All you need to know about Horse Ownership

What you need to know before you buy a horse - knowledge of horse care and management

Before entering into horse or pony ownership you should make sure that you know enough about the care of the horse to ensure that you know how to look after him properly. The following skills should be aquired even if you intend to have someone else looking after your horse that way you will be confident that your horse is being looked after correctly and you'll know what to do in an emergency:

Knowledge of the rules of feeding.

Know how to feed and water horses.

How to assess a horse's condition.

Be able to put on a headcollar and tie up the horse correctly and prepare the stable for work.

Understanding of why you need to groom.

Know the difference between grooming the stabled horse and the grass kept pony.

Recognise overgrown feet, risen clenches, and worn, loose or lost shoes and understand the importance of good farriery.

Know about different types of bedding.

Be able to muck out a stable.

Know how to use a haynet and tie one up.

Understand the basics of pasture management and why it is so essential.

Know how to check a field for hazards including the difference between suitable and unsuitable fencing and how to recognise poisionous plants.

Know the signs of good and ill health in a horse.

Know how to check a horse's temperature, pulse and respiration rate.

Understand preventative health care including: worming, vaccinations and dentistry.

Be able to recognise lameness.

Know when emergency veterinary assistance is required eg. know when a horse is colicing and a wound needs veterinary attention.

Be able to catch and turnout a horse in a field with other horses.

Know how to put rugs on and take them off.

Be able to put on and take off a saddle, bridle.

Know about tack and how to clean it.

 

 

Equine Skills you need to have before buying a horse or pony - Handling

It is very important that you have experience of handling a horse or pony before entering into horse ownership, here is a list of handling skills that you should gain experience of:

Realise the need for fair and consistent behaviour from yourself, the handler, at all times.

Understand how horse's communicate including their body language, be able to recognise these signals and use your own body language to influence the horse.

Learn about the evolution of the horse and you'll begin to understand how their instincts affect the way they react.

Be able to lead a horse or pony in a headcollar and in a bridle.

Be able to tie a horse safely.

Be able to catch and turnout a horse in a field with other horses.

Be able to put rugs on and take them off.

Know about tack and how to put on and take off a saddle and bridle.

Be able to pick up a horse's feet.

 

 

 

What you need to know before buying a horse - Horse Health Care

To be able to look after a horse or pony properly you need to know and understand about equine health care, there is much to learn but here are the recommended basic requirements for horse owners:

Know the signs of good and ill health in a horse

Know how to check a horse's temperature, pulse and respiration rate.

Understand preventative health care including: worming, vaccinations and dentistry.

Be able to recognise lameness.

Know when emergency veterinary assistance is required eg. know when a horse is colicing and a wound needs veterinary attention.

Know basic equine first aid.

Recommended Riding Skills - How well should you be able to ride before buying a pony?

In some cases horse ownership requires no riding skills whatsoever eg. the adult owner of a miniature horse isn't going to be riding that horse but they will require handling skills. So for this post we are going to assume that you want a horse or pony of your own to ride, outside of riding lessons, unsupervised. So you will need to be able to:

•  Mount and dismount without assistance.
•  Have the ability to safely adjust stirrups, girth and reins when mounted.
• Walk, trot and canter in a school and in an open field.
• Be able to maintain a secure position that is independant of the reins when riding  both with stirrups and without stirrups.
• Be able to ride safely and in harmony with the horse and in conjuction with others.
• Have experience of hacking out on roads and tracks in large and small groups.
• Know the Highway Code.
• Jump a small course of show jumps.

 

 

 

The Responsibilities of Owning a Horse

Horse ownership carries with it heavy responsibilities, responsibilities to the horse, responsibilities to others and responsibilities to the environment.

Responsibilities to the horse

As a horse owner you are wholly responsible for your horse's welfare, here are the five basic rights that all animals should have, the five freedoms:

Freedom from thirst and hunger - A horse should have constant access to fresh, clean water and sufficient amounts of the correct foodstuffs. Horses have evolved to graze for 16 - 20 hours a day and  feeding practices must take  this into account.

Freedom from discomfort - A horse needs an appropriate environment to live in where they have adequate space and suitable shelter.  Horses are inherently social herd animals that require  the company of other equines.

Freedom from pain, injury and disease - A horse owner or carer must know  the basics of horse care and be able to recognise when a horse needs veterinary attention,  a farrier or an equine dentist.

Freedom to express normal behaviour - Understanding horse behaviour is essential for your own safety and to enable you to provide suitable living conditions for your horse. A knowledge of horse behaviour will also enable you to train your horse safely and effectively in a humane manner.

Freedom from fear and distress - Horses should not be placed  in a situation where they continue to suffer distress, fear or pain.

It is also your responsibility as a horse owner to re-home a horse should you at any time decide that you are no longer able  or willing to keep it. The long term interests of the horse must always be considered and in some instances it is kinder to have a horse put-down rather than risk it suffering an uncertain fate.

Responsibilities to others

It is the responsibility of the horse owner to ensure that their horse does not impose a danger to others.

Horse's must always be kept under control when in a public place.

Fencing must be kept in good repair to prevent horses straying onto other peoples land or the public highway and causing damage or accidents.

As a horse owner you will be responsible under law for any damage caused by your horse.

Responsibilities to the environment

Horses produce large amounts of manure (up to 9 tons a year) which will need to be managed in an environmentaly responsible way with special care needed to avoid the contamination of water courses.

In wet conditions horses will churn up the ground so as a responsible horse owner you should always consider the impact of riding along a public right of way during wet weather as this might make it unusable for others.

Horses are selective grazers as a horse owner you will need to understand and practice pasture management to prevent grassland being ruined.

 

 

Horses and The Law - Liability

If your horse causes damage to property or injury you will be held liable under British law it is therefore highly advisable to make sure that you have public liability insurance.

Animals Act 1971
Section 4 of this Act deals with livestock that causes damage when it strays onto land owned or occupied by someone else. Local authorities may use Section 4 to deal with the problem of equines straying onto public land.

The Animals Act 1971 contains, amongst other things, provisions about the civil liability of owners for damage which is done by their animals. This act governs owner’s liability for damage caused both by dangerous and non-dangerous animals. In the case of non dangerous animals, the owner will be liable for damage where three conditions are met:

1. The damage is of a type which the animal would be likely to do if it was unrestrained;
2. The damage was due to characteristics which were not normally found in that type of animal, or which were found in that type of animal only at specific times and in specific circumstances;
3. The special characteristics were known to the owner

This act is unusual in that unlike many other acts of parliament which impose liability on people, it does not limit this liability to situations in which that person is careless or reckless, or where he fails to take reasonable steps to prevent the risk. This was considered by the House of Lords in 2003, which decided by a two to one majority that in the absence of any such provisions, the act must be interpreted as imposing a strict liability on the owners of horses.

Strict liability is a problem for horse owners, because it means that even if they have taken all reasonably precautions to prevent the risk of damage from materialising, they may still be legally responsible for that damage under the Act.

The 2003 House of Lords decision also made it clear that ‘panic’ was to be considered a special characteristic which is only found in horses under certain circumstances. It therefore follows that where horses are spooked and stampede in panic, the owner may well be liable for any damage caused. This makes it very difficult for horse owners to defend personal injury claims, and if you find yourself in this situation you should consult a specialist equine law solicitor.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general guidance on your rights and responsibilities and is not legal advice. If you need more details on your rights or legal advice about what action to take, please contact an adviser or solicitor.

The story of the $50,000 pony

Buying a horse or pony is the cheapest part of horse ownership, the cost of keeping an equine can soar:

"This is the story of the $50,000 pony.

Ok, so  he didn’t  exactly start life as a $50,000 pony.  Truth be told, the little guy fetched only $500 at the Friday night sale"

"So how did a little black pony come to cost $50,000?"

To find out how a $500 pony bought at auction ended up costing $50,000 read the full ELCR story on their website by clicking The $50,000 pony

To find out if you can really afford to own a horse or pony read Can you afford a horse? Costs and hidden costs of ownership

Horses and The Law - Abandonment of Animals Act 1960

Horses and ponies are covered by the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960 this Act makes it an offence to abandon a domestic or captive animal in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering.

Horses and The Law - Animal Welfare Act 2006

Animal Welfare Act 2006

is enforced  by Local councils, animal health officers and the police . If you are cruel to an animal or don’t provide for its welfare needs, you may be banned from owning animals. Or, you could be fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison for up to six months.

Welfare needs under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 include:

• has a proper diet, including fresh water 
• has somewhere suitable to live
• is kept with or away from other animals, depending on its needs
• is allowed to express itself and behave normally
• is protected from, and treated for, illness and injury 

The Act also says that you must be over 16 years old to buy an animal.

Horses and the Law - Protective Headgear for Young Riders

The Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Act 1990

requires children under 14 years old to wear protective helmets when riding a horse on the road. It is the responsibility of the parent, guardian, horse owner or person who has custody of the horse immediately before a child rides it, or an employer of a child, to ensure that the child is wearing an approved helmet when riding on the road. Children of the Sikh religion are exempted while they are wearing a turban.