Advice from experienced horse owners

[Cowgirl@heart]

I have a few questions regarding first horse purchase and other horse-related things...

1. What is the best time of the year to buy a horse (IS there a best time?)

2. What price range is acceptable for a Boerperd or Boerperd X that will be used for trail rides (normal outrides - walk, trot, canter) ONLY? I thought no more than about R6000-R7000.

3. Which is a better bet, a smaller stocky horse (14.1 - 14.3) or a bigger horse (15h +) with an average or stocky build? (As a weight carrier).

4. Barefoot or shod? What are the pros and cons of either?

5. When does the horse need to be dewormed and vaccinated?

6. How do I find a good farrier at a reasonable price? Do I just use the one the stabling yard uses?

7. Are there private veterinarians that are affordable in the Pretoria area?

8. Is it necessary to provide the horse with a salt lick during dry Winter months?

9. What other precautions are there to avoid colic?

10. How to ensure compatibility between rider (buyer) and horse apart from viewing and test-riding. What if I later find that the horse is not right for me? (i.e. too hot, too easy-going, etc.)

11. Is it advisable to half-bait a horse if the finances are a bit tight? How do I choose the right rider & set up a terms of use contract?

12. Are greys more susceptable to hoof problems and sunburn than darker horses?

I know it's a long list of questions, but I want to get as much information as possible before taking the leap

[Presence]

1. There isn't such thing as the best time of year
2. Anything form free to R30 000, it all depends on the schooling of the horse. I would pay R6000 for a trail horse with a good temperament.
3. Bigger horse with a stocky build, but it depends how much the rider weights!
4. Some horses need shoes, some don't, but it doesn't make the horses better or worse. I prefer barefoot. Sometimes shoes fall off and then you need to get the farrier out and you can't ride the horse until the farrier comes. Luckly all my horses have very strong feet, so they don't need shoes.
5. Go and speak to your local vet about it, she/he will give you all the information you need. My horse hets dewormed 3/4 times a year and he get tetanis/ billary/ flu and AHS injections.
6. If you are happy with the farrier at the yard use him, otherwise ask around.
7. No idea, I'm in the Western Cape.
8. You can if you like, if they don't lick it then you know they don't need the minerals. And they are not so expensive.
9.Well you get different tipes of colic, so it depends on what colic your talking about. Here is some pointers, do not overfeed with consentrates, slowly introduce new food, if your paddocks are very sandy try not to feed  oathay/lucerne/teef ect on the sand.
10. Ask the owner if you can lease the horse for a period of time, but remember to set up a conract
11.If your finances are tight DO NOT BUY A HORSE!!! Rather lease, until you are financially sure that you can afford stabling, farrier and vet bills!
12. Sunburn mostly occurs on horses with white mark on their noses, so use sunscreen on the nose. If your horse has black hooves it means that it's strong, white hooves are not really strong, but look at the form of the hooves aswell!

[Cowgirl@heart]

Thank you for your answers! I really appreciate the help!

"Is it advisable to half-bait a horse if the finances are a bit tight? How do I choose the right rider & set up a terms of use contract?"

What I meant with this question is if I buy a horse and then somewhere along the line I struggle to cope financially, but don't want to sell the horse, is it ok to half-bait so someone else can help me wrt finances (stabling fees, and all the other costs). I will never buy a horse if I know I won't be able to afford it. But one never knows what might happen in the future, and one has to prepare for everything. Not nice to think about it that way, but should it come to that, then I will rather half-bait the horse out than sell it on completely. That way I still own the horse but some of the financial strain is lifted. Of course I'll have some funds available as back-up in case something like that does happen. But one has to be prepared.

I'm not saying it will happen. But if it does, do you think it is a good thing? And how does one go about it?

Ok, one more question:

I've recently fallen in love with a riding school horse (a mare!) and she has the most incredible canter. She's sweet in all aspects and quite tall. She doesn't have any vices - though I've been told she bucks when she gets excited. That's normal IMO because she shows her enjoyment. Anyway, I'm considering putting in an offer for her. But not just yet. Still need to save up some money.  But the problem is, I'd also like a "new" horse. From a breeder. I'd like a registered Boerperd. Would like to learn and grow with the horse (well, the horse will not be a youngster, -will be backed and schooled and all that jazz- but will be new in the setup and new to me, etc.) Thing is, I don't know which is best. To buy a horse that's already settled in and has her place in the herd, used to the outride space, used to the food, climate, etc. Or get one from a breeder (or outside source) and learn and grow together? I would like a challenge. To get to know a "new" horse. My own horse. And I'd like to know the horse doesn't have any bad habits taught to it by other riders. So that kinda answers my question.

But I'm still unsure. Thing is, there are so many pros and cons and I'm weighing my options. A friend of mine said I'll know what to do as soon as I have the money available. But it's going to be a tough choice to make. Since I can only afford ONE horse, I can't have best of both worlds. And don't want to lease, I want to OWN. I want to know the horse is mine 100%. That's also the thing. So I really don't know what to do. Right now, I'm bonding with the riding school mare and see how we get along, trying to ride her as often as possible. This might help me decide. I never thought I'd like a mare. But she's changed my whole perspective. Still, I've got a picture of my dream horse in my mind. Colour is not important though, but I think I might settle for a chestnut or bay in the end. Bay being the colour of preference, of course. (This mare is dark bay, almost black btw.) I've contacted breeders to ask about price range, etc and that's where my confusion started. I'll be paying more or less the same for either but the difference is in the breeding, the quality. I don't know.

Well, I know what I want in the horse. Has to be strong, big, thick neck. Good bone, kind eyed, stocky. Willing and eager but obedient. Take the lead or walk at the back. Alone or with other horses. Must be able to take it slow if I feel like it but go at the push of a button.

I think I should just keep saving and then once I have the money, I should go to a few breeders, try out a few horses and then decide which option would be best. Most importantly is I shouldn't rush it. I must take my time and not buy the first horse I come across just because I can. I must be sure that we are compatible. So if that means I buy the riding school horse then so be it. At least I know what I'll be getting.

Why is life so complicated? Lol

[Cowgirl@heart]

Happy to report that I've finally bought my first horse in May this year!

He's a Boerperd (not sure if he's purebred, but he's not registered - doesn't matter anyway). Around 15 - 15.1h and quite stocky. Very lively!!! 12 years old with lots of spunk and loves carrots, and loves having his bum scratched.

We've already formed a great bond but unfortunately he's injured his right hind foot (the heel) by cutting it on some wire fencing in July. So he's been out of work and on paddock rest until recently. The vet said he should be on paddock rest for 3 weeks. Me being paranoid by nature, kept him on paddock rest for about 7 weeks, and then decided to let him out with the other horses again  I rode him in the arena on 10 September and he seemed very happy to be working again, he must've been really frustrated!

While he was on paddock rest though, I took him for in-hand walks a couple of times to get him moving and to rid him of some of his boredom and excess energy. And on two occasions I've gotton onto him bareback (him wearing ONLY his halter, which I modified slightly so I can use the lead as reins) but he refused to go anywhere so I got off and just walked him back to the yard again.

He's super special to me, though he's much more lively under saddle than I'd have liked but we manage. The only drawback is motorcycles. He's absolutely terrified of them, and I came off him once when he got a huge fright at bikes (we were riding in a group and the other horses were calm about it).

As I got ready to ride in the arena again on the 11th, one of the other owners at the yard said it bores him and I should rather ride out with her - the group had left about 5 min before. Her being a veterinary nurse I knew she wouldn't say I should ride out if she wasn't certain that my horse will cope. So off we went. We encountered 3 motorcycles on the way and to my amazement he didn't freak out ONCE!  That was awesome. She told me that if I am calm about it, he'd be relaxed too. And I could clearly see it. So I'm very glad that motorcycles are no longer an issue for us.

Just wanted to update you - Happy riding!