Things I Wish I Knew Before I Bought a Horse
I bought my first horse when I was entering junior high school. It was the most beautiful bay mare that you could imagine, and she was priced at the whopping price of $2,500 (haha)
Pulse:
The pulse in the horse can be taken from an area under the jaw, from beneath the tail at its bone, or from an area on the side of the horse’s foot. The simplest and most effective way is by placing your hand or stethoscope on the left (near) side of your horse’s chest under the elbow.
Since most horses will not stand still enough to count heartbeats for a full minute, count for 15 seconds and multiply by four.
“Be sure to count each lub-dub as 1 beat.”
An average resting horse has a heart rate of 38-40 beats per minute, foals (70-120bpm), yearlings (45-60 bpm) and 2-year-olds (40-50 bpm).
Maximum heart rates can exceed 180 beats per minute, but a rate above 80 should be considered serious in most non-exercising horses. (Source: Living Legends )
Respiration Rate:
The average respiration rate of a mature horse at rest is 8-15 breaths per minute. A horse’s respiration rate increases with hot or humid weather, exercise, fever, or pain. Rapid breathing at rest should receive veterinary attention, and keep in mind that the respiration rate should NEVER exceed the pulse rate. A horse should also spend equal time inhaling and exhaling. You should wait at least 30 minutes after work before checking the respiratory rate at rest to obtain an accurate reading. Watch or feel your horse’s ribcage/belly for one minute. Be sure to count 1 inhale and 1 exhale as one breath (not as two). (Source: Living Legends )
Temperature:
A normal horse's temperature is 99-101°F.
The best way to measure this is by taking the horse's rectal temperature.
The safest way to do this is by having someone hold the horse for you while always staying to the side of the horse and even with or in front of their back legs. Reach your arm over and gently touch the area under the horse's tail to gauge their reaction. It may take several attempts to desensitize them to your touch, but eventually, place the tip of the digital thermometer into the horse's anus and wait for the temperature to be determined.
Capillary Refill Time (CRT):Capillary Refill Time (CRT) is the time it takes for blood to return to blanched tissues in the gums. This is an indicator of blood circulation. Standard refill time is 1 to 2 seconds.
To check CRT lift your horse’s upper lip up and firmly press your thumb against his gums for 2 seconds to create a white mark. This white mark should return to the standard pink color within 1-2 seconds after releasing the pressure.
If the CRT takes longer than 2 seconds, the horse may be in shock. (Source: Living Legends )
Mucous Membranes:
The mucous membranes are the lining of a horse’s eyelids, his gums and the inside of his nostrils. The color of the mucous membranes is another indicator of blood circulation. A healthy horse’s gums are slightly paler than a human. If a horse’s gums are very pale, bright red, greyish blue or bright yellow, call a veterinarian immediately.
Colour of mucous membranes
Moist Pink: Healthy average circulation.
Very Pale Pink: Capillaries contracted, indicates fever, blood loss, or anemia.
Bright Red: Capillaries enlarged, indicates toxicity or mild shock.
Grey or Blue: Severe shock, depression, and illness.
Bright Yellow: Associated with liver problems
Source: Living Legends
I laugh at this now because that was not a one-time price. When you own a horse, you are continually paying for things like farrier fees, hay, grain, board, or even mistakes.
This is why I thought I'd share the things I wish I had known before I bought a horse.
1.) Horses are expensive.
Horses are pricey. These animals also live to be around 30 years old if you're fortunate so be prepared for the long haul.
The average monthly cost for a horse is:
$400 Board Rate
$50 Hay/ Grain ($4.00 a bale multiplied by 5= $20.00 /1 grain bag $30.00)
$120 Farrier Price (Front Shoes & Trim with 6-week rotation)
------
$570 Total
Although this is just a rough estimate in my area (Ohio) so that price can fluctuate drastically depending on other state's taxes, economy, and cost of hay.
This is also excluding the cost of lessons, training, transportation, and, god forbid, vet bills.
2.) Horses are delicate.
Horses have a sensitive bowel system. Did you know horses can't throw up? Horses also get sick quickly so if you're considering buying your own horse, you should start memorizing what the ideal vitals for a horse are.Pulse:
The pulse in the horse can be taken from an area under the jaw, from beneath the tail at its bone, or from an area on the side of the horse’s foot. The simplest and most effective way is by placing your hand or stethoscope on the left (near) side of your horse’s chest under the elbow.
Since most horses will not stand still enough to count heartbeats for a full minute, count for 15 seconds and multiply by four.
“Be sure to count each lub-dub as 1 beat.”
An average resting horse has a heart rate of 38-40 beats per minute, foals (70-120bpm), yearlings (45-60 bpm) and 2-year-olds (40-50 bpm).
Maximum heart rates can exceed 180 beats per minute, but a rate above 80 should be considered serious in most non-exercising horses. (Source: Living Legends )
Respiration Rate:
The average respiration rate of a mature horse at rest is 8-15 breaths per minute. A horse’s respiration rate increases with hot or humid weather, exercise, fever, or pain. Rapid breathing at rest should receive veterinary attention, and keep in mind that the respiration rate should NEVER exceed the pulse rate. A horse should also spend equal time inhaling and exhaling. You should wait at least 30 minutes after work before checking the respiratory rate at rest to obtain an accurate reading. Watch or feel your horse’s ribcage/belly for one minute. Be sure to count 1 inhale and 1 exhale as one breath (not as two). (Source: Living Legends )
Temperature:
A normal horse's temperature is 99-101°F.
The best way to measure this is by taking the horse's rectal temperature.
The safest way to do this is by having someone hold the horse for you while always staying to the side of the horse and even with or in front of their back legs. Reach your arm over and gently touch the area under the horse's tail to gauge their reaction. It may take several attempts to desensitize them to your touch, but eventually, place the tip of the digital thermometer into the horse's anus and wait for the temperature to be determined.
Capillary Refill Time (CRT):Capillary Refill Time (CRT) is the time it takes for blood to return to blanched tissues in the gums. This is an indicator of blood circulation. Standard refill time is 1 to 2 seconds.
To check CRT lift your horse’s upper lip up and firmly press your thumb against his gums for 2 seconds to create a white mark. This white mark should return to the standard pink color within 1-2 seconds after releasing the pressure.
If the CRT takes longer than 2 seconds, the horse may be in shock. (Source: Living Legends )
Mucous Membranes:
The mucous membranes are the lining of a horse’s eyelids, his gums and the inside of his nostrils. The color of the mucous membranes is another indicator of blood circulation. A healthy horse’s gums are slightly paler than a human. If a horse’s gums are very pale, bright red, greyish blue or bright yellow, call a veterinarian immediately.
Colour of mucous membranes
Moist Pink: Healthy average circulation.
Very Pale Pink: Capillaries contracted, indicates fever, blood loss, or anemia.
Bright Red: Capillaries enlarged, indicates toxicity or mild shock.
Grey or Blue: Severe shock, depression, and illness.
Bright Yellow: Associated with liver problems
Source: Living Legends
3.) Horses are a long term commitment.
As previously mentioned, horses live a long time if you're lucky, so be prepared to have them in your life for an extended amount of time. Horses are a time commitment within their overall care but also the time required to spend actual time riding or exercising them as well. Not only is it a time commitment, but you also can't just pick up and leave. If you move, your horses usually move with you, and if they don't come with you, then you need to arrange for other care. You are now in a long term relationship with your horse which is usually no problem for an avid equestrian, but it does limit where you can live and sometimes where you work unless you want to commute to the barn.
4.) You don't need to buy a horse to have a horse.
Many people find themselves limited with that long term commitment, and when some men or women have to leave for college or work, they would be open to a lease arrangement. Legally you can fill an application out with a breed association to lease the horse for an amount of time, or you can fill out a lease agreement with the owner of the horse for any amount of time. So it is possible to enjoy the full benefits of horse "ownership" without accepting that long term commitment.
5.) This experience will change you as a person.
You will never be the same. Not only will you become a more responsible person overall because you are mostly the primary caregiver of the horse who is dependent on you for a clean stall, food, grooming, and exercise. You will become an advocate for horses, and your heart will change for the better because you will notice how to improve and benefit horses lives. Being in the presence of horses daily will teach you how to listen to animals with no voice and show you the hidden communication within a herd so that you will become more sympathetic and observant as a person. You will step outside of thinking and caring only for yourself so that you will become more well rounded as a human being.
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