Buying a horse - where to start!

[bucksmum]

Dd16 had recently started an equine management course and her lovely GPs have offered to buy her a horse which she is absolutely thrilled about - we have stabling etc sorted but my problem is I am so unhorsey I don't know where the best place is to start looking to buy one! She is getting advice and guidance from her college tutors but any words of advice for me would be gratefully received!!

Gosh - this is an absolute minefield. My advice would be to wait until next year - who in their right mind wants to start off their horseownership over winter! Not only is it difficult to find time to ride and look after them (as mostly stabled overthe winter so lots more work) but some have a personality transplant with too much hard feed and not enough turn out. And the cost over winter is much higher than in the spring/summer.

Why not spend more time having riding lessons and finding out the sort of horse that would be appropriate. Another 4 months of lessons could take your DD onto a higher level of riding and therefore a different type of horse.

This is probably not what you want to hear, but from someone who has had horses for 40 years now, I promise you we don't look forward to winter at all!!! It is the bad bit you have to do in order to take advantage of the good bits!!!

If she's at college, chances are one or more of those horses will come up for sale at the end of term. Or even up for loan.

It's a huge area, there is a lot of good quality but equally a lot of bad quality stuff about.

Take your time, take someone experienced to every viewing and get the horse vetted!! Ensure people at the new yard understand you are Inexperienced but willing to learn and help your daughter out. If you are. If you're not, please don't get a horse, encourage your daughterto find a horse to share.

I would wait until the new year to start, as previous poster said, now is not the time to go into horse ownership!!!

Although, If you are happy to pay for the winter keep, now is a good time to buy.

But it is not just the cost - even the most saintly horse will be more difficult to handle in the winter - and it is a real baptism by fire. Yes, you may get something a couple of hundred pounds cheaper, but the cost of keeping the horse over the winter is going to be more than that!

And it is nowhere near as much fun riding and looking after them in snow, wind and rain. Mind you, this summer has not been that much different ... never been so wet and had so many shows cancelled as this year.

I normally look to buy in the springtime just for the better weather !

As other posters have said take your time make sure 100% its the right horse,if you have to try what feels like a million horses then so be it. Get it vetted and take a more experinced person with you when trying (i remember when i was a teenager i fell in love with every horse i saw!)

Thanks for the speedy response

The horse will be stabled at college dd is a boarder and the horse will be on working livery.

She has outgrown the pony she had on loan, and I think she is desperate for her own but see the logic of waiting will see what she says.

Her aunt is a vet so we will definitely be getting horse vetted within an inch of its life before we buy!!!

I'm going to disagree with the others: Now is a good time to buy as lots of people will be selling and fewer looking. There's lots around at the minute, prices are low, and there's still time to get settled and do a bit before winter really kicks in. And the baptism of fire which is the first winter won't do her any harm. Depending on how you manage them (and their temperament) not all horses are difficult in winter, and on working livery will have enough work to keep it sensible.

I think it's best to write down what you want in a horse. Start with an honest appraisal of your dd's riding: strengths, areas where she's making progress, areas where she's still got a lot to learn. Get her to set out what she wants to do with the horse now and in the future. Consider whether she needs a schoolmaster or whether she could bring something on. Since it's going to working livery also include the requirements of the college. And take into account anything that may affect her confidence (eg, can sit a buck but spinning is terrifying, that sort of thing) This should help your dd get a view of what she's looking for in terms of size, style, ability, age etc. Then work out her budget.

Then it's time for a list: three columns 1) Totally essential 2) Would really like 3) Could compromise.

From this make a list of questions to ask when you phone about potential horses, and start looking! Try Horsemart, Preloved etc, Pony Club website, local tack and feed shops etc.

And keep us posted, we like vicaious horse shopping!

I am selling my horse, 16.2 10 yr old grey gelding. Has competed dressage up to elementary and jumps too.

Gaulifrey I've messages you for more details

bucksmum, I have emailed you :) xx

this is available on BHS site

thank you strictly - very helpful

Some people take a long time to find the right horse for them. I would start looking now rather than wait till spring. Also, I can't see that her riding would improve so much in a few months that she'd then want a completely different horse.

Agree with the wish list, but be prepared for her to fall in love with something completely different - most people I know went looking for something particular and came home with something else entirely including me.

Where you buy is less important than what you buy I think. Lots of online ads, also try tackshop noticeboards.

You can find lots of lists of what to look for at a viewing, so I wouldn't repeat that here - and do take someone experienced with you for a second opinion. You can always do this on a second visit if the horse is nearby. And don't let you daughter get on the horse before the sellers have ridden it. If they won't ride it ("Oh, I've got a sore leg...") and don't have a friend who will, walk away!