| Buying a horse can be a very complex task. For those | | | | that was extremely fast running a quarter mile. |
| people that may think a horse is horse could find | | | | Walking horses make excellent trail horses, their gait |
| themselves facing big problems. Each horse is | | | | and endurance allows for a long pleasant trail ride. |
| different and needs to be looked at in such a way. All | | | | Each breed may have their temperaments, some may |
| horses will have some problems, it is a matter of do | | | | be "hot" or "cold". Horse shows, fairs, television |
| you have the skills to properly deal with them. | | | | programs and the internet are just a few places to |
| Let me say up front one big secret I think there is to | | | | learn about different breeds. Most people will be more |
| having a great horse, it's all in the relationship. If you | | | | than happy to embellish enthusiastically about "their" |
| want to have a successful and fulfilling relationship with | | | | breed of horse if asked. |
| your horse you have to get along. The famous Will | | | | Age: Young horses can be very enjoyable, most of |
| Rogers quote, "The outside of a horse is good for the | | | | the time they are "baggage free". They can also |
| inside of a man." That is true quote but you must | | | | become nightmares in the wrong hands. Raising a |
| remember that the opposite can be true also, you | | | | young horse from weanling to riding age can be the |
| could begin to dislike and even hate a horse you are | | | | best thing ever, to both you and the horse, if handled |
| not having fun with. The remarkable thing about a | | | | properly. It is not wise to have your first horse be a |
| horse, is that over time they will begin to represent a | | | | horse younger than six years old, that has been |
| mirror image of you. If you don't know how to handle a | | | | properly trained. Your first horse should never be a |
| horse then your horse's problems can grow. A horse | | | | green horse. A ten year old well seasoned horse is |
| has a wonderful knack to exploit your imperfections. | | | | worth its weight in gold. They are usually very mature |
| That why it is imperative to have the horsemanship | | | | and commonly have only a few veterinary problems. |
| skills and tools to be able to "train" a horse. From the | | | | Your first horse should be your buddy. A horse that will |
| selection, training, management and to horseman, I | | | | help you learn at your pace. A green or young horse |
| have defined four sections to examine in order for you | | | | will learn at their pace. If you are unprepared to teach |
| to take the steps to excel as a horseperson. | | | | the horse, let someone else start and train your horse. |
| Selection: The horse you choose, is the horse you | | | | But you must be in on the process. If you don't know |
| must live with and deal with on a daily basis. If you | | | | how to train or ride a horse you really need some |
| select a horse with many "challenges" then you must | | | | professional guidance. |
| embrace ways to develop and learn to possess the | | | | Place of Purchase: Buyer beware was a phrase born |
| skills to correct those "problems". There is no horse | | | | by dealing with horse traders in the old days. Auction |
| that is challenge free or problem free. Some horses | | | | barns can be a place to get a very good deal or a |
| just have less challenges then others. Your first horse | | | | perpetual problem. The best place to purchase a |
| should not have challenges that can in injure you. | | | | horse is from a well respected breeder or private |
| Challenges can be in many forms: | | | | owner. The first question you should ask is: Why are |
| Age - Breed - Health - Abuse - Attitude - Neglect - | | | | you selling this horse? A breeder makes a living selling |
| Never Trained - Poorly Trained - Time to devote to | | | | horses. His or her response should be, "That's what I |
| the horse - Facilities not available | | | | do." A private owner may have numerous different |
| It is best if you shop around and educate yourself on | | | | responses. Hopefully they will be frank and honest with |
| what you really want in your horse. Love at first sight | | | | you. It is possible to pay an experienced horseman or |
| is not a good buying strategy for a horse. Inexperience | | | | horsewoman to help you select the horse that is right |
| in horse selection can be anything from unpleasant to | | | | for you. The phrase many people use today in |
| very painful, including death. The wrong horse in the | | | | selecting a horse is called "matching personalities". Don't |
| wrong hands can be a deadly combination. The | | | | feel you have to be coerced into buying the first horse |
| average horse is ten times more powerful than you. | | | | you see. There are millions of horses out there, buy |
| Horse ownership should be an absolute joy and not | | | | the one you think will suit you best. For your own |
| filled with fear and anxiety. Selection of your first horse | | | | protection ask for a 30 day trial period. If the horse |
| is paramount to having a good horse experience. The | | | | turns out not to be the horse for you, a honorable |
| old saying of a green horse and a green rider soon | | | | person should take the horse back. A person that is |
| turns to black and blue was founded on truth. | | | | truly interested in the welfare of the horse will want |
| Psychological Selection: We may unknowingly be | | | | what's best for the horse. The seller should want |
| psychological mirrors to the horses we gravitate | | | | what's best for the horse, if not, you are a buying a |
| towards, or the horses may be psychological mirrors | | | | horse from the wrong person. The horse should be in |
| of us. Either way it is very common for the person | | | | the same condition it was when you bought it, if you |
| buying a horse for personal use, to select a horse for | | | | expect to return it. |
| subconscious reasons. I only address this here so you | | | | Normal wear and tear: The only time a horse is usually |
| are aware of it. It is too complex an issue to discuss in | | | | perfect is the minute he is born. Horses will get cuts, |
| its entirety here. | | | | scars, bumps, bruises and other sundry of problems. |
| Cost: Good horses are expensive to purchase. But the | | | | Chronic medical conditions that cost large sums of |
| initial price of the horse may be shortly eclipsed by the | | | | money to treat or that will impede the normal use that |
| constant cost of the routine expenses it may take to | | | | you expect with your horse is entirely different. HYPP, |
| properly care for a horse. Veterinarian bills, feed bills, | | | | laminitis, club foot, heaves, and other serious diseases |
| farrier bills, continuing education fees, tack, stable fees, | | | | syndromes can become a horrendous ordeal. It may |
| etc. | | | | be beneficial to have a veterinarian conduct a "vet |
| Time: The time you spend with your horse is important. | | | | check". The veterinarian can point out any physical |
| The horse's favorite companion is routine and habit. | | | | pitfalls. That of course will require a fee, but may in the |
| For a horse to develop well, he should also be mentally | | | | long run be a lot cheaper. |
| and emotionally stimulated. It takes time to teach a | | | | Horse Home: A horse needs space and/or daily |
| horse something new or to refine prior learned tasks. It | | | | exercise. Horses in the wild average 20 miles of travel |
| takes lots of time to build exceptional communication | | | | a day. The smaller the confinement, the more potential |
| between you and the horse. Again learning in | | | | problems you will have with your horse's emotional |
| horsemanship is a two way street, you must also | | | | state. Horses do much better emotionally with a buddy |
| develop your horsemanship skills. My personal goal as | | | | of some type. Horses feel more comfortable in groups, |
| a horsemen is having people to try to figure out how | | | | as in the wild they bond together in bands for safety. |
| you got the horse to do that maneuver, with no | | | | The point being that horses are plains animals, and rely |
| obvious signs of a cue. When people always ask you | | | | on other horses in the herd/band to spot potential |
| how it is you have the best mannered and such a well | | | | enemies/threats. When there is no one else to help |
| trained horse, that is when you are becoming a | | | | look out, a horse can become emotionally over |
| horseman. In my opinion there is no more noble quest | | | | concerned and may not rest well. The area in which |
| than to be a superb horseman. Pat Parelli considers a | | | | the horse is confined should be free of hazards. |
| horse green with less than 1,000 hours of training. If you | | | | Horses, as the joke goes, could injure themselves in a |
| work/train/ride your horse one hour each day, it will | | | | padded room. Another truism, the more expensive the |
| take about 3 years to reach 1,000 hours. | | | | horse the greater chance they will hurt themselves. |
| Breed selection: There is no perfect breed. Each breed | | | | The area in which a horse is housed needs to be |
| always have pluses and minuses. Each breed has it's | | | | inspected for various hazards a horse may find during |
| limitations and attributes. Some breed organizations are | | | | their free time. |
| large, others are small. You should select your horse | | | | Horses are one of the greatest gift you can buy for |
| based on your intended use and individual flare. | | | | yourself. A lot of thought and research should go into |
| Arabian horses will make poor roping horses, but they | | | | this very important purchase. Educate yourself so that |
| make superb endurance racers. Quarter Horses were | | | | you will have a fulfilling experience and know the joy |
| originally bred to produce an all around ranch horse | | | | of horse ownership. |