Backyard Horsekeeping: The Only Guide You'll Ever Need - Softcover

Fry, Joan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1599210614 ISBN 13: 9781599210612

Publisher: The Lyons Press, 2007

Synopsis

Experienced backyard horsekeeper Joan Fry leads the prospective horse owner through the process of assessing suitable land; choosing a veterinarian and farrier; constructing and furnishing a small barn, paddock, and arena; purchasing a horse; and feeding and care. Of special value to both novice and experienced owners are the sections on feed, which take into account the most up-to-date nutrition research, and training the horse for safe and enjoyable trail riding. Written with encouraging cheer and plenty of “horse sense,” Backyard Horsekeeping leads the way to maintaining and enjoying your own horse on your own property.

About this title

About the Author

Joan Fry has published countless articles, celebrity profiles, and short stories on a wide range of subjects. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Poets & Writers, Black Warrior Review, Westways, and nearly every major horse periodical. She is also the author of The Beginning Dressage Book. She and her husband, John, live with an assortment of four-legged friends in Acton, California. Her Web site is www.joanfry.com.

From the Back Cover

As pleasure riding becomes increasingly popular, more riders are contemplating buying their own horse. However, the cost of maintaining the animal at a boarding stable can be off-puting, leaving potential horse owners to wonder if it's possible - and practical - to keep a horse on their own land.According to experienced backyard horsekeeper Joan Fry, the answer is yes. Beginning with the basics, Fry helps readers to consider whether they have sufficient and suitable land, access to a veterinarian and farrier, and available feed supplies. She also carefully leads the prospective backyard horsekeeper through constructing and furnishing a small barn, paddock, and corral; locating and purchasing the horse; as well as feeding, grooming, and otherwise tending to the animal's creature comforts. Backyard Horsekeeping will easily lead the way to maintaining and enjoying your very own horse on your very own property in no time.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from p. 175:

 

Important Questions

 

If you do reach the owner, the first thing to do is verify the information you saw in the ad. If it described the bucksin as a five-year-old gelding, make sure that's the horse you and the owner are both talking about. Ask all the questions on your list. One of the most important is, "Why are you selling this horse?"

 

This question is particularly pertinent if you know the owner is a small breeder, because most breeders want their horses off their account books and out of their paddocks as soon as possible. Realistically, that means by the time the horse is three. Why has the gelding been hanging around for two additional years? Listen closely to the answer--is it believable? To me, an answer like "My daughter rode this horse but she's getting married and moving out of state," sounds believable. An answer like, "He did a lot of winning for us but now it's time for him to move on," does not. Why is it time to move on? Did the horse hurt himself? Did the horse hurt his rider? Some shoppers like to ask this question twice: once on the phone, and a second time when they ride the horse and their riding instructor or trainer is standing there listening.

Edition details

• Publisher: The Lyons Press
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1599210614
• ISBN 13: 9781599210612
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 424