Canter

My cousin is looking into purchasing a horse, but I'm not entirely sure he's considered the attention and care that such an animal deserves. He seems to have developed the idea after a weekend visit with my Saddlebred. He has the financial means, but...

I don't think he has the right temperament. He's not the most patient of people, and he has somewhat of a short attention span when it comes to long term projects. I'm afraid that he'll show some initial enthusiasm, but quickly lose interest. I don't want a horse to be put through something like this, but at the same time I worry I'm just being unfair to my cousin.

I don't know what to say to him without sounding like I don't believe in him - and if I'm not careful, he might rush into buying a horse just to "prove me wrong".

Am I just being paranoid? What can I try saying to him to impress upon him what goes into horse ownership without it seeming like I'm accusing him of incompetence?

CityChick

This is a tough one. I would try the very subtle approach. Tell him horse owning stories about things he hasn't considered when you two are sitting around shooting the breeze. You can hope he gets the hint or it makes him think. For some it might not be effective but it's worth a shot.

purplefdu

I would suggest anyone looking into buying a horse who has never had a large part in caring for one lease first. Even leasing (not mucking, turnout daily, etc) can make people realize its not an easy task. Not to mention it can take time to find the perfect horse, or even one thats a good match. He can lease month to month while he's looking to be better ready to have his own (if he doesn't change his mind in the meantime).

OldnGrey

I'd siggest to him to talk to a few horse owners before actually purchasing one, or as purplefdu suggested, go the route of leasing first. It is possible that you might be wrong, or that he could grow into a big horse lover - even if he hates the hard work.

Roy Rogers

I wish I knew what to suggest to you that would be a sure-fire way to get through to your cousin.

Everyone reacts to different things in different ways however.

Who knows? Maybe the poor fool could even grow into being a horse owner after a while.

Stranger things have happened before after all.

Canter

He IS my cousin, and I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt. He can be troubled sort sometimes... but I believe that horse ownership is good for the soul. Leasing might be a first good step... safer for him, safer for the horse.

haute_ecole

Leasing a horse is like taking it for an extended test drive. Its always a good idea to try it out before making the plunge. If you need to be tactful tell him he should lease to make sure the horse is good enough, not to see if he is a good owner. Talk up all the problems horses can develop after purchase that he might not see on the initial test ride. Barn trials used to be incredibly popular for the purchasing of children's mounts. Afetr a test ride at the original barn they horse would be brought to the destination barn of the purchaser (or where they intended to board) for a couple weeks or a month to see if he still worked after settling in.

Nan_Beth

I think leasing is a wonderful idea. I'm also the sort who gets a bee in the bonnet and I want to go into something full steam. My husband has talked me down from just going out and buying a horse. We agreed that if I spend a year pining for one, and riding and mucking about then we can buy one. We are looking to lease now.

Canter

I was fortunate in that my parents had horses while I was growing up. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to take care of them, and have horses myself when I was older. Some of my earliest, fondest memories were built just bringing feed to the stable while my older brother groomed them.