Basic Rules for Buying Your First Ever Horse

Plenty of first-time horse owners often pick one that is not right for them. What happens is that most of them often miss out on the joy of owning a horse and give it up because of their frustration. The truth is, these buyers typically lack research, purchasing strategies, and preparation for horse ownership, such as getting Horse Stable supplies san diego county ca.

Horses are sensitive and beautiful creatures that will surely give you so much joy if you pick the right one for you and take care of them the right way. While there’s a golden rule that not every horse lover should own one, no one will stop you if you want to. But keep in mind, owning a horse is absolutely not for the faint of heart. It’s a huge financial, emotional, and time commitment. If you’re really interested in getting your first horse, this guide will help you. Below are rules when it comes to purchasing a horse.

Decide on Your Purpose

Be clear on how you are planning to use the horse. Are you looking to entering it at a low level or a top-end sport such as flat racing, harness racing, or jump racing? Keep in mind that building a clear picture of your ideal horse and your highest ambition will greatly influence everything that happens before and after you bought the horse.

For instance, if you told a seller that you’re looking for a horse that you could race at the Grand Prix, did you know that you’ll need to work him hard for at least 10 years? The vetting process will be different if you’re planning to use the horse for some Elementary-level dressage over the next few years.

Nonetheless, always opt for a younger horse if you want to get a clean buy. We all have different reasons and requirements for such things, so focus your search on yours to ensure you won’t regret anything.

Check Your Capability

How much experience you have?

While limited experience is not a barrier to owning a horse, it’ll be smart to seek experts who can help you out. They can give you professional advice on the warning signs when choosing a horse and even help you evaluate the one you’re planning to get.

Can you afford to buy and maintain one?

The purchase price of the horse is just a small amount of the total money you’re going to spend. You’ll need a budget for their diet, kits like rugs and tack, medicine and veterinary, lessons and training, grooming and cleaning needs, and tons of other operating costs.

Do you have the time to take care of it?

Lastly, decide if you have the time (a lot of it) to take care of your horse. For example, you’ll have to spend about 30 to 60 minutes every day for your horse’s lessons. Though, this doesn’t apply if you are stabled at an expensive competition or full livery yard. If you got plenty of time, a DIY or grass livery yard is also a good choice. Here, you get to do the hard work, from changing the rugs, checking up on your horse, grooming it, and training it as well.

Evaluate the Horse

Phone to enquire

Talking to the seller will readily give you initial details about the horse. Ask the seller about the horse’s history, including veterinary records, claims, and previous problems. Watch out for shady dealers who sell horses with behavioral or health problems. If they are being sold for a very low price, the seller had a hard time giving specific answers, and can’t provide documentation and references, find another one to deal with.

Horse viewing

It’s a basic rule to not purchase a horse without seeing it first. Ideally, a horse should be groomed and tacked up when you go for a visit. This helps you to initially assess their temperament, which of course, will still depend on the time of your visit or the yard’s routine. Observe the horse’s general demeanor while being handled and check their entire physique – sloping shoulder, straight limbs, and even hooves. Also, check for any bumps, lumps, or scars in their body.

Test ride

Ask the seller if you could take the horse for a trail ride. If they said no, that’s already a red flag. A test ride will help you check if the horse is a buddy sour or not. Looking for a horse you can enter on a jump race? Make sure the horse is sure-footed, behaves well, and can jump very well. The more thorough the trial ride, the better you can assess. Ideally, a good horse should love going out on the trails and can hack out in a large group or alone.

That’s it! Decide on what you need, find a horse, and ride it. Do not get caught up with all the excitement and fun of buying a horse, and keep your wits about you. If your dream horse didn’t work out for you during the trail ride, there are plenty of others to consider. Take your time and find the horse that ticks all your boxes.