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It’s important to ask a lot of questions when you are considering buying a horse- especially if it is your first horse or a horse for a beginner or back-in-the-saddle mature rider. Questions to ask when buying a horse vary from horse to horse and especially with how you plan to use the horse- but the questions below should be a good starting point of questions to ask when buying a horse.<\/p>\n
Question 1<\/strong>. Is it registered, and do you have the original papers? At what point in purchasing would you turn over papers.<\/p>\n This is an important question to ask, papers mean being able to show in breed shows and add value to a horse. Never sign a check or hand over money on a registered horse without seeing the registration papers, and verifying the owner listed on the papers is the seller.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Question 2.<\/strong> What is the horse’s age? How long have you had him? What were his previous homes like? Why are you selling?<\/p>\n This is a great question to ask when buying a horse because it gives you an idea of what kind of baggage he might come along with, and why the current owner no longer wants him.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Question 3.<\/strong> How would you describe his personality? Is he suitable for a beginner\/intermediate\/advanced rider?<\/p>\n It’s important to find a horse who’s personality and energy level match your own.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Question 4.<\/strong> How tall is he? What color?<\/p>\n These superficial questions aren’t usually critical, but are good to know. Be aware many sellers lie to represent their horses as taller than they are- when you visit ask if the seller has a measuring stick to prove height, if that is important to you.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Question 5. <\/strong>Who trained the horse?<\/p>\n This gives you an idea of whether it was a do-it-yourself project, which frequently leaves gaps in a horse’s training, or a professional job. Request the trainer’s phone number and call to get an opinion on a horse from the trainer’s perspective.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Question 6.<\/strong> Who is your vet? Will you notify them to release the horse’s vet records to me?<\/p>\n Access to a horse’s medical history can be just as enlightening as a vet check, showing injuries, illnesses, and even whether the horse was regularly vaccinated.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Question 7.<\/strong> Does he need horse shoes or can he go without? How often does he need trimmed\/shod?<\/p>\n A horse that can comfortably work barefoot can save hundreds in farrier costs in a year. 6 weeks is average for a horse to need hoof care, a horse with hooves that grow slowly can go 8 weeks, and a horse with fast growing hooves sometimes only 4.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Question 8.<\/strong> What have you used the horse for? What different experiences has he been exposed to?<\/p>\n Has the horse never left the backyard? Or has he done trails, parades, shows, etc. The more experience a horse has the less likely he is to spook or shy at new things.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Question 9.<\/strong> What are his ground manners like? How does he behave when you<\/p>\n lead him These are basic manners for a horse. The easier he is to handle the better<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Question 10. <\/strong>Does he have any bad habits? How is he with other horses?<\/p>\n A seller should be up front about any bad habits a horse has. You need to know if he beats up other horses in turnout or kicks on trail rides.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n These basic question to ask when buying a horse will help you evaluate whether a potential horse is right for you and when you ask these question when buying a horse you’ll be more informed about the horse you are buying.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n
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tie him
groom him
load in a trailer
bathe him
ask him to stand for a farrier<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n