Avoid These Mistakes When Buying Your First Horse

What should I know before buying a horse?

Buying a horse should be one of the most exciting times in your life.  It really doesn’t matter if you are young and dreaming of a horse or an adult that has always dreamed of having your own horse.  Setting out on the journey to buy a horse is exhilarating.  

Unfortunately, in the horse world there are a lot of people that take advantage of soon to be horse owners or inexperienced equestrians.  I have had first hand experience so I want you to learn from my mistakes.  

A mistake people make when buying a horse!

If you are new to horses or haven’t ridden horses for a long time, you need to get some experience or a refresher, before you decide to buy a horse.  Horses are large animals and can hurt you if you don’t know some basic safety tips.

If you have never ridden before or if you are buying a horse for your child, I would highly recommend you find a beginner friendly facility in your area that offers horseback riding lessons.  I don’t mean a place that offers trail rides, I mean an equestrian center that has a coach that can provide some training.

There is a lot to think about before you buy a horse. This video will help!

How much is a horse to buy?

Horses range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars.  It really depends on their breed, pedigree, age and training.  Make sure you have a budget in mind before you even begin looking for your perfect horse.  It is very easy to be persuaded into spending more money than you expected when you are standing looking at the horse of your dreams.  

When should a beginner buy a horse?

As a beginner rider you need to decide what type of riding you are going to do before you even look at buying a horse.  Will you ride english or western?  Are you planning to learn to compete or will you be riding for pleasure only? 

Talk to your coach about your goals.  A good riding coach will be able to help you and answer any questions.  

Horses have a long life expectancy so you have to be certain you actually like riding and can commit the time required to care for your horse.  That is why it is so important to take some lessons first to be certain that owning a horse is right for you and your family. 

What is the best way to buy a horse?

A great way to start looking for a horse is to join some Facebook groups advertising horses in your local area.  This will give you an idea of the type of horses that are for sale in your area.

Joining these groups will also allow you to become familiar with the price range of horses. This will allow you to set a budget for yourself. It will also give you an opportunity to become familiar with the people posting in your area.

The horse community is very small.  You will learn quickly about people you should NOT trust.  There are many horror stories of people purchasing horses that were given sedatives so they appeared calmer during their viewing.  

Before visiting any horses, I would speak to your riding coach, a friend that is familiar with horses or even a local tack shop to see if they are familiar with the seller. They may have some valuable information to share.

What kind of horse should I buy?

The breed of the horse can impact the temperament of the horse but there’s always an exception to the rule.  You may not want to hear this BUT the colour of the horse should be the last thing on the list.  

As a beginner rider, DO NOT buy an untrained young horse unless you are planning to pay a professional to train it for you.  You want to look for a horse that is calm.  Often these types of horses are called ‘bomb proof’ or ‘husband horses’.  

You want a horse that is not only calm while you are grooming them but also calm when you are on their back.  As a beginner, if you can find a lesson horse that is being sold you have hit the jackpot! 

These types of horses have taught many children and adults to love the sport and kept them safe.  They are truly worth their weight in gold.  

Does the size of the horse matter?

The size of the horse sure does matter.  If you are purchasing a horse for a young child, you do not want a 18hh horse for a 4 year old child.  The horse needs to be suitable for your height and weight as a child or adult.  

Should I see the horse before I buy it?

In my opinion it is extremely important to go and meet the horse before you buy it.  Especially if you are a beginner.  You want to see how the horse interacts with you. 

Before we bought Peanut we looked at another horse to purchase.  He was a beautiful off the track thoroughbred.  The seller owned an equestrian center of her own, had a lesson program and ran a program to re-home off the track thoroughbreds. 

I had done my research on this seller and found lots of great information about her before we went to meet this horse.

He had amazing ground manners, the seller rode him for us, in an indoor arena and outside.  He seemed perfect! He had an incredible temperament.  Why didn’t we buy him? Have you heard of a pre-purchase exam?

Should I get a pre-purchase exam before buying a horse?

A pre-purchase exam completed by a veterinarian is essential for every horse buyer.  There is a cost involved but it is worth it. 

I had pre-purchase exam completed on this gelding as mentioned above.  It wasn’t because I didn’t trust the seller.  I wanted to know if there were any concerns or issues with the horse before I purchased him. 

Upon assessment he did have some injuries. He was not going to be suitable for what we were planning to do with him. We were heartbroken because we thought he was perfect.

Even though it can be disappointing when a horse isn’t right for your family, never feel pressured or rushed to buy a horse.  There are lots of horses that need good homes.  The right one is worth the wait.  

What costs do I need to consider when owning a horse?

The basic costs of a horse can vary depending on if you have a farm or if you will be boarding your horse at a facility. 

Basic costs would include board or hay and grain (if your horse is at home), farrier fees  (fancy term for a pedicure but it is essential) every 6-8 weeks, veterinarian bills (annual and unexpected injuries/illness), equipment and tack. 

Really, the sky’s the limit for the cost of having a horse.  There are a TON of things you can buy for you and your horse. The important thing is to at least have the basic essentials.  

Share your story!

Make sure you comment below to share your journey about searching for your dream horse. I would love to hear your story!

If you have the space to keep your new horse at your own farm, make sure you check out ‘Tips For Building Horse Stalls’! In this post I will share with you some things I like about our stalls and some things that I would change if I did it again.

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