We’ve all had it happen. I know I have! That absolutely stunning horse catches your eye. You fall in love instantly, and can’t wait to try out said horse. But wait, there’s more: that horse is either not right for you or way above your budget. You scroll past the ad, disappointed. You feel like you’ll never find a horse that will work.
I have two horses, and while they’re perfect for me, there were a lot of horses out there that weren’t. I remember a red roan mare in particular. She was beautiful, and seemed like a really good horse. But, she was pretty much a finished performance horse, and, looking back, she would have been more than I could handle at the time. Now, I could happily ride her. Back then, though? I don’t think so. I never actually went and tried her out, which was probably for the best. Soon I came upon my second horse, who wasn’t even publicly listed for sale yet. I went and rode her, and we’ve spent two happy years together so far. So how do you find the right horse for you? And how do you avoid wasting both your and the seller’s time?
Here are some things to check before asking about when you can come and do a trial ride.
- Be honest about your experience level.
This is probably the most important part. If you’re still learning how to lope, don’t buy a barrel horse consistently winning the 1-D. Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get a horse that you can later train to be a great barrel horse. Just be sure that the horse fits your experience level and how advanced of a rider you are. Otherwise, it’s a recipe for disaster.
- Make sure the horse fits what you want to do.
What I mean by this is that if you want to get a horse to compete in jumping with, don’t buy a western pleasure horse. However, I do want to add that some horses are trained to ride both western and English, in which case, go ahead! In fact, the best horses are the ones that will try whatever you want to do. So if you think you want to ride both western and English, don’t buy a horse that’s never worn a western saddle. The only caveat to this is if you are an experienced rider and have the ability and skills to train a horse in a completely new discipline. If you try out a horse that isn’t at all what you need, you’re likely to get hurt, disappointed, or both.
- Don’t buy for looks.
Just because that blue roan is the most beautiful horse you’ve ever seen, that doesn’t mean that he’ll fit your needs. Don’t get so caught up in looks and wanting a specific color that you ignore the fact that you need a horse that is actually a good fit. On the same token, don’t dismiss a horse just because he isn’t the color you want. Always remember, a good horse comes in any color.
- Know your budget.
If a horse is listed as three times your max budget, don’t contact the seller asking if you can come try him out. Be realistic about what you can afford, and try to skip over horses that are more expensive to avoid getting your heart captured by that paint gelding who’s just gorgeous and can do all the things you want. It helps to know what your budget is before you start looking for a horse, since that way you’re less likely to look at horses that are too expensive.
- Read the ad thoroughly.
If the price of the horse is listed in the ad, don’t contact the seller to ask the price. If the ad says that the horse was born in 2017, don’t ask about the age. Make sure to carefully read the ad, because often, that will have all the information you need. All the relevant details should be there, but if there’s something you need to know that wasn’t, then you can ask the seller questions. This will also help you determine whether or not the horse is right for you.
- Know what you’re looking for.
What I mean by this is that when you start looking at ads and sale posts for horses, know
what type of horse you might want. If you know you want a more experienced horse, you’re able to sift through ads for young and green-broke horses. On the other hand, if you want a project horse, you won’t have to spend time looking at ads for finished performance horses.
It can be hard to wait, but being patient will have its reward when you’re riding on the perfect horse and looking forward to all the years ahead!
Abby Powers is a writer who has over a decade of horse experience, and enjoys all things western riding. She love books, especially fantasy. She has a blog called Of Horses and Heroes, coming soon.
This will be a lot of help when I can get a horse! Thank you!
THis will be very helpful in later years when I get a horse! Thanks!