Pebbles, a 20 y.o. mare used for lessons and my youngest daughter when she first started riding.

Getting your first horse is an exciting moment. It can also be a costly mistake. There are many considerations that go into buying that “first” horse and more time than not these are overlooked or unknown for that first-time horse buyer. It is easy to get ‘swayed’ by a particular breed or some cool color without considering other important factors.

When someone who is new to horses tells me they are planning on getting a horse for themselves or for their children, the first thing I always tell them is “go take weekly lessons for at least 6 months before buying a horse!” Owning a horse is a serious commitment of time and money and one needs to test out the waters first so to speak before jumping in.

When seeking an instructor, look for someone who will teach you how to prepare the horse for riding as well as teach you the basics of good equitation. It defeats the purpose of preparing you for your own horse if you show up to a lesson and the horse is saddled, bridled and patiently waiting for you in the arena. For the first several lessons have the instructor teach you how to safely get your horse from both a stall and from out in the pasture. Learn how to halter, lead and enforce good ground manners. Learn how to pick out feet, groom with a variety of different brushes and curry combs, saddle, bridle and do some in-hand work with body pressure and position. Then start learning the basics of riding….and it doesn’t end here. Know how to tell when your horse is safely cooled down, how to un-tack him and how to rub him down or hose him off (weather and housing dependent) and safely put him back in his stall or pasture.

When you’re not taking riding lessons, either read books on basic horse care or find a knowledgeable horse person who will teach you the fundamentals of proper horse care. These are such things as minimum space and shelter requirements, sanitation and manure control, amount and kinds of feed, veterinary and farrier care, first aid supplies and equipment/tack.

Once you have acquired some horse knowledge and have learned the fundamentals of handling and riding a horse, the time comes to step into the role of “horse owner” – assuming of course that after 6 months of lessons and learning you haven’t decided to take up parakeet ownership instead.

When it comes time to buy your first horse, take your instructor or a knowledgeable horse person along with you. There are some people out there selling horses that will tell you anything to make the sale. There are some that will ‘do things’ to a horse prior to you coming and seeing it that will make it behave differently while you’re there (drugs, excessive riding, etc…). A knowledgeable horse person will help you to sift through any BS, will be more aware of induced behavior oddities and if they know you well and your intended purposes for the horse, will be able to steer you toward a mount that is best suited for you.

If you have found a horse that seems to be the perfect fit, then do one of two things if you decide to buy it. Ask for a two-week or 30 day money back contract or have a vet check done (or do both).  Although the cost of a vet exam can be a couple hundred dollars, it’s money well spent to determine if that $2000.00 horse has a permanent lameness issue or is 5 years older than what the owner told you. There is nothing worse than buying a horse that doesn’t work out for you AND has no resale value. The trial contract allows you to get to know your new horse in your own setting and to make sure no hidden quirks present themselves that the previous owner “forgot” to mention (like you can never catch him once he’s turned out to pasture or he likes to viciously bite at you if you walk into his stall while he’s eating…). An honest horse seller will have no problem giving you one of these contracts.

Some specific things to keep in mind when searching for your first horse purchase is:

1. be realistic and know your own limitations…don’t buy a ‘hot’ thoroughbred because you know someday you’d like to do a lot of “running”!
2. Remember – a good horse is never a bad color (see Mark Rashid’s book by the same title)
3. take a knowledgeable horse person with you
4. Keep in mind a green horse and a green rider spells potential disaster
5. learn how to be safe…wear a helmet and watch out for hooves and teeth
6. keep taking lessons, keep reading and keep learning

And once you have your new horse safely tucked in at your home or stable…ENJOY. Horseback riding is exciting, social, great physical activity and a tremendous opportunity to bond with a magnificent animal.