horse buying tips

These are some questions to ask yourself prior to starting your hunt for the perfect horse:
What type of riding or sport are you interested in? Although most breed of horses are versatile and can be used in a number of disciplines, some are more adaptable to certain sports than others. If you are interested in Western sports such as reining or roping, most people opt for a Quarter Horse. If you plan on doing dressage, a warm blood may be more appropriate. If you are simply going to enjoy your horse on trails, then it may not be as important to look for a specific breed.

What qualities do you want in a horse? Even if your plan is to do trail riding rather than a specific sport, do you like speed and are looking forward to galloping through the woods? Then you will want to look for a horse with a spark in her eye, and a willingness to go. Or will you tend to ride more slowly and enjoy nature? Then you may want to look for a horse that is naturally quiet and easy-going.

My father made this mistake once. He was a Western rider, but also liked Arabians. He bought a young Arab and tried to make him a Western pleasure horse. The Arab, named Tardy coincidentally, did NOT want to be a Western pleasure horse. He had one speed - FAST! Eventually, my father decided to change, rather than try to change the horse. My father began endurance trail riding, and because his horse loved it so much, they became a very successful pair, winning many competitions.

You can be very specific in this phase of thinking. Are you tall? Then you will need a bigger horse. Do you want a fully trained horse or one only partially trained? Do you care about the horse's color? All these are questions that you should answer prior to beginning your search.
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Warning: the purchase price of a horse is only a very small amount of the cost of horse ownership. So please do your research on how much it is going to cost you to board your horse; find out the going rate for farriers; veterinarians (the biggest unknown expense, for sure); will you need to purchase a bridle and saddle? Brushes and combs? Hoof picks? There is a very long list of "necessities" when you become the proud owner of a horse.

Once you are comfortable with the monthly amount to maintain your horse, you can decide how much you are willing to spend to purchase him. There is a vast range of prices, from a few hundred to a few hundred thousand!

One excellent option, if your budget is tight (or even if it is not) is to adopt a horse. Many well-trained, healthy horses are abandoned or given up when their owners find themselves in financial difficulty, and you may luck out and find exactly what you are looking far.

The internet is obviously a great tool for searching for horses for sale. You've narrowed down what type of horse you want, so now get on-line and start looking. However, I strongly do NOT recommend that you purchase a horse through the internet without seeing it personally. Hopefully, therefore, you will find enough places in your local area to avoid the added expense of air travel.

I made this mistake once, buying a horse 1000 miles away. Although it was not sight unseen, I was not able to visit the ranch more than once. I never rode her or saw her being ridden, except in a video. I was not present for the pre-purchase exam, nor did I know the vet who did that exam. Needless to say, although I still own that horse and enjoyed riding her for many years, I learned a lot, mostly negative learning, from that experience.

Despite the internet, the best way of finding a reputable ranch in your vicinity at which to buy a horse is, like many things, through word of mouth. Talk to as many horse people as you can can get referrals. Visit many ranches and see how their horses are kept and handled. You will find the right place if you simply talk to enough people.

Let's face facts. Although most people are honest, some are not. They may try to sell a horse that is not sound (has a lameness issue) or training issues, hoping you may not notice. Let me give you a few true examples.

I drove several hours to a ranch to look at a horse that had been advertised. The sellers were expecting me, of course, and had the horse was on the cross-ties, looking very pretty and well groomed. She was a very attractive horse and a good size.

I then ran my hands over her and noticed something odd. Her legs were very cold compared to the rest of her body. I knew right away that they had iced her legs down. Perhaps she "stocked up" (develops edema in her legs) or had some other lameness issues. I knew right away that I did not want that horse.

Another time I was looking at a horse and noticed that the muscle on the underside of his neck was very thick. This was a dead give-away that the horse was poorly trained. I asked to see him under saddle. Sure enough, they brought him out in a martingale (a training device to hold his head down). I asked them to remove the martingale, and his head flew up and he pulled on the bit. Another horse to cross off my list.

Very few horses have perfect conformation, but you do want to avoid horses that have blatant issues. For example, one of my horses has a slight clubbed hoof. As long as her hooves are trimmed frequently, it does not cause a problem. However, more severe clubbing can cause stumbling, uncomfortable gaits, and lameness problems.

Here are some other conformation issues to be of concern: narrow chest; toeing out; cow-hock; pasterns too long or too short; uneven shoulders; back too long; sway back.

None of these, if minor, should prevent you from purchasing a horse if it meets all your other criteria. Just be aware that more severe conformation issues can lead to lameness issues and other health problems.

Hopefully you know a horse vet that you trust. A pre-purchase exam is important to rule out hidden problems with a horse that even the seller may not be aware of, such as heart murmurs or subtle lameness issue which may worsen over time. The extent of the exam, and whether to include x-rays of the major leg joints to rule out arthritis, is a decision you can make based on what you wish to do with your horse, and how much you are spending.

You may have to look at many, many horses before you find the right one. Don't rush it.

Once you do find a horse that you feel may be perfect for you, visit that horse a number of times. Groom him, handle his feet, lead and load him into a trailer. Ride him more than once, and also watch as other people ride him. If you plan on trail riding, make sure the horse is comfortable leaving the barn and heading for the hills. Especially if you will be riding alone, make sure your chosen horse does not freak out if he does not have another buddy along for the ride. Some horses hate to be alone.

If you are considering a mare, ask how she reacts when in heat. Some mares do not show their heat at all, while others can get very grouchy and touchy. If possible, try to visit when she is in heat.

If your chosen horse passes all these tests, but you are still uneasy about the decision, continue to take your time. Also, consider the fact that the horse is new to you, and you are new to the horse. Sometimes it takes a while to become comfortable with one another.

Once you have taken the plunge and bought a horse, everything may go fine for you. If you bought a well-trained horse, you may not need any further assistance. But what if you encounter problems, or you bought a "green-broke" horse who needs additional training? Perhaps you like the challange of improving your partnership with your horse. These are two programs that I recommend.

If you learn by reading, I recommend this, based on real old-time horsemen:
Train your Horse and Cure Bad Habits"

If you prefer videos to see training techiques, you can't beat this program:
Natural Horsemanship videos

There are numerous horse rescue organizations that rescue, rehabilitate and adopt out. These wonderful organizations may be just the place for you to find your special horse. Horses that are rescued can be wonderful life-long partners, once you establish a trusting relationship with them. They are waiting for their second chance.

Here is a list of organizations by state. While you're visiting their websites, think about leaving a donation!

Arizona: New Hope PMU Equine Rescue