Outgrowing the riding school?
You've been riding at a riding school for a while and are thinking about a horse or pony of your own. What the purchase price tells you — and what boarding, feed, farrier, vet, insurance and lessons add on top.
Past the pony-book phaseWhat to read here.
Arthritis and Bone Spavin in Horses: Recognizing and Managing It
What arthritis is, why bone spavin is the best-known form, the warning signs, and how to keep an arthritic horse working through exercise and a plan.
6 min readAssessing Hay and Haylage Quality: Recognizing Good Forage
How to judge hay quality by color, smell, and feel, what to check with haylage, and when a forage analysis is worth doing.
6 min readAuxiliary Reins: Types, How They Work, and the Limits of Their Use
What side reins, Lauffer reins, chambons, and draw reins do, when auxiliary reins make sense, and why correct lunging usually works better.
6 min readBuying a First Pony for Your Child: What Parents Should Look For
When buying your own pony makes sense, why well-behaved beats pretty, how to choose the right size, and what to expect after the purchase — a guide for parents.
6 min readCushing's Disease (PPID) in Horses: Signs, Diagnosis, and Daily Management
How to recognize Cushing's disease (PPID) in an older horse, how the vet makes the diagnosis, and how to manage daily feed and laminitis prevention.
6 min readHorse Podcasts: Dutch and English-Language Shows by Topic
An overview of horse and equestrian podcasts — Dutch and English-language shows on welfare, training, mindset, and news, and how to choose.
6 min readEquine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) in Horses: Signs, Diagnosis, and Management
What EMS is, how to recognize the signs, how it differs from Cushing's, and why weight loss and management are the real treatment.
6 min readFlies, Horseflies, and Midges: Protecting Your Horse in Insect Season
Why insects do more damage than you would think, which protection fits which situation, from fly mask to sweet itch sheet, and when to call the vet.
5 min readGastric Ulcers in Horses: Vague Signs, Clear Causes
How to recognize gastric ulcers (EGUS) in your horse, which stable and feeding factors cause them, and what management can prevent.
6 min readGroundwork with Your Horse: Why It Pays Off and How to Start
What groundwork is, what it does for trust and safety, what equipment you need, and five basic exercises to get started.
6 min readHeat Stress in Horses: Recognizing, Cooling, and Preventing It
How to recognize heat stress in your horse, why plenty of cold water is the best first aid, and how to plan hot days around riding, turnout, and transport.
5 min readHoof Abscess: The Sudden Lameness That Usually Ends Well
How to recognize a hoof abscess by sudden lameness, a warm hoof, and throbbing pain, what to do yourself, and when to call the vet.
5 min readImporting a Horse to the Netherlands: Paperwork, Vetting, and Transport
What's involved in a cross-border purchase: viewing at a distance, the on-site vetting, the contract, paperwork, transport, and the total costs.
6 min readIntroducing a New Horse to the Herd
How to introduce a new horse to the herd step by step: settling-in period, meeting over the fence, joining the group — and when to step in.
6 min readNatural Horsemanship: What It Is and What You Can Use from It
What natural horsemanship involves, how it differs from regular training, what the criticism is, and which principles any rider can use.
6 min readMares in Heat: Normal Behavior and When It's Something More
What being in heat means for mares, what behavior is normal during the cycle, how to handle it in training and competition, and when to call the vet.
6 min readNavicular Disease in Horses: Recognizing It and Managing It
What the navicular region is, why the term covers several conditions, the signs to watch for, and how to manage it with vet and farrier.
6 min readPhysiotherapist, Osteopath, or Chiropractor: Paramedical Care for Your Horse
When a physiotherapist, osteopath, or chiropractor can help your horse, why the vet always comes first, and how to recognize a good practitioner.
6 min readSaying Goodbye to Your Horse: Deciding, Arranging, and Grieving
How to judge whether it's time, what to arrange around euthanasia, and why grieving a horse deserves serious attention.
6 min readStable Vices: Understanding Weaving, Wind-Sucking and Stall-Walking
What weaving, wind-sucking and stall-walking are, why punishing or blocking them doesn't work, and how movement, forage and company reduce it.
6 min readSurviving Stall Rest: Keeping Your Horse Mentally and Physically Whole
Why stall rest is prescribed, why it's hard on a horse, and how to limit stress, stomach issues, and boredom until it can move again.
6 min readToxic Plants for Horses: Which Ones to Know and What to Do
Toxic plants for horses — ragwort, yew, sycamore maple, acorns — where the danger lies, how to prevent it, and what to do if you suspect poisoning.
6 min readTraining a Spooky Horse: From Tension to Trust
Why horses spook, which causes to rule out first, and how desensitizing, groundwork, and a calm rider build trust step by step.
6 min readWhere Can You Ride a Horse in the Netherlands: Forests, Beaches, and Bridle Paths
Outside public roads, the land manager decides where you can ride. How bridle paths, permits, and beach rules work, and how to find legal routes.
6 min readYour First Trail Ride: Preparation, Group Riding, and Getting Home Safely
When you're ready for your first trail ride, why an experienced companion horse is the golden rule, and what to agree on the way.
6 min readReading KWPN Studbook Papers: Pedigree and Predicates Explained
What studbook papers and predicates like Ster, Keur, and PROK mean when you're buying a horse — and what they don't guarantee.
6 min readThe Pre-Purchase Exam: What Happens and What the Results Mean
How a pre-purchase exam works, what clinical and X-ray checks cover, what it costs, and how to read the results.
6 min readLiability Insurance for Your Horse: What WA Covers — and What It Doesn't
How to insure against damage your horse causes: when your AVP is enough, when a separate liability policy makes sense, and which gray areas to ask about.
5 min readInsured as a Rider or Co-Rider: How Cover Works on Someone Else's Horse
Which insurance matters on someone else's horse: your liability policy and its custody clause, accident cover, and a co-riding contract.
5 min readInsuring a Horse Trailer or Truck: How the Coverage Works
How to insure a horse trailer or truck: what the car's liability covers, when hull coverage makes sense, and how the horse is covered en route.
5 min readRegistering a Horse in Belgium: How HorseID Works
How mandatory horse registration in Belgium works through HorseID: who must register, what gets recorded, and the key deadlines.
5 min readLandelijke Rijvereniging (LRV): Club Riding in Flanders
What the Landelijke Rijvereniging (LRV) is, how the federation and local clubs work together, which disciplines it offers, and how to join.
5 min readRider Insurance in Belgium: Family Policy, Club Cover, and Horse Insurance
How riders in Belgium get insured: the familiale policy, what club membership covers, and which standalone horse insurance policies exist.
5 min readBest Horse Breeds for Beginners: Why Temperament Matters Most
Why temperament and training matter more than breed for a beginner rider, with an overview of cold-blood, warmblood, and hot-blood types.
5 min readThe Downsides of Owning Your Own Horse
The less-discussed downsides of owning a horse: the time commitment, financial risks, and emotional weight, for anyone considering a purchase.
5 min readRiding Without Owning a Horse: Co-Riding, Care Horses, and Leasing
Co-rider, care horse, half-board, or lease: how to ride more cheaply and gain experience without owning a horse, and how to find a spot.
5 min readSpotting a Neglected or Unhappy Horse When Buying
Physical and behavioral signs that can point to neglect or poor welfare when you go to view a horse, and what to do about them.
5 min readTransporting a Horse in Hot Weather: The Rules and What Changes in 2027
How hot can it be when you transport a horse? The current limit, the new 30-degree limit from 1 April 2027, and tips to prevent heat stress.
4 min readTransporting Your Own Horse: What You Need as a Private Individual
Do you need to register to transport your own horse? Usually not. What's required, when it counts as 'commercial,' and what to bring. For NL and BE.
5 min readToo Fat or Too Thin: Assessing and Adjusting Your Horse's Weight
How to use the body condition score and a weigh tape to judge whether your horse is too fat or too thin, and adjust its weight gradually.
6 min readBasic Equipment for Your First Horse: What You Actually Need
Which equipment to get for your first horse, what can wait, and where you can sensibly cut costs.
5 min readBuilding a Stable Floor and Riding Arena That Actually Work
How to build or improve a riding arena and stable floor — layers, materials, drainage, and realistic costs for a surface that lasts for years.
6 min readCaring for a Senior Horse: Cushing's Disease, Weight, and Adjusted Care
What changes as your horse ages — from coat and weight issues to Cushing's disease (PPID), dental care, and an adjusted care routine.
5 min readChoosing and Fitting a Saddle That Actually Fits
How to choose a saddle that fits both your horse and you, what saddle fitting costs, and how to prevent back problems from a poorly fitting saddle.
5 min readChoosing the Right Horse Bit: Types and How They Work
Which bit suits your horse? An overview of the common types, how they act on the mouth, and how to arrive at the right choice.
5 min readColic in Horses: Recognizing Symptoms and What to Do Right Away
Recognize colic from your horse's behavior, judge how serious it is, and know exactly when to call the vet — a practical triage guide.
5 min readCommon Skin Problems in Horses: From Rain Rot to Sarcoids
Bald patches, scabs, and lumps: how to tell common horse skin problems apart and know when to call the vet.
6 min readDaily Horse Care: The Basic Routine
What daily horse care involves — feeding, water, stall, turnout, and checks, in a fixed routine that's easy to keep up.
4 min readHow Much Time Does Owning a Horse Take per Day?
How much time a horse of your own takes each day — from a few hours a week at a boarding stable to several hours a day when kept at home.
5 min readDeworming Horses: When, How Often, and Why Fecal Egg Counts Are Smarter
When and how often to deworm a horse, why fecal egg counts are replacing fixed schedules, and how to prevent resistance.
5 min readRecognizing Eye and Ear Problems in Horses
A watery or squinting eye, or a horse shaking its head: how to read the signals, what to do yourself, and when to call the vet.
5 min readFinding and Judging a Good Boarding Stable
How to find and assess a reliable boarding stable — what to look for on a visit, which questions to ask, and which signals should raise alarm bells.
6 min readThe first month with your new horse
How to help a new horse settle calmly into its stable, herd and rider — feed, health and routine in the first weeks.
5 min readArranging Half-Board or an Exercise Rider: Agreements and Contract
Sharing costs and time with a half-boarder or exercise rider — the agreements you make about days, money, care, and liability, and what belongs in writing.
5 min readHoof Care and the Farrier: Trimming, Shoeing, and Costs
How often the farrier should come, what trimming and shoeing cost, and how a fixed hoof routine helps prevent lameness.
5 min readBoarding Your Horse With Someone Else: The Boarding Contract
What belongs in a boarding contract for a horse at a boarding yard, and how liability is divided between the owner and the yard operator.
6 min readFull Board, Half-Board, or Your Own Stable: Which Fits You
Full board, half-board and keeping a horse at home compared on money, time and control — with realistic monthly costs and when each option pays off.
5 min readYour Horse's Teeth: Dental Checks, Floating, and Warning Signs
How often to have your horse's teeth checked, what floating involves, and which eating or bit problems point to a dental issue.
5 min readHorse First Aid: Building a Kit and Treating Wounds
What belongs in a first aid kit for your horse, and how to assess, clean, and bandage a wound until the vet arrives.
5 min readHorse Insurance in the Netherlands: Which Policies Do You Need?
Which horse insurance policies make sense once you own a horse — from liability to covering colic and surgery costs.
5 min readHorse Lease and Co-Riding Contracts: What to Put in Writing
How to put a co-riding, half-board, or lease arrangement for your horse in writing — who pays what, who's liable, and what the contract covers.
5 min readLeg Protection for Horses: Tendon Boots, Fetlock Boots, and Bandages
When your horse needs leg protection, which type serves which purpose, and why fitting it wrong can do more harm than good.
5 min readManure, Manure Color, and Digestion: What It Says About Your Horse
What normal horse manure looks like, what unusual color, consistency, or diarrhea can mean, and when to call the vet.
5 min readHorse Owner Liability: Who Pays When Your Horse Causes Damage
How liability for damage caused by your horse works in the Netherlands, when you're on the hook, and which insurance covers it.
5 min readPassport, Chip, and Registration: The Paperwork of Horse Ownership
What paperwork follows a horse purchase — transferring the passport, the chip, and mandatory registration with the studbook and RVO.
5 min readThe Horse Passport: Requirements and Microchip Explained
Which registration is legally required for your horse, how the microchip works, and what the food-chain page in the passport means.
5 min readBuying a Horse: The Purchase Contract and Your Rights
What to put in a purchase contract and what protection you have against hidden defects — the difference between buying privately and buying from a dealer.
5 min readVAT Rules for the Horse Sector: How It Works
Which VAT rate and scheme apply to boarding, teaching, and horse trading — the outline for anyone starting a stable or business.
5 min readHorse Supplements: What Actually Works
When a supplement is worth it and when it isn't — joint supplements, electrolytes, and the rest, with a clear-eyed look at the claims.
6 min readBuying or Renting a Horse Trailer: What to Check
Which type of horse trailer suits you, what buying versus renting costs, and what to check when buying — from the floor and brakes to inspection and insurance.
6 min readTransporting Your Horse Safely: Trailer, Truck, and the First Ride
How to transport a horse safely: choosing a trailer or truck, calm loading, securing it well, smooth driving, and building up the first ride.
6 min readHorse Vaccination Schedule: Shots, Timing, and KNHS Rules
Which vaccinations your horse needs, how often to repeat them, and the influenza requirement the KNHS sets for competing.
5 min readHow Much to Feed Your Horse: Hay, Concentrate Feed, and Daily Amounts
How to work out how much hay and concentrate feed your horse needs per day, based on its weight and the work it does.
5 min readFeeding Your Horse Well: Hay, Concentrates, and Supplements
How to build a ration around forage, match concentrates to workload, and prevent colic and overweight with gradual feed changes.
5 min readFrom Hobby to Business: KvK Registration, Tax, and Legal Structure
When horse trading or teaching becomes a business, whether you need to register with the KvK, and which business structure and tax rules apply.
6 min readLameness in Horses: Finding the Sore Leg and When to Call the Vet
How to recognize an irregular gait, locate the sore leg, judge how serious it is, and know when to call the vet right away.
6 min readLaminitis in Horses: Causes, First Aid, and Prevention
How to recognize laminitis in horses, what to do during an acute attack, and how to reduce the risk in spring.
5 min readLoading and Transporting Your Horse Safely
How to load your horse into a trailer calmly and without stress, transport it safely to a lesson or show, and prevent loading problems.
5 min readMud Fever in Horses: Treating and Preventing Those Stubborn Scabs
Mud fever causes scabs and swollen lower legs that are easy to spot but slow to clear. Here's how to treat it and stop it coming back.
4 min readWorm-Free Pasture: Pasture Management to Reduce Parasite Load
How manure removal, pasture rotation, and targeted deworming keep parasite pressure low on your pasture — without deworming more than necessary.
5 min readReady for Your Own Horse? A Realistic Checklist
A realistic checklist for deciding whether owning your own horse is a sound move — money, time, experience, and life stage covered.
5 min readRecognizing Colic and Other Emergencies in Horses
How to recognize colic and other acute emergencies in your horse in time, what to do yourself, and when to call the vet immediately.
5 min readRespiratory Problems in Horses: Coughing, Heaves, and Stable Dust
What coughing and labored breathing can mean, which signs to take seriously, and how to reduce dust in the stable.
5 min readRiding Safety: Helmets, Body Protectors, and Airbag Vests
What protection you need on a horse, which certification marks matter for a riding helmet and body protector, and when an airbag vest is worth it.
5 min readRiding Safely on Public Roads With Your Horse
Which traffic rules and gear apply when you take your horse on public roads, and how to approach a trail ride safely.
5 min readSaddle Fit Explained
How to tell if your saddle fits, which signals point to a poor fit, and when to call in a saddle fitter or vet.
5 min readSeasonal Coat Care for Horses: Clipping, Blankets, and Shedding
When to clip a horse, when a blanket is needed, and how to adjust seasonal care for coat, sweat, and weather.
5 min readStable Fire Safety: Prevention and Preparedness
How to limit a horse stable's fire risk — from hay storage and electrical wiring to an evacuation plan that holds up under pressure.
6 min readStable Management and Hygiene: A Healthy Environment for Your Horse
How to set up a healthy horse stable — bedding, ventilation, mucking out and hygiene that protect the airways, hooves and skin.
5 min readSweet Itch in Horses Explained: Managing the Itch Through Summer
What sweet itch is, how to recognize it, and how to manage the itch with rugs, shelter, and skin care through summer.
5 min readTendon Injuries in Horses: Recognizing, Cooling, and the Long Road to Recovery
How to recognize a thickened tendon or warm leg after exercise, what to do right away, and why recovering from a tendon injury takes so much patience.
6 min readThe Horse That Doesn't Fit: Retraining, Trading, or Selling
What to do if your first horse doesn't fit — understand the mismatch and choose between retraining, half-board, or selling responsibly.
5 min readDriver's License and Weight: Are You Allowed to Tow This Trailer?
Which driver's license you need to tow a horse trailer, how to calculate the permitted weight, and where the category B limit lies.
6 min readTurnout and Outdoor Living: How Much and How Safely
How much turnout a horse needs, how to build it up safely, and which spring risks to avoid with turnout and outdoor living.
5 min readVeterinary Health Care: Vaccinations, Deworming, and Dental Care
What veterinary care is routine for a horse of your own — vaccination schedule, tailored deworming, and the annual dental check.
4 min readWhen to Call the Vet: Urgency Levels, Emergencies, and Visit Costs
How to judge whether your horse's complaint can wait or is an emergency, what to report by phone, and what a vet visit costs.
5 min readBuying Your First Horse: What to Look For
A practical guide to buying your first horse — where to look, what a pre-purchase vetting involves, and the most common beginner mistakes.
7 min readHow Much Does Horse Riding Cost per Month? Prices for the Netherlands and Belgium
How much does horse riding or owning a horse cost per month? Realistic 2026 prices for lessons, half-board and ownership in the Netherlands and Belgium.
5 min readWhat everyone asks.
What does a horse of my own cost per month, all in?+
In the Netherlands, €500–€900 per month on average. Specifically: boarding €350–€700, feed/extras €50–€100, farrier €60–€120 every 6–8 weeks (€30–€60/month averaged), vet/vaccinations €30–€80 averaged over the year, insurance €15–€40, lessons €100–€300. Keeping the horse at your own stable is cheaper in rent but costs more time.
What's the difference between full board, half-board and your own stable?+
Full board: everything taken care of (feed, mucking out, turnout). Half-board: you share the horse and its costs with another rider, each riding a few days per week. Your own stable: you do everything yourself — lower in cost, but 1–2 hours of daily care work.
What should I look for in a pre-purchase examination?+
A clinical exam (€250+) checks hooves, heart, lungs and mouth, and palpates pressure points. An extended exam (€500–€800) adds X-rays — a must for any purchase above €5,000. Undiscovered arthritis, lameness or OCD costs you many times more later.
Amounts shown are indicative — actual rates differ per provider, region and season.
On to
first competitions.
You have your own horse and want to start competing. The route from applying for a start permit to your first show: choosing a discipline, choosing a class, and what to bring on the day itself.