How to buy a horse
Want to know how to buy a horse? Finding the perfect horse isn’t an easy task. Every Equestrian have made some easy tips on how to buy a horse.
Things you should ask the owner:
- Confirm the information you see in the ad; age, height, color, breed etc
- Research the horse’s history and breeding
- Ask if the horse has show experience and if so how much experience (show results)?
- What is the medical history of the horse?
- How well the horse travels
- Any vices or bad habits (kicking, bucking, biting, spooking, and cribbing)
- Reason for sale
- Any security markings and registrations (microchipping, breed societies)
- Ask as many questions as possible to avoid wasted trips to view unsuitable horses.
Visit the horse at least twice:
On your First visit you should arrive a little earlier than your scheduled time and try to see the horse in its normal environment. You should come with your instructor or an experienced friend. Typically the owner or your instructor will test ride the horse first to see if it is safe and worth your time. After you have ridden the horse and decided if you like the horse you should have a Second visit. You should visit the horse again and have another ride. If all goes well and you like the horse the best advice is to "sleep on it". Don't just accept the horse and hand over the money. On the second visit, maybe try negotiating the price.
Final steps in buying a horse:
- Tell the owner if you want to buy and negotiate on pricing. The most important first step in buying a horse is to get a vet check on the horse. If the vet approves the horses overall health you can then proceed to taking your dream horse home.
- Find out what the horse has been fed. If you are going to change the horse’s diet you should change the diet slowly over a week or two.
- Insure the horse before you transport him.
- Prepare a safe area, either a stall or a paddock with friendly horses. Get any basic equipment for feeding, grooming, traveling and blankets for the winter.
- Find a way to transport your horse to your horse's new home. If you don’t have a trailer you can hire someone to trailer your horse.
- Allow your horse to settle in peacefully, and be careful introducing it to new horses.
Enjoy your horse!
