Buying Your First Horse

How to Buy Your First Horse

 

          So your parents have decided your responsible enough to own a horse? Or you’ve finally saved up on your own? Great! But before you jump at the first horse you see, there are many things to consider first.

          Before even looking for a horse yet, ask yourself these questions.

          -What kind of riding will I do?

          -Am I financially prepared?

                    -There are a lot more expenses after buying the horse

          -What type of horse do I want?

         

          After answering these questions, consider these qualifications for your perfect horse.

         

Gender

Generally, if you are inexperienced, you will want to get a gelding or a mare. Geldings are more quiet than mares, but both are suitable. Avoid stallions for beginners. They are hot tempered and tend to be more wild, especially when there are mares around.

 

Age

The prime years in a horse’s life are between 7 and 11 years old. Try to avoid getting any horses younger then 7 as they are still maturing and may not listen to your aids.

 

Experience

What kind of experience do you have? If you are a beginner, you should start with a quiet tempered horse who is responsive to your aids. Avoid horses who spook or are ‘flighty’ a lot if the times, as they can be dangerous for beginners.

If you are more experienced, a horse with a little more ‘spunk’ may be right for you.

 

Color

Color doesn’t play a big factor in choosing a horse then other qualifications. However, some colors aren’t right for certain areas. Albinos and horses with pink skin are prone to catching a sunburn in hot climates, such as Florida. If you choose one of these horses, make sure you use sunscreen on the areas prone.

 

Size

If you are 6 ft, you are not going to want a small pony. Likewise, if you are 4 ft, you are not going to want a 17 hand horse. Find a horse that is suitable for your size. A horse that is too big or too small for you will not allow you to give your aids correctly.

 

Health

Make sure you find out if the horse is healthy and sound or not. If you can, it’s a good idea to get a vet to look over your potential horse to be sure.

 

Take a Test Ride

Make sure the horse is responsive to your aids and that you feel comfortable with him. If you intend on using him for jumping, take him over a jump. Or around a couple of barrels.

 

Trial

Most horse owners will allow you to take the horse home for a trial period. This is a good chance to see of you and your horse are really suited for each other. This also gives you an opportunity to see if he was tranquilized, any stable vices he may have, and how he adapts to change. If you find out he is not right for you, you can return him to his owner.

 

Where to Look

There are a lot of places to look for horses for sale, such as:

-Classifieds

-Internet

-Horse magazines

-Associations

-Feed and Tack store ads

-Your riding stable

-Local stables

-Auctions

-Vet

-Adoption

 

And, finally, take an experienced horse person with you to look for your first horse. It can be a vet, farrier, trainer, or even a friend as long as they know what you’re looking for. They may notice things you don’t and ask questions you wouldn’t think of asking yourself.

 

And if you find your perfect horse, try negotiating the price. You may be surprised.