Sooner or later, you might find yourself in the difficult position of deciding if your child is ready to care for a horse. To some parents, this is an easy decision if they’ve already seen that their child is able to be responsible for one and that they will care for it in the best possible way – others, however, remain a bit skeptical.
Sure, owning a horse is a huge responsibility but perhaps this is just what your child or teenager needs in order to learn and grow? Here is a handy guide to help you make the right decision so that you can feel a bit more confident about it.
First: Is it a lasting interest?
So many children get inspired by something and rush into decisions on a whim; as their parent, it’s up to you to decide if they’re actually ready for it.
One of the first things you should consider is whether this is a permanent interest or not. Has she or he cared for a horse many times before – or is this something they suddenly decided that they’d like to do?
If the latter is the case, you probably know that the best solution is to let your kid care for another horse first. Let them fall in love with a horse they do not own and see if their interest continues to persist.
If they, on the other hand, has loved horses for close to a decade by now, you can proceed to consider the other steps below.
Next: Are you ready for a horse?
Even if your child is as ready as can be to own and have the responsibility of a large animal, you also need to consider your own situation. Owning a horse is, as we know, rather expensive – and you will also need to think about where the horse should live in case you don’t live on a large farm.
Consider your budget, first of all, before you proceed to figure out everything else. But there are many options, from full livery to do it yourself on your own land, you can have a look at these mobile field shelters, to begin with.
Has he or she been responsible with other pets?
Finally, one of the best ways of determining whether your child is ready for such a big responsibility is to consider how they care for their other pets if you have any.
If they’ve been taking care of your dog for years already, treated it with love and taken it on walks out of their own, you’ll have a good impression of how responsible they may be able to act around a horse.
It is a big decision both for you, your kid, and your wallet so spend some time figuring everything out before you decide anything final.
Last Updated on 19/10/2018
