There are different factors to consider when buying a horse. It’s important to go through these factors before making that big decision. Let’s go through these factors one by one.
Decide on what you want. Understand that buying a horse is a big investment. Good quality ponies usually start at a $1,000 price range and can go higher.
There are also various types and breeds of horses for different purposes. You must consider your purpose. Do you need a horse for competitions, for work, or for leisure?
You must get a specialist to thoroughly examine the horse you’re planning to buy. Bringing an expert, or at least someone experienced with horses, will be very helpful if you’re not very familiar with what you need to be checking.
Buy from reputable vendors. Buy only from vendors you can trust. It’s not a good idea to trust vendors based on their claims and promises on their own websites.
You can find reviews and testimonials from other buyers to know if a vendor is trustworthy. But, you’ll have to practice an unbiased mentality as there are cases where the buyers are the ones at fault for their unhappy experiences.
The best thing to do is to buy from a vendor that’s recommended by your trusted vet or by a personal friend.
Don’t buy a horse that you’ve only seen in a photo or on a video. Go to the vendor directly and ask for a personal inspection.
A horse would also have a microchip, so ask your vet to check it. It must only have one microchip, and a legit vendor will always share the microchip number. If the horse does’nt have a microchip, or the vendor refuses to give you the number, then you should move on to a different one.
Do thorough research. It’s not enough that you get a horse vetted. Its also important to check the horses history and details. You need concrete proof to verify its age and health history.
Also, make sure that the horse is registered to its current owner. The law states that a new owner must register their new horse within 28 days after buying it. If the horse isn’t registered to the vendor youll be buying it from, its best to walk away.
Make requests. As a buyer, you can always make certain requests of your vendor. You can ask them to deliver the horse directly to your location. You may also ask them to not exercise the horse before being transferred.
Theres nothing wrong with making these requests. Just try to make them reasonable.
Ask to see the horse ridden and in hand, and ride it yourself. The final thing you need to do is see the horse in action. See how it moves and how it behaves. This will give you an idea of whether the horse is difficult to handle.
And don’t forget to give the horse a try as well. If you dont like the feel of riding the horse, its okay to decline. The final verdict will still be your word, so you don’t have to buy it if you dont want it.
