Living the Horse Life If You Don't Own One
You can arrange to be around horses a lot even if you choose not to own one yourself. The best way is to take riding lessons. Some barns have general equine lessons that include information on how to groom a horse, how to use tack, and how to handle a horse safely. If you are certain that you want to purchase a horse, you are wise to learn these things beforehand so you will be better prepared to handle your horse. You may be assigned a specific horse that you can get to know, or you may be assigned a new horse with each visit.
Perhaps your neighbor has a couple of horses in his backyard. He may not be willing to let you ride one, but he may be more than willing to have someone help with the chores. Realize, however, that it's easy to get hurt around horses if you don't know what you're doing. Liability is one reason why few horse owners will allow anyone else to ride their horses unless they know for sure that you are a skilled equestrian.
Sometimes you can trade stable work for lessons. Search around and pick a stable you are comfortable hanging around in. Maybe the stable specializes in an equine activity you are especially interested in, or perhaps you can discover a new equine sport that interests you.
If you live near a university with an equestrian program, signing up for their horsemanship classes can help you quickly move into the horse life. Many beginner university horsemanship classes include the basics of horse care, how to groom, take care of tack, and so on. They often have events and shows as part of the program. It can be an expensive way to go, but not as expensive as owning your own horse and educating yourself about horses on your own.
