Basic Horse Ownership

University of Maryland Extension (UME) is a non-formal education system within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR). All programs offered within Extension are based on research and data generated at land grant Universities and all programs are open to the general public. UME has equine educators and specialists in several counties in Maryland that offer a variety of programs and publications for horse owners. Author: Erika Crowl; Title: University of Maryland Extension Resources for Horse Owners (EBR-51)

If you are in the market for a horse, take your time and do your homework. Determine your goals for both you and your horse and develop a prioritized list of requirements for your horse.  The list may include breed, gender, height, disposition, conformation, movement, previous use, or breeding potential.  This publication provides a helpful list of goals and priorities to fill in before you begin shopping for your new horse. 

Horses are expensive to care for, and the costs can quickly become burdensome unless they are managed carefully. It is possible, however, to reduce horse care costs while providing a high standard of care. Before you can cut expenses, you must have a good understanding of your horse-related expenses. Once you have a thorough understanding of your expenses, you can begin to consider ideas for reducing them using the tips on feeding, boarding, farrier and veterinary care and supplies detailed in this publication.

Have you ever lost a horse or made the difficult decision to euthanize a horse? Then what do you do? Properly handling a large animal after it has passed away can be difficult. Publication EB-421 from the University of MD Extension helps guide horse owners in each MD county in the disposal options available.