Buying you or your child's first horse is an exciting and memorable experience. A horse can become a lifelong companion. However, taking the time to find the right horse will save you a lot of trouble and heartache down the road. Here are some tips to help ensure a successful horse buying experience.

1. Evaluate you or your child's own experience. Are you or your child a beginning rider, intermediate, or advanced? This will have a huge impact on what horse you buy. If you or your child are beginning riders you don't want a a young, inexperienced horse. If you're a more advanced rider, you still want to have a very solid, sensible horse so you don't have to worry about training, unless your plan is to train your first horse. Make sure you have either a riding instructor, trainer, or trusted friend that can help you evaluate what level of horse you or your child would work well with. Remember, safety is key to having fun!

(photo taken from newhorse.com)

2. Figure out what you or your child want to do with the horse . Do you want to compete in local shows? Trail ride? Ride English? Or have a reliable horse that is versed in many different types of riding? Make sure the horses you look at are capable of doing what you want, physically and mentally. It wouldn't do to pursue barrel racing with a 20 year old trail horse!

3. Make a budget. A good horse will generally run you between $1,000 and $5,000. This is a rough estimate as it will also depend on the economy and where you live. You'll also need to factor in whether or not you need to buy tack for the horse, (some owners will sell the horse's tack along with the horse.) grooming supplies and anything else you might need. Be very conscious of your budget. Buying a horse will not be the only expense you have, so make sure you do stay within budget so you have enough to properly take care of your new horse when they come home!

4. Horses live to be about 25-30+ depending on their health, history, etc... Most horses mentally mature around age 10, so 10 years or older is a good place to start when considering the age. Getting a younger horse is usually best as they will stay with you longer and will be physically more capable. Also you won't have the added expense of taking care of an older horse.

(photo taken from imgarcade.com)

5. Brushing up on the different breeds and doing some research on what breed would best suit what you or child wants to pursue is always a good thing. But don't get locked into a particular breed! There are many Thoroughbreds you make excellent Western horses while there are some Quarter horses that love to jump!

6. Before you even start the process of looking for a horse, consider whether you will be boarding your horse at a local facility or keeping it at home. If you're planning on keeping it at home, you'll have to buy another horse so you won't have a lonely horse on your hands. Horses are herd animals and it is not mentally healthy for a horse to live alone. Miniature horses make great companions if you don't want to care for another full size horse. Goats also make good companions. If you're going to board, start looking at different boarding facilities, maybe take a few lessons at the place, volunteer, anything to get you around the people who will be taking care of your future friend. It's important to find a boarding facility that is safe, professional, and reliable. Check out next week's blog on: "How to Find a Good Boarding Facility" for more tips.

(photo taken from powderlymeadows.com)

7. It is highly recommended that you have a vet check to make sure your potential horse is physically sound to avoid unexpected troubles down the road. A vet will also be able to verify the horse's age. It's also a chance for you to try out the vet you're thinking of having as a regular and seeing how the horse behaves for the vet.

(photo taken from horsefeedblog.com)

8. A lot of people are selling horses online these days. That's a good way to start looking for a horse, just be careful of scams! Another way is to contact your riding instructor, trainer, or trusted friend and see if they know of any horses looking for a good home. You can also search different barns and see if they have any horses for sale.

9. Have someone go with you when you go to try a horse out. It's good to have a second pair of eyes and someone who has more experience buying horses.

(photo taken from dnainfo.com)

10. Buying a horse must not be completely managed by the heart. Otherwise you'd buy the first pretty, loveable horse you run into! Keep your heart at bay until you've signed, paid, and see the horse exploring his/her new home. Keep to your standards about what horse you want and don't be afraid to turn one down if they don't meet the majority of your criteria. Don't worry, that horse will probably find its way to an owner that will be a perfect match.

Once you've gone through the process of preparing, looking, and buying a horse, you can enjoy your new friend for years to come! Horse ownership is a special responsibility and comes with many, many joys. We hope these tips help you find a horse that will become a best friend!

(photo taken from balancehms.moonfruit.com)

" A horse is like a best friend. They're always there to nuzzle you and make your life a better place." -- Author Unknown

~ Saddle Up