Before you buy a horse!
What a wonderful interest. Not only are horses and ponies in them selves beautiful creatures, but also of course being outside in the fresh air with nature all around cannot be beaten!
Though there are many factors to be aware of if you are considering owning a horse. Even more so than other sports you or your children may become interested in, keeping a horse is a HUGE commitment as it literally involves taking responsibility of it’s daily well-being and happiness. 
For those of you just starting out it is important to get good, realistic advice. Weather it’s from a knowledgeable family friend or your local Pony Club. It is vital that you know the in and outs of being a committed horse owner. This is an enormous time commitment as well as a financial and emotional one.
Weather you own your own land or need to lease space in a paddock (this is called “Grazing”), the list of on going chores and responsibilities are the same.
Daily visits to the paddock to check that every thing is OK. Feeding (daily in winter), Collecting pooh and rotating the paddocks so you horse always has new grass available. Scrubbing water troughs, Worming every 6-8 weeks, hoof trimming or shoeing every 6-8 weeks, dental checks every year, vaccinations, covering your horse in winter.
Then of course there are the lessons, club day outings and upkeep of saddles and gear as well as Veterinary costs.
Horses are social animals it saddens us to see so many kept on their own. Every horse deserves the opportunity to have a relationship with it’s own kind; to frolic, play and groom each other. Sharing grazing with others would not only benefit your horse but could also help reduce the workload as chores could be shared.
Our biggest piece of advice is to spend some time around horses, maybe at a riding school or with a friends horse, take the time to learn as much as you can so you will have more to offer a horse when you finally get one.
Horses like all animals deserve kindness, they are not toys or motorbikes, and not all horses enjoy been ridden around and round in circles. Too often are horses treated as disposable when they don’t meet people’s expectations.
Listen to good advice and choose a horse with the right temperament and ability for you. Then make it your goal to develop a relationship built on mutual trust, respect and understanding.