Jul 19 2010
Choosing the Right Horse
Are you looking to buy a horse, or maybe your first one? Before you buy you should always know what your buying. Use these basic questions to help you buy the right equine friend! How old is it? Should I get a horse or maybe a pony? Does this horse require an experienced rider? Is this horse good with children? Do I want a greenie or a trained horse? Well, in the next few paragraphs there is very useful information to buying the right horse.
Horse or Pony?
The first step to choosing the right equine friend is picking a horse(+14.2hh )
or a pony ( – 14.2hh) Size, age, and your experience all ties it together! If your buying for a small child a pony might be a better choice, but eventually the child will out grow the pony. But, a adult might feel more comfortable on horses or larger ponies. A teenager might feel for a smaller horse at about 15.2hh. Size and experience really matters when buying a horse or pony because how you sit and feel effects how you ride.
Trained or Trainee?
Whether you choose to buy a trained or an experienced or a green horse or pony it also depends on you. If you are a novice rider you might have more fun with a horse that already I trained. But if you are an experienced rider you might want to train a green horse on your own. Winning your first blue ribbon with a horse you trained is very pleasing, knowing you’ve taught him everything he knows!
What breed? And does it really matter?
While some breeds of horse and pony are bred to work specific jobs most breeds will adapt to what ever you want him to do. If you want a good trail horse you might want a Tennessee Walking Horse. They were bred for walking for long distances with out tiring. But if you want to gallop you may want a thoroughbred or a Quarter horse. The quarter horse is a very versatile breed. It’s activities range from driving cattle, show jumping, western pleasure, reining, dressage, and many more. The thoroughbred is also very good at show jumping, dressage, and racing.
So, Where will I Find Him?
The search for the perfect horse can be very time consuming. But once you have found the right one you’ll be glad you waited such a long time. Now that you’ve chose what type ( horse or pony), breed, and age there are many roads you can take. A great place to look is the barn you ride at. Talk to the barn manager or instructor to find out what horses are for sale. If you take lessons ask if you could try the horse out because you were looking to buy.
And never hesitate to look at the horses for sale in the newspaper for horses sold in auctions. This may mean you will have to wait a little longer, but many great horses are sold that way! Maybe your perfect horse is right around the corner!