| Purchasing a horse can truly be "a dream come | | | | your time to decide and visit each option a few |
| true." | | | | times. |
| Many folks love the idea of owning their own | | | | Once you have decided where you will keep your |
| horse. Often, that is as far as it goes. Life's | | | | horse, line up an Equine Vet and a Ferrier. You |
| situations, finances, conflicts and limitations, can | | | | may want to consider using ones that other |
| mean that the dream of owning your own horse | | | | boarders recommend or that a neighbor has had |
| stays just that, a dream. If that is what will best | | | | good experiences with. |
| fit into your life, I suggest that you be satisfied | | | | What can you afford? |
| with that reality, at least for the time being. | | | | The cost of purchasing a horse can range from |
| Trying to make this dream a reality, in a life | | | | free to many thousands of dollars. You should do |
| where it does not fit, will often cause real | | | | your homework and see what the price range |
| problems. Perhaps down the line, life's situations | | | | and value in your area is. You will normally pay |
| for you will change. | | | | more for a better trained horse, one that is |
| Some people are fortunate and life presents a | | | | registered, one from successful breading lines, one |
| situation where, fulfilling the dream of owning your | | | | that has been campaigned successfully or one |
| own horse is feasible and you decide to take | | | | that is an appealing color. Decide what attributes |
| action. The purpose of this article is, to help those | | | | are important to you. Take your time. |
| of you who decide to move forward with the | | | | The purchase of your horse is only the beginning |
| purchase of your own horse and make the | | | | of the financial challenges of owning a horse. |
| dream come true a happy event and not a | | | | Beyond that there is, the ongoing costs of hay, |
| nightmare. | | | | feed, bedding, barn maintenance or board at a |
| On our web site we help folks develop strategies | | | | stable. Then add to that tack, Vet bills, Ferrier bills, |
| to save money on horse care and how to | | | | supplements you chose to use, trailer and truck if |
| generate an additional income stream to help | | | | you chose to purchase them. Training for your |
| people afford their horses, without putting their | | | | horse or lessons for you might be needed. Cost |
| regular finances at risk. We hope this information | | | | of going to competitions and other equine events |
| will prove helpful to you. Before you go out and | | | | if you chose to participate in them. Make sure |
| start looking at prospective horses to buy, there | | | | you have the funds available to meet these |
| are several items you need to consider. | | | | needs. We have compiled an extensive list of cost |
| Define what you want to do with your horse. | | | | saving tips through our web site. These may help |
| I recommend that you decide what activities or | | | | you keep your horse expenses at a reasonable |
| disciplines, would you like to pursue? Do you just | | | | level. |
| want an equine friend that you can look at or visit | | | | Define what your horse skill and knowledge levels |
| in the pasture? Do you want to trail ride? Would | | | | are. |
| you enjoy participating in local competitions or do | | | | We all start the development of our |
| you have the goal of competing at a higher level? | | | | horsemanship skills and knowledge where we are |
| What discipline do you want to participate in? | | | | today. We have all had different backgrounds and |
| Does competing in Pleasure Classes meet your | | | | experiences. You are encouraged to take an |
| goals? Do you thrive on the excitement and | | | | honest evaluation of your horsemanship skills and |
| speed of Barrel Racing? Do you dream of clearing | | | | abilities. Where you are in your horsemanship |
| an Oxer in a Jumping Course? Is Reining, | | | | journey should influence what horse you purchase. |
| Dressage or Endurance Riding what you really | | | | You should match your horse to your abilities. If |
| enjoy? | | | | you are new to horses and do not have |
| I recommend you spend some time taking some | | | | advanced skills, you would be well served to |
| lessons and trying different disciplines, if you are | | | | select a horse with significant experience. One |
| unsure as to the direction your horse journey will | | | | that is well trained and can help you learn and |
| take. Although some horses are multi talented and | | | | develop your horsemanship skills. |
| can perform in a variety of disciplines, others | | | | Have a Vet perform a pre-purchase exam and |
| horses are more suited to specific activities and | | | | ask for a week trial period. |
| although they could be used in another discipline, | | | | It is a very good investment to have an Equine |
| they are not suited to excel at it. Therefore it is | | | | Vet examine the horse you are looking to |
| to your advantage to have a pretty good idea as | | | | purchase. You can do this before you bring the |
| to what you want to do with your horse before | | | | horse home or you can ask for a week trial |
| you go out and buy one. | | | | period and have your Vet perform the exam at |
| Where are you going to keep your horse? | | | | your place during that week. This is a real good |
| You have two initial options. Do you want to, and | | | | idea and will work well if you live near the seller. |
| do you have the land to keep your horse on your | | | | You do not want to purchase the horse and get |
| property or will you keep him somewhere else? | | | | him home only to then discover a problem that |
| If you have the land to keep your horse on your | | | | you did not know existed. |
| own property, you have a number of decisions to | | | | Where do you look to find your horse? |
| make. What kind of fencing currently exists and is | | | | There are a lot of places where you can look to |
| it safe? If you do not have current safe fencing, | | | | find the horse you are going to purchase. Equine |
| what kind will you use and who will install it? What | | | | Vets, Ferriers, Trainers, Instructors and other |
| will the cost of that be? Do you have a barn | | | | knowledgeable horse people are good to touch |
| stable? If not, will you build one? Will a run in shed | | | | base with. There is an informal network of horse |
| meet your needs and those of your horses? | | | | people in most areas the can really help you find |
| Where will you store feed, hay, tack and other | | | | the right horse if you take your time. Feed |
| horse related supplies? Do you have an adequate | | | | Stores and Tack Shops normally allow flyers |
| water supply? What will you do with manure and | | | | noting horses for sale. Check their postings |
| soiled bedding? What will the cost be to prepare | | | | frequently. There are many sites on the internet |
| your place for your horse? Where will you | | | | that allow folks to advertise horses for sale. |
| purchase, hay, feed, bedding and at what cost? | | | | Buyer Beware! |
| If you will board your horse you have a lot to | | | | There are many very honest folks out there and |
| consider: | | | | I have had the fortune to have met many of |
| How far away is a reasonable distance to keep | | | | them. On the other hand, there are others who |
| your horse from your home? At first | | | | are not so honest. I have met my share of those |
| consideration a certain commute might seam | | | | as well. Hopefully the seller you are dealing with |
| reasonable, until you have done it for a while and | | | | honestly portrays the horse you are interested in. |
| then, going to see or ride your horse can become | | | | To help safeguard your purchase, I advise making |
| a chore. | | | | multiple visits to see and evaluate the horse. See |
| Do you have a horse friend who has property | | | | him at different times of the day. If you are able |
| and room for your horse? If so will their facility | | | | to show up without advanced notice, that would |
| meet your needs? If you chose this option, make | | | | be helpful. As noted above, having an Equine Vet |
| sure you have a clear understanding with the | | | | evaluate the horse and a week trial would be a |
| property owner as to financial and other | | | | real good safeguard |
| responsibilities. Always better, as the boarder, to | | | | If the horse is portrayed as being well trained, |
| try to do a little extra and make sure the | | | | ask for the owner or someone else to show you |
| property owner knows you appreciate the | | | | how the horse performs and then ask to ride the |
| opportunity given you. Do not make them wish | | | | horse yourself if you feel comfortable with this. It |
| they did not let you bring your horse on their | | | | is not recommended that folks new to horses |
| property. You also do not want to lose a | | | | purchase a horse at an auction. It can be very |
| friendship over horse issues. | | | | hard, even for experienced horse people to be |
| If you board at a stable | | | | sure of what they are buying at auction. New |
| What characters are important to you at a | | | | horse owners should also avoid purchasing a |
| boarding facility? Certainly you want to look for | | | | stallion. These animals require experienced handling |
| safe stalls and fencing. Are basic accommodations | | | | and specific living accommodations. |
| satisfactory to you, or do you want something | | | | By all means, take your time in the buying |
| nicer? Do you look for an enclosed arena to ride | | | | process. Educate yourself, evaluate the criteria |
| in. What about an indoor riding arena or access to | | | | noted above. Make sure you are comfortable with |
| trails? What is their feeding policy? How often are | | | | your purchase. Make sure you have the financial |
| stalls cleaned? What are the pastures like and | | | | resources to not put the rest of your financial life |
| when are the horses turned out? Is pasture | | | | in jeopardy. It is a really good idea to seek the |
| board available? What kind of folks board at the | | | | help and guidance of an experience horse person. |
| facility? What kind of riding activities do they | | | | They can make a big difference as you try to |
| participate in? Are there a lot of kids there? What | | | | sort this all out. |
| are the owners, managers and employees like? Is | | | | Visit our website for cost saving tips and a |
| a Trainer or Instructor available on site? What is | | | | proven system to generate additional income that |
| the cost of the board? Is the facility run safely? | | | | can fund your horse journey. |
| Is this a place you will feel comfortable? There | | | | I truly wish your dream of owning your own |
| are many wonderful facilities out there and many | | | | horse comes true in a very satisfying way. |
| others that you will not be comfortable at. Take | | | | |