Horses

If you have the time, space, and can afford the expense, a horse can make a great pet.  Horses are very loving and social animals.  They can be a person's best friend, and trusted companion.  A horse is a huge investment, however, and will be around for a long time.  In fact the average lifespan of a horse can be well over twenty years.  The famous Trigger lived to be 31. 

Horses can be trained to do many things, like hunting, swimming, trick riding, roping, barrel racing, showing, trail riding, and much more.  Horses are very hardy creatures, and can survive extreme cold and heat as long as they have some kind of shelter to block wind and sun, and access to food and fresh water.

Horses can be very expensive, however, and not just horse feed and hay in the winter when there is no grass.  You have to think about finding a farrier for shoeing and hoof care, regulare vet care, deworming, supplements to keep him at his best, and tack and supplies.  Take all these things into consideration before you buy a horse so that you have some idea what you're getting into.  Once you know you can afford it, a horse can be great for the whole family, maybe even one horse for each person!  Horses are herd animals after all.