We have all read the ads, online or in
a paper, “Free Horse.” Any horseman will tell you, there are no free horses.
There are horses which people will give away, but then most people find that the
expense of keeping the horse healthy, in shape and cared for is far and above
over what they can afford. The novelty of getting a horse for “the kids” or “I
always wanted one” and even “They are such gentle creatures” sometimes turns
into heartache and pain when reality sets it. The bills pile up, hay is
expensive, grain is costly, health care is a fact of life for each animal and
finally the owners are out of time, money and energy to devote to this gentle
creature. Cold weather brings heating bills, gas is up so getting to work costs
more, food costs more and life in general becomes more expensive. If you
haven’t dealt with frozen water buckets at –20*, then you are in for a rude
awakening.
People mean well, but after a while they can’t afford to keep the
horse, or just try to economize on the expense of keeping it. They cut back on
hay, clean the stall less often or just water once a day to save time. The
horse will suffer. Horses need hay to stay warm in the winter, digesting the hay
creates the heat which they need. Without hay and in some cases, good grain,
the horse will burn off body fat to stay warm. Burning off their body fat
results in less insulation from the cold and the need for more feed which they
are not getting. Weight loss comes quickly in the winter and is harder to put
back on. Finally a choice has to be made and as much as everyone loves their
horse, often the family needs must come first. So the ad goes in the paper or
online and another horse is unaware of the life changes ahead.
The scary part
of those “Free Horse” ads is that some of the people answering them are not
looking for a family horse or even one they plan on keeping. The horse is just
a way for some people to make money off reselling the animal. Of course, there
are also many who are really wanting to help a horse and offer it a great home.
Knowing the difference is sometimes impossible.
Consider the situation from the horses view. Herb is an older horse,
no longer able to go as fast or as far as his young owner would like. The owner
asks Daddy to get them a new horse, one that is younger and ready to go. Daddy
agrees as long as there is only one horse to care for so the owner puts Herb up
for sale. Months go by and no one wants Herb for the $1500 asking price,
because those looking for a horse are also looking for a younger horse who can
do it all. The potential buyers who are looking for their first horse do not
have the knowledge that would make Herb worth his weight in gold for the
experience he has. The owner does not know how to approach people with the
benefits of using an older horse to teach younger and new riders because the
owner is concentrating on what Herb can not do. Finally, a new horse has been
found and Daddy says, Herb has to go, so an ad is placed and now Herb is
“free”. Now that Herb is free, the phone calls come in frequently and the
young owner talks to a person who says they don’t care what Herb is, they just
want to give him a forever home where he can retire in luxury. Just what the
owner wants to hear and so Herb is sent along to the new home. Where that home
leads can be many directions, the slaughter house, a dingy barn with moldy feed,
no barn with no feed, the nearest auction to be sold again or even to a great
home where he is kept in luxury till his end time. There are no guarantees for
any scenario.
How can we change the results so that a horse is not put into this
situation? One solution is education.
Not book learning or reading on the
internet, but hands on, cleaning stalls, hauling buckets, getting dirty and
really learning what horses are all about. Prior to purchasing a horse, the
family should learn about basic first aide, feed and nutrition, bedding and
stall care, how to take vital signs, when to call a veterinarian, who to use for
a farrier, how to handle a horse and how a horse thinks and reacts to life.
They should know how to safely handle a horse while leading, grooming and caring
for it. They should learn how to fit their halter, saddle, bridle and bit to
the horse to not cause pain and problems. They should be aware of how the
seasonal changes can affect a horse and how to handle the changes. There are so
many areas to caring for horses that only time with horses can teach a person.
If you or someone you know is interested in getting a horse, please,
take the time to talk to an experienced horseman and learn what it is all
about. Volunteer at a local horse rescue, take lessons at a barn or help out a
friend with their horse. There are so many ways of learning and getting hands
on experience just in this area. Education with horses can be the greatest
experience on earth, find a place where you want to be and where you smile when
you get there and smile when you leave. If you are happy, the horses must be
also. If you have questions about horses feel free to call KD Stable anytime.
No lessons are offered in the winter due to the cold weather, but visitors are
welcome.
Writings by Deb
