pure bred horses.

[LadyLynn]

I'm curious what people look for when they are searching to purchase a pure bred horse.

I know I should know cuz my uncle races pure breds, I think Arabians, but not sure.

I just know I love horses, but I am sadly afraid to ride them, can't anyway since my accident, and yet I know my grandfather would not appreciate that I'm terrified, since to me he was the greatest horseman to ever live.

Just witnessed his death that happened on our favorite horse. I'm sure I already shared this with everyone.

and what requirements do you need on your property to properly shelter a horse.

[Wiztherewoz]

I guess it's just the same as looking for a purebred dog. You decide the breed that you're interested in and try to find a responsible breeder. Or, better still, find a rescue that fits your requirements. Hundreds of horses of all shapes and sizes are slaughtered every day.

Requirements for horses, generally, I would say 2 acres of grazing per horse, preferably two paddocks so that you can swap them over for summer/winter grazing. You need a field shelter if you're keeping them outdoors. Or better still a stable/fold yard to bring them in out of the bad weather.

[GeorgieGirl]

Yes, Heather is correct. A purebreed horse is just that pure in breed meaing that both parents are of the same breed. Im sure there are more technical answers but that just about sums it up.

As far as housing, Im going to say that Heather is right although Im not sure what a fold yard is. It also depends on wether you will keep the horse on your property or if you board the horse on someone elses property.
Heather's situation is ideal in the fact that she is allowing for two seasons of grazing. Here in the States that can work out or not depending on the State and land being readily available and cheap! (In the So Cal area where I kept my mare we had very little pasture and those places that did have pasture, did not have grass to graze the horses on as grass would not grow unless you irriagted. Cha-ching!!!)
But basic needs must be meet in any situation: shelter, feed, and water as well as cleanliness. A lot depends on room and what you want as far as a full barn or more of a pasture with shelter situation.
I agree also that rescues are great, but before you even get there, Id recommend getting with a good teacher/trainer to help you get over your fear. Even if you never ride, but want a horse as pasture art, you need to be confident in handling the horse in the ground. Once you are comfortable, then that is a good time to look for a horse pal.

[Evey]

Hmmmmm, I can't say that I have ever looked for a horse based on breed. I tend to look for temperament, soundness, and suitability for the rider. I suppose I tend to think in the reverse, knowing that some breeds are not going to be suitable based on their size, conformation, etc.

Requirements for keeping horses vary greatly based on your location.

[That_girl]

I tend to look at horses based on color, since I like lots of it. When I get horses, I'll be looking for appaloosas and paints. But like Evey said, temperament, soundness and rider suitability will be factors as well.

I don't really care about purebreed, as long as I have a good history of the horse.

[LadyLynn]

Thanks everybody. I've never seen horses better cared for than my uncles, but my curiosity is peaked because my uncle 'races horses, often times carting them to California for the fun....
and I noted that the last news article my sis clipped for me said he breeds purebreds. He had won a race.

as far as getting a trainer to help me get past my fears, I doubt it will happen even if I had one considering just how the accident happened and my witnessing the event as a seven year old. I'll tell you about it later.

But as for horses. I love them dearly and I'm always talking to the ones I pass on a walk when I've got the dogs out, and those horses have fallen for me, and can't run fast enough to get to me, and follow me all the way to the end of their fence line. I feel so bad that I can't take them home then, but I'm still glad they like me that well.

THe accident: That claimed my grandfather's life.

my grandfather was how should I say it, a man that swore a blue streak, literal swear words, but a really good honest hard working loving man. He loved and cherished every grandchild, and we loved fighting over who was going to massage his bald head. He also kept a drawer full of candy, usually butterscotches. and he never once would say anything different than when grandma corrected us.

but now my uncle carries on the same passion my grandfather did. racing horses. Grandpa Jay raced them professionally, but pretty much on a local level.
He'd gotten hurt a few times according to one of grandma's written journals, and it was frequent for her to beg him to stop racing.

His response? "Good hell woman, don't you know I'll be happy if I die on a horse and you can give me a rubber casket so I can bounce right through hell. Let the bankers be my pall bearers since they carried me through life they might as well carry me out. and one more thing Freda, I'll be happy if I have lots of grandchildren when I do finally kick the bucket.

a hot June afternoon he got part of his wish. He died on a horse, all of our favorite horse, and he had about 14 or so grandkids around, I was among the number.

It wasn't the usual horse landing on its side, after the horse, "chubb bucked him off, the poor horse was spooked, his great Saddle side, the part you sit on actually slammed on top of his chest and the horse couldn't get up and wild kicking and neighing happened. It took several minutes for Chubb to regain his footing.

It was even worse because at the time my mother was at a church meeting, this happened on our front lawn, when grandpa went up there to get the horse to return it to his own fields. My dad had three fields.... and the horse was getting more personal time I guess, not sure why grandpa always had a horse he'd had to the fair grounds brought to mom and dad place first before returning them to his own fields, but he'd come up to take Chubb back,
at the time, our little town didn't have street names. an ambulance? How to find our house?
two things happened.
1. The 911 operator thought the call was a practical joke cuz a kid had placed the call, so initially nobody was sent and my grandmother had to recall them. Today the operator would have been called on the carpet for it, but it was the early 1970's.

2. Our streets with no names, the hospital was 7 miles away at that too.

We were very scared. Sadly grandpa didn't make it through the ambulance ride.
but yet who could survive a great horse crushing yoiur chest too?

at least he died happy, but the event still lives in my memory and when I think about possibly getting onto another horse even if I could now is frightening,

but I'll always love horses, but honestly should I talk to my uncle about horses, i'm afraid I'd be really embarrassed because I know so little about them, and he might think like grandpa,
hey kid, yoiu should know, what happened to you? Remember, grandpa loved horses and there isn't any reason to be afraid, here, let me put you on Shadow.....

I'm afraid I'd freak out, but I still love the neighbors horses following me.

I just wouldn't know what to do with them should they decide to make it to my house and plop right into my lap.

[Wiztherewoz]

Hmm. Do you perhaps mean thoroughbreds when you say pure-breds? Thoroughbred is a breed of horse, used for racing.

That's sad about your grandfather, and I'm not surprised that you're afraid of horses after something like that. I put my life in their hands (hoofs) every day even just leading them about. One of the horses I led out to the paddock today spooked because there was a JCB parked around the corner (he saw it yesterday, but it's apparently still the scariest thing he's ever seen) And he (all 17h.h of him) leapt sidewards straight into me.

I managed to catch myself before I fell, but it only takes something like that to happen; for them to catch you wrong; then you're on the floor... where you're vulnerable from them stamping on you/kicking you/falling on you, or any number of horrible things that could happen.

You just have to not think about it! :D

[LadyLynn]

whichever meant for horse racing is what I meant mainly but now you've mentioned there is a difference in which I don't know I'm interested in knowing the difference. My uncle would be shocked at my ignorance.

yep, horse bodies are so large that when something is going to happen our thinner, less weighting bodies usually pay the price.

and yes, I doubt I'll ever get over the trauma of watching grandpa die like that, and yet I love loving the neighbors horses follow me as far as they can.

perhaps they think I have a hand ful of carrots?

I'd never give them anything without their owners permission. I don't think its right, and I think people may not know if a horse could be on a specific diet and have a specific health problem.

its the same when it comes to anybodies animals.
don't you think?

[Wiztherewoz]

Absolutely, yes, I think it's always the politest thing to do to ask the owner's permission first. :)

Here's a link to some info on the thoroughbred, if you're interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoroughbred

[MollyGroove]

Most people that look for specifically pure bred horses are usually show people. Some breeds are specifically designed for a purpose (example, thoroughbreds were bred to race. Quarter horses are bred to cut cattle and barrel racing. Arabians are bred primarily for endurance and showing.) so someone who was interested in barrel racing would most likely be looking for a quarter horse (traditionally speaking, they are the best). However, you also often find appendix quarter horses, appaloosas, thoroughbreds and paints doing barrel racing. So generally speaking, most people look at the horses abilities and not what breed it is.

I am sorry to hear about your grandpa, that would definately be traumatizing. And I agree... always ask the owners permission!