What supplies should I have?
My mother and I, are wanting to purchase a horse in Kansas- after I finish high school here in California. I want an adult male horse gelding. I was wondering what is completely necessary to buy before we buy one? (Like what should be my first saddle type, etc…) I’ve had years of riding lessons for western riding, and english. He’s going to be living on my uncles property, so there won’t be boarding. And, I don’t believe we need horse shoes, because we’re only riding him on grass (We will of coarse have his hooves trimmed though). I think that’s all the info you need to answer my question…
P.S. What’s a better name: Buck Shot, Whiskey, or Marvin?
Do you have any experience with horse care? I know you’ve taken riding lessons, but the care of the horse is more critical than your riding ability when it comes to owning a horse (being a terrible or beginner rider won’t really matter; feeding your horse improperly or neglecting to take care of a health issue will). Not all riding lesson students get the opportunity to learn about hands on horse care–not just tacking up for a lesson, but all aspects of it. Some horses are really easy keepers, and you can throw them in a pasture with grass and maybe a little grain and they’re good to go forever. I’ve owned several like that. Others need a lot more maintenance, and it’s not always possible to predict. If you’re at all unsure, I suggest finding a boarding barn when you first purchase a horse so that your horse will receive the proper care. While the horse is there, you can watch and help and learn so that eventually you can take over the care yourself. Ask lots of questions. You’ll need to know what to feed, when, and how much; what vaccinations/wormers and when; when to call a vet and when/how to treat injuries/illnesses at home; how to manage your pastures/fences; etc.
A basic list of supplies:
*Buckets or pans (feed, water, and extras), as well as something to secure them with (not a good idea to just set a bucket with a handle on the ground–either use a pan/tub without a handle, or secure the bucket)
*Extra halters/leads for when yours breaks or disappears at the worst possible moment (and it will)
*First aid stuff–vetwrap or something similar, gauze pads, wound spray or ointment, duct tape, thermometer (and there are plenty of other things you might want, but those cover most basic injuries and can usually be temporary fixes for most things until a vet gets there)
*Find a hay and feed supplier now, not after you buy the horse. I know that we’ve had a hay shortage here because of lack of rain, so we really had to plan ahead.
*If your horse will be stalled, buy a fan for the stall in the summer.
*If your horse will be turned out all the time, provide some sort of shelter (a run-in shed is fine. Even a stand of trees can work, though in bad weather he’ll probably prefer a real shed. But he at least needs shade.)
*Tack–saddle, pads (buy a couple), bridle, bits (always good to have a couple to choose from), girth, lungeline/whip. You may want to wait to buy some of those things until you find a horse, so you can get the one that fits your horse best. It’s always good to have extras of the small/easily breakable things (like reins).
*Basic riding/work clothes for you–riding boots, chaps or jeans or breeches, boots you can wear in the mud/gross stuff. A helmet would be a good purchase regardless of your discipline, though western riders often don’t wear one (and some of us, like myself, don’t wear one for either–I’m not practicing what I preach, I guess.).
*Basic grooming/bathing needs–shampoo/conditioner, sponge, scraper, stiff brush, soft brush, curry, combs, fly spray. You can always add fancy/luxury items, but your horse doesn’t really NEED the vacuum or the massager.
*Muck bucket or wheelbarrow and a pitchfork if your horse will be kept in a stall or very small paddock/pen.
*Tractor or some other means of maintaining your fields/pastures, if applicable.
*Basic maintenance supplies–extra lumber or t-posts (be safe and put caps on them!), duct tape, ropes, WD-40, nails, basic tools, etc. You never know when your horse will kick out a stall wall, a tree will fall on your fence, etc. You don’t need to have a loose horse running around while you make a trip to the hardware store. Keep something for emergency repairs on hand.
*Phone numbers/contact info for a good vet and farrier–not something you want to be searching for two weeks after you buy the horse and he steps in a hole and injures himself. Have it on hand before you buy.
*I suggest having a method of hauling him–either your own vehicle/trailer or a friend who would be willing to do it or let you borrow a trailer. You don’t want to get him, then need a trailer in an emergency and not be able to find one.
I suggest buying a fairly laid-back, easy keeper. A difficult horse may not be a problem for you as a rider, but as a new owner, you don’t want to deal with a horse who is a pain to take care of. Find one that has a history of being sound and healthy, not one with a medical history longer than your leg. Get a vet check done to make sure of that. Don’t buy one that’s extremely young or extremely old, since they often have special needs (not that they’re bad horses, but a horse with age related issues may not be a good first choice for ownership). Ask about any special supplements, hoof care needs, etc. the horse needs–if the horse is perfectly healthy but is on a supplement all the time, you may want to make sure you can continue that supplement to ensure he stays that healthy.
