Deciding to buy your first horse is a big step and one that you will want to think carefully about before committing yourself
. Most people start horse riding by joining a stables and increasing their riding skills over a period of time. This is arguably the best option as it means you will be able to pick up the skills needed to master the sport and yet do it all in a safe environment.
Having riding lessons through a stables also means that you do not have to incur the expense of owning a horse and making the commitment of looking after the animal on a full time basis. If you are thinking about owning your own animal however, you will have to consider the amount of time and money that you will have to invest in looking after the horse.
One of the first things to think about is where you are actually going to keep the animal. The majority of people do not have the necessary space available and may not be able to afford to rent land to keep an horse on. The cost involved in owning and looking after a horse is also something that you will have to give considerable thought to. To start with, it may well take some time to find a horse that is suitable for your needs and the search may well involve considerable travelling going to see horses. You will then have to have the horse you choose given a check up by the vet and then if it is not suitable after all, begin the whole search again. This can take up an awful lot of time and money and is something that many people overlook.
Once you have actually bought your horse then other financial implications come into play. You will need to pay for insurance to ensure your animal can be properly looked after, riding equipment, feed, bedding, grooming products and constant vets bills. They are all thing things you will certainly have to think about and decide whether you can or want to afford them.
It is important to talk to as many people as you can to get advice and find out if there is anything that you may have forgotten to consider. The main thing is not to rush in and make a rash decision.