| If you are considering buying a new horse, there are | | | | when the ears are touched. |
| several issues of concern to you. Smart buyers and | | | | * Mouth. Check for any lesions or sores. Be sure the |
| riders know what they want before speaking to horse | | | | teeth are normal and aligned. Watch the horse chew |
| sellers. | | | | to check for normal biting ability. |
| It is important to know everything you can about the | | | | * Head, neck and chest. Check for symmetry and |
| new horse. Learn its history, blood lines, habits, | | | | balance of muscles. Be sure the horse moves its head, |
| preferences, skills and overall attitude. It is also | | | | neck and chest freely and without difficulty. |
| important to find out about its inherent traits. All horses | | | | * Feet. Inspect all four feet for swelling and sensitivity |
| have their own unique traits. Know which ones are | | | | to touch. Flex and extend all joints to look for pain, |
| most desirable to you. | | | | resistance or head lifting that indicates pain or |
| Traits to Consider | | | | discomfort. |
| Some horses are better at certain tasks than others. | | | | * Rear end. Check for good tone, signs of discharge |
| When buying a new horse, pre-determine what skills | | | | and signs of diarrhea. |
| you want the horse to possess. Some to consider are: | | | | * Lameness. It is imperative that you are able to |
| * English riding | | | | observe the horse trotting in circles in both directions |
| * Showing and jumping | | | | and in a straight line. Watch closely for irregular bobbing |
| * Racing | | | | of the head, sloppy movements or skipping that may |
| * Western riding | | | | indicate pain in any of the legs. |
| * Trail riding | | | | If the horse has passed your initial evaluation, it is time |
| * Roping | | | | to take it for a ride. Observe its stamina, nerves and |
| * Team roping | | | | whether or not it is alert and well behaved. |
| * Barrel racing | | | | If you have any doubts, either walk away or arrange |
| * Endurance | | | | an agreement based on the findings during the |
| Questions to Ask Before Buying a Horse | | | | veterinary examinations. This is common practice and |
| How much do you expect to pay? Look only at | | | | a legitimate horse seller will agree to some reasonable |
| horses within your price range. What gender, color, age | | | | terms. |
| and size are you looking for? Weed out horses that | | | | Be sure the three required exams are performed by a |
| don't fit within your requirements. Does the horse load | | | | veterinarian of your choosing or one that has a neutral |
| and unload from trailers well? Will it tolerate shoeing | | | | opinion. The required exams are: |
| and hoof trimming? Score your prospective horses on | | | | * Health certificate, which is usually for crossing state |
| a scale of one to five for these items. The higher | | | | lines. |
| scorers will help you determine which horses are of | | | | * Insurance exam, to satisfy mortality and other |
| the most interest to you. | | | | questions related to insuring the horse. |
| When buying a new horse it is important to be sure it | | | | * Pre-purchase veterinary exam, detailing the medical |
| has been thoroughly evaluated. An initial inspection of | | | | status of the horse at the time of purchase. |
| the horse must be performed by someone capable | | | | When buying a horse, you want to find one that is |
| and experienced. If you don't know what to look for, | | | | healthy and has a good attitude. The horse's |
| bring someone you trust who does. Here are the | | | | experience and dependability levels must closely |
| areas you need to check: | | | | match, or be above, that of the primary rider. A willing |
| * Eyes. Make sure the horse can see out of both | | | | and intelligent horse can be trained to bring you years |
| eyes. Do a flinch test by waving your hand quickly in | | | | of pleasure and skilled work habits. Choose your horse |
| front of each eye. Check for any differences. | | | | wisely. |
| * Ears. Check for excess ear wax or over-sensitivity | | | | |