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Much of this information is especially for people who board their horses, and have to depend on others, and for those who may have ridden for years but never actually owned a horse before. I owned my first horse back in 1962, but many years went by before I owned another one (Sarah). Lots of horse care practices had changed (for the better) in that time, and I had a lot of catching up to do. Books, videos, magazines and the internet helped enormously, as did other horse people, vets and farriers. Don't be afraid to do your own research if your horse has a problem... and don't be afraid to get a second opinion or even third, whether it's from a trainer, vet, farrier or whomever. Ultimately your horse is your responsibility.
Now that Sarah has developed a heart problem, I want to add some more things to watch over. It's a really good idea to check your horse's temperature several times a week, at different times of day. A horse does not have the exact same temperature all the time; when it rains and they are outside, their temperature may go up to keep them warm. It can go down when they are sleeping or just resting standing up. So, knowing what is normal for your horse can help when you notice abnormal behavior. Once you've established this, you don't have to check the temperature unless you notice something wrong. If your horse is resting but its temperature is one degree higher than normal for that behavior and it's not terribly hot out, then you can be alerted to make a more thorough exam. Likewise, checking the pulse several times a week will give you a baseline to use. The same goes for the rate of respiration. These are the normal measurements you want to be able to give your vet if there is an emergency and you have to call... you can give the current rates and tell the vet what the normal ones are for your horse, and the vet can better advise you what to do or not do until s/he arrives.
And last but by no means least, buy a stethoscope. You can get one for around twelve dollars, a minor investment. Check your horse's heart sounds every week. Ask your vet next time s/he's out to tell your about your horse's heart sounds, and what would be abnormal. Around 18% of all horses have a heart murmur. For most, it is a minor thing and only means you should check it now and then to see if it has changed in any way. Your vet can also tell you how to listen for gut sounds, which would be another helpful bit of information to give the vet on the phone if you think your horse is starting a bout of colic. Get yourself a good book on horse health care, as well as one on emergency care for horses. You'll be glad you did.
Inspect the horse frequently for sores, bumps, cuts, etc. Catching anything early is so important! I usually go over my horse's entire body with my hands before I even pick up a brush. Don't depend on boarding stable personnel to call you in case something is wrong... they often use teenagers for stall cleaning and feeding and turnout, and they may not pay enough attention or even know the signs of certain illnesses. I am not always able to get out 7 days a week, and it was awful if I found Sarah with rain rot that obviously had been there for a couple of days. A responsible full-board stable will train their personnel to look each horse over at least once a day, and they'll call you as soon as any such problem is noticed.
Get a saddle that fits the HORSE first. It should be long enough in the seat for you or will harm your horse's loins. Of course, it can be too long for the horse as well. I started off with a great Stubben which fit the horse fine, but my rear almost hung over the back, and this made her sore.
You can get help with fitting at most good tack shops. Some people even haul their horses to the shop and take the saddle out for fitting. Some shops will let you try a saddle for a few days, with caveats as to keeping it clean and unmarked. (In the picture, you can sort of see I'm a little wide in the beam for the saddle, and if I had a shot from the side, you'd see my rear up against the squared end of the saddle. Alas! The carrot and whip are my training tools... the carrot for rewards and bending lessons, and the whip for touching here and there to either help her move to one side or to brush off flies.)I sadly sold the saddle, but happily found a County ProFit that was great for both of us. Check the links page for some places to learn about saddle fit. Doncha love this ProFit? It was a titch wide for Sarah, but that was fixed with padding (unlike too narrow, which absolutely cannot be fixed).
It was perfect for me, long enough for my rear and nice and comfy. Sarah was never sore with this saddle. I've since sold it and found a saddle that fits Sarah and me perfectly, with no extra padding. And, it is inexpensive! I now ride a Thorowgood (very nice brand from England) synthetic All Purpose saddle, with a regular tree and a 17.5 inch seat. I use a 100% wool pad (Toklat Woolback), which cushions and absorbs really well. Check out my article on saddle fitting at http://www.flwildhorse.org/saddlefit.html, it's got lots of helpful information. Do more than inspect a stable... ask around. I had Sarah in two different places where they nearly starved her. Had to get her out of those barns fast. All looked well till winter set in, and man, her ribs began to stick out. Low quality feed (despite my being shown high quality feed when she came in) and little of it and frozen water was the problem in one place, and just plain meanness and cheapness was the problem at the other place (again, nice as could be at first). Do check with as many people as you can, at tack stores and shows, and wherever horse people gather. If people don't want to say anything about a stable, take that as a negative. If you get a lot of positives, you can be a bit relieved. Don't board at a show stable if you won't be showing... they will irritate you and you will irritate them. Likewise, if you'll be competing, it's best to board where they have the facilities you'll need for training and practicing. Do tell the stable that they can and should call you at any time any place if they notice the slightest thing wrong with your horse. Also give them permission (in writing if necessary) to call in a vet or farrier if they think it necessary and cannot get hold of you. If you have a vet and/or farrier you particularly trust, specify that they try those people first. Guarantee such fees to whatever limit you can handle.
A good reference book for first time owners (and the rest of us too) is A Horse of Your Own: The Rider Owner's Complete Guide by M. A. Stoneridge. An old favorite, updated, retail around $31.50.
Notes: the little dog seen in some of the trail pictures (the little white dot above) is Puddy, a pound pup who lived at the rental stable and often accompanied us. She led the way, because she knew it.
Hap and Lisa dropped out of Silk Purse a while back, when Hap moved quite a distance away and Lisa's work schedule increased. They said they felt they had got their money's worth, and just sort of left Sarah in my care, for which I will be forever grateful. They are wonderful people.
Sarah? She still likes to trot fast. ;-)
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