Planning on buying a horse? Owning a horse comes with huge responsibilities (and just as huge costs!) but if you’re ready to take the plunge we have some great tips and advice about how you can find the best beginner horse for you.
It’s a great idea to talk to a friend or your instructor to get on the ground advice too and take them along on your search – it’s great to have a second opinion, especially from someone with more experience than you.
Enroll in Riding Lessons
Enroll yourself in a once-a-week riding lesson for the first six months at least. Make sure the instructor comes highly recommended.
Consider Leasing for Six Months
Before purchasing a horse, consider leasing one. In a full lease arrangement, you will usually be responsible for all of the horse’s care and expenses. In a lease that is just partial, the owner of the horse is usually still responsible for these things.
How Much Should I Spend on a Beginner Horse?
What are you trying to achieve with your horse? Do you want a horse just for personal riding to have fun with? If so, you can find a great horse for around five thousand dollars or less. If you are wanting a horse for serious competitions, of course, it will cost you more.
Keep in mind this is not where the financial price ends. Buying the horse is only a small part of it. There are many other monthly expenses that you need to take into consideration before purchasing a beginner horse.
Other Costs
Boarding
Your boarding fee usually includes care of the horse, feeding your horse, and cleaning the stall. When it is possible, find a boarding house that is within thirty minutes of your home, this way you can be there every day.
Riding Lessons
It doesn’t matter if you have ridden a horse many times before or not. Taking riding lessons will help you to develop your horse-riding skills.
Farrier
Every two months your horse will need farrier care. This takes care of the horse’s hooves and shoes.
Vet Care
Twice a year your horse will need shots with worming done every two months. There will be times where your horse may need emergency care so make sure you add a little to the budget every month to be able to handle this cost when it does occur.
A horse will also need check-ups for its teeth once a year.
Equipment and Tack
There are things that you need to buy before purchasing your horse or at least at the same time. Thins like a bridle, saddle, blankets, fly spray, grooming supplies, and more. Don’t forget the feed!
Bedding
If you keep your horse on your own property, you will need to provide the bedding for the horse. If you have your horse at a boarding place, they will usually provide this for you.
Miscellaneous
There will always be more expenses than what you have thought of. Some of these are not expensive, but some are. You always need to put extra money aside for these things that arise.
What to Look for in a Beginner Horse?
Your safety comes before anything else. You need to find a horse that is well-mannered and well-trained. Below is a list of other things for you to consider.
Size
Take into account your weight and height when choosing your horse. But the most important thing to consider is how comfortable you feel on them. You may feel that a 16hh horse is a little high off the ground for your liking, or you may prefer it! The size of horse you’re comfortable to ride is a personal choice.
Temperament
One of the most important things to consider before your purchase is the horse’s temperament. You need a horse that doesn’t get agitated or spooked easily, a patient and calm horse.
Breed
Paint horses, quarter horses, and other “draft horses” often make the best beginner horses. They are known to be calm, docile and eager to please. Other breeds, such as arabians and thoroughbreds can tend to be more high-spirited or hyper. But these are very much generalizations and your perfect quiet beginner horse may be the most unexpected breed.
Mare or Gelding?
As a rule, geldings can tend to be more reliable horses. Mares have a reputation of being more moody and have more ‘off’ days – so you may choose a gelding over a mare for your beginner horse.
Age
The general consensus is an older horse, with lots of experience and great training, is likely to be the better choice as a beginner horse. Don’t make the mistake of thinking a young horse and young child could ‘grow up together’. This might work for puppies but not so much for horses!
Qualities to Avoid
Just like when you’re buying a house, the way a seller writes about the horse they’re trying to sell can tell you a lot. Be careful of the following ‘qualities’ that may actually be warning signs.
Pregnant
This is not a great two for one deal! You cannot ride the horse during pregnancy or right after. Afterward, you will have a second horse to care for, feed and train. There will also be extra vet fees to consider to care for both mum and bub through the pregnancy and birth. If the phrase “in foal” is included in the qualities or description, the horse is pregnant.
“High-Spirited”
If the ad says the horse has “a lot of go” or is “high-spirited”, “need a strong and quiet rider” or “gymkhana, barrel, or endurance prospect”, all of this could mean the horse is hyper and may not be a good option as a beginner horse.
Undertrained
“Loads of potential”, “still growing”. or “ready to start” are all signs that the horse isn’t trained well enough to be a beginner horse.
Health Problems
Do not automatically believe an ad that claims the horse is sound and healthy. Always get the horse checked over by a vet before you buy.
Encouraging Qualities
As with the discouraging qualities, there are keywords and phrases that you can look for in ads to get an early idea of what the horse is like.
Good Temperament
“Steady”, “calm”, “bombproof”, and “quiet” are all words that describe a good temperament.
Well-Trained
“Proven youth horse” describes a horse that is great for the best beginner horse. Yes, sellers can and sometimes do exaggerate but once you meet and ride the horse you can tell.
Vet Check
Never purchase a horse without having it checked by a veterinarian. Do not use the seller’s vet. Call in a vet that has never seen the horse before. You and your instructor or experienced friend should be present during this evaluation.
Ask the vet to take blood samples. Sellers can hide problems with the horse simply by giving them painkillers. The cost of this exam will be between two hundred & five hundred dollars.
The vet will tell you anything that he finds, and it will be your decision to proceed with buying the horse or not.
It’s Time to Buy Your Beginner Horse! The Contract
Once the horse has been examined by the vet and you have decided to buy the horse, and you and the seller have agreed on a price, get everything in writing. A contract needs to be drawn up that has all of the details clearly stated, which should include warranties.
Conclusion
Buying your first horse is such an exciting time. No matter how many horses you come across in your life you’ll never forget your first, beginner horse. Take your time to find your perfect match, be patient and remember, safety first and always.