We all started in the equine industry and with horses for one reason because we love horses! However, something that we have to remember as we grow and learn in this sport is that how we take care of the horses and making sure we are creating rules and guidelines that always have them in mind is important. Which means it's okay for us to bring our emotions into why we are involved with horses, but we can't let that control our decision making in the industry. Any important decision we make when it comes to our horses whether it's purchasing a horse or planning your horse's next home if something happens to you are so vital to take into consideration as a responsible horse owner.
I believe that truly loving this industry and the horse is being a responsible horse owner and knowing the facts.
Which is exactly what I am talking about in today's episode with Ashley Harkins, Kelsey Buckley, and Andrea Manly. These three ladies are so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do and do for the equine industry from collecting the data for the UHC and EWDC and then reporting it to us in a way that we understand and how it affects us as owners and professionals in the industry, how it can help us make things better for the community, and educating others on owning responsibly.
A topic that we talk about in the episode, is the importance of having a plan in place for your horses to make sure they are taken care if something happens to you, your finances, or whatever it may be. This can come in many forms such as estate planning, having a solid network of friends and family who you trust, and having a solid system in place to accommodate any situation that may arise because we all know that life is unpredictable.
Also, we discuss what every person needs to consider in their horse purchase decisions whether they are buying their first horse or their 50th horse. You first need to ask yourself these questions: "Am I in the right financial space to bring a horse into my life? (horses are expensive!), is this the right decision for me?, Am I ready to take on this lifetime commitment?, and the list goes on and on. After you ask those questions, you can start to do your due diligence and research to make sure you are buying from the right people who have good reputations, are ethical, and more. If you are on buying online make a plan to see the horse in person, schedule a pre-vet check, and don't fall for the "going to kill pen" or scams that play on our emotions.
I learned so much from my conversation with these ladies while having fun at the same time! I can't wait for y'all to hear the full episode, so click on the link below to listen!
Season 1, Episode 21.
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