Buying your first horse? Here’s a few tips!
Don’t buy a horse from a trainer.
When looking at a horse you want to look for one that has been doing what you want to do for a good couple of years with their current rider. That rider has put the miles in and clocked up the ks. The horse will know its job and be in a position where they can look after you. You want to look for a horse that the rider has grown out of or ready to move on from. When your buying from a trainer you can guarantee you will have endless behavioural problems because you won’t have the skills that trainer had to ride the horse.
Get a vet check.
When looking for your first horse its very easy to end up with someone else’s problem. You always want to know why they are selling. A lot of horses that you buy from horse traders can be drugged on bute and other things to make them appear sound and sane and there is no real way for your vet to know. Make sure you don’t use their vet, use your own. Let the vet know exactly the purpose of the horse and what you want them for and plan to do with them.
Take someone experienced with you but listen to your gut
It is good to have someone experienced with you but they may also be swayed by a horse with a pretty face. A person who knows what they are do and knows what they are looking at can help you pick up on things that you may otherwise miss but if you don’t feel right or you don’t feel like you click and mesh than you still want to say no even if they person with experience says yes.
Don’t just go for the first one you see and fall in love with
Sometimes the first one can be the one but mostly when you first start looking, especially if its your first horse you’ll be looking for the wrong thing. You’ll be drawn to the horse you like the look of aesthetically and while that can still be important you need the horse that is going to look after you, be sound, do what you want them to under saddle.
Don’t trust the ad or what the seller is saying
The ad is not always accurate and sometimes it may be accurate for the people that own them but they will change when you get them. They will always have a reason for selling. If they truly do have the unicorn horse they are advertising they wouldn’t be selling it or they will at least have a hefty price tag on it.
You may be looking for a while
I have spent 2 years with a student looking for their heart horse and when she found him she didn’t even need me to say yes or no she knew it. She spent those 2 years improving her riding so she was ready for him when she found him. Don’t think you need to find your horse in the next week, month or year. The right horse tends to pop up when you’re least expecting it.
Don’t take the horse or ride the horse if the owner won’t ride.
I should have put this as the first point but if the owner isn’t willing to get on and rider turn around and go home. I don’t care how long you have driven for, how much you spent to get there or if you’ve got the float attached ready to take the horse home. If the owner doesn’t ride, you don’t ride full stop!
Get on lease to buy
100% every single time you get the horse home it will change in personality. I call the first 3 months the honey moon period. Normally the horse is a bit unsure and so doesn’t show its true personality until the 3 – 6 month period. At this time they start to gain confidence and start testing you to see how they fit and if you are going to show up as a good leader. Generally speaking by the end of 12 months you will have seen the full scope of their tricks and be ready to make an assessment of whether it is the right horse for you or not. So even if you can lease for 3 even 6 months you have a better chance of getting yourself the right horse.
Be prepared to get lots of lessons
Horse riding is an ever evolving art. Just as you think you’re getting the hang of it your horse will figure a new way to get it over you. Have and educated set of eyes that have been through the process over and over again will set you and your horse up to succeed.