Owing a horse can be a fulfilling experience but it can also be a nightmare if you purchase the wrong horse for your level of experience. A horse is a large animal and owing one is very different from owning a dog or a cat which we are all familiar with how to handle and care for. While most horses are very docile and would never intentionally hurt a person through improper handling a person can get hurt by a horse. Before purchasing a horse, a person should learn the basics of feeding a horse, types of facilities needed to house a horse plus the basic veterinary requirements of a horse. You should also make yourself aware of the yearly costs of caring for a horse and you will need basic knowledge of how to handle a horse on the ground as well as the basics on how to ride one.
Most horses are very willing and want to please.
However trying to get a thousand pound animal that does not understand your language to do what you want it to do can sometimes be a monumental task. Most problems beginners have with their horses is a lack of understanding on the person's part as to how to correctly ask the horse to do what they want it to do. Operating a horse is probably more foreign to most of us than how to operate that car was for the first time. If you have basic knowledge on how to ride and guide a horse before you purchase your own you will have a lot better initial experience. Most areas in the United States have someone who offers horseback riding lesson at a fee comparable with other types of lessons.