I had a wonderful idea! Since none of us can agree on how to select a horse how about we, as a group, submit an article to Countryside! I was thinking it could be named

Tips for the Novice Horse Person

each of us could list 5 of our best tips and our best reference for a novice horse person that is looking at or looking to buy a horse. I thought that if I could get at least 7 people to post their best tips I would put them all together (tips accredited to the appropriate person of course) and turn it into a tips article for Countryside. However to do this there will have to be a few rules.

1) Leave your full name as you would like it to be submitted to Countryside. 2) Put up exactly 5 tips no more no less. I will not use them if there is not the correct number. Also post them all together. (thanks) 3) Put them up with the correct spelling and grammar I am going to copy and paste them into the article and I am not going to correct misspellings and grammar mistakes. 4) Do not reword someone else's tip. Similar is not the same however. 5) Make sure they are all positive tips. (please) 6) Don't forget to leave your favorite reference. (book, video, magazine, web page, etc...)

-- Montana Storm (mtstorm@usa.net), January 11, 2002

Answers

1) Don't judge a horse by it's color.

2) Look at and try (ride, drive, etc...for what you are buying the horse for) at least five horses before you buy one.

3) Buy from someone you trust.

4) Find a Vet & Farrier you trust before you buy a horse.

5) Have your facilities ready before you bring the horse home.

The Whole Horse Catalog by: Steven D. Price

-- Montana Storm (mtstorm@usa.net), January 11, 2002.

1) Buy from a person who will allow you to try the horse for 30 days.

2) Buy a well broke horse for your intended use, for example: trail riding, wagons, farm broke, etc...)

3) Establish a link with other horse people, like joining a good family saddle club, a wagon club, a hunt/jump group, etc...

4) Have the horse vet checked if you are concerend about health or soundness issues.

5) Read, talk, LISTEN!!!!

Work Horse Handbook by: Lynn Miller

-- Beverly Sandlin (storm@rconnect.com), January 11, 2002.

1- Take lessons and/or lease before you buy your first horse.

2- Always have the horse Vet checked prior to purchase.

3- Learn about heath, care and nutrition, and the associated costs, prior to purchasing a horse.

4- A good horse is never a bad color.

5- Learn about tack and equipment, know what it is and why it's used prior to considering its use.

Stacy Rohan

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), January 11, 2002.

Oops, forgot my reference: "The Horse" by J. Warren Evans, Anthony Borton, Harold F. Hintz, and L. Dale Van Vleck (second edition)

Stacy Rohan

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), January 11, 2002.

Montana-can you rebound, or what?

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), January 11, 2002.

1. Be sure you are set up for a horse, including but not limited to proper fencing and shelter, tack, grooming aids, first aid, feed, water supply, etc.

2. Purchase a helmet and wear it every time you ride!

3. When looking at a potential horse, bring a riding instructor or veterinarian along, if possible. Have the original owner ride the horse first so you can view confirmation, problem areas, etc.

4. If your are buying a horse than will be an "only" horse (a horse kept singularly), be sure the horse doesn't mind being alone, or buy a donkey or a goat for companionship.

5. Keep a calendar near the stall to keep track of vet or farrier appointments and other important dates such as shots, Coggins, etc.

Lisa M. Lehman, novice horse owner Central Wisconsin

-- Lisa in WI (llehman16@hotmail.com), January 11, 2002.

Oops! I too forgot my reference!

RFD TV on DishNetwork

-- (llehman16@hotmail.com), January 11, 2002.

Oops! I too forgot my reference! RFD TV on DishNetwork

Lisa,

I have DirecTV and they don't offer RFD TV, and I want it! I've got an email out to the DishNetwork to see if they will offer it to everyone when the two companies combine. I've heard great things about the program.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), January 11, 2002.

1. Remember the inital investment is not what costs...its the upkeep.

2. It costs as much to feed a bad horse, as a good one.

3. Find someone with horse experience to go with you.

4. No matter how much of an expert you are, there are people out there more expert than you....sometime you will get "burned" don't give up.

5. Buy from someone that is reputible...that several people have reccomended....do not buy from a horse sale. A lot of sale horses have been drugged up so you cannot tell if they are lame or dangerous.

-- Lynette (fear_the_bear@webtv.net), January 11, 2002.

1) Ask if you can work with the horse before buying. For example; loading and unloading from trailer, voice commands, walk,ho,back.

2)Talk to their farrier and/or vet. Find out health history.

3)Beware of horses bought at auction. I know many people who have gotten drugged horses only to find they are completely wild. Then again, my best horse came from an auction.

4)Handle the horse all over and I mean all over. Put your fingers in their mouth, up their nose, play with their feet, pull their tail (gently of course).

5)Take the horse for a walk on a lead rope, see if it is afraid of things, water, bridges, wooded areas, children, loud noises.

Horse, Follow Closely by GaWaNi Pony Boy (nice pictures)

-- Susan Northern MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), January 11, 2002.

Speaking as a person who has sold several horses I would suggest: 1.Watch me ride my horse first.If( I won't ride it, you DON'T want to.) 2.Don't ask me to let you have it for thirty days.(Got injured,blown mind horse back.)Come to my place and ride for thirty days if it takes you that long to decide. 3.Don't stick your fingers in my horses mouth,you might not know how to do it without getting hurt.Ask to see if I can do it to my horse. 4.Ask if the horse has any injuries that will stop it from doing what you need it to do.There is no such thing as a perfect horse. 5.Ask a vet to do a pre purchase exam. Read anything written by Mark Rashid.His ego does not get in the way of explaining (in a very down to earth manner)good horse handleing.

-- cheri (cmv@netnitco.net), January 11, 2002.

Hey Montana! What a great idea. Bet many of the responses will be the same. But nevermind. That means the ideas are really really good ones

Susan Bisard, Northern Michigan

Before you buy a horse:

1. Ride many sizes, kinds, colors, sexes before you are 15. 2. Read horse magazines with a passion (cover to cover) before and after "growing up". 3. Draw and color all manner of equines and ALL possible variations of tack by the time you are 12. Make some up too. And keep your portfolio. 4. Wait until you are 42 before you aquire your first horse and make it a 20 year old mare or gelding that will invariably know more than you. That makes it easier, because if you still don't know how to do something, he or she can show you (or laugh you out of the barn). 5. Just do it. You'll figure it out, or know who to ask by now.

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 11, 2002.

1. Go to an experienced horse person and work with their horses{they won't mind you helping with the workload!} 2. Look at several horses of the type your interested in, try them out. Go back several times if need be. 3. Vet checked-of course 4. Consider the area they are to be kept and have it ready, shelter, proper fencing, water supply, wormers, vet bills for the unforeseen. Also alot of manure to handle in stabling draftshorses! 5. Get to know the person your purchasing from, they are your biggest supporters. Ours gave us what they feed, list of any supplements, heat periods for mares, and their exprience. We still keep in touch, I know I can call with a question anytime. 6. For reference we use "Work horse handbook" by Lynn Miller. Small Farmers Journal is another great resource.

-- Suzanne (weir@frontiernet.net), January 12, 2002.

Suzanne,

I will list your source as "Small Farmers Journal" becuase someone already listed "Work horse handbook," I am trying to get as many different references as possible.

Thanks Everyone :-)

-- Motana Storm (mtstorm@usa.net), January 12, 2002.

Everyone,

Stacy brought up a very good point to me about wanting to be able to preview that article before I send it to Countryside. I think this is a good idea, everyone who contributes to it, I am going to e-mail a copy too so they can read it and make an adjustments if need be.

Happy Trails, Montana

-- Montana Storm (mtstorm@usa.net), January 12, 2002.

Great idea:

1. Buy a horse which pleases you! Do not get "talked into" whatever your trainer, riding instructor or current love interest wants you to have.

2. A more expensively priced horse does not guarantee a well trained horse or a horse in good health.

3. If you are buying a registered horse, make sure the papers match the animal you are looking at, that the current seller is the current owner, and the papers are signed over along with a Bill of sale the same day you pay for the animal.

4. Load the horse in two different types of trailers if possible. If you own a two horse trailer and the horse only loads in a stock trailer, best to find out before you buy.

5. If the owner says the horse doesn't mind water, make sure the owner is not talking about drinking water only. Get the hose, and if there is a pond, stream or lake nearby, ride the horse into it. (I know this is not practical in winter, but have you ever gotten a trail horse that won't cross a piddly little stream?)

Good general horse book: Horse Facts by Susan McBane and Helen Douglas Cooper

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), January 12, 2002.

Montana....my full name is Lynette Hudson

The 5 tips I gave is from my own personal experience as first a novice horse owner to a professional trainer and breeder of 30 years.

A book I would recommend for anyone is "Natural Horse-Man-Ship" by Pat Parelli.

I do not agree with everything that Parelli does but it give some different perspectives on thing that other trainers don't.

-- Lynette (fear_the_bear@webtv.net), January 12, 2002.

Lynette, thanks! :-)

*************************

Also, if anyone as any photographs or diagrams (hooves, body parts, etc...) that they think would be helpfull, please, e-mail them to me. I have found that visual aids really help.

Or maybe some simple definitions to technical terms novices might run into. It's a thought

Thanks everyone.

-- Montana Storm (mtstorm@usa.net), January 12, 2002.

1. Volunteer at a stable or two or five (NOT all at the same time...they object to your bringing diseases from one farm to another on your person) to see different horses and trainers before you decide what type of horse you want to buy and from where.

2. If you fall head over heels in love with an abused or neglected horse at one of these farms, only buy it if you have the resources and time to deal with a psychologically scarred pasture ornament.

3. Make certain that you provide facilities for this animal that will still be sufficient when you determine that you need a second job to pay for its upkeep (since you don't have as much spare time, keeping the horse in a small paddock day in and day out is NOT sufficient).

4. If you are buying only one horse and will be getting a different species to keep it company, make sure it will get along with the other species!

5. Read up on and study the psychology of horses because they are very expressive if you know what to look for and you can do the Dr. Doolittle thing with your horse if you learn how to speak its language.

I would recommend Monty Roberts The Man Who Talked To Horses, because it taught me how to understand both the horses in my care and my goats!

Sheryl Adams

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), January 12, 2002.

Montana, I have SO much respect for you being willing to do this, (and maybe help some less experienced horse person,) after all the negative feedback you recieved. Just goes to show what kind of person you are; one that has my admiration. My tips have mostly been said in other ways but I offer them in support of what you are doing: 1) Even experienced people take someone with them to help them evaluate a horse-2 heads are better than one. 2) Lessons can help you to make contacts of people who can help you with future problems. They can be set to your experience level; take dressage if you want. 3) Experienced horse for green rider, experienced rider for green horse, IN GENERAL. 4) Vet check, vet check, vet check. 5) Go for it! If you don't live your dreams, w

-- Leslie in MW OR (leslie@webolium.com), January 13, 2002.

Oops! That was supposed to be "...who will?" Also I forgot that my reference of choice would be anything by John Lyons.

-- Leslie in MW OR (leslie@webolium.com), January 13, 2002.

While I haven't changed my mind about your first article(yes, I read it), I do admire you for taking on this project. I think this is great. The only thing I would like to see you insert in the article somewhere is: Take riding lessons! Either Western or English, whichever you prefer and include lessons on tack. To many people go out and get a horse and haven't the faintest idea how to actually ride, what kind of saddle or bridle is best for them and their horse. It will broaden a persons horizons and open up whole new areas to explore and increase your enjoyment of your horse(not to mention making it much nicer for the horse!). I love the tips you have received already and think they are well thought out and very good. Excellant project! LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com,), January 13, 2002.

Little Quacker,

That is an excellent point. Why don't you take it and turn it into your 5 tips, don't forget a reference, just to make sure it does get added. I already added my 5 tips and in all fairness to the other people who added tips, I don't think it would be fair for me too added more.

Thanks

-- Montana Storm (mtstorm@usa.net), January 13, 2002.

Wow, people actually go out and buy a horse when they don't even know how to ride?! I believe it happens, but I can't fathom why!

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), January 13, 2002.

Looks like everyone is done. I will start on the article.

Thanks everyone

-- Montana Storm (mtstorm@usa.net), January 25, 2002.