Two excerpts from the book...
Pamela writes in an informal style with warmth and humour. Her book alternates anecdote with solid, practical advice and provides steady reassurance for both would-be and experienced owners alike.
So you'd like to own a horse?
“Best decision I ever made” – Jean Branson, Redditch
“An addition to the family” – Sandra Harding, mother of three teenagers
“Horse, dog, cat, me” – Peter, long suffering husband
“The sole cause of our divorce” – Anon, London
“Our family without a pony? No way” – The Roberts family, Chester
It usually begins with the seed of a thought, following an enjoyable ride or time spent with a horse. “If this were my own horse, I would have this pleasure every day.”…
… The event that made me change from “if” to “when”, was at a show. Whilst I was riding my favourite horse, some people admired him, bought him and took him home in their horsebox. I came home in floods of tears, vowing to have my own horse that could not be sold.
The buyer of the horse assured me that I was welcome to go and visit him at his new home and this incident gave me another view of horses’ behaviour. Whilst in the field he used to come trotting up when I called his name, which is one of the reasons I liked him so much. When I did go along about 3 weeks later, he was in the field and of course I immediately called his name. No response! Barbara, the new owner, then whistled and he trotted over to her!
At the time I was upset that he had changed attachment so soon but realised that, in the right home, most horses can adapt to differences in ownership without too much stress…
The first few weeks
“What a sharp learning curve” – Jeanette, DIY first timer
“Total disruption, loving every minute” – The Jackson family’s first pony
“Just as stressful as fetching a new baby home” – Sheila, first time owner after her children had left home
Before the horse is collected, have insurance cover in place, as you are the owner as soon as the money changes hands.
Have the horse delivered in daylight, so that he can look around. It will help if you can have fetched some of the hard feed and hay that he had been eating, so that it can be mixed gradually with the feed you are using. A sudden change of food could make him ill.
Expect the horse to whinny and be unsettled at first, maybe running around the box, as he has left his companions and not yet found any more. Grooming is a good way to bond with your new horse and it will help him settle.
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