Horse Buying 101
You're ready to buy a horse...maybe it's your first one!
Please take a moment to read this page - it may save you a lot of headaches in the long run!
Rule Number One:
The purchase price of a horse is the CHEAPEST part of horse ownership!!!! Many first-time horse buyers suffer from sticker shock when looking at prospective horses. Horses can be found in every price range imaginable! Regardless of what you spend on your new equine friend, your horse's maintenance is crucial and maintaining a horse is costly! Please know what is required before jumping into the world of horse ownership! Feed is important! A half-acre paddock will not provide enough grazing for your horse! Hay and grain costs must be considered and can vary greatly in price and quality.
Farrier Services are NOT Optional:
They are absolutely necessary for a healthy horse! "No hoof....No horse!" Your horse will need regular (every 6 weeks is standard) hoof trimming by a farrier. Shoes may also be needed depending on the needs of your horse.
Parasites require maintenance too!
Deworming is a critical part of maintaining a healthy horse and also must be done several times per year (ask your veterinarian what he/she recommends for your area and situation). If you don't adopt a parasite prevention program, you'll be feeding your horse's parasites too!
Veterinary Care:
Beyond the routine examinations and vaccinations that your vet will administer yearly, you should also plan on emergency potential - can you afford to treat your horse should it become ill or injured?
Tack & Equipment:
Along with your new horse, you will need the appropriate tack for the work you wish to do with your new friend. Like horses, tack can be found in every price range. Please take note - buy the best equipment you can comfortably afford and it will last for many years! Cheap saddles are exactly that.....CHEAP! Many are ill-fitting and pinch your horse. A good alternative is purchasing a quality used saddle as opposed to a cheaply made new one.
Not sure what to look for when I go and see a horse?
If you're new to horse ownership, bringing along a horse savvy friend or professional is a good idea! Your riding instructor, a local 4H or Pony Club Leader - someone with a good deal of horse experience can help you out. They can provide a trained set of eyes and may see things you don't while viewing prospective mounts. If you don't have access to such a person, we will help you here. Yes, our job is to sell horses - that does not mean we will push you into buying an unsuitable mount. Our job is to make a good match! We want you to be happy with our horses - if the horse you are looking at is not the right match, we will tell you!
Making an appointment versus popping in unannounced:
Sometimes you will travel a good distance to see a horse. In this case, "popping in" can be impractical. If you are looking at a horse locally, dropping by without an appointment isn't the worst idea in the world. Anybody who makes a living with horses is likely quite used to people coming and going throughout the day. Make an appointment to see your horse. If you like what you see, consider popping by the next day without an appointment......is the horse acting the same as it did at your scheduled appointment??? If you have an appointment and upon arrival, the horse you are looking at is tacked up and ready to go, be cautious. You should see your horse being tacked up.......an already saddled horse can indicate that tacking up that horse is unpleasant!!! An impromptu visit can reveal things you may not see at a scheduled appointment.
Green Horse Plus Green Rider Equals.....Disaster!
An inexperienced horse and an inexperienced rider is never a good idea! Frequently we have parents who want to purchase a foal or young horse for their children so that they can "grow up together" - this is a VERY BAD plan! Best case scenario....you will end up with an unruly horse that nobody is enjoying. Worst case scenario....your child can be seriously injured. Young horses are best left to experienced individuals. Horses are not large dogs - they are instinct driven large animals. Improper handling results in dangerous animals and potentially injured people. Finding a horse that is appropriate for your level of riding/handling will ensure an enjoyable relationship for all!
You get what you pay for:
This is an old adage but it absolutely holds true! While we do occasionally have lower priced horses who make excellent family and child-safe mounts, they are the exception not the rule. We have a wish list a mile long of folks looking for that holy grail of horses: "Not too old/young, not too short/tall, rides perfectly, pretty, can be shown, can be trail ridden, etc for under $500." This is a very tall order! EVERYBODY would like to find one of these! As a general rule, a safe and solid family horse will cost more than $500. Please be realistic in your expectations when horse shopping!
What about a Pre-Purchase Examination?
A pre-purchase exam is performed by an equine veterinarian at the BUYER'S expense. Any seller should welcome one! If a seller balks at the idea, walk away. When should you do a pre-purchase exam? That is entirely up to you. Exams can vary greatly in scope from a basic physical evaluation to a full exam, lameness check, and x-rays. Some people have these exams done if they are spending over a certain amount of money, some do them on every horse, some elect never to do them at all. Regardless, anyone selling a horse should be receptive to having such an examination done.