I’d like to buy a horse,
She thought it seemed rather fun
She liked the palomino type
The buckskins or the dun
One with thick and luscious mane
A tail that drags onto the floor
One that will wow all her friends
And leave them wanting more!
She’d ridden horses at riding camp
And at her uncles farm
She thought that she had galloped
And never come to any harm
She may have had a lesson
Turned up and just hopped on
But when she’d finished riding
She jumped in the car and went home
She didn’t see how to catch the horse
Or how to tie the rope
She didn’t know how to check it’s feet
So how will she ever cope?
It’s possible her parents
didn’t want to wait in the car
Or maybe in their family
Their money didn’t stretch too far
The lessons came few and far between
Not as often as she’d like
Perhaps her father wishes
Instead she’d choose a bike!
Maybe she never had a mentor
Someone on which she could depend
A knowledgeable horse person
To stop her going round the bend
She may not have had the chance
To watch and learn some skills
Quite simply her parents wanted to
But couldn’t afford the bills.
So instead she thought she’d learn
When she bought that new green horse
Because it’s young and gentle
They’ll learn together of course!
She told herself she’d have lessons
To teach her through and through
But the horse put its leg in a fence
And she didn’t know what to do!
The farrier she had organised
Had cut his feet to short
But because she has no one helping her
She’s got nothing to report
The fantastic brand new pellets
That she bought from fodder shop
Just don’t seem to be quite working
And lots of weight he dropped.
The bit she bought to put in his mouth
He seems to shut his teeth
And what is all that crusty stuff?
What even is a sheath?
That saddle that she bought online
She thought it seemed good size
Her horse winces every time
To us it’s no surprise
Bought with the best intentions
She loves the horse to bits
Even when he won’t come when called
And gives her the shits!
She is just stumped with problems
And cannot work out why
That little things the horse will do
Can make her want to cry
She said she can’t afford a lesson
Her car broke down this week
Perhaps her horse had cut a leg
Her partner was going to freak
And so it stops this learning curve
She’s truly stuck in a rut
Her horse is running round the paddock
She can’t catch him, he’s a nut
His feet are looking pretty rough
She can’t work out just what went wrong
But perhaps it’s not the Farrier
She just left them grow too long!
He is reluctant to take the bit
And holds his head up high
Maybe he needs a dentist
But no one told her why
She asked her friends from next door
What they thought she should do
But are their horses in top health?
They really haven’t got a clue
It’s far too easy to make mistakes
When horse and rider are green
If they haven’t learnt horse care
Amongst all the other things they’ve seen
And so I encourage all of you
To invest time into yourself
Don’t leave that horsemanship book
Sitting dusty on the shelf
If someone gives you the chance
To watch them school a horse
Take them up on the offer
It can be better than any course!
Save up your dollars for a lesson
Even once in a little while
You’ll find you’ll keep yourself on track
For more than riding style
Do you really need that saddle pad
That looked amazing in online store
Or are dollars better invested
When you want to learn some more?
Perhaps you could volunteer
At your local RDA
They’re always looking for a hand
You’ll make some rider’s day!
There must be a local riding school
That could do with help from you
I’m sure that there are hints and tricks
You learn better when you “do”
There’s probably someone you can shadow
To keep you on the right track
Just add to any skills you’ve learnt
Or knowledge that you lack
Most horse people that I know
Are happy to assist a mate
Isn’t it better you ask them now
Than when it is too late?
Don’t be ashamed to ask for help
When you’re not really too sure
So many times things are left too long
Because people are crying poor!
Trust me when I say I understand
How it can cost more than you earn,
I’m just here to say
There are so many different ways to learn.
No matter how bad things get
There is really no reason why
Your horse should start to suffer
Because you too soon, did buy!
If you find your horse
Is starting to cost more than you can pay
Cut out all that fancy horse gear
And give the poor bugger hay
So when you start to learn to ride
Ask if you can stay and watch
There are so many extra things to learn
That won’t be extra cost!