MsBear, I'm getting to this "party" a bit late, but as a horsewoman for well, I guess about 30 years, I just wanted to add my 2 cents. : ) Tuff said it best, just let the negative comments go, and pick out what is helpful. Congratulations on being the proud owner of a Haflinger! When properly filled out, they are beautiful horses and I think you have a very good horse for your first horse. Too many people get some young pretty thing and try to put their kids on them, green and green don't go together. This horse is mature and so far seems to be exhibiting a typical Haflinger disposition. They are known for having steady, quiet, and calm temperments. They generally aren't crazy about running around a lot, and you won't find any of them being used as race horses, but I think they are really great esp. for beginners and kids. Many of them do get trained to pull carts, they are built well for that. I love Haflingers myself and have been trying to find one for nearly-adult disabled daughter. Shes a big tall girl and I know a Haflinger can support her weight just fine, yet they are lower to the ground than most any full-size horses and she can get on easier. I haven't been able to find an available Haflinger arond here yet, and they are quite exspensive to purchase. I recently bought an older QH mare that is kid-safe for $500, but the cheapest Haflingers I have seen around here are about $2000, and thats with minimal training. Again, they are very mellow, gentle horses (generally speaking, every horse has its own personality), and despite their large size they are also known to be "easy-keepers". Once you get his weight up to where it should be, you will probably find that pasture and good grass-hay is all he will need. Most horses never need any concentrates unless they need weight-gain, are in training or pregnant or are real performance horses. A good book is a great idea, may I suggest "Horse Owner's Veterinary Handbook". You can possibly find one on
ebay pretty cheap. This book is my horse-bible, lol! It contains pretty much any info you could possibly need( its pretty thick). I have yet to come across any problem or question I have encountered that it doesn't have information on. Most of the time I look it up in my book first, and then I will know if I need the vet or not.
One thing I would recommend is that when you are getting a saddle, there is a very specific type of saddle you will need and saddles are not cheap. Get as educated as you can before you put the money in a saddle, you do not want to end up with an ill-fitting saddle that you can't use. Any saddle does not fit any horse. I have 5 horses and they all have to have their own saddle that fits them. Because Haflingers are so wide, they have to have saddles made for draft breeds and draft crosses, they actually make a Haflinger saddle. Saddle fit is very important, because poor-fitting tack can cause a horse great discomfort which can in turn cause behavioral problems, not to mention saddle sores and all kinds of other issues.
Anyway, best of luck, you have a very handsome boy,(um, I guess I should say boys and count your 2-legged one as well, lol!), I think you have years of horse-happiness ahead of you. : )
