In this article I would like to share with you some tips and advice for buying your first horse. A good friend of mine helps run a stable and is regularly involved in selling horses. I spoke to him just two days ago on the subject of buying and selling horses and today I’ll be sharing some of the things I’ve learned.
First of all, it is important to make sure that your buying decision is not based on the appearance of the horse. The horse’s coat may be blooming, it may look great, but it may suffer from lameness. On the other hand, there are many horses that don’t look very good, are not in the best condition, and cost much less. The fact is that with good nutrition and supplements, almost all horses can be in peak condition. The point I want to make here is that when you buy horses you don’t want to “judge a book by its cover”.
When inspecting a horse, it is very important that you remain calm and try to avoid being emotional. You want to make sure you’re making a rational and not an emotional buying decision, because such decisions can end up being costly. Before inspecting a horse, you should have a list of questions you want to ask and get all the answers you need while inspecting the horse.
It is also very important that you are very clear about why you are buying a horse in the first place. Are you planning to ride a horse simply for recreational reasons or are you planning to get involved in more competitive riding disciplines? Once you tell the seller what his needs are, he will help you find a horse that is right for his needs.
Once you find a horse that you think is right for you, you will need to hire a vet to examine it. The vetting process is done by highly experienced veterinarians who will be able to do a thorough evaluation of the potential new purchase and tell you if there are any issues with the horse.
Finally, it is also very important that you are very clear about other costs that owning a horse implies. Owning a horse is a huge financial commitment and the initial purchase outlay is comparatively minimal to maintenance. You will have to spend hundreds on accommodation, supplements, riding equipment, vet bills, etc. You have to be very clear about what you are getting into to avoid making decisions that you will regret.