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What to Look for When Buying a Horse
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When looking for a horse there are a number of things to consider.
The first being the level of experience that you have. If
you have no experience with horses its best to take lessons
and work with someone who has experience. Remember the old
addage that you get what you pay for.
Lessons
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Lessons are a great way to become familiar with horses and
the various kinds of riding. Be sure to find a barn that will
allow you to be involved in the care and handling of the horse
so you gain a full understanding of what is involved.
Kinds of Riding
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There are a variety of riding disciplines. Common English
disciplines are hunters, jumpers, dressage, standard bred
and saddle seat. Western riding has a variety of options as
well from barrel racing to reining. Be sure to choose a discipline
that suits your lifestyle.
Leasing
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Leasing is a great next step. Many barns offer full, 1/2 or
1/3 leases where you pay a portion of the horses board and
are free to come and ride X number of days a week. When discussing
the lease price be sure to work out who will be responsible
for vet bills, shoeing, and what activities the horse can
participate in. Leasing introduces a rider to the responsibilities
involved in owning a horse and can help in making the decision
before making a large financial commitment.
What to Look for
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If you are new to the horse world, its best to work with
a trainer or someone who has experience. There are a lot of
items to consider when looking for a horse and when some one
has experience they will see things that a beginner might
not. Things to consider.
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- size of the horse (does it suit the primary rider)
- tempermant (does it have a good disposition)
- the build or confirmation of the horse
- the soundness or likelihood the horse will have future
health issues
- are there any pre-existing health issues
- are shots and vet care up to date
- does the horse have papers
- how does it feel about other animals
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If you are a beginner consider purchasing a horse with a
lot of training, that already knows the ropes.
Trial
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Its common to try a horse for a few days to see if its
a good fit, prior to purchasing the horse. Be sure to put
the horse through its paces during this time frame.
Vet Check
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Its common for the buyer to get a vet check on a horse
prior to purchasing. This will help in determining the soundness
and if their are any confirmation issues. If you are spending
a fair amount of money or even being given a horse you want
to be sure its sound so that you won't have a large number
of unexpected vet bills down the road. The vet check is usually
completed during or immediately after an initial trial.
Where to Buy
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Auctions
Sometimes you can find a good horse at an auction but
its definitely not the place for a beginner to find a horse.
Work with a trainer to ensure that you find a horse that suits
your ability.
Riding Stables
Typically a good place to find a horse, will usually cost
a little more but most of the horse's quirks are worked out
if its a good stable you will know exactly what you are getting.
Breeders
Keep in mind when buying a young horse that its a large investment
before you really know what you are getting.
Backyard Barns
Sometimes you can get a good value for your money, but be
sure that you have someone with experience check the horse
out so that you can a good value.
Off the Track
It feels great to rescue a horse, but keep in mind what track
horses are accustom to and be sure that you have the experience
to work out any issues the horse might have. Race horses can
be incredibly dangerous for beginners.
Find Horses for Sale on the Web
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World
of Horses
EquiSearch
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