Buy a Horse

Looking for a horse is a process that should be based on how and what the rider wants to use the horse for. Whether you’re searching for a horse to further you in your discipline or a horse to take on trails for fun, age, athletic ability, training in a discipline, breeds, genetics, and budget are all things future horse owners must consider before buying a horse. Having an idea of how old you want your horse is important because the future horse owner needs to consider how long they plan on owning the horse. An older woman typically does not look for young horses to buy unless she only plans on owning the horse for a short time. There are many benefits to buying a young horse, including that the potential rider/owner could have that horse for a long time and can take young riders to their future goals in their discipline. Trainers and riders can also add to the horse’s training and show experience to sell later on. Benefits to buying an older horse include the horse’s buying price being typically more affordable because of the horse’s limited athletic ability and the horse already has years of training and experience. The decrease in athletic ability is great for beginner to intermediate riders and older riders with small riding goals because the horse is typically more mellow.

While all horses require constant care since they are our beloved animals, horses well beyond their prime may become more expensive as they need more care. Understanding the athletic ability of your desired horse is crucial, especially for riders looking to advance in their sport. For example, a rider striving to jump higher needs to search for a horse that will take them up to their height goal for a set period of time. Young jumpers should not look for horses that will jump Grand Prix fences, but look for horses that will jump their height goals for the next few years. Breeds can be important depending on your discipline. There are often specific breeds that came into existence to have horses for a specific sport. This appears greatly in western disciplines, especially with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), where riders strive to maintain the integrity of certain breeds. Knowing not only horse breeds, but also the horse breeds favored in your discipline, can assist in your search. Genetics also plays a big part in several disciplines as riders strive to get a horse with great bloodline and some percentage of a horse is from a specific common ancestor. Lastly, have a budget. Horses are an investment with the for sale price being only a small part of the expense of a horse. Do your research and get an estimate on the horses that meet the criteria discussed above and horses offered by your trainer.