| Buying a horse can be a very time consuming | | | | is best to a well-respected professional that |
| endeavor, with all the different horse breeds | | | | has no vested interest in the horse sale. |
| and skills to choose from. The more you | | | | |
| become familiar with the process of buying | | | | Here is a breakdown of what to look for when |
| and selling horses, the better your chances | | | | a horse is for sale: |
| will be to end up with the horse to fit your | | | | |
| needs. There are many avenues to look for the | | | | * does the horse fit your needs |
| horse you want, like a local barn, tack | | | | |
| shops, newspaper classifieds, and now you can | | | | * what skills does the horse possess |
| go online and look through thousands of horse | | | | |
| for sale classifieds. Take your time and | | | | * does the horse have a good temperament |
| don't get to overwhelmed. If you make the | | | | |
| selection process in a hurry, you might make | | | | * do comparisons of other similar horses |
| an unwise purchase. Plan to take from one | | | | |
| month to one year to find your ideal horse. | | | | * does the horse fit the selling price |
| Understandably, if you are without a horse, | | | | |
| one year mite sound like a very long time, | | | | * get professional advice |
| but you can use this time to become more | | | | |
| knowledgeable about what you want by taking | | | | * are there any lessons with the sale |
| lessons. | | | | |
| | | | * make sure to have pre-purchase vet exam |
| The first thing you must determine is what | | | | |
| you really want from a horse, and to what | | | | * can you afford the upkeep on a horse (such |
| extent you will be using him/her. Will the | | | | as boarding, feed, and veterinary care.) |
| horse be a trustworthy companion or wonderful | | | | |
| Dressage prospect? Buy taking the time and | | | | Stay focused. Keep in mind that you are |
| comparing the different classified ads | | | | selecting a horse for a particular reason or |
| presented to you, will help determine your | | | | desired skill. There are many decisions and |
| priorities. Be sure to use the advanced | | | | compromises lying ahead, so it helps if you |
| search features each online classified horse | | | | set your priorities clearly at the outset. |
| website has to offer, this will help you to | | | | |
| narrow down your search results. | | | | If the overall purpose of the horse is to |
| | | | teach you how to ride rather than to carry |
| Once you have found the horse you want, its | | | | you to the winner's circle, then the |
| always a good idea to get a professional | | | | selection process will emphasize different |
| opinion when you are buying a horse. Whether | | | | traits to fit your needs. If the horse is |
| or not you use an agent to help you select | | | | intended to be a long-term project rather |
| your horse, you should always have a basic | | | | than a stepping stone, you may need to invest |
| veterinary pre-purchase exam performed. When | | | | more time, effort, and money in your |
| you seek out professional advice, pay for it | | | | purchase. Remember to take your time and use |
| and then listen to it! When your instructor | | | | the tools at your disposal, such as online |
| or veterinarian cautions you about a horse, | | | | horse classifieds, you will thank yourself in |
| it is for a reason. When seeking advice, it | | | | the end. |