Horse Buying Tips

Buying a horse is not a simple matter. Sure, it may be your dream come true, but you want to make sure your dream does not turn into a nightmare. Purchasing the wrong type of horse, a poorly trained horse, or a horse with lameness or other medical issues can quickly drain your bank account.

Here are a few tips I learned the hard way.

Tip #1

Decide what you want to do with your horse. Are you planning to do Western sports, such as roping or reining? Do you like jumping or cross country? Are you into dressage? Or are you simply planning to take your horse riding on the trails? Although all breeds can often be versatile enough to do some or all of these sports, some breeds have distinct basic conformation which makes them more appropriate to certain sports. For example, quarter horses are exceptional at reining, while Arabians are hard to beat at endurance trail riding. So decide what you want to do, and research which breed best fits the bill.

Tip #2

Buy locally if possible. You do not want to buy through the internet, sight unseen! If you have to take a plane to see the horse, then do that. However, if you have any options locally, those are the best, for the simple reason that you can see and ride the horse more than once. It can take several rides to get a feel for a horse and to determine whether it is the right one for you.

Tip #3

Look for the right personality in your horse. For example, if you are looking for a pleasure horse to take long, leisurely rides through the woods, then make sure the horse you are looking at has a laid-back personality. Buying a hot-blooded or high strung horse will turn your long, leisurely rides into battles to control your horse.

On the other hand, if you want to gallop through the woods or do sports that involve speed and excitement, then that hot-blooded or high strung horse might be just the right one.

Tip #4

Buyer beware. Look for hints that the seller may not be totally honest. Some dishonest people may give the horse pain medicine or ice the horse's legs down to mask lameness. They may try to hide training problems by riding the horse in a tie-down or martingale. Insist on seeing the horse without these aids.

The best way to insure that the seller is honest is by recommendations. Talk to horse owners and trainers to find reputable persons to buy from.

Tip #5

Insist on a pre-purchase exam by a knowledgeable horse veterinarian. The sellers may be perfectly honest and may be unaware of issues such as subtle lameness or health issues such as heart murmurs.

Tip #6

Be patient. You may have to look at a number of horses before the right one comes along. Do not let your desire for a horse drive you to buy one that is not perfect for you. And I do not mean that the horse itself must be perfect. There are probably no perfect horses. They all have flaws, just like people, either in their conformation, training or personality. However, you still have to find a horse that is perfect for you, and generally you will know it instinctively when you find one.

Pamela Griffin was raised around horses and rode at such a young age that she does not remember learning, although she does have a vague memory of her first fall off a horse! She's ridden Western, English, and shown in dressage, but currently enjoys the simplicity of riding in the Arizona desert on her Missouri foxtrotter. She writes various articles as an amateur horse owner with years of horse ownership experience.