What would I be getting into?

To start off with I'd be looking for an old schooling horse that someone is looking to unload. Bomb-proof. I would go for something along the lines of an AQH, staying away from any of your flightier breeds. You would probably do yourself well to find somewhere to take some lessons, and preferably somewhere that encourages you to tack up yourself. You might even do well to volunteer to do some barnwork. Do these things and it will give you an idea if you really will fit well with having a horse on your property.

Oh, and someone mentioned leasing - great idea.

TY, dogslyfe much appreciated.  I was thinking the same thing about lessons as I haven't ridden in *gasp* thirty THIRTY 30 years....Lordy.     I was wondering if it is common practice to barter barn work for lessons?  Horse ownership is a Lonnnngggg way away.  I used to ride every day and I miss it. Jules

Hi there. Glad to see a new face who is interesed in horses! I'm Cherie by the way.[]
 
SO let me first tell you that adults are really very frequent new horse owners these days especially over 50's! So don't let it overwhelm you that there is so much to learn. We have many senior riders atht ehfarm I keep my horses at and I love them all and some are fairly new to horse ownership while others have been at it for many years.
 
First things first is to educate you. Way before you even think about what kind of horse to get you need to learn the basics. How to feed, gtroom, ride, and otherwise care for horses. Understand basic helath needs and concerns. It is really easy to kill a horse by over feeding, underfeeding, allowing it to drink or eat the wrong things especially after a workout.
 
So you need to read read read as much as you can on line and in books. Susbscribe to one or two magazines if you can. Find a local stable and take some lessons and tell the instructor your long term plans so they can help you prepare.
 
Leasing is a great next step. The stable I'm at offers people the chance to experience horse ownership over the winter by leasing out a hack horse.(hack is a horse that is rented out by the hour for recreation)
My leases are private owner leases but here is what they generally entail.
Owner provides the horse.
Leaser pays the board, vet fees, farrier. And gets to ride as often as they wish in all of the designated areas. We have many miles of trail riding as as well as the outdoor ring and indoor in winter. Leaser may not move the horse to another locaton or take it to shows etc without owners knowlage and permission.
Reason for leasing. You don't spend the large sum of money to buy a horse only to discover that it is not the right horse for you or that horse ownership is not for you. You can quit the lease and not loose anything but the monthly cost of maintaining the horse. You can gain experience befroe deciding what you want to buy for your self.
 
leasing can have its difficulties but it is a great way to really get experience befroe laying down all that money to buy a horse.
 
Before youget a horse you shoudl have:
Barn or pastrue with good run in shelter
Safe fencing.
Minimum of 3 acres per horse if you want them to not require hay in the summer. 5 axcres per horse is best.
Feed. Grain and hay for about a month to get started.
Halters and lead ropes. It is good to have spares.
Grooming tools. You can buy them in kits but here is the basics.
     Curry comb(rubber), mane comb, Soft bristle brush, hard bristle brush, hoof pick.
 
Don't buy the saddle until you buy the horse. You have to make sure the saddle fits. Very inportant!
 
Scout out feed suppliers, farriers, veterenarians, and tack shops ahead of time.
 
So bring on the questions![] But I warn you it is prime riding weatehr so I may not be here as often as I shoud so be paitent and I'll get back to you.[]
 
Oh and if you watn a trail riding horse don't get the old school horse. They tend to be sour and often are not experienced enough to handle the difficulties of trail riding well. Been there myself. Nothing like a horse that rears because it does not know how to go down a hill! So decide exactly what you want to do with your horse and go buy or lease one that has done it for years and is good at it. Go with a horse at least 10 years old or more. They live much longer these days. I got my first horse when he was 14 and he lived 22 more years and was ridden most of those years.
 
 

Oh and if you watn a trail riding horse don't get the old school horse.

I'm glad you pointed that out. At the barn where I learned the school horses were also trail horses too, so I would never have thought to suggest that. Thanks!

I would also reccomend leasing.  I would also caution against anyone new to horses keeping them at home in a self care situation.  Keeping horses is a lot like having 1200 lb toddlers.  []  It's a good way to get your feet wet with horses without having to take all of the responsibility on yourself. 
 
Like every one said, buying the horse is the cheapest part. 

It is really easy to kill a horse by over feeding, underfeeding, allowing it to drink or eat the wrong things especially after a workout.

Cherie you should give some specifics for lurkers and us late starters.

Many people will offer a trial period if you are interested in buying their horse. If they don't I would avoid buying from them. Take full advantage to make sure the horse is a good fit for you.

Thankyou VERY much for everyones input. Please please keep it up.  Okay a couple questions and if it's too much everyone can cover a 'chunk' that suits them.   
Will you clarify what exactly do you mean by 'old school' horse? I think I understand a 'trail' horse, for out riding countryside, hills, etc?   Dogslyfe mentioned about this first and the further we go the less I get it.  I will use a motorcycle for an analogy and hope I make sense and not sound offensive:  If I were to go out and buy a motorcycle as an inexperienced rider, I would not go out and buy a $35,000 custom show bike.  I would get a used, not fancy bike to hone my skills on.  This way if I were to accidentally dump or lay it down then it isn't gonna cost me dearly.  And a high performance bike is harder to handle and costlier to own.  Is this the right track about owning an 'old school' horse?
Next post different subject questions.   Jules

About feeding:  is there a difference between 'coastal hay' and other hay?  What's the diff between hay and alfalfa? I don't mean by looks, I can tell them apart visually  lol
Do horses get bored with their feed? Do they crave sweets?  I have heard of skinny/underweight horses, do horses get fat? Is that bad?
Does hay, straw, alfalfa, etc go bad? How much of a supply can you buy in advance?
Do horses get cold?
Do they need salt blocks or is that some kind of treat?
I have heard mention several times about 'floating teeth' :  what the heck does that mean?
Do 'only' horses get lonely or does human companionship sustain them socially?
Jules

Okay Jules I'll give it a try with my limited knowledge.

An old school horse is an older bomb-proof horse that is/was used to give riding lessons. I wouldn't trust how it would act on a trail or road etc... If you want to trail ride buy a horse that is used to trail riding. Unless you plan on training for other stuff. (this from the person who bought a retired a roping horse for trail riding.) But every horse is different. My Jet is a happy camper with his leisurely life of trails. My riding partner K (aka Titanium Grammy) has an older retired roping horse. He is fine but if he sees a C-O-W running there could be a rodeo.

There are different kinds of hay. coastal, timothy, Ssudan, etc... I don't know much about the different kinds. I think it is a regional thing. Everyone here in Texas feeds Coastal. Some feed Sudan but I was told it can be too acid horses. Horses eat 2 to 2.5 percent of their body weight in feed every day. Half should be hay.

Hay(coastal, etc...) is a grass anywhere from 3 to 15 percent protien.
Alfalfa or clover is a legume 20 percent crude protien.
In Texas we have blister beetles highly toxic to horses and have to have alfalfa shipped in from New Mexico. If alfalfa gets wet and moldy it will make a horse sick.
It is cheaper to buy hay ahead but of course needs to be kept clean and dry.

Horses do get fat. My Tonto gets cold in freezing temps because he doesn't get much of a winter coat. Jet gets a thick teddy bear winter coat.

Horses teeth get long and need to be filed down called floating. Their teeth can get so long and sharp that they have a hard time eating and can cut up the insides of their mouths. Make sure you get a good "horse dentist" to do this. I have a vet that does the floating different from my reg vet. Some vets just file the teeth down.

Horses need a good salt mineral block. It helps prevent colic/impactions.

Horses are herd animals. They can get lonely. Some horse are good "only" horses. My Tonto is much better with another horse around. Some are fine with just a goat or other pal.

Hi, Jules! Everyone here is giving you some great advice! You're going to love owning a horse, in spite of the bathing and teeth floating and sheath-cleaning issues. (By the way, I don't do that either, except for "popping the bean" every couple years!)
 
MK, I've been feeding sudan grass for 35+ years. The horses love it, and there are no health issues. It just has to be cut and dried for hay; it can't be grazed.

So far I'm gettin it better.    does bomb = me ?  or does bomb = mistakes? 
Dare I even ask....am I gonna die reading the answer.....
"popping the bean" ????
I think a couple thousand barn chores and several hundred riding lessons will help [sm=blush.gif]    Jules
PS danehaven did you see the part on my intro regarding whether or not to 'geld' a stable full of husbands? lol

Bomb proof means spook proof.  Basically a bomb could go off next to the horse and he would be like, "Whatever."  [] 
 
Horses are herd animals.  I think horses do much better when they have at least 1 buddy.  I'm sure a single horse could be kept and be happy and healthy, but it's not an optimal situaiton, IMO. 

[sm=party.gif]OOohh now I get it )  I was thinkin 'idiot' proof lol  Pheww!
Jules

For the record, I don't think there is such a thing as "bomb proof". You just have to find the right bomb.

Jules would you like me to post instructions for "popping the bean"???[sm=devil.gif]

laffin!  Okay I'm seatbelted at my deskchair, and I'm holding the handrails I had installed for this information:  lay it on me....tranquilizers at the ready lol    Jules