Friday, May 3, 2013

Buying your first horse


Since I started my blog and my friends are watching Maddie grow in showing, they now are asking questions about buying a horse for their children.  That is a loaded question which can be very difficult to answer.  I never want to crush someone’s dreams but I also want to give them information which can save them and the horse in the long run. 

I found a great article on buying your first horse as a beginner.  It’s a great resource for anyone looking at getting a horse for the first time.  Some of the points which I really appreciated were how the author warned about buying cheap and also getting a rescue horse for your first horse.  We lease our Indie and it was great the author included this option.  Two other things she pointed out was don’t buy a baby and always take someone who knows what they are doing with you.  Horses are not like puppies.  Having a pet to grow up with isn’t a good idea with a horse.  Children will grow bored quickly and being inexperienced is not best with a young horse.

To read the full article click on the link below:


What are your thoughts on buying a first horse??

5 comments:

  1. Nice article, however, not ALL rescue horses are bad! Some "rescue" horses are older, been there done that animals, who end up in rescues or auctions. An older horse is great for beginners. People who do ranch work, rodeo competitions etc, often pass on their older animals for younger animals. A reputable rescue will not adopt an animal that is not a good fit, they want their animals to have happy forever homes.

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  2. Most people in the USA do not have the time, training or real estate nowadays. They need acres and acres to roam run and graze, or daily exercise. Rent and take lessons at a good stable unless you are willing to give at least a couple of hours a day and sometimes more to work and maintain your horse. Neglected shaggy parasite riddled skeletons roaming small lots are not pets. they are abused. It takes at least three years of training to raise a baby into a good working horse. Some live to be 30 years old. Horse ownership is a true commitment.

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  3. The article warns against Arabian horses for beginners. A good Arabian is worth their weight in gold. Four out of the five lessons horses at my barn are Arabians. They are calm and sweet. They are super smart and bond with the children. With older riders they are excited and ready to work, but with a five year old they won't do anything. My horse in particular will listen to me very well. Every time I am teaching a student to canter for the first time she gives me a look like, "Is that really what you want?". Then she canters after I tell her again. With other kids that already are fine with cantering one touch to canter and she is ready to go. She knows the difference in each kids' abilities and challenges them accordingly. Arabians are the most loving horses with big personalities. Do not count an Arabian out till you have tried one.

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  4. Can I say we just rescued a horse she is our 5th horse not first she has needed lots of handling she's 4 was broke to ride but who ever did it made her afraid of men especially she needs a experienced rider and she won't let u put on headstall and reins yet she is so sweet not a mean bone I was at one time new at buying horses and made mistakes so take someone who knows to check for soundness our rescue I paid $150 to get her best money I ever spent but could have just as well been a bad horse but I knew what to check I say do your home work before you go we also have a baby his mom just died and its not a good idea unless you know what your doing he's a amazing babe :) we love him going on 8 months now and wouldn't change a thing been handled daily since born not a mean bone the day will come to break him to ride in few years won't fix unless he becomes wild his color is awesome gorgeous tri color paint :) happy ridding

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  5. Can I say we just rescued a horse she is our 5th horse not first she has needed lots of handling she's 4 was broke to ride but who ever did it made her afraid of men especially she needs a experienced rider and she won't let u put on headstall and reins yet she is so sweet not a mean bone I was at one time new at buying horses and made mistakes so take someone who knows to check for soundness our rescue I paid $150 to get her best money I ever spent but could have just as well been a bad horse but I knew what to check I say do your home work before you go we also have a baby his mom just died and its not a good idea unless you know what your doing he's a amazing babe :) we love him going on 8 months now and wouldn't change a thing been handled daily since born not a mean bone the day will come to break him to ride in few years won't fix unless he becomes wild his color is awesome gorgeous tri color paint :) happy ridding

    ReplyDelete