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Tips on buying your first horse.

So you’ve made the exciting decision to purchase your first horse for yourself or for your child.  So now that you’ve given yourself the go ahead, now what?  Too often, due to the lack of knowledge this experience can turn into a disaster quickly.

So what are some questions that you need to be asking yourself?  The first one should be “am I ready for a horse?” or “is my child ready for a horse?”  Be honest with yourself, how experienced of a rider are you or your child?  Has your riding experience been years of lessons from a reputable instructor or just a couple of family vacations at a dude ranch?  If your only experience has been riding a couple of times at a dude ranch, you may want to take a step back, take some riding lessons and then see if you still want the big commitment of owning your own horse.  If you think your riding ability is adequate and you want to enhance it further, then here are some points to consider regarding purchasing your first horse.

The cost of the horse is only the beginning and know that a horse is not an investment.  He will need to eat 365 days a year, he’ll need his feet trimmed and shoed every 6 to 8 weeks, he’ll need yearly inoculations, de-worming every couple of months and dental care, yearly if not more frequently.  If he gets sick on injured, there’ll be extra vet bills as well.  You’ll need to buy tack and equipment for your horse and proper riding attire for yourself.  There is also the cost of boarding him if you’re not lucky enough to have your own place and room to keep him.  These are just a few of the costs to consider but if you know what you’re getting yourself into, the joy and freedom a horse can give you are endless. 

Take your time in searching for a horse and don’t let someone pressure you into buying a horse right away.  Plus in the process, you’ll learn more about horses and it’ll help you sort out exactly what you want in a horse.

Make a list of what you’re looking for in your ideal horse.  What price range can you comfortably afford?  What riding activity will you be participating in such as barrel racing, dressage or trail riding?  Do you want a horse that you can ride now?  Then you need a horse already trained in that discipline.  A good rule of thumb, don’t be influence by the color or the markings.  If you’re a beginner rider, it’s always wise to look for an older, well-trained horse that is kind enough to teach you how to ride correctly.  What breed of horse best suits your goal discipline?  For example, quarter horses are better suited for barrel racing than a large warmblood.  Does it matter if your horse is registered or a grade horse, which is an unregistered horse?  How old of a horse do you want?   Again if you’re a beginner, stay away from the young horses and stallions.  If an older horse is sound (no major physical problems) they can have years of service ahead of them.  An advantage in buying an older horse is that its purchase price is frequently lower and the amount of training and experience is greater.  How much training do you want your horse to have will influence the price. 

Now that you have a list of qualifications you want your new horse to have, it’s time to start your search.  There are numerous places to look for a horse; such as asking your horse friends, your instructor if you have one, the bulletin board in feed stores and tack shops, the internet, and the newspaper’s classified ads.

Make a list of horses that you think will fit your qualifications and make some phone calls to the sellers.  Ask the seller questions with your qualification list in mind.  If the horse sounds like it fits what you’re looking for, make an appointment to see the horse, grab a knowledgeable horse friend and go have a look and a trial ride.

When you get to the seller’s, look at the horse and see if he looks healthy and well cared for?  Observe the owner as he/she approaches the horse.  Does the horse stand still with his ears pricked forward, calmly waiting to be caught or does he charge the door of the stall or the handler?  Does he bare his teeth at the handler?  If the horse is in the pasture can the owner catch him easily?  Once the horse has been caught, how does he lead?  Does he follow relaxed or does he pull back, run the owner over or act spooky?  Does each step strike the ground evenly and with the same amount of force?  Uneven steps or strides could be some type of lameness in the horse.

Look for signs of the horse’s bad habits.  In the stall and where he’s tied waiting to be tacked up, are there kick marks, pawing marks or signs of chewing?  Observe the horse as he’s being groomed.  Does he turn around to nip or bite the groomer while being brushed or saddled?  What does he do when the cinch is tightened?  Does he throw his head, move away or turn to bite the handler?  Does he calmly stand there enjoying the attention?  Does the horse readily pick up his feet to be cleaned?   As the handler is putting on his bridle, does he throw his head up or clench his teeth refusing to take the bit? 

Ask the owner how the horse is to bath, clip, shoe, load in the trailer, and how he rides in the trailer. How is he to vaccinate, does he willingly submit when you’re giving him worming medicine and how is he to doctor?  When was the last time he was de-wormed and is he on a regular schedule? Is he up to date on his vaccinations?  Does he have a current Coggins test? Has he been vaccinated for West Nile? Has he ever been sick or injured and what are the specifics?

Watch as the owner rides the horse.  Hopefully you will have an experienced horse person with you that will also be watching but you need to look for several things.  Look for soundness and the horse’s manners under saddle.  Does he cough repeatedly which could a sign of heaves (which can be a very serious respiratory condition). Does he bob his head at a trot? Does his throw his head in the air trying to get away from pressure or does he willingly submit to it?   What type of bit does the owner have in the horse’s mouth?  Is it a harsh bit or is the horse trained to the point that he can almost be ridden in a halter?  Does the owner use a tie-down or a Martingale?

If you have an experienced horse person with you, have them ride the horse.  If you’re still interested and comfortable with riding the horse, get on and feel for how responsive the horse is to your cues. Does he respond willingly and readily? If you are a beginner, is the horse “patient” with you? Does the horse try to bolt or try to leave the riding area and head for the barn or his stall (referred to as “barn-sour”)?

When you’ve found the horse that meets your list of qualifications, give yourself a “cooling off” period.  In this time, critically evaluate both the positives and negatives of the horse.  Make arrangements to go back and ride the horse a couple of times.  Some sellers will also let you take the horse for a trial period. 

Now before you write that check to make him yours, make arrangements with an equine veterinarian to have him/her perform a per-purchase exam.  These range in cost and in the services that are provided but a qualified veterinarian can tell you about the soundness the horse.  Horses, like people, are not 100% physically perfect, but with a “vet check” you’ll know your horse’s weaknesses.  Then through nutrition, supplements and other veterinarian recommendations, you’ll be able to address his issues and help him remain as sound as possible. The veterinarian can also give you information helping you decide if the horse isn’t worth the selling price due to lack of soundness.

If you have purchased a registered horse, you’ll need the registration papers.  Check them closely to be sure that the horse you are buying matches the horse on the registration papers.  Also check with the breed’s registry to see what paperwork you’ll need to transfer the registration papers into your name.  Check your individual state requirements regarding paperwork you’ll need to complete the sale such as a brand inspection.

Hopefully this tips help will help your buying experience be success.