YOUR FIRST HORSE

BY

There’s nothing more rewarding and therapeutic than spending time in the barn with your equine companion. If you’re considering the purchase of your first horse, it’s very important to do your research, seek out guidance, and take the time necessary to make such a decision. Never purchase a horse on a whim!

Along with the help of Wendy Nelson, an Equestrian Canada (EC) NCCP High Performance Reining Coach and Licensed under the new EC Coach Status program, we offer you some tips for pursuing your first horse. With smart buying strategies, you’ll prepare yourself for what’s ahead and hopefully make a purchase that will benefit your riding goals for many years to come.

The Options

First things first… You’ve decided you’d like to own a horse – but do you know there may be other options available? Horse ownership is a big time and even bigger financial commitment. Have you considered taking lessons on a lesson horse? Or have you considered leasing a horse? If you have – and you would still like more “horse time” – then purchasing an equine might be the answer.

“Any time you buy a horse, you have to ensure it’s the right fit,” says Nelson. Based near Cochrane, Alta., Nelson specializes in training western performance horses, with a focus on reining. She is also an EC Learn to Ride Western Assessor Levels 1 to 4: Level 4 being a requirement for those pursuing their certification goal.

“Horses are expensive. And unfortunately, sometimes people make rash decisions when purchasing horses.

Don’t buy a horse on a whim! But do listen to your intuition. You want to have your horse for a long time and maintain a positive experience. If you have a bad first experience, that’s something that can stay with you your entire life,” she says.

“This is especially true for parents looking to buy something for their kids. Dependable, safe horses are well worth the money. Horses are big creatures, and you don’t want your kids to be scared of them right off the bat. Kids need confidence builders.”

The Right Horse For The Job

Long before you make the trek to visit a potential sale horse, you should have some idea of what discipline you’d like to do. From trail riding, to show jumping, every equine activity requires the right type of animal for the job. That means colour should never be a main consideration, but breed, size, and previous training will be important.

You may also want to decide beforehand whether you prefer a mare or gelding (as a general rule, a stallion should never be on the list for a firsttime horse buyer). Geldings are typically easier to house, and because they don’t have estrus cycles like mares, are generally more consistent to handle. However, that doesn’t mean you should write off the possibility of owning a mare. Like people, each horse is an individual.

When it comes to finding a horse, searching through Kijiji is probably not the best way to acquire your new riding partner. Know your budget and expect to pay a great deal for a safe, sound, conformationally correct horse. Since COVID-19, the price of horses has escalated significantly, so don’t be surprised if what you’re searching for is expensive. Also know that it will take time to go through the purchasing procedures, so you might want to avoid bringing your trailer the first time you meet with the seller.

“When you go to buy a horse, either take a professional with you, or have enough knowledge to understand good temperament and quality conformation. Understand what maintenance issues the horse may have, depending on its age and athletic abilities. And know the health of the horse,” Nelson explains. “You can save yourself a lot of bumps and bruises if you avoid bad temperaments and conformation issues.”

“You should also understand that older horses or retired high-performance mounts will most likely come with some maintenance issues. This is not necessarily a reason to reject a specific horse. Older, experienced horses can offer so much in terms of learning for new or younger riders. And, if taken care of properly, they will likely have quite a few good years left in them,” the trainer states.

“And high-performance horses will require maintenance – whether that means massage, injections, special shoeing, supplements, etc. So be prepared to put more financially into your new mount AFTER you buy it. Don’t shy away from all maintenance issues, because any athletic horse will require some kind of assistance.”

On this note, Nelson mentions the importance of a pre-purchase exam. This is when an unbiased veterinar- ian (ideally one who has not seen the horse before), is brought in to evaluate all aspects of the sale horse. This exam is paid for by the potential buyer and involves checking the horse’s soundness and general health. If further observations are needed, the vet may recommend more testing or X-rays for a more complete evaluation. Then, the vet lays all the findings out for both the buyer and seller and the potential buyer decides if they can live with the findings or not.

“Even if you are an experienced horse person, it’s always advisable to get a pre-purchase exam done so you have a baseline for the future,” says Nelson.

“If you do end up buying the horse, a couple years down the road you will have previous health records to look back on. With any luck, you gave your equine companion lots of good care during that time and its health may have even improved!”

Eyes Wide Open

Remember that the most inexpensive part of horse ownership will be the initial purchase. After you have made the decision to bring your horse home, you must then take care of your new family member. It is advisable to pull together a monthly budget, so you are not caught off guard. Research what your board/feed costs will be, bedding, supplements, farrier expenses, tack and equipment, training fees, memberships, and any lesson or show expenses. Ensure you can handle those fees financially before plunging into horse ownership! There may also be a commission fee required for any professional assisting you in the purchase – and it may be in addition to the purchase price.

If you have performed your due diligence, you should be in good shape for your new investment. Good luck with your new companion! AB