The Top 10 Things I've Learned as a Horse Owner

Owning a horse is a wonderful thing; the love between an owner and his or her horse is an amazing bond that only a true horse lover can appreciate. Horses are a lot of work though, and you learn a few things throughout the years of being a horse owner.

If you're thinking about buying a horse, take some advice from me and save yourself some trouble. Read my top 10 things that I've learned since owning a horse.

1.If you are dressed up for work, chances are you'll receive an emergency call from the barn that you need to be there immediately. Always keep a spare pair of "muck boots" in the car. It is not fun to hike through mud in high heels.

2.Never wear white to the barn, unless it's something you plan on throwing away immediately upon arrival back to your house.

3.Horses are heavy, wear appropriate footwear, because if you are wearing heels like stated in number 1, that will be the day your horse will step on your foot.

4.If you're worming a horse that doesn't like to be wormed, always have an extra wormer on hand. Chances are the first few times you will wear more of the wormer than your horse will. Everything will be white, the stall, the horse and you. Everything that is, except the white shirt you wore to the barn that day.

5.Make sure the wind is behind you when you're bringing your muck bucket to the manure pile. Wind blowing at your face with a full bucket is not pleasant.

6.Your normal, easy going horse always becomes a raving banshee when the pasture gate has opened before supper. Make sure you leave the gate closed behind you as you walk out to greet your horse, otherwise the neighbors and the local police will be calling you.

7.Water buckets freeze in the winter. This is a known fact, but what's little known is they actually freeze when the weather is about 32 degrees. I believe they start to freeze around 38 degrees, only because Mother Nature has a sense of humor against horse lovers. It seems that I am smashing out ice from buckets well into the end of spring.

8.Never let your horse give you a kiss after eating "hay stretcher." If you are unfamiliar with hay stretcher, it is a pellet form of hay. It turns into a green, oatmeal type consistency when your horse is eating it. You will look like you ran into Linda Blair from the Exorcist.

9.No matter how strong your fence is, your horse will find a way through. I think that most horses have a Houdini book tucked up under their feed bucket for reading purposes. I can't figure out how it happens, but your horse will suddenly appear either in the vegetable garden, or on the neighbor's porch.

10.The most important thing I've learned over the years of owning horses is that it takes a special person to love a horse. Horses give love back, and are always a good ear to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, or a friend to share secrets with.

Even though my horse is consistently emptying my checking account, there are some things in this world I would never trade in. Owning a horse is one of them.