Horse Tips:

A great deal has been written about how one should go about looking for and purchasing a horse, especially your first horse. I would hope by now most people getting into horses would have done their research, know what the type of riding they are going to be involved in, and the type of horse they are looking for. They also know "never buy a horse without a vet check" right? They know "never ride a horse they are looking at without having the owner ride it first" right? But what hasn't had a lot written about it is "What do you do when you get your new horse home?"

That seems to be a question that has an easy answer; "you ride it". Wrong... no way, na-ah, No! No! No! Before you even attempt to ride him or her you get to "KNOW IT".

At the Centre we have seen many horses in the last few years, like 290 of them. Unless they require immediate vet care the procedure for incoming horses is always the same.

This doesn't mean you turn them lose in a field and forget about them. You must remember horses need time to adapt to new surroundings, just the same as you and I. You are changing their feed, water, you have added them to new surroundings, new companions as well. If you have other horses, a whole new pecking order will need to be established and you must remain on top, you are the dominant horse in your herd (or you should be) and you are going to be challenged. No doubt about it! And all of this takes time.

What you really are trying to do in those two weeks, is as we use to say in the"olden days" (I love being able to say that) get a bead on him/her, or as you people of the modern-age say "do a psychological profile." (Aren't that a mouth full?)

Understanding your horse and the stress you are putting him/her through is the basis for a good future relationship. And just like any relationship worth having it has to be worked at. Trust takes time to develop; it can't be bought no matter what you paid. In some horses trust will develop quickly, other may takes weeks, all depends on you and the time you put in.

There are always going to be people who say that what you have just read is a lot of bull or horse-pucky. If you just remember to take your time, listen to what your horse has to tell you about him/herself you will be the one who gets the last laugh. It's always better to be safe than sorry. And nothing gives me more pleasure than watching "the know it alls" sprawled out on a trail somewhere, while their million dollar knot-head bucks wildly down the trail and they have to walk the soles off their $300 cowboy boots to get back to camp. (sound like experience talking?) I love it.