Important Things To Consider When Buying Your First Horse

Horses are beautiful, intriguing and thrilling creatures. Horse owners learn a great deal from their relationship with these animals. They develop a sense of responsibility by providing consistent care and attention. They also develop confidence and communication skills while riding their horse. However, owning a horse is a long-term commitment. Unfortunately, many people have to give up their horse because they are not prepared for the emotional and financial responsibilities. Anyone who is considering buying their first horse should consider the following information and advice.

Can you meet the demands of owning a horse?

Before looking into how you buy a horse, you must first consider whether you are ready for this commitment. You will need to ride your horse on a regular basis, so it is important that you are mentally and physically prepared. If you are elderly, this may not be the best animal for you but there are a number of other suitable pets. To determine whether you can manage to ride a horse regularly, it is a good idea to sign up for weekly riding classes at your local stables. Make sure you get a trustworthy and qualified instructor who can provide advice and help you improve your skills.

Owning a horse is time-consuming. You will need to spend at least three hours every day caring for your horse, as well as riding time. So that you can get a better understanding of what it is like to own a horse you may want to look into a leasing arrangement. If you lease a horse, you will pay a fixed amount for the animal’s expenses and in return you will get a certain amount of riding time. You can opt for a partial lease, where the owner is responsible for the horse’s care and expenses or a full lease where the responsibility for these elements will be yours.

Can you afford it?

When considering whether you have the financial resources to buy a horse, you must look beyond the initial price for the animal. The other costs you must consider are boarding, riding lessons, medical care, insurance, equipment, and food. If you don’t plan on boarding your horse, you will need proper shelter for them. In order to do this you would need to hire reputable equestrian building builders.

There will also be unexpected costs, like worming medication. It is possible to buy basic medication online from websites such as wormers.co.uk. If you plan to enter competitions then, this is also an additional cost that you should consider. Whenever you need to move your horse, to an event or to a different boarding facility, for example, you will need to pay for transport fees.

It can be very difficult to work out how much you need to budget, so if you are struggling, ask your instructor or an experienced friend to help you with these details.

Which type of horse would suit you?

The reason many horse owners give up on their animals so soon is because they have not chosen the right kind for them. Your first horse should be one that matches your riding level and skills. Otherwise, riding will not be enjoyable, and it could be dangerous.

Untrained horses tend to be cheaper and so many first-time buyers are attracted to them. However, if your horse is fully trained when you take over ownership, you are more likely to have a successful relationship with it.

You should consider an older horse if you are a beginner. Older horses will be slower and more gentle during riding sessions. If you are unsure about choosing a horse, again, it is worth asking your instructor for help. He or she will have a better idea of what horse would suit you.

Where should you buy your horse from?

You should not buy your horse online. It is important that you actually see the animal before you buy it. There have been many cases where horses have been bought online based on a description that turns out to be entirely false. In such incidents, it is often very difficult to get a refund.

Horse sellers are notoriously dodgy. They have a reputation for lying or brushing over important matters in order to seal the deal. Before visiting a vendor to view an animal make sure you do some background research on them. Alternatively, you could ask your instructor for a recommendation or inquire at the local stables.

While you are viewing horses pay particular attention to the way they move and behave. It is a good idea to watch the horse while it is being ridden. Ask the seller to ride the horse. If they are reluctant to do so, this could be a signal that the horse is difficult. You must ride the horse yourself before buying it. If you have brought along your instructor, it will be helpful for them to ride the horse too. As a more experienced rider, they will be able to tell you if the horse is sound.

You’ve found a horse you like, what should you do next?

You should find out as much information as you can on the horse’s past. It is important to find out about the previous owners of the animal and the reasons why the current owner is selling. The vendor will be able to provide you with this information but it always a good idea to double check these facts by conducting your own research.

Speak to the vet that deals with the horse and ask about any health problems the animal may have. You should also ask to review the health records yourself. It is a good idea to get an independent vet to carry out a check on the horse.

If you are happy, you should find out the price of the horse from the vendor. You may believe the price is reasonable, but if not, you can try to negotiate with the seller.

Once a price has been agreed upon, organize for a contract to be drawn up that must be signed by you and the vendor.

As you can tell, buying a horse is a complicated process. However, if you are 100% committed to becoming a horse owner then it is worth it. You will get a tremendous amount of enjoyment and learn so much from owning a horse.