Quite often I receive desperate calls from horse owners asking for help with an ill-behaved horse. Typically, they’ve owned the horse less than a year and at least one person has been hurt while handling or riding the animal. The story goes on to include the horse being purchased from an “expert” who has had horses for 20 years and guaranteed this one as being bombproof, a “family horse” and great for beginners. Frequently the story includes the assistance of a well-meaning “experienced” friend who was not able to fix the horse and has now pronounced him as being un-trainable.
In reality, very few sound, affordable, bombproof-ready horses exist. Trainers just can’t justify the expense ratio of putting all those hours on a horse and then selling him for $1200. It’s simply not fiscally sound! On the other hand, horse dealers who buy and sell in great numbers occasionally come across a horse that’s not a phony and truly will pack a child or beginner safely around the arena or trail. These horses are worth their weight in gold….as long as they’re sound. The problem with a traded horse is that many have been resting for months (or years) and until the work begins again they appear sound, when in fact they may have a chronic injury or lameness problem. Some will work fine for the occasional trail ride as long as they’re not overworked or used in the same discipline in which they were injured. Others eventually become unusable.
Sometimes the perfect horse can be found through a private seller who simply cannot care for the horse or no longer has an interest in riding. All the same pre-sale rules of thumb apply, even though the seller isn’t a dealer or breeder. Private owners may not know enough to adequately inform you of any problems. Some simply aren’t truthful.
When it comes to horse sellers, it’s important to check their references if they sell regularly, do pre-purchase exams and use highly recommended professionals to assist you in screening and negotiations. Horse dealers, breeders, trainers or owners may or may not be the best source for your horse purchase. Far too many people have owned horses for twenty years, yet haven’t learned a thing! They are still making the same mistakes they made years ago and honestly believe that twenty years of buying feed, shoveling manure or paying board has made them an expert!
With all the uncertainty and challenge surrounding a horse purchase, who do you trust and how do you find the right one? Here are some tips to help make your horse shopping experience more successful:
1. READ. There are many good books and articles available on buying your first horse. Before asking people’s opinion on what to buy, read about the different breeds, their talents, temperament, prices, size, availability, health etc… Tentatively match your needs to the type/breed of horse that is most suited to your needs/goals.
2. WATCH. Watch videos, horse shows, trail rides, rodeos etc… to see what breeds do well in the discipline you plan to undertake. Also, watch to see what horses have problems!
3. ASK QUESTIONS. Ask beginners and professionals questions about buying a horse. Ask for advice but don’t make any decisions until you’ve sufficiently gathered enough information that points you in an obvious direction (toward a type, age and training level of horse). It helps to make a written chart with advice, desired traits and talents and things that are, and are not, negotiable to you.
4. START SHOPPING. Tell your friends and horse connections (farrier, veterinarian etc..) that you are looking for a horse. Check the internet, feed stores and horse magazines as well as other sources.
5. GET PROFESSIONAL HELP. When it comes time to look at, or try a horse, have a professional “team” ready to help. This includes (at a minimum) a highly recommended Equine Veterinarian and professional trainer or instructor experienced in pre-purchase assessments. The few hundred dollars you spend in pre-purchase work may help you save thousands later in Veterinarian or personal Doctor bills.
6. LEASE THE HORSE. If possible, lease the horse before you buy it. If the horse has the Veterinarian’s and/or other equine professional’s approval, you still have to get along with each other. Try-before-you-buy is a great way to discover if this is the horse for you. Leasing may include insurance coverage for the horse so consider having the Veterinarian do an insurance exam as part of the pre-purchase. It will save you money if both are done at the same time.
7. MAKE THE PURCHASE. Get a receipt along with all the signed transfers/papers if the horse is registered. In brand states (like New Mexico), get a new hauling card immediately as this is legal proof of ownership, not the registration papers.
8. GET LESSONS RIGHT AWAY. Don’t wait to get help until you see a major problem or have created a bad habit. Getting professional assistance early on can help lay a foundation for years of successful teamwork between you and your horse.
9. GET YOUR HORSE A JOB. Too often people buy a horse that worked for a living only to take him home and leave him stand in a stall. Boredom is the quickest way to bad behavior. Keep working your horse at a level appropriate for his physical and mental needs. At a minimum, turn him out and avoid stall confinement.
10. HAVE A PLAN. Have long term health care plans, a training plan when appropriate and emergency care plans if needed (where would your horse go in an emergency or if you were unable to care for him?). Working out important details in advance can help you avoid additional stress in the future.
Most people have heard the old saying “There’s no such thing as a free horse”. The purchase price is rarely the biggest outlay of cash. The care, training and other expenses eventually amount to many times the initial expense. For that reason alone, it’s in the buyer’s best interest to invest the time and effort into pre-purchase research, assessments and exams. It’s a fairly simple way to reduce the odds of ending up with more problems than pleasure!