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Horse Purchasing Tips

Purchsing a horse is not a simple matter. Sure, it may be your dream come true, but you want to make sure your dream does not become a nightmare. buying the wrong of horse, a badly trained horse, or a horse with lameness or other medical issuesproblems can quickly drain your checking account.

Here are a few horse buying tips I learned the hard way.

#1
Decide what you want to do with your horse. Are you planning to do Western sports, such as roping or reining? Do you enjoy jumping or cross country? Are you into dressage? Or are you simply hoping to take your horse riding on the trails? Although all breeds can often be versatile enough to do some or all of these activities, some breeds have distinct type of conformation which make them more appropriate for certain sports. For example, quarter horses are great at at reining, while Arabians are hard to beat at endurance trail riding. So decide what you want to do, and research which breed best fits the bill.

#2
Buy locally whenever possible. You do not want to buy through the internet, sight unseen! If you have to take a plane to see the horse, then do that. However, if you have any options locally, those are the best, for the simple reason that you can see and ride the horse more than once. It can take several visits to get a feel for a horse and to decide whether it is the right one for you.

#3
Look for the right personality in your horse. For example, if you are looking for a pleasure horse to take long, quiet] rides through the country side, then make sure the horse you are trying out has a quiet demeanor. Buying a hot-blooded or high strung horse will turn your pleasant rides into fights to control your horse.

On the other hand, if you want to gallop through the woods or do sports that involve speed and excitement, then that hot-blooded or high strung horse might be just the perfect one for you.

#4
Buyer beware. Look for signs that the seller may not be totally honest. Some dishonest people may give the horse pain medicine or ice the horse’s legs down to hide lameness. They may try to hide training problems by riding the horse in a tie-down or martingale. Insist on seeing the horse without these aids.

The best way to be sure that the seller is honest is by talking to people. Talk to horse owners, veterinarians and trainers to find reputable people to buy from.

#5
Obtain a pre-purchase exam by a knowledgeable horse veterinarian. The sellers may be completely honest and may be unaware of conditions such as subtle lameness or health issues such as heart murmurs.

#6
Don’t rush. You may have to look at a fair amount of horses before the right one comes along. Do not let your desire for a horse drive you to buy one that is not perfect for you. And I do not mean that the horse itself must be perfect. There are probably no perfect horses. They all have flaws, just like people, either in their conformation, training or personality. However, you still have to buy a horse that is perfect for you, and generally you will know it instinctively when you find one.

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