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Your son or daughter has been begging for a horse ever since he or she saw The Black Stallion. You have temporarily satisfied their demand with riding lessons and now junior is asking again. “Can I have a horse of my own?” Should you do it?
Knowledge and Competency
Under no circumstances should you buy a horse for a child that does not know how to ride or care for a horse. Your child must have riding lessons for at least a year and some experience in horse care before even thinking about owning a horse. Ask the riding instructor if they think your child is ready. Most will give you an honest answer despite the fact that some trainers also earn their living from selling horses.
Money
The first thing to consider is finances. The initial expense can be anywhere from free to over a million dollars. If you want a safe and sturdy mount for your child, you can assume the price will be in the $2000 range. Look around carefully. You may find an older horse that someone is willing to give to a good home. This may sound like a good deal. However, just like older people, older animals tend to need a lot of medical care. It’s not hard to reach $2000 in vet bills with an older horse. If it is to be your child’s first horse, be careful about spending too much money until you see just how serious a rider you have in the family. A good person to consult would be your child’s riding instructor.
Don’t forget the expense of equipment as well. Your horse will need a saddle, bridle, grooming equipment, and possibly a blanket in the winter. Get some help putting together a list of what you will need and how much it will cost. Be sure to check out a used tack store. A new saddle can cost $100 to $3000. You will most likely spend around $500 for a quality new saddle.
The basic upkeep- feed, shoes, worming, shots, etc. can be anywhere from $100 to over $400 a month. If you are serious about acquiring a horse for the apple of your eye, then check the budget. Can you afford to shell out $300 or so a month in expenses? If not, don’t give up yet. There are other options. Instead of owning a horse outright, consider leasing one. Lease agreements vary from place to place. But generally they entail paying half the board on a horse and nothing else.
There are several advantages to leasing as opposed to owning a horse. You pay only half the board and may not be responsible for veterinary bills depending on what kind of lease agreement you have. There is also the advantage that if your child is sharing the horse with someone else, that person will help keep the horse exercised as well. In any event, I would highly recommend leasing a horse for a few months before buying one. This gives you a trial run without the problem of having to sell a horse later should owning a horse be too much responsibility for your child.
Responsibility
Is your child old enough to take care of the horse? If you are contemplating buying a horse for a child less than thirteen years of age, be aware that you will be taking care of the horse. Some parents don’t mind this responsibility and like learning about horses. They might even take some lessons and learn to ride. Others are buying the horse for their child and want nothing to do with daily horse care.
If your child is old enough, are they also responsible enough? Be realistic when you ask yourself this question. Does your child actively take care of the household pets? Or do you walk the dog and scoop the yard? If he or she has not demonstrated responsibility with a dog or cat, then investing in a horse may not be a great idea.
Access
Will your child have easy access to the horse? Can the horse be boarded nearby or will you be responsible for carting your budding equestrian to and from the stable several times a week. Be aware that once a week is not enough exercise for most horses. If your child will not have access to the horse several times a week (preferably every day), then perhaps a lease is a better idea for you.
Owning a horse can be a great learning experience or a financial disaster. Consider everything carefully before making the investment.
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