- Breeding
- Targeted Nutrient Therapy for Insulin Resistance
- A Brief History of Horse Breeding
- OmegaTri & the Equine - Reducing Inflammation, Restoring Balance
- Buying a Horse
- How to Buy a Horse
- Rocky Mountain Horses
- What do do when the Panic is On to keep our Horses Safe!
- General Horse Articles
- Keeping the Horse Replenished - Equine Electrolytes
- The Missing Equine Link: How the Modern Horse Came to Be
- In Defense of Horses in Sport
- Horse Feeding
- Feeding and Management of Horses During the Transition from Warm to Cool Weather
- Equine Experts Send Us Your Best Tip - Win $750 Worth of KAM’s Healthy Horse Products and More
- Targeted Nutrient Therapy for Insulin Resistance
- Horse Grooming
- Mane Saving Ideas
- An Overview of Horse Grooming
- When Dealing With Horses Get It in Writing - Sign Up for May 16 FREE Webinar
- Horse Health Issues
- Cookies With a Clue For Your Horse
- Healthy Horse Boutique Supports Haddad Staller In Her Olympic Quest
- Feeding and Management of Horses During the Transition from Warm to Cool Weather
- Horse Training
- Why Making a Rope Halter Isn't as Easy as They Say
- Relive Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day on YouTube
- Let's Talk About Equine Probiotics - Equitivia
- Horses & History
- The Missing Equine Link: How the Modern Horse Came to Be
- The History of Horse Breeding
- The History of Overalls
- Horses & Sports
- Halter Horse Show
- Ask Chelsie Natural Horsemanship - What Does It Mean To Disengage My Horse?
- Nearly $7 Million Generated Annually for the District of Columbia
How to Buy Horses: A Step by Step Process
03/23/2009
To buy horses means more than just the monetary value of purchasing the horse (which is substantial). It means you buy horses’ food, medical care, boarding, and accessories every year. But if you’re committed to the project, and you’re anxious to buy
If your love of horses is strong enough, you will eventually find yourself contemplating whether or not you should buy horses, rather than just admire them. To buy horses means more than just the monetary value of purchasing the horse (which is substantial). It means you buy horses’ food, medical care, boarding, and accessories every year. But if you’re committed to the project, and you’re anxious to buy horses, here are the steps for a smooth transaction.
Step 1. Put yourself out there.
When you’re in the market to buy horses, you need to talk to individuals in the industry, both to learn, and to network. Trainers buy horses every week, and if you let them know a little bit about your budget and riding abilities, they will be able to offer advice and keep an eye out for you. Trainers will also help you learn about the expenses you incur when you buy horses, so ask as many business details as you can. Instructors often have clients who are interested in selling horses, so if you’re about to buy horses, a horse instructor might be able to let you know what’s immediately available.
Step 2. Read up
If you’re going to buy horses, you’re going to need to learn everything you can about how to care for a horse. Check out some books on equine health and horse first aid so that you can know what to look for, both before and after you buy horses. That way, when taking a potential horse for a ride, you can be able to tell if the horse is suffering from an illness, which may affect your decision when you buy horses. You should also prepare yourself for the variety of livestock taxes, stable fire codes, and other local law information before you attempt to buy horses.
Step 3. Scout the area
Before you buy horses, ascertain how many local tack shops, farriers, boarding facilities, and supply stores are in the area. The fewer and farther apart they are, the more expensive it may be to buy horses. How far is the nearest equine hospital? Is there a reliable veterinarian nearby?
Step 4. Decide on boarding
If you’re a first-time horse owner, consider a livery or boarding yard when you buy horses. Don’t attempt to keep the horse yourself until you have gained the experience that comes with having years to buy horses. Boarding accommodations can be found in magazines, over the internet, or through word of mouth. When people find out you’re in the market to buy horses, offers appear out of nowhere, so it pays to compare to find the best deal. Business hours, feed, cost, and responsibility should all be taken into account before you buy horses.
Step 5. Browse the selection
Before you go out to buy horses, make a list as if you were going out to buy groceries. Include the characteristics of your ideal horse: pedigree, breed, size, health, sex, age, training, price, and color. Look around for at least a month if not longer before you commit to buy horses. Try word of mouth, or browse the “buy horses” section of internet classifieds. If you decide to use a dealer, make sure he or she has a good reputation before you buy horses. And make sure you never commit to buy horses until you have taken your top 3 choices on several test rides.
Step 6. Ask questions
When you buy horses, you need to know everything you can about their pasts. This includes medical history, the reason for sale, any bad habits, and security markings. You may also want to ascertain when you buy horses if you can also buy the horses’ tack and equipment. The more questions you ask, the better protected you will be when you buy horses.
Step 7. Finalize the deal
Once you’ve taken your horse on at least two test rides, have a trusted trainer (or someone knows how to buy horses) come with you and give you their opinion. Make sure the horse has been checked out by a veterinarian of your horse before you buy horses. Then and only then, initiate the paperwork.
