Are you ready to jump into the world of horse ownership? As enthusiastic equestrians at The Cheshire Horse, we understand how exciting this time is! We also understand how important it is to select the right horse to fit your needs. In this blog, we take a look at the important things to consider before you head out horse shopping.
Before we begin, many first-time horse owners may choose to board their new horse (keep it at a dedicated equine facility) for the first few months. This is a wonderful idea because you will have an equine professional close by to help you with your horse’s day-to-day management. Other people may choose to bring their horse home to live in their backyard if they have the space to do so. If you are planning to move your new horse to live on your property, we recommend that you read our previous blog post in this series, Bringing Your First Horse Home. Regardless of your plans, it is important that you have a place to keep your horse before you begin horse shopping.
Beginning Your Journey
As a beginner equestrian looking for a horse, it is very important to work with an equine professional or an experienced horse person that you trust. Not only will a professional have the skills necessary to find the right horse for you, but they will also prevent you from making unwise decisions from inexperience. “If you are going to be a first-time horse owner, it can be very beneficial to find a riding or driving buddy who is experienced and willing to help,” Dr. Werner of Vermont/New Hampshire Vet Clinic in Dummerston, VT, explains. “It can also be very beneficial to board your horse for a time at a facility that can help you build your knowledge while keeping experienced eyes on your horse.”
Working with a professional or experienced equestrian, it is important to decide exactly what type of horse you will need as your first horse. Many beginners benefit from purchasing an older horse, one that has “been there and done that.” While there is a definite temptation to purchase a young horse to “grow with” or a green (inexperienced) horse, this should be avoided, especially if you will not be working with an equine professional or keeping your horse in a training program. It is also important to establish your budget before shopping so that you are only looking at horses that you can afford. When you are looking for your first horse, it is recommended that you purchase an older horse that is trained to perform the job that you will require of it. For example, do you want to trail ride your horse? Or do you want to compete in hunter/jumper competitions? Both of these will require different horses with different skill sets, so you will want to look for horses with similar experiences that fit your goals.
Choosing Horses to Look At
There are a number of different places to begin your horse search. You may find that word-of-mouth in your local equestrian community is a great start to find horses that are appropriate for you. Additionally, your riding instructor may know of other horse professionals that have horses for sale. To expand your search, you can also utilize the internet, including websites such as DreamHorse, EquineNow, and Facebook horse sales pages. If you are looking at horses outside of your general area, you will also want to consider the costs of going to try the horse as well as the expenses associated with trucking the horse home if you choose to purchase it.
When selecting a horse, breed and color are not as important as age, experience, and overall temperament. Beginner riders often prefer geldings (castrated males) due to a more placid personality, but calm mares (females) are also a wonderful choice. Stallions (intact males), pregnant mares, and foals (baby horses) should not be considered. Some breeds, Quarter Horses and Paints, for example, are known for quiet dispositions and steady temperaments. Other breeds, such as Arabians and Thoroughbreds, may be spookier (more reactive) and more excitable. While the breed can give you clues about the horse’s personality, it is important to evaluate each horse as an individual.
The size of your horse is also important to take into consideration. Horses and ponies are measured in “hands” or 4-inch increments. This means that a horse that is 15 hands tall is 60 inches tall. If you see a horse advertised as measuring 16.3hh, this will mean that the horse is 16 hands and 3 inches tall, or 67 inches tall at the wither (the bony portion of the horse’s upper back where the neck attaches). Ponies are any equine that measures 14.2hh (58 inches) or smaller, while a horse is any equine that measures over 14.2hh. Generally, average adults will want a small or standard horse to begin their riding career, while many petite adults and children will enjoy large ponies. While small ponies are adorable, they may also be more difficult because full-size adults are not able to ride them. Your riding instructor can help guide you to find an appropriately sized horse that is suitable for you.
As you look for horses, you may find that the ads read like an entirely different language! And, it’s true, equestrians have a vernacular all of their own! Here are some terms that you may find in your horse search and what they mean to you:
- Aged: Typically means a horse over seven years old.
- Barn Sour: A horse that does not like to leave the barn when being ridden.
- Barefoot: A horse that does not wear horseshoes.
- Cob: Used to describe a stockier built horse or pony.
- Conformation: The way a horse is put together.
- Cribber: A horse that chews on fencing and stall walls and sucks on air (not desirable).
- Dam: The mother of a horse.
- Gaited: A horse that performs additional gaits from the typical walk, trot, and canter.
- Grade: A mixed-breed horse, not registered.
- Green: An inexperienced horse with little training (not suitable for beginners).
- Hand: A unit of measurement, 4 inches.
- Hard Mouthed: A horse that resists or pulls on the bit.
- Head Shy: A horse that does not like his or her face touched.
- Just Backed: A horse who had just recently been introduced to the weight of a rider not suitable for beginners).
- Lame: A horse that limps when it moves.
- OTTB: Stands for Off The Track Thoroughbred.
- Pasture Sound: A lame horse who is not suitable for riding.
- Pushy: A horse that does not respect your personal space.
- PPE: A pre-purchase exam. This is where a veterinarian evaluates the horse to determine if it is appropriate for your use.
- Ring Sour: A horse that does not enjoy being ridden in the arena.
- Sire: The father of a horse.
- Soft Mouthed: A horse that is very responsive to the rein aids and needs educated hands to ride.
- Sound: A horse that is free from injury.
- Spooky: A jumpy horse that is often afraid of new surroundings.
- Weanling: A foal that has just been removed from his or her mother’s side.
- Well Broke: A horse that has large amounts of training, may be appropriate for a beginner rider.
- Yearling: A horse that is a year old.
Narrowing the Search
The right horse for you will depend on your riding experience and your equestrian aspirations. For the first-time horse owner, it is important to find a horse that is calm, mannerly, well-trained, and respectful of people. When you are shopping for a horse, be sure to ask as many questions as possible, including seemingly obvious questions like: What should I know about this horse’s behavior? What are this horse’s best qualities? What is the worst thing that this horse does? Who is currently riding this horse?
By treating the horse buying process like a job interview, you can be assured that you are finding the right horse to fit into your family. Make sure that you ask questions about the horse’s history so that you can learn as much about them as possible. For instance, Where did this horse come from originally? Who were the previous owners? Has it had any difficulties with riders in the past? Does it have any history of lameness? In addition to asking about the soundness of the horse, be sure to request the veterinarian records from the owner if you are seriously considering purchasing the horse. This will give you a health and soundness baseline.
Additionally, here are some more questions that you may want to ask the owner:
- Why are you selling the horse?
- Do they have any vices (bad habits)?
- How often do you ride the horse?
- What does the horse do after time off?
- Does the horse go out on trails alone?
- How are they in the pasture? Friendly? Submissive?
- How much groundwork have they done?
- Do they need a firm handler?
- Do they respect electric fencing?
- How do they handle new environments?
- How do they act at horse shows?
- Are they good around cars?
- How do they handle fly spray?
- Are they easy to bathe?
- What is their diet?
- Do they spend most of their time in the pasture or in the stall?
- What bit(s) do you ride them in?
- When was the last time they had their teeth done?
- Are they good for the farrier?
- Are they good for the vet?
- Have they been handled by children?
The answers to these questions will help you to narrow down your search.
Deciding on the Right Horse
After you have decided on a few horses that look good “on paper,” it is time to go visit them. This is perhaps the most important step in the process. Make sure that you are hyper-observant to everything pertaining to the horse. Be sure to handle the horse to make sure that you are comfortable with them. Put their halter on, lead them, pick their feet, and groom them. You will want to make sure that you can confidently perform these actions after your horse comes home. You will want to make sure that you take your time through this process and do not rush.
Before you ride the horse, ask the owner or the trainer of the horse to ride it first. This will allow you to evaluate it and see if you feel comfortable riding it. If the horse appears to be erratic or too reactive for your riding abilities, it is always acceptable to decline to ride the horse. Be sure that when you are horse shopping, you keep your safety at the forefront of your mind. Pay attention to what tack the horse is wearing and be willing to ask questions regarding tack that you are not familiar with. For instance, if the horse is wearing a martingale or draw reins (training equipment), you may want to ask why the horse is wearing it and ask to see it ridden without the equipment before you choose to mount the horse. Prior to mounting the horse, make sure you are equipped with the appropriate apparel, including a helmet and heeled boots.
If possible, have your instructor come with you to evaluate the horse. They can also give you a mini-lesson on the horse to help you ascertain if it is a good fit for you. Your instructor is aware of your skill set and experience, so they are an invaluable resource. Also, consider bringing someone with you to video the horse. This will allow you to refer back to your ride later, it also allows you to see what you look like on the horse.
Having an experienced horse person that you trust is so important as you enter the journey of purchasing a horse. They will be able to tell you if the horse is sound (not lame) and will also be able to help you ascertain if the horse has the appropriate temperament and training level for you. You should ride the horse in a variety of different situations, and on different days, if possible. This will help you to determine if this horse will fit your needs. It is essential that you think logically through this process and do your best not to fall in love with the first horse that you try out. Make sure that you listen to this trusted horse person, especially if they tell you that a certain horse is not the right horse for you.
After you have found your potential horse, you will want to have another equine professional evaluate them: your veterinarian. During this process, the veterinarian will take your desired purpose into consideration and make sure that the horse will hold up to the workload. They will perform a full soundness examination, and, in some cases, take an array of x-rays to make sure that there are no signs of underlying conditions that may cause the horse to be lame later in life. The cost of a pre-purchase exam may seem expensive at the onset, but it is well worth the money because it is a safeguard against future issues.
Sometimes, sellers will allow you to take the horse home on a trial. This allows you to have a couple of weeks to get to know the horse and ride it multiple times to determine if it is appropriate for you. If you choose to take the horse on a trial, be sure that you obtain mortality insurance and loss-of-use insurance so that you are not liable if something happens to the horse while under your care.
If you decide to move forward with the purchase of the horse, it is essential that you give them ample time to settle into your farm. Moving to a new home is stressful for a horse. In fact, it may take them up to three months to return to the horse that you purchased. But, with a consistent schedule and a bit of patience, your new horse will quickly become a member of your family. Generally speaking, horses are herd animals and do best with a “buddy.” Before purchasing a horse, decide if you want two horses or if you would be better served with another animal such as a miniature horse, donkey, or goat to keep your horse company. Many horses who are alone become lonely and depressed, they may also be more anxious. To make the move to your home as seamless as possible, try to keep the environment calm with a friend to keep them company.
If this process of purchasing a horse seems overwhelming, there are other ways to become involved that do not include buying a horse. Consider leasing a horse, where you are able to take on the responsibilities of horse ownership without a lengthy commitment. Many barns offer leasing and half-leasing options, where you are able to pay a set fee for the use of the horse, while also taking on its expenses. Every barn’s lease program is set up a bit differently, so it is important to work with your barn owner to determine exactly what is expected of you (the lessee) and what the expectations are of the horse owner (the lessor). The nice part about leasing a horse is that you are able to feel like the horse is your very own and build a relationship with them.
With proper guidance, purchasing your first horse can be a fun and exciting time. We hope that you will continue to read our blog series for more information regarding housing for horses, horse nutrition for the first-time horse buyer, and basic tack needs.
At The Cheshire Horse, we carry everything that you need to jump into horse ownership. If you have any questions regarding tack, equipment, and stable supplies for your horse, we invite you to contact a member of our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff.