“Guidance for First-Time Horse Buyers
Buying a horse is not an easy task!
It depends on so many different factors, most of which I am going to unpack for you in the following post, step by step.
Before we begin, let’s take a look at the list of requirements in point form:
1. Do you have a budget? Have you made allowances for the pre-purchase exam/vetting?
2. Are you a beginner or a more experienced rider?
3. What are you planning to do with your horse?
a) what sport are you planning to pursue (i.e., dressage, eventing, jumping, hacking etc.)?
b) will you want to compete in your chosen sport, or do you just want to learn to ride correctly?
4. What type of horse do you want/need. Should he/she be big, small, quiet or a little more of a hot ride?
5. Is color important to you?
6. Are you looking for a specific breed?
7. Do you want a mare, gelding or stallion?
8. Do you know where you are going to stable your horse and what your stabling preferences are?
9. Have you found/ do you have access to a knowledgeable trainer?
10. What about your equipment? i.e., your saddle, bridle etc.
Now that you have more of an idea of what to keep in mind, I will elaborate on the above points.
1) Budget and the pre-purchase exam/vetting
Let’s face it, for most of us, the budget is an important matter to take into account and again, it depends a lot on what sort of horse you are looking for. A top sport horse that is actively competing might cost a fair bit more than a horse adopted from a rescue organization, for example. Sometimes, someone may even offer up a horse for free to a good home.
Just remember, when a horse comes without a price tag attached, there are usually other things to consider. A question to ask is, why is the horse being given away instead of sold? Is it possible that there is a problem with the horse? Perhaps its temperament is difficult or it behaves dangerously around people. There may even be a pre-existing health problem present. Therefore, it is always a wise move (whether the horse is being sold or given away) to look at any horse you are planning on acquiring with an experienced horseperson, a trainer or an experienced rider who can try the horse out under saddle on your behalf.
It will also be important to remember that you will have to spend more money on a horse that is schooled, or trained. The price tag will also continue to go up depending on whether the horse is actively competing, what level the horse is competing at and whether or not the horse is a schoolmaster. Schoolmasters are generally a bit older and have ‘seen it all’. These horses are advisable for beginners and can be wonderful teachers!
A well-bred horse from good and specialized lines will also be more costly, for example a warmblood might cost more than a thoroughbred off the track, and, if you are looking for a more exotic breed like a Lusitano or PRE, expect the price to skyrocket.
Buying a horse should include the whole package!
When you do eventually find the horse that you like, the best thing to do is have it vetted by a veterinarian (do not skip this part, even if the seller assures you that the horse is 100% healthy. Sometimes, the horse may have health issues even the seller is not aware of).
2. Are you a beginner or an experienced rider?
If you are a beginner, I would always advise choosing a schoolmaster. Or consider choosing a horse who is already at least backed and lightly trained. It is never a good idea to consider choosing a green, or inexperienced, horse with the “we can learn together” phrase in mind. It is poetic, but it can also be dangerous, disappointing and might even culminate in your quitting riding altogether. If you choose a schoolmaster, your horse becomes your second teacher. You will learn a whole lot more in a shorter time and have fun while doing it.
3. What are you planning on doing with your horse?
There are many options here, too many to list. So, I will draw a comparison between riding competitively, and riding for fun. In both cases, you will need a good instructor/trainer to help you and give you lessons. You owe it to your horse to be knowledgeable enough to ride him properly. In all cases, both for beginners and the more experienced, you should consider hiring an instructor. You will improve so much faster than without guidance. Look for an instructor who can teach you with your end-goals and your chosen discipline in mind. That way, you will be ready for shows if that is what you would like, but you will also be riding to improve your horse.
4. What type of horse do you want/need? Think about size, temperament etc.
The size of the horse you should consider will depend a lot on your size. If you are small, it is better to look for a horse who is not too big. In the same breath, a taller person may better suit a taller horse. Although not always considered an important factor, your horse suiting your body-type can make the learning process a lot easier when you are in the saddle.
The temperament of the horse you are considering to buy is also extremely important and should not be discounted. It is always best for beginner riders, and those who are anxious or nervous, to start with a ‘relaxed’ and ‘quiet’ horse. Contrary to popular belief, these words do not mean ‘slow’ or ‘lazy’, rather ‘submissive’ and ‘willing’ – both character traits which make for a tractable and reliable partner. This is important as a beginner, because you will be concentrating on working on yourself and will make many mistakes in the process. The last thing you will want to worry about is upsetting your horse!
If you are already a bit more experienced in the saddle, I would still advise looking for a good temperament, although you will probably be able to handle a more excitable horse.
5. Is color important to you?
You might, as many people do, have a preference for a specific coat color in mind. When choosing a horse, it should not be a deciding factor, but can add some more fun to the process. I personally will never forget what one of my first trainers said to me,
“A good horse has no color”.
As a dressage rider, I do not place much importance on the color of a good horse, but I must confess that I still think dark bay is particularly beautiful!
6. Are you looking for a specific breed?
There are so many different breeds around, you may feel spoiled for choice. The breed you decide on should hinge on many factors, such as your budget and experience level. In Europe we have a saying: the higher the ‘blood’, the more excitable the horse is likely to be. This refers to lightly-built, quick and lively horses – most of which have ancestors in hotter, desert regions of the world. The horse who is the highest in “blood” is the thoroughbred. Most of the other breeds have ‘mixed blood’ (mixed with thoroughbred or arabian), or belong to the group of cold breeds (these are heavier horses whose ancestors mostly hailed from the colder parts of Europe). We are not going to dig too deeply into this subject, or we will soon have written a book! All that is important to know for now is that, if you are a beginner, it would be best to look for a ‘cold blood’ or a ‘warm/mixed blood’ horse, as they are often more dependable and less lively or ‘hot’.
7. Do you want a gelding, mare or stallion?
If you are looking for an easy-going horse, the best choice is always a gelding.
Geldings (a castrated stallion) are usually uncomplicated, having few hormonal fluxes which might result in a changeable temperament. If you go with a mare, keep in mind that you will have to deal with her being “in season” which, depending on the individual mare, may impact your rides together and may alter her mood for the duration of her season. Stallions are definitely a resounding NO when it comes to beginner riders. They are usually strong-willed and can be difficult and even dangerous, especially when there are mares around.
8. Do you know where and how you are going to stable your horse?
This choice will encompass preferences such as: would you prefer your horse to be stabled at night, or perhaps to live out in the paddock 24 hours a day? Remember to have reasonable expectations. For a horse to be out day and night the climate must be temperate and there should be a shelter available where the horses can stand out of the rain/sun/wind. Many stable yards keep horses in their stalls overnight, and take them out the next morning. This works well when the horses get to spend the majority of their day outside – i.e., they are taken out as early as possible and are brought in around late afternoon. One of the many advantages of this, is that there is a good measure of control over the horses’ well-being as they are checked at least twice daily, but they are still allowed to exhibit natural equine behaviors.
Again, whichever yard you choose will also have to be within your budget. Yards charge monthly for stabling and can become quite pricey the more benefits and facilities that they offer you.
9. Looking for a trainer
Once you have purchased your horse and are ready to start riding or learning to ride, you will need a trainer/instructor. If you are lucky, you may already know of somebody suitable, or the yard at which you stable might have somebody available to teach you. It is very important that you “click” with your instructor and that you understand each other. Everybody has a different teaching and learning style, so you will need somebody who can both encourage and challenge you in equal measure.
10. What equipment will you need?
A saddle and bridle are, of course, imperative for when you begin riding your new horse. There are many brands, shapes and types of saddles available on the market. For a beginner, I would advise starting with an all-purpose saddle shape. The all-purpose is a saddle which allows you to be comfortable both when jumping and when doing dressage. The most important aspect is that the saddle you choose fits your horse perfectly. A saddle fitter will be necessary to ensure that this is so. If you ride with an ill-fitting saddle, your horse may end up with back pain and other, more serious, conditions. Saddles are also costly, so try to choose the right one from the start! All of these tips also apply when choosing a bridle and a bit for your horse. Ensure that you have a bridle and bit that are comfortably fitted to your horse, and try to keep it as simple as possible, especially when you are still learning. More on saddles and bridles visit our Horses page.
You will also need other equipment in order to ride, such as: a halter, saddle pads and tendon protection boots, to name a few basics. Once your horse has been equipped and dressed to the nines you will, of course, need decent and well-fitting riding clothes. These include but are not limited to: riding boots, hats and breeches. Riding in jeans is generally not advisable and can hurt your legs. For more information on riding apparel, as well as links to must-have, fashionable and practical equestrian clothing items, have a look at our fashion page!
As I am sure you can now see, there is so much more that goes into choosing a horse than someone might think. You are not only deciding on an animal that will be dependent on you to care and provide for it, but you are also choosing a team-mate and a partner in whom you will need to place your trust daily as you tackle new goals and explore new things together. As with most things, the more thought and planning you put into the process, the better the outcome will be.
After all, you owe it to yourself, and to your future horse!
Author: Dinja van Woerden (rider and trainer).
