Horse Buying Tips

Buying a horse can be very exciting. Many people however end up making mistakes as they are so eager to own a horse. This article will give you some tips you can use to ensure your horse buying goes smoothly.

Firstly, it is important that you know what type of horse you are searching for. Do you want to breed from this horse, compete or just have it for a nice bit of hacking and arena work? One of the most common mistakes first time horse buyers make, is that they do not know what they want and end up getting a hot-headed racing horse instead of a bomb-proof all-rounder.

You can find your new horse in a multitude of venues. You can easily find them at riding schools, livery yards, and from private breeders. Markets can be a cheap way to buy a horse but can be risky as you do not get to spend much time with the horse before you have to make a decision.

Don’t be afraid to ask a more experienced friend or professional trainer how to buy a horse. They will give you an objective view on the horse and make sure that you are not being scammed in any way.

Once you have found a horse that looks promising, there are a number of things you must do before any money is being exchanged. Inquire as to the number of owners the horse has had in the past since this a large number of owners is a red flag. You should also ask to see the appropriate documents outlining the breed, date of birth and other information.

Buyers should make sure that a full medical examination is carried out by a respected vet. Underlying conditions such as bad bone structure may lead to expensive vet bills or even worse, you having to put down the horse.

Any proper seller should let the buyer to take the horse for a trial of one to two weeks before making their final decisions. By doing this, you will get to know the horse properly and to make sure ‘it does what it says on the tin’.

Satisfied that this is the right horse for you, it is time to negotiate the price. You should always ask what equipment you will get with the horse as these might be useless to the seller but save you a lot of money in the future.