How to Pick the Right Horse

Q: How important is having a defined goal?

Per Evon Montgomery: it's the most important step. Without a clear goal—dressage, jumping, reining, trail, breeding—you can fall in love with the wrong horse. Goals narrow the search, focus the conversations with sellers, and protect you from impulse decisions you'll regret.

Q: Should a beginner really avoid young horses?

Per Evon Montgomery: yes. A two-year-old colt teaches the rider nothing he needs to know, and the rider teaches the colt nothing he needs to know. Steady, experienced horses build skill and confidence—the right first horse is one whose training already exceeds the rider's, not one waiting for the rider to catch up.

Q: Can I get the right horse without taking lessons first?

Per Evon Montgomery: lessons before buying are one of the cheapest investments in the entire process. They reveal what skill level you actually ride at, expose you to a variety of horses, and connect you with instructors and trainers who can help you choose. Rushing past lessons usually costs more later.

Q: What should I do at the first visit?

Per Evon Montgomery: watch the horse caught from pasture, groomed, tacked, ridden by the seller, then rride it yourself. Notice how the horse responds to handling on the ground—that often tells you more about temperament than the ride. Don't decide on the first visit, even if you're sure.

Q: When is the right time to make an offer?

Per Evon Montgomery: after a second visit, a satisfactory pre-purchase exam, and conversations with people who know the horse. Make the offer in writing, with specific contingencies, and don't let pressure tactics rush you. The right horse is worth waiting for; the wrong horse rushed home is a problem for years.

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How to Pick the Right Horse

Choosing the right horse for you is a process, but you shouldn’t make yourself feel pressured or hurried. Article from Evon Montgomery

One of the most common questions that people ask me when taking lessons or one of my classes is, “How do I pick the right horse for me?” Whether you’re a first-time horse owner or are simply looking for a new equine friend, bringing home a new horse can be an exciting and even overwhelming experience. To help you find the best fit for you and make the horse-buying process as smooth and simple as possible, keep these five tips in mind when you set out on your search.

1 Have a Goal in Mind

The best piece of advice that I can give you is to have a clear goal in mind for what you’d like to do with your horse. Even though you might be immediately drawn to the first horse that you go to see, you don’t want to base your decision purely off of looks and an instant infatuation.

For example, if you plan on jumping with your horse, you wouldn’t want to get a 14-hand cow pony for that job. On the other hand, if you want to rein, a big dressage horse wouldn’t be the best fit, either.

Another factor to take into account is your skill and confidence level as a rider. If you’re just starting out, you certainly don’t want to get a two-year-old horse who’s never had a saddle on him. Instead, choose an experienced, steady horse who can help you to continue to learn and build up your confidence.

If you can’t or don’t want to ride your horse and instead are simply looking for a pasture pet, you will have a broader range of horses that could work. Keep in mind, though, that some horses do best when they have a job to do, so this is something you’ll have to factor into your decision when choosing a horse. You might go for an older, calm horse who’s perfectly content hanging out in your pasture and getting lots of attention instead of an off-the-track Thoroughbred who’s looking for his next job. Remember, there are two many nice horses out there to keep one that doesn’t suit either you or your goal!

2 Do Your Research Once you know your goals, do a little research to learn more about what type of horse might work best for your situation

You’ll also want to look into what kinds of tack and other specific items you’ll need for your particular discipline. If you’re new to Western riding and have all English tack, for instance, find out what tack and other supplies you’ll need to buy for your new horse.

3 Match Your Personality

Another important consideration when picking a horse is whether or not his personality seems to be a good match for yours. Beginner or timid riders will do better with a calm, easy-going type of horse, rather than a very forward or vocal horse. You should be able to get a good sense of a horse’s personality by reading his body language when you go to meet him. For example , a lowered head, relaxed ears, and a droopy chin are signs that a horse is calm and relaxed. A horse with both ears pinned back and an intensely swishing tail, on the other hand, is irritated or angry.

4 Think about Where You’ll Keep Your Horse

Unless you’re able to keep your horse on your own farm, you’ll most likely need to find a boarding stable. When searching for the right facility, look for a barn with like-minded horse owners and riders who share similar goals to yours. You wouldn’t want to be the only English rider in a Western barn, or the only barrel racer in a dressage barn. If you want to show in the hunter/jumper ring with the rest of your barn, for example, you should look for a facility that travels to local shows. And since you know that one of your goals is to jump and compete, you’ll want to find a horse that’s suited for this type and level of work.

Other important questions to ask when choosing a boarding facility include: 'What are the hours of operation? Will your barn be open during the hours you have available to ride? 'Is there a safe place to ride, like an enclosed indoor arena or a fenced-in outdoor? 'Are there other people to ride with, or will you be the only person around when you’ll be riding? 'Do the other horses and property look well taken care of?

5 Understand the Financial Commitments Remember that owning and caring for a horse requires a significantly larger financial commitment than taking care of a dog or a cat

In Summary Choosing the right horse for you is a process, but you shouldn’t make yourself feel pressured or hurried. The right horse is out there, but it may take some time to find him or her. Remember to start by identifying your goals and even your limitations, then search for a horse based on those parameters.

Key Article Takeaways

Per Evon Montgomery: have a clear goal before you go shopping—jumping, reining, trail, pleasure, breeding.
A 14-hand cow pony won't take you over jumps; a big dressage horse won't rein.
Match horse to rider skill—not the rider's aspirations.
Don't buy on first-visit infatuation; sleep on it, visit twice, and bring an honest set of eyes.
Set the budget for purchase plus the first year's care, not just the sale price.

Questions readers commonly ask:

How important is having a defined goal?

Per Evon Montgomery: it's the most important step. Without a clear goal—dressage, jumping, reining, trail, breeding—you can fall in love with the wrong horse. Goals narrow the search, focus the conversations with sellers, and protect you from impulse decisions you'll regret.

Should a beginner really avoid young horses?

Per Evon Montgomery: yes. A two-year-old colt teaches the rider nothing he needs to know, and the rider teaches the colt nothing he needs to know. Steady, experienced horses build skill and confidence—the right first horse is one whose training already exceeds the rider's, not one waiting for the rider to catch up.

Can I get the right horse without taking lessons first?

Per Evon Montgomery: lessons before buying are one of the cheapest investments in the entire process. They reveal what skill level you actually ride at, expose you to a variety of horses, and connect you with instructors and trainers who can help you choose. Rushing past lessons usually costs more later.

What should I do at the first visit?

Per Evon Montgomery: watch the horse caught from pasture, groomed, tacked, ridden by the seller, then rride it yourself. Notice how the horse responds to handling on the ground—that often tells you more about temperament than the ride. Don't decide on the first visit, even if you're sure.

When is the right time to make an offer?

Per Evon Montgomery: after a second visit, a satisfactory pre-purchase exam, and conversations with people who know the horse. Make the offer in writing, with specific contingencies, and don't let pressure tactics rush you. The right horse is worth waiting for; the wrong horse rushed home is a problem for years.