Help with horse buying process?

Question

I've been riding for three-ish years, and i'm interested in buying a horse... I already have a place to board, and i know how to take care of horse, what i need to know is where can i look to find a reliable seller, what questions to ask, when and what should i do when I'm trying a horse. If you have gone through the process, tell me EVERYTHING!! please :D

I do hunter jumper, a little cross country... I really want a thoroughbred (i like to go fast :D), and don't want a completely quiet horse, well quiet enough to trail ride, but i like an energetic horse.. ( i ride the horse at the barn that everyone else is to scared to ride)... so i really just want some good, reliable websites, and any tips you have on the price, and vet exams. stuff like that... I know what i want, i just want to know how to get it! haha

And.. i want to show.. as much as i can.. but mainly the local c shows, maybe some A shows, but nothing too fancy.

Answer 1

If you are interested in serious showing, you need to make sure the horse had no "imperfections." I wanted to buy a quarter horse once, but he had a small spot that prevented him from being a "purebred" so I couldn't show him in the Big Shows (ie Regionals, Nationals, etc.)

Also, you should get a gelding. Mares are moody and stallions are often hard to control. I would advise getting a horse that's over 3. Between 3 and 5 is a good age because they have had a chance to be broken well and get to know people. I bought my horse at sixteen, and now I wish I had had more time with him.

If you ARE interested in showing, Arabian horses are goreous showhorses. I own an Arabian gelding, and the calibur of showing he is capable really surpasses other breeds.

If you're not interested in serious showing, just make sure the horse is gentle, does not spook easily (maybe ride him along a road to test this.) Make sure you can saddle him and make sure he'll take a bridle, and lift all of his feet to make sure he doesn't have a foot thing (sometimes they kick.) Also, see how he interacts with children and other horses.

Hope it helps! Good luck!

Answer 2

I think everyone gave you really good advice as to the actual process. Keep in mind that it is a HUGE commitment. And definetly have the horse checked by your own vet. Now as for TB's, if you have the time and can make the commitment, I'd highly recommend checking CANTER. These are horses coming off the track. Now some may never be able to be jumped due to various injuries. But you do find some that are fine for it. And they have both CANTER owned horses and trainer listings. In either case, it would be wise to bring someone to evaluate the horse...these are horses coming off the race track. They do take time to come down off the track atmosphere. But the bonding that can take place during that time is unbelievable. I've worked with more than a few OTTB's and loved it. But you need to make sure the barn is equipped to handle it.

Other than that, take your time and shop around...don't jump at the first horse you fall in love with. Know your own limitations as a rider and buy accordingly. And don't discriminate based on gender. :-) I've seen my fair share of geldings who STILL act studdish and some of the most mellow mares in the world. A lot of people don't want a mare because of the tendancy to be mare-ish. But I'll tell you what a trainer once told me...if you have a good mare, she'll walk through fire for you.

Answer 3

Take your trainer with you. You will most liekyl need a little help with the pysical assessment. Have him/her watch you ride the horse after you have both watched the owner ride the horse. My big thing and most training magazines will tell you this is to ask to take the horse home for 30 days. If the owner is reluctant to let this happen, ask if you can take hime home for 30 and if he doesnt work out, can you bring him back for a full refund or a 75-90% refund. Most people will agree to one of the two. A dishonest trainer will not let you do either. If the horse seems slow and sluggish at home and has a glazed look in his eye, he may be drugged. Give him a few days to seetle into his new surroundings and see how he acts. If he is a completely different horse than at home, then he may have been drugged. Your trainer will be able to pick out a drugged horse pretty easily. Ask the owner what the horse has been trained in, his showing experience, is he kid safe.

Part two: You have made a deal with the owner and you are bringing him home for 30 days. What routine is he used to? What time is he normally fed? What feed does he eat? What type of hay is he used to? Any supplements? His vet? His farrier? Soundness? Any life long ailments(arthritis, laminits, colicking problems, etc.) Talk to your trainer and s/he can help you out too.

Answer 4

Some will let you take a horse on trial basis. That is great if you can as it lets you ride and see how your skills fit with the horses.
If not at least ride the horse and ride it away from the farm alone to see if he/she will willing leave the farm. You are checking to see if the horse is barn or buddy sour.
Have a vet do a pre purchase exam. It is worth the money.
Make sure the horse has the ability to do what you are going to want to do with a horse.
I ride a thoroughbred who was a race horse. He is wonderful to me but one of my firends would never even get on him as he can be a handful out on the trail I like it but she hates it and wants something much more laid back. So make sure your and the horses personality match.
Good luck in your search.

Answer 5

I have been training horses for almost 30 years, These are things I have learned.
1. Set goals. What do you hope to accomplish.
2. Hire help, A good professional trainer can help find a horse that will be suitable to your purpose.
3. Vet check always. A physical problem discovered early can save you thousands.
4. Pretty is as pretty does, but quality is to the bone. Don't pass on a horse because of cosmetics, a good horse is always the perfect color.
There is more, but these are the basics, take your time, don't take your check book with you the first time or two. all though these suggestions seem expensive, they will never be as expensive as buying a mistake.
Good luck and have fun.

Answer 6

First off, you need to decide what you want the horse to do. Then you would be smart not to buy anything off the web. You should find an individual selling the horse. If the horse is really as good as the buyer tells you it is, the seller should not have a problem with you trying the horse out before you buy it. If you want to take your chance, go to a livestock sale and buy one there, but if you do that, keep in mind that they are selling those horses for some reason.

Answer 7

in response to the arrive Very Early...bad idea. it is very disrespectful and impolite to barge in on people when they are not expecting it. If you can't trust the owner to not be drugging the horse or lungeing him for 2 hours before you are scedualed to come, you shouldn't be buying your horse from them!

www.equine.com is a great site for finding horses. Do you have an instructor? Ask if he or she has any trainer friends who may have horses they are selling or if they have heard of any horses for sale.

Have you ever leased before? I would recomend leasing first if possible, it is a great way to show the time and part of the money comitment you will be making buying a horse.

When you go to try a horse, bring another horsey person along with you, your trainer is ideal, but someone who has been riding for a long time is ok too. First you should watch the owner ride the horse, then your more experianced friend should ride him/her, then if you like what you see you can get on to give the horse a try. some questions:
-age, hight, breed (before going to try)
-past medical history (lameness, old injuries, colic)
-how long they have owned and why they are selling
-has he shown, trail ridden, (anything you plan to do with him)
-up to date on shots, vet, worming, dentist, etc.
-can you take him on a trial before buying

good luck,and remember not to rush into buying

o and a couple of expenses that can get skipped:
-consulting fee for person who helps you find the horse
-insurance
-supplements (cosiquin alone can cost around $50)
-trailer or trailering fees if you don't have direct access to trails (and if u buy the trailer, you got to buy that new truck too!)
-worming and yearly shots

Answer 8

Before taking this step, ask question of the other boarders where you propose to keep the animal. Find out where they buy their supplies, cost of vet and farrier bills over the period of a year, unexpected costs, etc. Then start the buying process by determining what you're basic use of the animal is going to be, talk to the local vets, and ask them to suggest the breeders or traders that they know to take care of their animals. Make numerous appointments to go visit the seller's locations, and check a lot of animals, more than just one time. Even if you have to see the same animals over and over, this will give you an idea of how it feels to walk up to the same one on a regular basis. Eventually, your eyes, head and heart will settle on one that stands out, and that will be the one that makes you the happiest. It's a process that may take a month or two, but since you're making a 10 or more year commitment, the time will be well spent.

Answer 9

Make sure you really look for good conformation, especially in the legs and back. Make sure you test ride any horse you are thinking about buying as well as have the owner ride it so you can see how it moves and how the owner rides it (you can tell a lot about how it was trained by how the person rides it). Vetchecks are always a must. And its always a good idea to take someone with you who knows about buying horses (someone from the barn you ride at for example) because they can help offer a good opinion.

Answer 10

i could in hassle-free terms get the purposes b4 the horse, buckets, troughs, brushes, and issues like that, wait on tack and feed until eventually you get the horse so which you get waht that's used to and each thing suits proper. once you circulate finding, take somebody who's knowledgable with you and hear what they say. once you're an green rider, your buddy would desire to get on the horse earlier you to work out no count number if that's certainly broke. additionally, get an older horse that has had time to mature, a minimum of five if no longer older, the final ingredient you decide on is a hyper 2 year old, you decide on something which you will have exciting with and that's nicely broke. once you locate a solid possibility, then you definitely set up for the vet verify and if all is going nicely, delivery is elementary, i could locate a buddy to haul as this is greater reasonably priced, and an excellent sort of situations the guy you're procuring from could be prepared to gring the horse to you if it is not too some distance, solid success and luxuriate in!!!