Our First Horse

I recently stumbled on this site looking for exactly what I found.. someone doing things like I did! I always dreamed of owning horse(s) and riding. Just recently for Christmas 2006, my husband bought me a 4-yo paint/pinto gelding. We fenced in a generous area behind the house for him, and he has done well.

I have only 1 experience riding a horse and have never had the chance to be around them before. So the only way to get into equine ownership was to do it. I bought a book and read what I could, and then we just went and got one. I really wanted an older horse because I really didn’t want to screw things up, but after I went and saw Stormy and his beautiful herd of 11 horses, standing there in that field that day with them, I knew I wanted him. So for a grand total of $300 bucks I became a horse owner. The guy was even so kind as to deliver him and give me an old halter for him.

We first had him in a very large barn. I would go up there and just sit down and eat breakfast and let Stormy eat his grain. I would comb him and just really let him get used to seeing me. I knew it wouldn’t be long and we would have our fence up, and somehow, we had to get this young gelding to our house from this barn, which was about a quarter mile away. I really didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew that it couldn’t be too hard… I brought a rope and tied it to his halter, thus we started practicing the fine art of leading!

Poor Stormy was not trained very much and was quite skiddish and leery of everything after leaving all the other horses. I felt bad for him, so I spent a lot of time with him. He was very sweet and good. He rarely nipped at me, and only once did I get kind of “side-kicked” by him in the barn. He kind of hit me with his hoof because I was seeing how much he’d let me lean on him… obviously that wasn’t on his menu.

We got the fence done and recruited by hubby’s uncle to help us with moving the horse. He, at least, had been around cows all his life! We successfully tied Stormy off in the barn to the truck. He didn’t throw too much of a fit and trotted down the road behind the truck all the way to his new home. He did wonderful! When we let him off the lead into the green pasture he went crazy! He ran and bucked and kicked and skidded and rolled and did all kinds of stuff! I was amazed. He never even knocked the fence down! He calmed down after about an hour or so of that!

He’s been in the pasture with a small shed to go in for warmth and to eat or stay dry for almost 2 months. He has a cracked hoof which is kind of discolored. He’s not fond of anyone touching his hooves or legs really, and so I need to get a farrier out to see what is going on there. I was told he needs deworming soon, and I have to find out what I need regarding that.

I have been working with leading him mostly now, so he will respect me and the lead. He is doing pretty good. He did nip me a couple days ago, but he does that when he gets aggravated. I placed a large towel on his back the other day just to see what he would do. Well, he put his ears back and tried to turn his head to get to it. It was so funny. He was like a dog chasing its tail! He forgot about it eventually while we were practicing leading, and I’d touch it or rub it on his back now and then to remind him it was there. I have removed his halter and put it back on successfully. He wasn’t too fond about me putting it on, but I managed to.

So we’re taking baby steps and being careful. His part pinto and thus just a pinch on the pony height. I’m a small girl anyway, so that’s ideal for me. He has a very good disposition, but does seem to spook somwhat easy, and I’d be worried if I led him outside of the pasture that he might dash off and get away from me. I don’t know. He’s young, I’m young, so I’m just proceeding as he lets me. I am not very confident about getting on him, obviously, as he has not been ridden, but I am gaining confidence around him, though I do watch myself. Boy I got the head-butt the other day when I leaned down to feed him, and BAM! his head came swooping down. Ouch!

Thanks so much for this wonderful blog! I can’t wait to go back and read all the posts I haven’t read yet. I need SO much guidance. This site is truely wonderful for people like me who are learning from the ground up from scratch.

Stay warm and safe!

Tara

# Posted by tara 1314 days ago

Wow, Tara, that is quite a big job you have made for yourself. It sounds just like what we did - we were advised to get an older, well-trained, docile horse, and went and fell in love with a totally inappropriate horse. And we did it twice. Oh well. We love our horses anyway and it sounds like you do too.

If there is any way at all you can do it, you should find a trainer for your horse. Since he has never been ridden, you’re going to want to train him correctly from the beginning. As far as what you’re doing on the ground, though, in my completely inexpert opinion it sounds like what you’re doing is really great. The most important thing for your horse is to trust you, and up there too is communication between you and your horse. Keep doing what you’re doing. Please get expert help, though, before you get up on his back!

Good luck, and please let us know how things are going!

# Posted by admin 1299 days ago

I’d like to share my experience as well. I don’t know much about buying or owning a horse but I do love them and wanted to have one. I have ridden a few times in the past but really didn’t know the ins and outs of riding. I bought a few books and began reading and they were helpful but you come to a point were you need experience. The only way to get that is get a horse. I started looking and found a few that fit my expectations. I also was told to start with an older horse but I have heard from so many who have not done that yet have done well. Plus I was concerned that getting an older horse would help me become a decent rider but by the time I get good at it I would have to retire him. That turned me off to an older horse. I found a 5 year old morgan/quarter horse gelding. I looked at other horses and this one seemed real docile.

I had the owner ride him and I did not because I got there late and it was dark and the ground was icy. I watched carefully as she put him through some paces. I liked what I saw. He seemed to respond well with out any jitteryness (if that is a word). Any way I accepted their price if they could deliver him about an hour and a half away. I wanted to have a vet check prior to purchase also, but they had just had him vet checked and since they lived so far from me it would have been difficult for me to arrange. I decided to forgo the vet check and rely on my instincts Which probably was a bad ideas since as I said I am such a novice on horse things.

I prearranged with a boarder that was recommended by my horse owning neighbors, to board him until I could get my fence in after the ground freezes. This was a smart idea (I did this one thing right) Fortunately skipping the vet did not have a bad outcome, but it could have. Anyway they delivered “Seth” last Saturday.

I go and see him at least once a day for about an hour. I started out just spending time with him, then I tried catching him and leading him from the pasture to the stall. Then I started brushing him a little while I was standing in the stall with him. So far things have gone well. I am very pleased so far. Each step was pretty scary. As I would stand in the stall with Seth and he would put his head down in front of my face, nose to nose and he would stare into my eyes. I would just stand and stare back. But that reminded me of the scene in Jurassic park where the dinosaur had his huge head next to the girl. Any way each step I have had to over some some anxiety. Like putting the halter on and then leading him and standing in the stall with him. I have gotten better on most of these. I can even push him back when he gets to close to me now.

So one week after his arrival I saddled him up and got on. This was with much help from the boarder. He has been an indispensable asset to me. He has offered so much help with every aspect. I can’t thank him enough. Without him this would not be the same story. I rode Seth about a half hour on Saturday then went back on Sunday to ride a little more. I went out to the pasture to catch him and he was not happy with the idea. This is the first he ran from me. I didn’t know what to do. So I was going back to the barn to get a treat when I met another horse owner that stables there and she was going to get her horse. Again the help of more experienced people really helped me out. She said don’t let him rest. Keep chasing him until he gets tired and lets you catch him. With her help this went well. we chased him for a few minutes then he just gave in and let me put his halter on and I lead him out.

I had adjusted my stirrups up and was no longer able to get in the saddle. The stable owner was with me and suggested using the fence to get up, since a block might not work because of all the snow on the ground. So I lead Seth next to the fence and was able to get right up.

I rode Seth for close to an hour and we seem to be getting along well. He puts up good with my mistakes and the stable owner watches and offers a lot of really good advice. I feel good after that last ride. I think both Seth and my self are getting more comfortable with each other and things are still progressing well. However I was surprised last night as to how sore my legs and back were. I didn’t think I was doing anything while riding. But boy I felt it, I am still sore this morning but I am hoping to ride again tonight as we only have a couple more days of warm weather before it turns cold again.

I am actually surprised to see that I am riding after having Seth only 7 days I hope if the weather doesn’t get to bad that I can be on the trail in another week or two.

# Posted by mike 1277 days ago

Mike, no problem, please keep in touch.

Sounds like you’re having a great time! As a fellow beginner, I also revel in those moments when I’ve done something “all by myself”. Now if we can just keep doing them, I think we’ll have the hang of it!

# Posted by Bill 1252 days ago