So You Want To Buy A Horse Here's what you need to know to make your horse buying experience successful.
First things first: Owning a horse is much more expensive than owning a dog or cat, and requires a lot more skill and knowledge.
Keep mind that a horse is a prey animal (not a predator like a dog or cat) that weighs over 1,000 lbs, whose main defense is to run like crazy away from a scary thing (which could be a plastic garbage bag), and whose digestive systems only work in one direction. (If you feed a horse something harmful, he can’t vomit. Instead, his stomach will rupture.) Six Vital Horse Facts That Every Horse Owner Needs to Know Board or Keep Your Horse at Home? Before you buy a horse, check out the boarding facilities in your area to see how much boarding costs are. You will need people who are knowledgeable to take care of your horse for you. Don’t plan on keeping the horse on your property unless you’re very knowledgeable about what can cause a horse to colic, what to do about colic, what choke is, which weeds are toxic to horses, which feed regimens are suitable and which will harm your horse, how to take a horse's vital signs, and how to administer first aid to a horse—to name just a few things you’ll need to know. Deciding Whether to Board Your Horse Or Keep Him At Home Three Questions You Must Ask When Deciding Where to Board Your Horse If you’re new to riding, also budget for riding lessons. Riding a horse is like being on a moving wobble board that has its own mind. You’ll need instruction to keep yourself and your horse safe. How Much Does It Cost To Keep a Horse? How to Tell Whether You Have a Good Riding Instructor Which Breed to Buy?
Now, as to breeds: If you are a beginner, avoid hot breeds like thoroughbreds and Arabians. Look instead for Quarterhorses, Appaloosas, and warmblood-draft crosses, which tend to be very calm horses. If you’re looking mostly for trail riding, I’d also suggest looking for a gaited horse, such as a Tennessee Walking horse or a Rocky Mountain horse. These horses have a gait that is very easy to sit, and they typically have very sweet temperaments. If you're an experienced rider, look for a horse that has experience in your discipline of interest. Thoroughbreds and warmbloods excel in jumping, warmbloods are excellent in dressage, and Quarter horses, Appaloosas, and Thoroughbreds do very well in barrel racing. Other breeds can also do well in these disciplines, depending on the horse's conformation and training. Sites such as Dream Horse Classifieds and EquineNow - Horses for Sale list horses for sale. You can search according to a number of different features, such as breed, age, temperament, training, geographic location, and price. Now, Find a Good Trainer I’d also recommend having an experienced trainer or horse owner assist you in finding a suitable mount. When you go to see a horse that sounds suitable, have the horse’s owner or trainer ride the horse while you and your expert watch, then have your expert ride the horse, then ride the horse yourself. If you don’t feel safe, it’s best to pass on the horse. When you make an offer to buy a horse, make the offer contingent on the horse passing a veterinarian purchase exam (vet check). The vet will make sure the horse is sound (no lameness issues) and is suitable for the kind of riding you plan to do. Be sure you get a bill of sale transferring ownership to you. And you might also ask to have the sale contract specify a “right of first refusal” for the horse, which means that if you decide to sell the horse, the previous owner is given the right to buy the horse back first, before you seek other buyers. A Young Horse or A Mature Horse? One last important bit of information: Do NOT buy a young horse unless you are a very experienced rider. They are spookier and typically unsuitable for inexperienced riders. Horses can live to be 30 or older, so a horse that is 10, 15, or even 20 years old can bring you a decade or more of riding happiness. Happy Riding! Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD April 24, 2018; updated April 25, 2018 The Thinking Equestrian As long as you’re here, check these out! Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better! Training and Riding tips for Everyone What to Feed A Horse Protect Yourself from Liability with The Right Kind of Insurance Six Vital Horse Facts That Every Horse Owner Absolutely Must Know Common Horse Ailments and How to Treat Them |
Denise Cummins has over 30 years experience as an equestrian and horse business owner. In The Thinking Equestrian, she shares valuable tips on caring for and training horses, giving riding instruction, and running a successful horse business.
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