| There is often a discrepancy between what we horse | | | | such a fantastic athlete! |
| buyers think we need in a horse and what we actually | | | | Did I once consider whether I myself had the potential |
| need. This muddled thinking has landed me in trouble | | | | to compete at that level? I was currently jumping three |
| many times, and plenty of other people I know! | | | | feet high on a good day. Did I need a horse capable of |
| Here are four common mistakes made when buying a | | | | jumping five feet six or more? (Assuming he really |
| horse. | | | | could.) |
| Number One: He's beautiful - I must have him | | | | It's no use buying a horse that can compete in Grand |
| My first pony was the ugliest thing you ever saw, but | | | | Prix dressage, four star three day events or puissance |
| a kind and wonderful friend. | | | | jumping - not to mention paying a hefty price for such |
| My second equine was the most beautiful horse that | | | | an animal - if you're not even remotely close to his |
| walked this earth and the first one I looked at. In love, I | | | | standard. |
| failed to understand that the stunning Hanoverian was | | | | While you're trying to catch up, he'll be unlearning his |
| far too strong for me and needed a competent, | | | | skills. You'll need someone to maintain the horse's |
| confident rider. I was neither. He had also been ruined | | | | training, which usually means you don't get to ride him |
| by previous owners, which is why he was going so | | | | any more. Because, you'll be firmly told -- as I was -- |
| cheaply. After I got him home, my gorgeous gray | | | | you are ruining him. You'll end up paying a professional |
| bucked and reared, refused jumps, bolted and | | | | to work with your talented horse while you watch |
| generally made my life miserable. | | | | miserably from the sidelines. It's expensive and no fun! |
| Instead of being smart and trying out different horses - | | | | Far better to be truthful about your current level of |
| beautiful or otherwise - plus taking my time over the | | | | riding. Be humble enough to go for a less trained horse. |
| whole process, I had leapt into a purchase simply | | | | Don't buy a Ferrari when you've just started to drive -- |
| because he looked the part and I swiftly regretted it. | | | | it's a waste of money. There'll still be top level horses |
| Number Two: He's young - we'll grow old together. | | | | out there when you've become a top level rider. |
| This is a very understandable reason for acquiring a | | | | Number Four: He's a stallion - I'll be able to breed from |
| youngster. After all, we want to keep our horses for | | | | him as well as ride him. |
| many years. We invest much emotion in our equine | | | | We've all seen the romantic movies about gorgeous |
| friends and the pain of losing them is hard to bear. | | | | stallions with flowing manes and tails, galloping with |
| But if you are an inexperienced rider the worst thing | | | | carefree abandon. How wonderful to possess one of |
| you can do is buy an inexperienced young horse. At | | | | those shiny, muscular steeds! |
| least one member of the equine/human partnership | | | | I can tell you from first-hand experience: it isn't. Not if |
| has to know what they're doing. Otherwise the | | | | you don't know how to handle him. I fell in love with a |
| relationship will fail. A young horse will feel insecure | | | | stunning stallion at an auction and just 'had' to have him. |
| around an owner who isn't confident, and if not given | | | | A stallion has to be told all the time that you are boss. |
| leadership will quickly assume it himself. He'll take | | | | He has to be turned out alone. If used for breeding as |
| advantage of his owner, learn bad habits and become | | | | well as riding, he needs to be taught that mares are |
| a dangerous bully. | | | | not fair game while he's under saddle. |
| Far from wanting to keep such a horse into old age, | | | | My stud enjoyed rearing and hopping on his hind legs |
| the intimidated owner will want to get rid of him as fast | | | | and was nicknamed 'Hormones R Us' by my instructor. |
| as possible. But by then the horse will be hard to sell. | | | | He was six years old before I finally admitted he was |
| If you are an inexperienced rider, you need a | | | | too much for me and had him gelded. By then it was |
| schoolmaster. This is an older horse who has 'been | | | | too late to make any real difference. |
| there, done that' and can give his owner confidence | | | | Unless you are a professional with the know-how and |
| while teaching him or her the ins and outs of | | | | ability to take care of stallions, let them remain at a |
| horsemanship. With proper care schoolmasters can | | | | safe, romantic distance! |
| live long, useful lives and are worth their weight in gold. | | | | I often think that buying a horse is similar to getting |
| My eventer is such a horse. A healthy twenty-year-old, | | | | married after one date. Reduce the risk of making a |
| he's still taking care of nervous riders. | | | | bad decision by frankly assessing your own riding |
| Number Three: He's talented - we'll win everything | | | | ability and taking good advice from a trusted instructor |
| together. | | | | or other horse person. By adopting that method I now |
| The dealer who sold me the beautiful gray kept telling | | | | have three horses with whom I have forged a fulfilling |
| me the horse would 'make an international | | | | relationship over the past eleven years. |
| showjumper.' I was thrilled at the prospect of owning | | | | |