Five Common Horse Buying Mistakes

A horse is a horse a horse of course – for many horse lovers, owning one of these beautiful creatures can be a dream comes true. There’s a very special relationship that forms between carer and animal and horses can help younger children learn about responsibility and friendship. It’s hard not to fall in love with these beautiful and magnificent creatures.

Owning your own horse is huge responsibility but can be lots of fun. However, many people who are looking to buy a horse often make mistakes when they purchase a horse that can turn a passionate hobby into a costly and stressful nightmare. Here is a list of the five most common horse buying mistakes that first-time owners often make when they buy a horse.

The most common mistake is buying a horse without a trial period.
Many first-time horse buyers often buy a horse without asking for a trial period. This can be a bad idea because it usually takes time to figure out if a horse has the right temperament for its particular environment. If you’re dealing with an honest and professional horse trader, you should be able to try your horse, such as on a lease period with the option to buy.

Avoid buying a young horse for children.
Most young horses don't have enough maturity to be around children. That's why it's better to look for older horses for sale and give your children the chance to interact with an older animal that is mature enough to handle a child's energy and antics.

If you’re buying your first horse, avoid auctions.
Most first-timers get burned purchasing a horse at an auction because they often don't know enough to judge a horse's temperament or health in an auction setting. Therefore, it's better for first-timers to purchase a horse from a farm, stable or private seller where you can take your time to assess without the pressure of bidding.

Don’t stick to a particular colour or breed.
Dream of owning a beautiful Arabian or a prize winning Thoroughbred? Outside of the fact that these horses can be costly, if you’re buying your first animal it’s a good idea to expand your search and look for a good solid horse with a sweet temperament rather than a “pretty horse”. Owning an agreeable first horse will help refine your search in the future.

Many first-timers mistakenly buy a horse because they think that horses are low-maintenance animals.
Many first-timers don't realise that horses need a lot of care and maintenance – a lot. There are stabling costs, feeding, exercise and training – you really can’t keep a pony in your backyard! Would-be owners should really do lots of research about how much care a horse needs before they look at horses for sale to avoid any disappointment and headache.