Horse Buyer Guide

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Horse Buyer’s Guide by Leslie Batistich HOOF-it Equine Horse Buyers Guide
The following text contains information that will be valuable to the novice horse buyer. These tips have been gathered from my years spent buying and selling horses at all levels in the equine world.

One thing to keep in mind is that there is no such thing as a perfect horse. But there is a horse out there, which will be right for you, if you take the time and effort to shop wisely. To help you with your search for your new “partner”, this guide will point out a few areas that will let you make an educated decision before you lay down your hard earned money. Good luck and have fun!

1. First and foremost you must begin with on honest assessment of your riding skills. It is a benefit if you have an instructor that you work with who will be willing to give you an honest opinion. Typically this initial input will narrow the field of what type of horse you should be looking for. Things to consider are the age, sex, and training that the horse has had. If this is going to be your first horse you most likely have limited riding skills. A general rule to consider is: green horse- experienced rider, green rider- experienced horse.

2. Always take someone with you who has experience with horses; it is great to have another pair of eyes along who might pick up on something that you may not see. IT is also a good idea to bring a camera or video camera so you have an image to refer to as you compare horses. Having an experienced person with you is also good to help bring you back to reality when the horse you fall in love with turns out to be named “Devil Joe” and has not had anyone stay on his back for five years.

3. Look at as many horses as you can that fit your ability and price range. The more you look the more you will know what you are looking for. Keep in mind that the least expensive part of horse ownership is buying him. Horses are expensive to maintain and you do not wan t to be struck with an animal that you can’t re-sell or cannot ride because you made an impulsive decision.

4. Look at the horses from the ground up. An old saying in the equine business is “no hoof, no horse”, and it is completely true. Make sure that the hooves are in good shape and appear to have been taken care of. Ask the owner how often their farrier works on the horse and what type of shoeing they prefer. You really do not want your first horse to be one that requires special farrier work to remain sound. Look for general signs of soundness, straight legs, hood coat, and keen eye. If the horse does not look good to you or your friend don’t go any further. Trust your initial instincts and walk away. Don’t waste the seller’s or your time.

5. When you find a pony that looks promising have the owner show you what it can do. Ground manners are very important in a happy horse and rider relationship. Have the owner put the horse on cross ties and watch how he/she reacts. Does he paw the ground or fight the cross ties? Can he stand still? Watch its behavior when the owner picks up each of its feet. Does the horse act nervous? Have the owner touch the horse inside the ears, on the flanks, above the tail, up and down the legs, and the belly also. A horse with good ground manners will not react adversely to this type of handling. Be sure to ask about any vices the horse may have. Things to look for are cribbing, biting, kicking, and being an alley bully (bossing you around when you try to lead him).

6. If your prospective horse has made it this far, its time to go to the arena. Watch how the horse behaves as it is being led to the arena. Look for anything that might point to medical problems, such as lameness. Watch the head as the horse walks, excessive bobbing or shaking of the head may indicate lameness or behavioral problems. Pinned ears and a quickly swishing tail may indicate other attitude issues. You will want to avoid. When you get to the arena, have the owner walk the horse in circles in both directions. Observie the way he moves to see if there are any hitches in his gait. As much as you may want to, do not get on the horse first! Have the owner fide first. (If the owner will not ride that horse it’s time to move on) Ask the owner to walk, trot, and canter the horse in each direction. Watch for lameness, length of stride, range of motion, problems with the right or left lead, and head carriage. Most importantly, if the horse does not look safe, don’t ride him if offered.

7. If you have decided that it’s time to buy, have the horse vet checked for soundness. I advise using your own vet if you have one, or an independent one if you do not. This assessment typically cost anywhere between $100.00 and $500.00 depending on how extensive the exam is. You need to know if this horse has any medical issues that are going to come back to haunt you in the future. Be able to walk away from any horse that has medical issues, you don’t need it. The bare minimum exam should include a flexion test, hoof sensitivity test, vision test, and dental exam. IF this is a performance horse you will also want x-rays of the legs. Let the vet know what you plan to use the horses for so he can help decide if the horse is up to it. It is also wise to have your farrier take a good look at the feet to help you in your final decision-making.

8. If you and the horse have made it this far it’s time to make an offer. Once you have finalized the purchase make sure to get a bill of sale. If you paid an extensive amount for the horse you may want to consider equine insurance. There are many companies, which cater to this need.

9. Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a companion who will give you years of pleasure and teach you a great deal about yourself. Here at HOOF-itÒ Technologies, we suggest that horse owners be proactive in good, sound hoof care. For all of your horses’ hoof care needs, please visit us at www.hoof-it.com. Good luck and good riding.

Contact: Our Friendly Staff
Minden, Nevada 89423
Phone: 888-466-3483
Email: Leslie@hoof-it.com
Website: www.hoof-it.com

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