dcrivers

For the new horse owner, which is better, for both the horse and the owner. Is it better to keep your horse at home. Where you're the one providing for it? Doesn't that help with the bonding? Or is it better to keep your new horse at a stable. I know the people there have lots of experience in taking care of horses, and that's a big plus. But won't the horse get to know you better and quicker if he/she lives at your home? Won't they get more attached to the stable workers than to you?

Harvest Fantasy

I think keeping the horse closer to you would help out with the relationship. Having too many people involved with the horse at the beginning would probably confuse the horse a bit to see whom is the actual "owner" of him/her.

StillTyping

I agree with HF. But the only thing I would have to go against having the horse always around you is that if you're still new to owning a horse, you may not know how to fix a problem that may arise.

Having an actual stable or care workers for the horse would be essential - especially at the very beginning.

QuarterHorses

There are many types of stables to choose from. A full service stable has people that clean the stalls out and feeds your horse. A self serve stable, you're responsible for feeding and cleaning after your horse. Stables are an easy way to get started in horses. They have vets they like and farriers that come on a regular schedule. People can keep an eye on your horse while you're on vacation.

I started out having my first horse at a full service stable, then moved her to a self service stable, then to my house. At a stable I made friends that I now ride with from my house. I now have to do 100% of the work for my horses. When I go on vacation I have to get people to step in a care for my horses. I also have to deal with the farrier and vet when needed.

For me, the choice comes to how much time do you have for your horse? If you have very little time, it would be better to have people care for your horse so you can spend the time riding your horse. If you want to make it your lifestyle and want to spend your free time caring for your horses, then keeping them on your property is the way to go.

UmYes?

I think that your place would be a better place for your horse becuase, like 'Harvest Fantasy' said, it builds a better relationship between you and your horse. Also you would know more about what's going on with your horse if it's at your place.
-UmYes?

Mefiant

I would always recommend having your first horse at a serviced stable or at least somewhere, where more experienced horse owners are at hand to help out.
Believe me, owning a horse is a huge difference to "just" riding one. All decisions are up to you. You're the one who has to see if the horse is lame, has a temperature or signs of some other illness. If it tears down the fence it doesn't matter if you got 10 minutes until you have to be at work - you're the one who has to fix it

Also - if you've got your horse at your place, you run into a few more difficulties:
- planning permissions: are you even allowed to have a horse? Just because it's your land it doesn't mean you can build a stable or a field shelter!
- who delivers straw/hay and where do you put the muck heap?
- if you only got one horse of your own, he/she will need a companion. If you have someone else's horse as a companion for your own, you run into a whole different set of insurances that you need to pay.
- it's harder to find a farrier who comes out for two horses (at least where I live). At a larger stable you can usually join in with one of their regular appointments
- the most important factor is TIME.. believe me, when it gets dark at 5pm and you got a fulltime job you will spend the winter not riding but wading through mud and carrying water buckets
- organisationally you also have to take into consideration, that you'll always need someone trustworthy and reliable to fill in if you want to go on vacation or got a hospital stay or something

I help out with horses that are kept at their owners house and it is a LOT of work.
It does have it's good sides though: no other people or stable owners to annoy you *hehe* but all the above problems still apply!

I think the right way would be the one QuarterHorses described:
Full Service Stable, Self Service and THEN if you feel up to it -> your own.

As long as you look after your horse everyday you will build a relationship even if the horse is not stabled at your home, no worries there

Mefiant

dcrivers

This is certainly a lot of things to consider. I guess my son and I have some discussing to do. I think we'll probably go with the stable. At least for awhile. I'm sure he'll feel better knowing someone that knows what they are doing will be around for answeres.

BlackStallion

That's a good choice referring to the comments that everybody has given. I also advice that you place your horse in the stable and then gradually moving your horse to your house. Although relationship is important between the horse and its owner, we also need to think about the health of the horse before anything else.

Izzy

For us it was never a question. We keep miniatures, and have a lot of land around our property. It didn't take much adjustment in our life to keep them at home-no different honestly than looking after a large dog.

We built a lean to for their cold weather and over night housing. It is heated when needs be and has lighting so that we can be with them in the dark. And they have even followed us inside from time to time.

beauty

They have followed you inside your home or inside the lean-to? I would think that being inside a home would make them a bit uncomfortable; the ground is different, doesnt smell like outisde, etc.?