Hello Golden Gaters! My sister and I have always been passionate about animals, especially horses, as you may know from the Golden Gate origin story. I'm Darla, the older Golden Gate sister, AKA "Big Sis" and over time I'll be sharing more about how I left the corporate world to live the life "little Darla" always dreamed about on 22 acres far from the big city, surrounded by everything I love.
Today's blog is an up close look into my exciting and confusing horse ownership journey which came on like a fever at the age of 45 and has been going strong ever since. If you're an adult, thinking of getting into the horse world but not sure where to start, this blog could help!
For 6 months after a tour of a nearby hobby farm, horse fever raging, I started researching, contacting local barns, joined online groups and viewed horse sale ads. I realized quickly how much I had to learn. The way forward was clear as mud but looking back, I can see the important milestones.
1) Passion - You can't fight it!
When the fever has you in a choke hold, you'll know it. My horse fever took over and wouldn't let it go. Despite my passion, the further I went down the path, the harder it got. Bottom line: Horses are tough tough tough, so if the passion isn't there, save yourself some pain and move on to something else.
2) Lessons - Don't skimp out!
At the time, I wasn't sure lessons would satisfy my horse itch. Thank goodness I listened to people smarter than me. Taking lessons early in my horse journey helped me learn essential skills like equine lingo, tack, ground work, body language, riding techniques, and more. DO NOT skip this step in the journey. In fact, make it part of your forever plan. When choosing a lesson program and trainer, consider the following:
Number of clients and trainers
Trainer's experience and specialization
Disciplines, goals alignment, and beginner ratio
Personal connection and comfort level
An effective trainer will connect with you, push you, set goals with you, and be an accountability partner and equine mentor.
3) Leasing - Try before you buy
After taking lessons for several months, the obsession to own a horse of my own was stronger than ever. I'm so glad I took my time with the leasing step before buying. I was able to test ownership aspects without the full commitment, bond with a horse, build confidence, improve riding skills even more and explore disciplines. I maintained active lessons throughout my leasing experience which I highly recommend. Some things to consider:
Onsite vs. offsite: Unless your property is horse ready or you have a boarding facility selected, you'll likely want to go with an onsite lease.
Lease Options:
1/2 and 1/4 leases, offer dedicated days per month for riding. Typically the horse is leased out to other riders as well. These cost-effective options, where maintenance and food expenses are covered by the owner, can provide excellent ride time and opportunity to build trust with the horse.
Full leases provide exclusive access to the horse as the only rider, allowing freedom to ride when and how much you'd like. Taking the horse to events is typically allowed and offers valuable exposure to offsite horse handling and transportation . Full leases are typically more expensive with a set monthly fee covering boarding and riding privileges, while routine maintenance, food, and riding gear are usually the lessee's responsibility as well. Full leases offer the closest experience to owning a horse.
Tack - No matter the lease type, you'll need essential tack for riding, including a halter, bridle, saddle, saddle pad, and other pieces depending on riding discipline and horse's needs. Important questions before signing a lease include whether the owner provides tack and details on specific tack items needed.
Leasing a horse along with focused lessons enhances horsemanship skills in the long term.
4) Boarding - Find a Barn Family!
I highly recommend boarding your first horse for at least six months to continue easing your way into horse ownership with the support of a barn family.
I fell in love with my first lease horse and purchased him from his owner. I also went on to purchase my second horse a few months later. Check out Sako and Annie's stories if you'd like to learn more about these big babies.
They both live with me at Golden Gate Farms now but back in 2022 I didn't have a suitable property so I boarded them with Pleasant Ridge Ranch and I'm so happy I did.
As you look into boarding facilities, consider some things:
Pasture boarding: Horses roam freely which is a more natural experience for them, and typically less expensive for you. Horses can sometimes be harder to catch, particularly in larger pastures and if shelters aren't available, the horse could be exposed during inclement weather.
Stall boarding: Basically your horse will be stalled nightly and turned out in the day for a period of time. This can minimize their exposure to rough weather, reduce risk of injury and make haltering quite easy. However, it does require daily maintenance and is therefore more expensive. Some horses can get quite restless when stalled as well.
Facility considerations: Hours of operation, ways of entry, riding areas, tack storage, barn amenities, vibe, guest policy, distance, cost
At Pleasant Ridge Ranch, my horses were pasture boarded with rich grazing, multiple riding areas, outstanding management team and an amazing laid back barn atmosphere. Boarding your first horse is an excellent way to venture into horse ownership without property investments while maintaining professional support.
5) Buying Your Horse - Take Your Time!
Taking the big leap is a HUGE commitment and your new horse will be counting on you to do your homework before taking them into your care. A few important things to consider:
Continue to work with your trainer as you set up visits and test horses out. Be honest about your current riding skills and type of horse best suited for your level
Establish a budget and travel radius
Consider a prepurchase exam (recommended)
Write an ISO AD listing your horse's requirements, budget, and travel willingness. Beginner level example: ISO a beginner-friendly, no buck, bite, kick or rear horse. Doesn't mind taking it slow but will move forward when asked. Comfortable on trails. Budget $5K, willing to travel up to 3 hours.
Arrange trailer transportation before visiting a horse
TRY TRY TRY - Brush, tack up, walk, trot, canter, trailer load and unload and then do it all over again.
Second date - before putting in an offer, consider sleeping on it and coming back another day to double check your instincts
Personality and connection over looks
Stay calm when bringing your horse to their boarding home
Introducing your horse to the barn:
Follow barn rules for quarantine time to ensure safety
Socialize horses gradually over fencing or stall walls before introducing them freely
Build trust through routine visits and various activities beyond riding
Be patient as your horse adjusts
6) Bringing your horse home
Now you're a horse owner and life is great but you're still daydreaming of the day you can step out your front door, halter up your horse and ride off into the sunset. Before you take the leap, consider the pros and cons and go in with your eyes wide open.
Is your property large enough? Ideally you will have at least one acre of pasture for your horse to forage freely. Within this pasture area there should be shade, fresh water and shelter from the elements(run-ins, trees or barn) and a secure fencing system.
You'll need to consider all the amenities at the boarding facility you've grown accustomed to and either replicate them on your property or go without.
Finally, your horse will be 100% your responsibility day and night once you bring them home. Don't underestimate the amount of work that goes into daily care. Still on board? Let's unpack it.
Readying your property
Fencing - Many options are available depending on your budget.
Barbed wire- can be erected quickly and is very cost effective. However, It isn't very attractive and more importantly, it is the riskiest type of fencing. Your horse is more likely to sustain injury from a barbed wire fence than any other fencing.
Electric fencing - more expensive than barbed wire and easy to install. While a pop from an electric fence isn't pleasant, it won't cause harm to your horse. Electric fences aren't the most attractive but for a more appealing look, use PVC pipes to cover your t-posts.
Wood fencing - more expensive than electric and requires a different skill set to install. Wood offers stylistic choices to match your aesthetic and can add property value. Additionally, the wood will need to be maintained and over time, replaced and unfortunately, some horses may push on wood fencing.
Steel or aluminum fencing - most expensive type of fencing requiring a specific skill to install. Many styles and colors to choose from and long term maintenance notably less than wood. Holds up better with pushy horses than wood and requires less long term maintenance.
Hybrid - Using a combination of electric and wood fencing can help minimize fence damage while still adding aesthetic appeal to your property. - Fun Fact - We took a hybrid fencing approach at Golden Gate Farms. Be sure to follow if you'd like more information.
Pasture - Ensuring plentiful forage for your horse is vital
Grasses such as timothy, brome, fescue are horse suitable while you will want to avoid invasive grasses like Cheatgrass and foxtail and toxic grasses like Johnsongrass, Switchgrass and Ragwort. Fescue is not recommended for pregnant mares in their last trimester.
Paddocks - Creating separated areas of your pasture to rotate your horse will help keep your pastures healthier.
Easy keepers - Horses that gain weight easily may not need to be on pasture grass 24/7. Understanding your horses needs as you're designing your pasture will save you trouble in the long run
During non-growing grass seasons, you'll need to supplement your pasture grass with hay.
Water supply - Horses need to drink1/2 to 1 gallon of water per 100 lbs of weight daily. Keeping a fresh supply readily available is imperative.
Natural water supply - Creeks and ponds can be great natural water supplies but recommend testing the water to ensure the quality before making it available for your horse.
Containers - Water troughs and tubs are good options as long as the water is kept clean, fresh and regularly replenished. Having two water sources spaced apart will help your horse consume more water, no matter where they are in the pasture
Algae - Keep your tubs 1/2 full and top off water daily. Once a week, empty the tub, scrub the inside and refill.
De-icing - You'll need to break the ice in the winter to ensure your horse can access the water. You can also purchase water heaters to regulate the temperature during winter. If using a natural water supply, ensure it doesn't completely freeze over and consider providing an alternate water supply during winter
Automatic waterers - Ensure the freshest, readily available water for your horse. They will require a hookup to your water line and routine maintenance.
Shelter - While a barn and stalls are not a requirement, you will want a covered area or building for your horse to seek shelter. We opted for 12x24 run-ins for each pasture and our horses love them!
Introducing your horse to their new home
Let your horse roam and explore freely within their pasture.
Give them a chance to find water and shelter on their own first and then lead them.
Build trust and good manners with halter walks to explore beyond their pasture.
Consistency is always key to build and maintain good habits.
Horses are sensitive creatures and take time to adjust. Be patient.
My horse ownership journey started with a strong, persistent seed of passion in late 2021 and has grown into an amazing lifestyle change. My herd, 7 head strong and still growing, keeps me insanely busy, and filled with joy and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Where are you in your horse ownership journey? What advice can you share with the community? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!
Thanks for reading! - Big Sis - GG Farms
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