Throughout my time in the horse world, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to look for horses, not only for myself, but for clients, as well.  I have seen thousands of horses, across disciplines and across price ranges.  Whether you are looking for a big show horse to take you to the 3’6″ or a child’s first pony, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself.

1. What is your budget?  This is a very important question.  It is very easy to spend a lot of money very quickly.  Know your budget, and don’t even try a horse if it is out of your price range- that will be the horse you fall in love with.  People ask all the time, “How much does a horse cost?”  I tell them that horses vary greatly in price.  (My boyfriend answers, “Well, how much money do you have?”)  You can find a horse in ANY price range, but you have to ask yourself…

2. What are you willing to give up to stay within your budget?  In horse shopping, like house/apartment shopping, the chances of finding exactly what you want for exactly the right price are close to zero.  I suggest making a “must have” list.  This list is different for everyone.  If you are looking for a sound minded horse that will teach your child how to jump, you might be willing to look at an older horse with some minor health issues.  If you are looking for your 3’6″ horse, maybe you would forgo show miles for talent.  Maybe not.  Only you can know what your priorities are.  If you want a horse with PERFECT x-rays, that horse might not have the most jumping experience.  And so the list goes.  Your “must have” list depends on your answer to…

3. What do you want to do with your horse and when do you want to do it?  Your goals are a very important part of finding your perfect horse.  Everyone has goals for their riding.  Some people have ambitious showing goals; some people simply want enjoyment from a ride once or twice a week.  By knowing your goals, you will be able to determine what you will want from your prospective mount.  Recently, a woman purchased a young, green horse and soon realized that this horse was not her match.  It was not because the horse was “bad” or “mean” or even because she didn’t like riding him.  She was not honest with herself about what she needed from a horse.  She was in love with the idea of training a young horse.  But, when it came time to do the work, she realized she didn’t have the time or the skill to train this horse.   Her true goal was to ride twice a week and have a predictable horse that allowed her to work on her skills.  This particular woman was also unrealistic about the time frame of training a young horse.   Young horses generally take a longer time to train and mature.  Older horses are who they are, to a certain extent.  Do you want to walk into the show ring and win tomorrow?  You are looking for an older horse with miles.  Do you want to spend the next year or so honing your horses skills while still improving yourself?  You are looking for a middle aged horse that needs finishing touches.  Do you want to spend the next 2-4 years helping a horse learn how to properly use him/herself and mold them to the discipline of your choice?  You are looking for a young green horse.  If you make a list of your goals, with a realistic time frame, then you will be able to narrow your search to more suitable matches for you.

4. How long do you want to keep this horse?   Horses are a strange combination of pet, teammate, and asset.  Many people buying their first horse believe that this is going to be their horse forever.  More often than not, this is not the case.  Children grow out of ponies; the rider’s skill surpasses the horse’s abilities; financial situations change.    Many people asked how I could sell my previous horses.  I generally answer, “The horse was not getting what he needed from me and I was not getting what I needed from him, so we broke up.”  It is okay to sell your horse if it is time to move on, much like it is okay to break up with your boyfriend if there is no long term future there.  It doesn’t mean you didn’t love him or that you don’t want the best for him or that you weren’t a great match at one point in time.   To alleviate some of that “break up” anxiety, it is good to think about how long you would like to keep the horse you are buying.  Is it a prospect horse?  Is it an investment horse?  Is it a transition horse?  Is it a school horse? Is it a child’s pony? Is it a horse that you want to fall in love with an keep forever?  Obviously, once you buy the horse, your time frame might change.  For example, one of my clients went looking for a transition horse.  She wanted something to build her confidence, help her move up, and get her into showing.  We found a great horse in her price range for lease.  We only tried him once; we didn’t invest that much time in debating his long term value.  He was great for right now, and then he would go back in a year when she was ready to move on.  The time frame fit her goals and the horse was ready to do what she needed right then.  After a few months, we realized that the initial time frame was changing.  The horse surpassed our expectations and had a lot more to teach this rider.  As the horse’s muscle tone changed, his true talent emerged.  This one year transition horse turned into a horse suitable for at least 2-3 years, if not longer.   While a time frame is subject to change, it is a good thing to think about in conjunction with your goals.  Whether you want to sell a horse quickly or if you want to keep him/her forever, your time frame effects your “must have” list.

5. How much training are you willing to pay for?  If you are going to look for a horse with your trainer, make sure you are on the same page about the number of training rides, lessons, and time you are expecting from your trainer.  Some trainers will try to “up sell” to ensure a steady stream of income from the sale and after the sale.  Some trainers will only “allow” you to buy a horse that they want to ride.  Some trainers are absolutely wonderful and truly help you through the process.  I have seen many people rely solely on their trainer’s opinion and not trust their own gut/ignore their own wants.  I have seen many people completely ignore their trainer’s advice.  In both those scenarios, neither the trainer nor the client (nor the horse) ends up happy.  Be honest with your trainer about what you want from a horse.  Be honest about what you are willing to pay for.  And if your trainer shows you something that doesn’t fit your “must have” list- be honest!!  There are plenty of horses out there.  If you trainer is pushing you to buy a horse you aren’t comfortable with- be honest!!  There are plenty of trainers out there.  A good trainer will listen, help you build your “must have” list, and review each prospective horse with a critical (but not judgmental) eye.  When I was a junior, looking for my big show horse, I had the help of a great trainer.  She patiently showed me hundreds (no exaggeration) of horses.  We talked about each one- the pros, the cons, the feel, the look, the training.  I could ride all of potentials, but none of them were MINE.  When I finally found MY horse, my trainer and I (and the horse, too!) knew instantly.  He had been looking for his rider as long as I had been looking for my horse.  To this day, he is the only horse I could never sell.