. Here are some examples of issues to think about.
How often is the horse dewormed? This may depend on what part of the country you live in — in areas with freezing winters, deworming regimens differ from those with year-round parasites. Your main concern is to learn if the animal has been on a regular schedule of parasite control.
What has his vaccination schedule been? Again, this will vary regionally, but it’s important to determine if the animal has received regular vaccinations as appropriate for your area.
What is he fed and how much? Is he used to grazing in a pasture for some or all of the day, or is he given only hay? What about grain or other concentrated feed?
Does he receive any nutritional supplements? If so, what for? What is the monthly cost of the supplements?
The Official Vet Check
If everything still looks and sounds positive, you need to arrange for an official vet check. This can seem a little challenging, as you may not know any horse vets, but your instructor can assist you in finding one. You may be tempted to have the owner’s vet perform the inspection, but this is generally not encouraged.
The issue isn’t a question of the vet’s integrity, but rather, a concern about putting him or her in a tough spot — performing a vet check on a client’s horse. If the vet finds something that kills the purchase, the client may not react well and the vet could potentially lose his business. Finding another vet, therefore, is both a courtesy and a chance to have a neutral evaluation.
From Toe to Head
There’s an old saying in the horse world: “No foot, no horse.” When you’re examining a potential purchase, look very carefully at his feet. Does he wear horseshoes? Just on the front feet or all four? What is the reasoning? Horses are traditionally shod to protect their hooves when they are being ridden consistently, especially on hard surfaces, but in many cases, it’s because the feet are prone to chipping or splitting.
Ask how often the farrier trims the animal’s hooves and what kind of shoes he has — you’ll probably want to avoid a horse or pony who needs complicated hoof care. In looking at the animal’s feet, what impression do you get? You can simply observe them, standing next to the pony. Do they look neat and tidy, well cared for? Or are they long, cracked, or ragged on the edges?
Be particularly wary if the animal’s hooves curl up at the tips — this is a horse or pony whose feet have been neglected for some time and whose owner has not performed the most basic form of care. What else has the owner skimped on?
If your vet finds a problem, you can ask him or her to contact the regular vet and discuss the issue (with the owner’s permission, of course) to see if there’s a history and/or if minor intervention would resolve it. After conferring, your vet would have a better picture of the situation and be better able to advise you.
By the way, if the seller doesn’t have a regular vet, you should be concerned, as it probably means the pony has not received regular care — no vaccinations, no deworming, no annual Coggins (a simple blood test done once a year to ensure the animal does not have Equine Infectious Anemia, a viral disease for which there is no vaccination and no cure). If you are going to board the pony, no respectable boarding stable will allow an equine on its property without a negative Coggins.
The Purchase Agreement
If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, be sure the purchase agreement thoroughly outlines all details related to the horse or pony. This includes a description — gender, color, age, height, breed, microchip number (if any), and breed association and registry number (if applicable — keep in mind that non-registered “grade” horses and ponies make some of the best children’s mounts). The purchase price and any conditions related to it should be clearly outlined, especially if you are making payments over a period of time and not purchasing the horse or pony outright.
The seller should provide you with a signed statement that the animal is in good health, that the seller is the legal owner, and that no encumbrances prohibit the sale of the animal. If you are purchasing the horse or pony over a period of time, making regular payments, you need to work out details related to the animal’s upkeep (vet, farrier, board) during the time you’re paying the purchase price, as well as removal of the animal — typically, you can’t take possession until all payments have been made to the seller.
Some individuals will include in their contract a statement regarding the buyer’s intent to provide all necessary upkeep for the animal for the period of time the buyer owns him (basically, you’ll take care of it), and many contracts will also include a “buy back” statement that gives the seller first right of refusal if you ever decide to sell the horse or pony.
In summary, remember that a purchase agreement is a legal contract. You should consider obtaining the advice of an attorney before signing. Getting the input of a knowledgeable horse person can also be terrifically useful, as most will be very familiar with details that could be considered “standard” and will notice anything out of the ordinary.
CRAZY ABOUT HORSES
I have always loved horses! I draw horses all the time; horses are my hobby. I love them because they are nice and caring, and I love my lesson horse because he takes care of me. Riding makes me feel confident. I want to have a big horse with brown and white splotches on it.
My advice is to let them ride if they want to. It teaches responsibility, kindness, and respect. Riding has been wonderful for Cameron. Her instructor is amazing. She fuels Cameron’s desire to improve and make it “her thing.” No one else in our family rides and we were resistant to the idea initially, but I just started taking lessons myself and I love it!
