[Kristina D.]

Hi, my name is Kristina. I'm new to this forum, but i needed some advise. I plan to but a colt, but i'm not too sure exactly what supplies I need, mainly in tack.

~Saddles?
until the colt becomes full size, i'm going to be using a froends training saddle. Now, i'm guessing that a training saddle is a lot smaller because a colt isn't that large of an animal, right? if i'm worong, can i just use a regular 16" saddle to train him?

~Bits and Bridles?
what about bits, and bridles? Do I need to buy a bit, or bridle fit for a colt, or is a bit and bridle a "one size fits all" type of deal?

~Dewormers, electrolytes
i know it is very important to deworm foals. but how often do i deworm them? what would you suggest i use for deworming my colt? a strongid, or regular paste or gel like Ivercare? what about electrolytes? do i need to use them on my colt, and if i do, how often?

~Turnout blankets, coolers, ect.
This is the part where I am totally confused!!!! maybe you can give me a list of the blankets you use, when you use them, how often you use them ect. I know i need a few types of blankets, like a turnout blanket, a cooler, ect.

~Money, costs, expenses.
i do know it's expensive to keep a horse. I plan to go to the barn everyday after school, and do barn work, which will eliminate monthly boarding charges. As i read through other forums, i noticed it was around $70 a month to feed a horse which in my case is affordable. but what about farrier costs. when i was looking through other forums, i saw a wide variety of prices, but maybe you can make it more clear? Vet bills won't be too bad because I currently work at an animal hospitol, and i know that i won't have to pay full price for vaccines, but just out of curiosity, how much do vaccines cost, and how often does a horse need a "check-up"? and one last question, around how much will it cost to own a horse per year (if i had to pay the full amount for boarding, and vet supplies)?

I appreciate you rerading the whole forum, i know it was long, lol. if you can, just maybe take some time out to answer this, would mean a lot to me.

Thanks ,
Kristina

P.S.
if you dont want to reply back to me ASAP, my AIM screen name is DashConfess713

[majenta]

hi
i dont know whether u hav had horses before or hav horse experiance if u havnt i wouldnt suggest to get a colt they can be a handfull in experienced hands. feeding my horse and ponies costs me around $150 to $200 a month i hav one horse,4 ponies and a stallion, i feed them hay,pollard,wheten chaff and minerals, then theres the farrier and unexpected vet bills, as for rugging my horses they wear ripstop day rugs all year round and in winter a winter canvus rug over the top, some people dont like rugging there horses but i show mine and i find that the rugs keep there coat in A1 condition,keeping horses can get pricey but it worth it !!!

<small>[ May 07, 2003, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: majenta ]</small>

[half pint]

It doesn't sound like you have much experience with this. This is a huge responsibility and takes a lot of time. Do you know you shouldn't ride a horse until it is at least 2 years of age? I would recommend taking riding lessons until you have your own answers to those questions. You need to know all those answers before you get a horse. I would like my own horse also, but it worries me to do so because of the time, money, and responsibility it takes.

[hoosierjockey]

I agree, colts can be crazy. I am trying to halter break one now and last night I was whipped off my feet twice and got caught under his belly after he knocked me down, I braced for a hoof in the back eek! , luckily I got out alive. Hopefully yours won't be this bad, but an older gelding or mare would probably be alot more fun for you. I am not having fun at all!

[kiddin'around]

Never heard of a training saddle. But any saddle that fits your horse properly will do fine.

You should use a bit and bridle that fits your horse.

Deworming is very important. As soon as you get him get a fecal done to see if and what type of worms he has. Your vet would be the one to tell you for sure which dewormer to use.

Haven't a clue why you would want to use electrolytes unless your vet suggests it for some reason.

Don't know about blankets. My guy goes naked. I've seen a lot of young horses just rip their blannkets to shreds (I guess it depends on the horse - I would buy a cheap one first to see if he'll be ok with one on).

Your vet would best answer the cost of vaccines question. You should get your horses' teeth checked yearly. Feed costs vary, some horses are easy keepers and some are not.

Farrier costs vary as well, I am lucky my guy does not need shoes. I have seen some shoeing bills as low as $60 and as high as $130.

I have had my 9 year old since he was 6 months old and it has been quite an adventure. I was as green as green can be and it worked out very well. If you don't have a lot of experience, it is not the best idea to get a colt. It is not for everyone. I have known a few people with much more experience than me who got colts and either ruined them or realized they had made a mistake.

If you are truly willing to take on this overwhelming task, it can be very rewarding. Hopefully you have someone you can turn to for help. I had a lot of advice and help (some great and some not so great). Just remember if someone gives you some advice that you don't feel right about, maybe it is not so great advice. I learned so much from so many people, mostly what not to do. I was lucky enough to find an awesome coach to help me.

Well that's all - I know I wasn't much help, but I had some time to kill.

Good luck!

[Great-Storm]

hi, just read about your problems and thought i could give you a hand........

saddles- you could use a training saddle, or even a pony pad will do until he is fully grown, and by what your saying i'm guessing he is four yrs or under, ( remember, u shouldn't ride a horse until he is atleast four because his bones havn't calcified yet ) but as long as the saddle fits it should matter what you use.

bits and bridles- choose a bit which is suitable for his mouth, and as for a bridle, there is no such thing as one size fits all, but is he small, medium or large???

wormers and electrolytes- as for worming your horse, check the last time he was wormed??? the best wormer to use which i swear by is equest. don't use any of that panacur or pyratape p stuff because the worms are now immune to it so you will just be throwing money away! and as fro electrolytes, unless he is in work then i don't see why he should need any, if he is in work and is sweating alot then just gove ordinary table salt to replace the salt he lost, and you coule give him oil in his feed ( sunflower, linseed, or soya oil will do)

rugs- depending on the climate where you live, i would reccomend a turnout rug and a summer and if he is to be stabled the a stable rug. if he is to be exercised then cooler rugs would be appropriate.

costs- it is impossible to say how much it will cost to keep a horse but here is a rough guide:-
turnout rug- £100
stable rug- £45
tube of wormer- £10
saddle (leather)- £300
bridle- £20-200
shoes- £50 /trimming- £8-12

i hope all of the information i have given helps, sorry it was so long but i had alot to put in.
good luck with your new colt and i wish you all the best!!!!!!!!1

[Ladylena]

Be careful not to put the cart before the horse. You won't need everything that you mentioned all at once.

One thing that concerns me (if I'm *reading* your post correctly) is that you are buying a young *stallion* (?) as your first (?) horse and though you have no experience, intend to train him yourself? I think (if I'm correct in my assumption) that this issue is of much more concern than any saddle/blanket/bit issue.

*IF* this is the case, first, GELD him. If you're inexperienced with horses, don't expect to know how to handle a stallion. .. that opens another entire can of worms.

I've seen too many cases of first time horse owners who have a misdirected "dream" of buying a baby so they can "learn together". It's rather like the blind leading the blind. It's just my opinion that it leads to confusion for both of you. Ultimately, the horse will pay the price for misguided training. (unless you are working with a professional... but even then, it can provide inconsistant signals to a young horse while you 'learn' what to do)

As others have said, you want to be very careful with a youngster. Depending on the breed (which you didn't mention) their knees may not be ready for the weight or the work. If you don't know how to tell the difference, ASK YOUR VET.

Even if his knees are somewhat ready at 2 years of age (which I doubt), there's no need to start him at that age. I know that they'll start them at 2 for the futurities, but it doesn't sound like you're in that catagory.... so don't rush him. We non-futurity folks may get him use to the feel of a saddle at 2 yrs, but after a few lessons, will turn them out for another year to 'think about it'. Then some of them (again, depending on their knees and growth) will be ready for a few more lessons as a 3 year old.

In the mean time, there's a lot to learn about ground work.

In a nutshell: Don't rush to jump on a baby. You'll end up with a crippled or arthritic horse. And for the good of your horse, please get some help from a professional trainer.

This post wasn't meant to insult you at all. Hopefully, it will help you realize that what you do now will affect your horse for the rest of his life.

[XmasAngel98]

I agree with what you said totally. I have been riding for 10 years and I last year I bought a green horse off the track. Even though I have experience and I take lessons, it's still been a real challenge for me. Some days she's great, other days she's horrible. We're going to get through it okay, but if you didn't have any experience dealing with horses and riding there is no way. Make sure you get a horse that has already been trained (even though they're going to be more expensive). It's much more of a pleasure. I needed a bit of a challenge after riding my 14 year old (who is now 20), but I definitely wouldn't have been able to handle by OTTB without a LOT of experience and help from professionals. Just a thought.

[ironbark]

I would not advise you to buy a colt unless you intend to have him gelded. The infrastructure you need to take care of what will be a stallion is fairly extensive. Especially if you want him to have a good quality of life. I see stallions in small yards going nuts with bordem. My stallion has a stable joined to a small yard, joined to an excersise yard, joined too his own 3 acre paddock, situated so he can see alot. he has contact with his ofspring and the other horses. I tell you this because even though it is romantic to own a stallion his idea of romance is different then you may realise. Geldings and mares are simple to cater for.I dont want to dampen your spirits but remember your enjoyment, in this case must be well planned.

[Ginny&Megs]

I agree with everyone else here 10X and more. It would probably be in your best interest to have him gelded when you get him, a stallion is not something to have and enjoy, simply because they are ''breeding'' machines and they are slaves to there instincts, which is --in fact-- to breed... in other words owning a stallion may seem romantic and pretty, but in real life you will NEVER 100% own him and he will never be completely ''yours'', he is owned by his instincts and nothing else... Thats is why everyone is telling you they are hard to handle even by the best riders and trainers, do not let an ad or anything else fool you, when they say ''a child can ride''or ''has the best manners'', in all do respect --it is **** -- to put it bluntly.

So spend the money and have him gelded, and he will be calmer and be more enjoyable in the long run... I wish you good luck with your new horse! And make lots of experienced horse friends and do not be afraid to ask LOTS of questions, I noticed some people on here (no flaming on me please)were kind of rude when they said that you need to ''find out for yourself'', well, that's what you are here for isn't it?, so do not be afraid to ask questions, there seems to be lots of friendly people with loads of advice... have fun and BE SAFE!!