Newsgroups: rec.equestrian

>/ hpcss01:rec.equestrian / Bish@xanodria.UUCP (Doug Bischoff) /  8:04 pm  Dec  7, 1992 /
>    Okay, this is my 3rd try at getting my news feed to work.  Hopefully
>someone will get this.	If not... *sigh*  Well, I'm tired of typing the same
>intro (shoulda saved it) to me, so I'll just cut to the chase and list some
>questions for the general populace.
>
>    On Riding:
>	1)  Are there any physical/mental problems to horse or rider
>	    associated with riding ONLY bareback?

The horse certainly doesn't care.  The limiting factor is just how tough 
your ass is.

>	2)  Aside from prolonged steep hills, are there any times when NOT
>	    having a saddle would prove limiting or DANGEROUS?

Getting on, getting off, carrying your lunch, stowing your coat, and
jousting come to mind.

>	3)  Will insurance companies flip if they find out I'm riding
>	    sans saddle?  (Kinda like driving without a seatbelt, I guess.)

I reckon that if you set out to procure an insurance policy to indenify
you against any and all unpleasantness while riding you might have a
bit of a problem.  It probably wouldn't make much difference if you
did or did not use a saddle, or had both you and your horse cast in
lucite.  As far as one's general medical coverage, they don't care. 
That doesn't mean that you should go out of your way to antagonize
them.

>	4)  Will any stable owner in their right mind rent me a horse to
>	    ride bareback?

No.

Why this fixation with riding bareback?  Why do you want to artificailly
limit yourself?  Besides totally screwing up your seat, you can't begin
to approach the things you can do in a saddle.  How dull.

>    On Owning:
>	1)  Is $250 per month a good target figure for room and board for a
>	    horse given decent pasturage, good care, etc. in Central New
>	    Jersey area?
>	2)  Is $2,500 a good target figure for an 8-10yo unregistered,
>	    non-show horse for the "experienced beginner?"

$2500 will buy you a pretty nice horse if you know what your looking for.
An unregistered horse is just a mutt.  They can have great sentimental
value to their current owners but unless they exhibit some sort of
spectaculr performance or training, they're pretty much an economic
disaster.  Don't ever pay more for a horse than what you figure you can
sell it for in a hostile market.  Don't ever buy a horse with the mindset
that you are somehow adopting a new family member that is going to live
out its days with you.  Most people outgrow most horses a couple of years
or so.  You will too.  Conversely, nothing will sour you faster than 
buying a horse that's too hot for you.  Like any other sporting equipment,
you usually move up is quality and capability as your skills grow.

>	3)  What can I expect to pay per year/month for Routine Medicine,
>	    Vet visits (kinda random, I know), and Farrier's services?

It'r real hard to even give a ballpark figure on what it costs to support
a horse.  You can spend next to nothing or you can spend yourself into
debtor's prison.  Depends a lot on your style.

>
>    On Naming:
>	1)  I promised a horse when I was 5 that I'd name a horse after him.
>	    Are there big problems associated with changing a horse's name?

It's your horse, call it whatever you want.  I would caution you to stay
away from Polish names with lots of consonants.  Like Crmblnsky or something.

>	2)  Who determines the name of a horse at foaling?

If the horse is registered, then whoever sends in the papers gets to
name it.  

>	3)  When is this name determined?

Same as #2 above.

>	4)  How late can it be changed to avoid re-training to a name?

Hah! I've never NEVER as in ever encountered a horse that responded to its
name.  Spare me the antecdotes, you can call a horse damn near anything
and elicit a common response.  Call the beast whatever strikes your fancy.

>
>    General advice is greatly welcomed.  Remember: first-time owner, 2 year
>experienced rider, just graduated and got a job, living in central to
>south-eastern NJ as far from NYC as I can and still commute.  :-)
>
>    Thank you thank you thank you!
>

Cold as this sounds, figure that you're going to screw up the first
couple of horses that you own.  If you do anything with them besides
feed them this is inevitable.  For a first horse, get yourself a tough
veteran in its teens.  You probably won't be able to make too much of a
mess out of it.

Terry