I’m sure a lot of parents out there have listened to their child talk about how much they want a horse. Every Christmas and birthday they beg you for a horse until you either give in or tell them it will never happen. Which brings me onto this question, are horses good gift ideas for children?

Below are some points for and against this gift idea:

Potentially Dangerous

Some people may not agree with this, but horses are potentially dangerous. Think about it; they’re much bigger and stronger than you and your children. If startled, they can run and trample all over you. It can be risky buying your child a present that could potentially harm them. On the other hand, if you treat the horse properly, this won’t be an issue. My advice is to gain some knowledge of owning a horse before you buy one. This will help you know the right things to do, and what to avoid. Hopefully, it means the horse won’t be dangerous, and you’ll feel more comfortable buying one for your children.

Expensive To Maintain

Firstly, buying a horse is a lot more expensive than buying most other pets. They’re big animals, and can set you back a fair bit. Then, you have to think about the maintenance costs as well. There’s no way you can keep one in your house, so, you have to find a field for it, and a stable. This can cost money too, as you’ll likely have to rent from a farmer or someone. And, you have to think about transporting it around. During the winter, it may need to be moved to a more suitable location. This means finding a vehicle that can hold a horse and take it places. So, you better start looking to see if there’s a horsebox for sale nearby. Alternatively, you could rent one, but either choice will cost money. Horses are expensive gifts, can your afford to pay for them?

Lots Of Potential

One of the arguments for a horse as a gift is that they carry lots of potential. A horse is unlike any other animal that you buy your children. Dogs and cats are cute, but there’s not a lot you can do with them. With a horse, you open up a range of possibilities. Your child could take up horse riding lessons and discover a new talent. There are plenty of sports that you can play while riding on a horse as well. Plus, you can sell a horse for a lot more than a dog or cat. There’s a chance that your child may get bored of it after a few years. While this is sad, it’s not the end of the world. You can recoup a lot of the money you spent if you keep the horse in prime condition. And, if it’s been used for horse riding or other sports, then that’s even better. People will pay top money for a horse that’s in good physical condition. So you see, there’s a lot of potential that comes with a horse, making it a good gift idea.

Is a horse a good gift idea? If you can afford it and know how to look after it, then yes. If not, then you should look at more suitable ideas.