| Buying a horse should be an experience that | | | | the horse and getting the money for it. If you are |
| involves research, education, and realistic | | | | on the buying end, do your homework ahead of |
| expectations on the part of the buyer. Selling a | | | | time and know what you want to do. Be honest |
| horse should involve trying to match the buyer | | | | about your ability and experience. Check out the |
| with a suitable mount. Unfortunately, both sides of | | | | seller's attitude about his/her horses, ask lots of |
| the transaction often fall short of what they | | | | questions, perhaps even ask for some references |
| should be doing, and it is the horse that suffers. | | | | from other buyers. Get it right the first time and |
| It amazes me that so many first time horse | | | | then enjoy your new partner. |
| buyers either don't ask a knowledgeable, honest | | | | Pet Peeves about Riding/Training |
| horse person for advice, or that if they do, they | | | | 1. Riders who don't see the need to continue |
| totally ignore the advice and go off on their own | | | | learning about horse psychology. They either think |
| to complete a transaction. Some of them luck | | | | the horse should understand them or they put |
| into a reputable seller and get a horse suitable for | | | | human emotions and feelings into their perception |
| their needs, some of them luck into a good horse | | | | of the horse. There is plenty of educational |
| without anyone caring about the match, but by | | | | information out there that will help people |
| far the majority of them end up with a horse | | | | understand horses and have a much better and |
| they don't enjoy. Way too often, they end up | | | | safer time with them. |
| with a horse that is either just too much horse | | | | 2. Riders who think pull back to stop and kick to |
| for them, or worse, a horse that already has or | | | | go is all there is to it. Riding should be comfortable |
| soon develops habits that are actually dangerous | | | | for the horse too. Good equitation helps both |
| to the new owners. | | | | horse and rider. Not all instructors are created |
| Owning a horse is a little more complicated than | | | | equal though, so find a good one. Just being able |
| owning something like a car. Horses have their | | | | to stay on top of a horse isn't all there is to riding. |
| own minds and they might not always agree with | | | | 3. Riders who resort to bigger bits and other |
| what the owner thinks should be happening. They | | | | gimmicks when they want quick results. Training |
| also are a lot easier to buy than to resell if you | | | | (for the horse and the rider), not more muscle or |
| make a mistake in which one to get. What do | | | | leverage is what is needed. Again, a good |
| you do then? Pawn it off on the next | | | | instructor/trainer is important. |
| unsuspecting person who comes along and hope | | | | 4. Trainers who take short cuts to "fix" a problem |
| to recover your investment? Sell it at an auction? | | | | or hurry the training along. Shame on them. Don't |
| Give it away (to whom?)? | | | | use one like this even if they are winning at |
| Some of the worst mistakes I've seen: | | | | shows. |
| 1. Buying a young horse for a child to "grow up | | | | 5. Riders who don't learn trail or arena courtesy |
| with". If you care about your child, then DON'T do | | | | and put others in danger. It's not that hard to find |
| that! Young horses and children both have lots to | | | | places to learn how to be safe and courteous. |
| learn before they are safe for each other. | | | | Books, DVD's, clinics, and instructors are a good |
| 2. Buying a horse just because it is a pretty color | | | | resource. |
| or you like its head, mane, the way it looks at | | | | 6. Know-it-alls who lead others astray because |
| you etc. There are a lot of other considerations | | | | they talk a good story even though they don't |
| that should come first. | | | | know whereof they speak. Some of the best |
| 3. Buying a horse just because of a low price. It | | | | horsepeople aren't the most vocal. Watch how |
| might have health problems, conformation | | | | people handle their horses and ask yourself if that |
| problems, training,or behavior problems. Check all | | | | is the picture you would like to make. If not, don't |
| that out if the deal seems too good. | | | | listen to the bad example's advice. |
| 4. Getting a horse because you feel sorry for it. | | | | 7. People who think horses view the world and |
| Lots of horse rescues have horses available to | | | | think like people do. They don't. Study horse |
| adopt and some of them are fine, but others will | | | | psychology and don't ascribe human values and |
| make you sorry before long. | | | | motives to them. Horses are social animals and |
| Sellers should feel a responsibility to both potential | | | | prey with their own ways of trying to assure |
| buyers and to the horse itself and not sell | | | | their survival. Humans are predators who act and |
| someone an animal that probably won't work for | | | | react very differently. |
| them. Unfortunately, it doesn't usually work that | | | | Horses and humans can co-exist well together if |
| way. Sometimes it's a matter of honest | | | | the humans will consider the horse's nature and |
| miscommunication and not being on the same | | | | needs and be realistic about their own abilities and |
| wavelength when discussing the horse. Other | | | | motives in dealing with them. |
| times, the seller is just interested in getting rid of | | | | |