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Like many little girls of my generation, I dreamed of having a horse. I rode most summers on the horses at summer camp or rental stables, although the tame trail rides designed for inexperienced children weren't much more exciting than sitting on a pony's back for a photo.

When a rental stable horse attempted to scrape my little brother off on a tree limb, I lost my enthusiasm for horseback riding. The next time I thought of having a horse was when I first moved to the country and finally had some land. When it came time to choose between using that land for a horse and using it for my dogs, however, I chose the dogs.

But the dream persisted. A friend of mine managed the stables at Stanford, and I was often there with her, brushing and braiding the mane of her beautiful Belgian draft horse or visiting the foals and boarders with her. I also met and fell in love with a few miniature horses, tiny equines who can't be ridden except by the smallest children, but who are indisputably horses nonetheless.

When I began to work for an online pet site, I spent a lot of time reading the horse message boards and quizzing the horse area staff. What kind of horse would one day be mine, a majestic Clydesdale, a graceful Arabian, or a gentle "grade" horse, the "mutts" of the horse world?

With time I began to realize that while there was nothing wrong with being a beginning adult rider, there was something a bit backwards about my dream. Before I found a horse to grace my pasture, wouldn't it make more sense to actually learn to ride and care for one?

Riding a horse is not like most hobbies. It doesn't matter if you have the flu or just lost your job or your lover or your kids have the mumps or the stock market crashed; unlike a tennis racket, you can't put your horse away until you have time or it stops raining. Horses need food and water and love and attention and they need them every single day of their lives. In addition, while many horses are well-trained and gentle and wouldn't harm a baby, even the gentlest horse can crush your toes if you're not careful of them. And not every horse is so gentle and mellow; young horses, badly trained horses, most rental stable horses, abused or neglected horses, can all be unpredictable and even dangerous. Are you horsewoman or horseman enough to recognize which is which?

First Things First

Before you invest in a horse, invest in lessons, research, and careful thought. Find a riding academy and take lessons, not just in riding but in horse care as well; check the yellow pages under "Riding Academies" or find an equine veterinarian and get his or her advice. Buy books on horses and riding, and go to horse shows and other equestrian events. Hang out with horse people and learn about equines before you choose a trainer; spend time learning the ropes before you even think about getting a horse of your own, no matter how picturesque a horse might look in your pasture or how much you dreamed of a horse of your own in your childhood.

Horses for Dummies

Horses for Dummies by former Horse Illustrated editor Audrey Pavia and equine veterinarian Janice Posnikoff, DVM, is a wonderful first step for beginning adult riders. It covers the basics of why you want to get involved with horses, covers in greater detail than this article the pros and cons of horse ownership, familiarizes you with the language and conventions of the horse world, and provides a comprehensive overview of most aspects of horse ownership, health, and riding disciplines.

In addition, it has a brief chapter on horse breeds, as well as sections on equine nutrition, boarding and grooming, first aid information, tips on finding a trainer, horse safety information, and horse-related resources.

Pavia is not at all negative about adult beginners making their childhood dream a reality. Do it, she says. Just do it for the right reasons and in the right way.

Online Resources

If like me you want to get your feet wet in all things equine on the Internet, drop by the horsehobbyist.com website, where you will find message boards and chats dedicated to horses and the people who love them, as well as useful articles, a free newsletter, and links to helpful websites.

Thinking of buying a first horse for yourself or your child? More info here!