Horse buying Tips

Keep These Factors in Mind When Buying Horses

Buying horses does not need to be a complicated venture. Although some people recommend taking an experienced horse person with you when you are looking for a horse to buy, with some common sense and a little advance research, you will likely be able to find a suitable horse to purchase on your own.

Before embarking on your mission to find a horse, you will need to decide a few important details as these can make finding an acceptable horse much easier. If the horse is for your children, you might want to reconsider getting a horse in the first place. Many children, particularly small ones, are intimidated by a horse’s sheer size when meeting one for the first time. Even children who have been around horses, or ponies, before can sometimes be a little frightened by the big feet and tall stance of many horses.

Is a Pony a Better Option for You?

For smaller children, , you might consider purchasing a pony instead of a horse. There are many similarities between horses and ponies besides the obvious visual ones. Ponies are classified as small, medium, and large depending on the measurement from the pony’s withers to the ground. The withers is a small hump that is located at the base of the neck. A pony is officially called a horse if it measures more than 57 inches high.

Another detail to keep in mind when buying horses is the breed of horse. Breeds range from purebreds with finely sculpted features such as Arabians to heavy draft breeds such as Clydesdales. Miniature horses are very small, much smaller than even the smallest of ponies. While they may share a diminutive height with ponies, miniature horses retain the fine boned features found in many breeds of horses. Ponies, on the other hand, tend to be heavy boned.

Although purebred horses tend to be popular, there are many fine mounts that are a combination of two, or even three, breeds. These part bred animals tend to retain the best dominant features of each breed. Arabians are a popular breed that tends to be intelligent but high strung. Quarter horses, with their stocky features and responsive handling, are also a popular breed of horse. When bred together, a horse that is half Arab and half Quarter horse tends to have the steady intelligence and responsive stamina that many people appreciate.

Assessing a Horse Before Purchase

When assessing a horse, or pony, before purchase, look for a shiny coat (if the weather is warm). A horse’s long winter coat can look dull and coarse so that is a factor to take into account. The eyes should be clear and bright. Neither the eyes nor the nose should be runny. Look for strong and straight legs that are blemish free. Stay away from horses that have a sway back as they are unlikely to be suitable riding prospects. When buying horses, it is best to avoid unaltered male horses, or stallions, unless you plan to breed horses in the future. Unless they are gelded, or castrated, stallions tend to become aggressive and hard to manage as they mature.

Don’t hesitate to become as educated as possible. Learning about qualities in horses can help you appreciate the animal for its strong qualities and help you appreciate the diversity of many breeds. The more you learn about buying horses, the better your purchase will go and the better a horse-owner you’ll be.