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Show Horse Talk by Linda Powell This is a several parts article Iwhich will run in sequence so be sure and save them. One way of getting back to basics is to buy a horse. With the price of gas being what it is. alternative means of travel are looking pretty good! The mountainlands we live in are ideal places to have horses because they provide countless trails to ride in. The beauty of this area is rragnificent. If you are considering buying a horse you should take of two prerequisites: prerequi-sites: 1) decide where you are going to be able to keep it and 2) what kind of feed it will be needing. Providing man does not interfere, horses can and do take care of their own nutritional needs. However, once man has stepped in and built a fence around them they become dependent upon man for existence. It is then our responsibility to provide them with food, water and shelter, not to mention v responsible care. - mm w w mw Before you go looking tor a horse, you need to answer a few questions that will make your looking a lot easier. 1. Is this your first experience with horses? 2. Are you scared of horses? 3. Is this horse just for you personally, or do you have a family and friends who will be riding it also? 5. What sex do you want, mare or gelding? 6. What breed do you want? 7. What color do you want? 8. What age do you want? 9. About what size did you have in mind? 10. How much are you willing or able to spend? If the -answers to the first three questions are yes, you ;should be sure and take someone with you who is knowledgeable about horses. They have a more critical eye and can spot problems you can't. Even if you have been around horses a lot, you would be better off taking another person with you .who knows horses, too. Two heads are often better than one. If you are looking for a reliable riding horse, it will be difficult not to grab the first one you see. Look around first. Chances are you won't find your horse right away but shopping around will definitely educate edu-cate you and give you an idea of what is available and the going price for various horses. Be wary of people selling who mention that they have someone else who really wants to buv it if vou don't. That is a ploy to encourage fast buying, in most cases. Next week: This is a several part article so be sure and save this part I so you can match it up with part II. |