Buying horse properties, especially your own horse is similar to buying a dog except that this pet can be very expensive. Quality horses aren't cheap. If you're in the market for a horse, you might be checking out newspaper ads, equine forums on the Internet, your state's agricultural bulletin, notices on tack and feed stores or livestock auctions – all in search of a good horse at a good price. Depending on the animal's breeding, health, age, size and ability, a recreational riding horse can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to many thousands. The purchasing cost of the animal, however, is just the start. Julie Lucas, a horse veterinarian comments that often enough, the cost of the horse is insignificant or rather small when put together with the cost of its care and upkeep. Needless to say, procuring horses makes for a big financial step so careful planning and preparation must taken to avoid buying less than quality horses.
Horse owners generally agree that it is better to buy horses from people who have been in the business for long. If you found a prospective dealer in horse properties like a farm or ranch owner, research about the owner and the establishment. Find out who their past clients are, and if you're willing to take the extra step, contact them and ask if they are satisfied with horse the ranch sold them. This is a better way to know your dealer rather than from brochures or Internet sites. It is also advised to buy your horse from large farms with a large selection of horses. People operating large ranches are experts in matching the need of prospective buyers to suitable horses (i.e. work horses, racing horses, show horses). Buying horses from small farms and individual owners are discouraged because they are usually just looking for opportunities to rid themselves of a problem horse. You might just end up buying another person's problem.
If you have a trainer, include him in the purchasing process. He knows your skills and can match them realistically with the suitable horse. Dealers or owners of horse properties will just match your needs, not your skill level. They can also gauge the horse's capabilities. It also helps to have realistic goals and expectations. In short, don't expect a show horse to last doing farm work, or a farm horse to perform beautifully in a competition. Your trainer can advise you on how long a horse needs to be trained before it can be expected to do perform well.
Of course, horses are only as good as their riders. Practice riding your horse especially if you're switching breeds. Your investment in horse properties will only be wasted if you can't ride your horse. It is important to be consistent and authoritative. Horses are instinctively herders, they follow the head of the herd. Make sure that your horse understands that between the two of you, you intend to be the leader. It's no good getting a horse if it constantly throws you to the ground at mid-gallop.
For more valuable information on horse properties, please visit http://www.propertyhorse.com
Horse Health - Hoof Care
Hoof care is a vital part of maintaining your horses overall health. You should check your horses hooves daily, and at the very least, two to three times per week. You should becomve very familiar with what is normal and what is not, and to notice any problems that may be starting. Using this simple checklist may assist you in your daily grooming routine.
1. As you approach your horse make sure the symmetry is close, they do not have to be exactly equal, but very close to the same size and shape.
2. Carefully examine for defects in the wall and coronary band. Pick up the hoof, run your hand over the outside of the wall to feel for defects. Use the exact procedure for the coronary band and then squeeze it gently, these two procedures will also show tender spots and moisture bearing areas.
3. Carefully inspect the sole. Check the coloring in each hoof. They should be the same in color. A clearly delineated dark spot indicates a bruise or puncture wound.
4. Look and compare the frogs. The two front hooves should be similar in size and shape and the same with the rear hooves. You should lightly press each frog with your hoof pick, in most areas, with the exception of desert areas, they should be slightly spongy.
5. If your horse is shod, grasp the shoe and see if it wiggles. Check for missing clinches, if the shoe is loose you may choose to remove the shoe before your horse loses it on her own and possibly taking a chunk of her hoof with it.
If you keep a good close eye on your horses hooves, you can avoid a lot of issues by catching the problem before it gets severe. I would recommend you work into your daily hoof cleaning a few simple steps. Use your hoof pick from heel to toe. If it is tightly packed you may need to loosen it up a bit before it is removed. Once all the debris is removed, check all the areas of the hoof and make sure there is not a bad odor as this is a clear cut sign of thrush. Make sure there are no pebbles or stones lodged anywhere, even under the shoe.
Your horses hooves should exhibit a natural glossy luster of the hoof wall. A smooth uniform surface free of cracks, rings, dishes and flares; a concave sole that touches the shoe then you can be pretty sure that your horses hooves are in good health.
Author Bio:
Nanette Hughston is a freelance writer from the southern United States Region. She has a bachelor's degree in finance. She rides dressage with Grand Prix Level Trainer, Tracy Masterson at Highlife Farms, Orlando, FL. For more information and articles please see her website at http://www.dressageamerica.com and http://www.informbyweb.com and to visit her training site, please visit http://www.highlifefarms.com for dressage and hunter/ jumper information. Permission for reprint is granted with full bio remaining intact.
Five Snake Care Tips for Beginners
If you're looking for an unusual, eye-catching pet, it's hard to go wrong with a snake. They're exotic enough to catch people's interest, yet hardy enough to require minimal care. Nevertheless, uninformed first-time owners tend to make some basic mistakes, some of which can be quite costly. Here are some simple tips that can help ensure the health of the snake and prevent a lot of aggravation as well.
1. First, take note of how large your snake can grow to be. Most North American varieties only grown to be about four feet long, which is a reasonable size. Don't let a pet store employee talk you into buying a Burmese python, for example, since these critters can grow to be over thirty feet long, and will require huge cages and tremendous amounts of food. (And before you ask… No, most zoos will not accept these as donations.)
2. Don't scrimp on cage size. A cage that is too small can be very stressful and unhealthy to your pet. Pet store clerks will sometimes try to sell you caging that is inadequate in size, so don't fall into this trap. For adequate comfort, the combined length and width of the cage should at least match the snake's length. Snakes can grow fairly quickly, so don't forget to take that into account as well!
3. Do find out how docile that particular specimen is. Most non-venomous North American snakes are fairly docile, but if you're a first-time keeper, you should probably make sure that your prospective pet can be handled easily.
4. Make sure that you select a pet with a hearty appetite. Ball pythons, for example, make great pets—but they are notoriously finicky eaters. Corn snakes make great starter pets because they are exceedingly docile and aren't picky about what they eat.
5. Snakes—indeed, any reptile—can potentially spread salmonella. The risk involved is very small, but one should still play safe. This is especially true when young children or people with compromised immune systems are involved. Do read up on reptile hygiene and salmonella before purchasing your pet.
Obviously, these tips only constitute some basic advice. I recommend that all prospective owners should read up on snake care in general, as well as the specific needs of the species that they plan to purchase. A little bit of basic research can prevent a great deal of aggravation in the future.
About the author:
V. Berba Velasco Jr., Ph.D. is a senior electrical and software engineer at an ELISPOT biotech copany that provides ELISPOT analysers, cryopreserved PBMCs and serum-free cell culture media. The neighborhood children have referred to him as the "Crocodile Hunter" though, due to his impressive menagerie of snakes, lizards and tarantulas.