Hey there trailblazers,
Hope you all have had time to look at the horse ads from yesterday and mull over which would be the best choice for the scenario I gave -- that is, which horse would be best for a first time horse owner looking for a nice trail horse that could dabble in other disciplines that was under $3000. Now...for the moment of truth...
If you picked Beau...(Horse A)
Beau does seem like a great horse, doesn't he? Priced at $2000 and ridden by beginners with experience in different disciplines, he seems a little too good to be true. And he is. If you read in the description, it is noted that he suffered from allergies that caused hair and weight loss and even seizures. While his allergies aren't necessarily a make it or break it issue, they would have to be thoroughly looked into. Do they know what caused the reaction? Is he on medication? How are his reactions prevented? If they don't know what caused his reaction, would you be willing to chance that Beau has another seizure? Could you afford the medication if he has any?
Otherwise, Beau does seem like a good choice. Lesson horses are usually more experienced just because they put up with several different riders. He does have extensive trail experience, and the price is below our budget. But his allergies are definitely a cause for concern.
If you picked Jules (Horse B)...
Jules was probably the most promising horse of the group. She has English and western experience and is at the age where she isn't too old but has also been around the block a couple of times. It does list that Jules had been trail riding before; do make sure to ask about how much experience a horse has had. It looked like Jules was also quite taken with jumping. She was also in our budget, being priced at $2000. Although she isn't the prettiest horse to look at, she seems sturdy. The one thing I would caution about her and female horses (mares) in general is to take note that some mares get very moody when they go into heat and may act silly or even aggressive.
If you picked Goodwyn (Horse C)...
I can't blame you. Goodwyn is a very pretty boy with extensive training in dressage and jumping behind him. He is said to have good manners and is coming along in his training. However, Goodwyn is not a good choice for the scenario at all. He doesn't have trail riding experience, and his career is based in dressage and jumping. A rider looking for a trail horse and a partner to try different things with doesn't need a fancy show horse, especially with Goodwyn's price tag: $10500. Pretty as he is, I would pass him up in this scenario.
If you picked Outlaw (Horse D)...
He's quite the looker. I imagine he's going to make someone a nice, little horse someday. Yes, someday. Outlaw is only three years old, and at three years old, he is still young. The ad even stated that he was still in training. Youngsters are often inexperienced and tend to react stronger to new situations than more experienced, older horses. For our first-time buyer, Outlaw would not be ideal. Our rider needs something that will be experienced enough to teach him or her. Learning together doesn't usually work with a horse and a rider. Green on green makes black and blue.
If you picked Special Delivery (Horse E)...
She's free! Why not? Well, there's a couple reasons. First of all, the owner said she could be temperamental when in heat and around other horses. This is not a stressor our first-time buyer needs. The bigger problem though is her price tag. Free horses rarely come free. Usually there is a physical problem or a behavioral problem that comes with a free horse. After all, how many people are going to give a horse away when they could sell it with our economy? I would suspect that this ad isn't telling us the entire story.
If you picked Sultan Mareekh (Horse F)...
He's beautiful, saddle trained, and could sire wonderful foals. Besides the fact that he's in training right now and is $400 over budget, he does have a problem: he's a stallion. A stallion, or unneutered male horse, is full of testosterone. This can make them hard to handle and even dangerous, especially around mares in heat. In fact, some stables and shows don't allow stallions in because of this. A stallion is not a good idea for a first-time horse owner. They just have too many hormones.
If you picked Stormy Jo (Horse G)...
Hope you all have had time to look at the horse ads from yesterday and mull over which would be the best choice for the scenario I gave -- that is, which horse would be best for a first time horse owner looking for a nice trail horse that could dabble in other disciplines that was under $3000. Now...for the moment of truth...
If you picked Beau...(Horse A)
Beau does seem like a great horse, doesn't he? Priced at $2000 and ridden by beginners with experience in different disciplines, he seems a little too good to be true. And he is. If you read in the description, it is noted that he suffered from allergies that caused hair and weight loss and even seizures. While his allergies aren't necessarily a make it or break it issue, they would have to be thoroughly looked into. Do they know what caused the reaction? Is he on medication? How are his reactions prevented? If they don't know what caused his reaction, would you be willing to chance that Beau has another seizure? Could you afford the medication if he has any?
Otherwise, Beau does seem like a good choice. Lesson horses are usually more experienced just because they put up with several different riders. He does have extensive trail experience, and the price is below our budget. But his allergies are definitely a cause for concern.
If you picked Jules (Horse B)...
Jules was probably the most promising horse of the group. She has English and western experience and is at the age where she isn't too old but has also been around the block a couple of times. It does list that Jules had been trail riding before; do make sure to ask about how much experience a horse has had. It looked like Jules was also quite taken with jumping. She was also in our budget, being priced at $2000. Although she isn't the prettiest horse to look at, she seems sturdy. The one thing I would caution about her and female horses (mares) in general is to take note that some mares get very moody when they go into heat and may act silly or even aggressive.
If you picked Goodwyn (Horse C)...
I can't blame you. Goodwyn is a very pretty boy with extensive training in dressage and jumping behind him. He is said to have good manners and is coming along in his training. However, Goodwyn is not a good choice for the scenario at all. He doesn't have trail riding experience, and his career is based in dressage and jumping. A rider looking for a trail horse and a partner to try different things with doesn't need a fancy show horse, especially with Goodwyn's price tag: $10500. Pretty as he is, I would pass him up in this scenario.
If you picked Outlaw (Horse D)...
He's quite the looker. I imagine he's going to make someone a nice, little horse someday. Yes, someday. Outlaw is only three years old, and at three years old, he is still young. The ad even stated that he was still in training. Youngsters are often inexperienced and tend to react stronger to new situations than more experienced, older horses. For our first-time buyer, Outlaw would not be ideal. Our rider needs something that will be experienced enough to teach him or her. Learning together doesn't usually work with a horse and a rider. Green on green makes black and blue.
If you picked Special Delivery (Horse E)...
She's free! Why not? Well, there's a couple reasons. First of all, the owner said she could be temperamental when in heat and around other horses. This is not a stressor our first-time buyer needs. The bigger problem though is her price tag. Free horses rarely come free. Usually there is a physical problem or a behavioral problem that comes with a free horse. After all, how many people are going to give a horse away when they could sell it with our economy? I would suspect that this ad isn't telling us the entire story.
If you picked Sultan Mareekh (Horse F)...
He's beautiful, saddle trained, and could sire wonderful foals. Besides the fact that he's in training right now and is $400 over budget, he does have a problem: he's a stallion. A stallion, or unneutered male horse, is full of testosterone. This can make them hard to handle and even dangerous, especially around mares in heat. In fact, some stables and shows don't allow stallions in because of this. A stallion is not a good idea for a first-time horse owner. They just have too many hormones.
If you picked Stormy Jo (Horse G)...
Stormy Jo has no problem on trails and isn't spooky. And she has a lot of go...too much go for a rider looking for his or her first horse. The ad said it all: The horse was bought for a child who just could not handle all of the energy. Someday, riders will be able to appreciate a horse that is always eager to go, like Stormy Jo. But for a beginner rider, a too forward horse can be scary and anxiety provoking. After all, riding is supposed to be fun!
And now you wonder: If I didn't pick the right horse, how am I supposed to find my first horse then? It is possible. With the help of a trusted, horse-savvy friend, you'll be able to find the best match for you. Be sure to stick with your budget and find a horse that fits your experience level. The prettiest horse isn't necessarily the best one. Sometimes, the horses that aren't the most appealing visually may be your new best friend. First and foremost, find a horse that is safe. Then make sure that it's in good health, experienced, and has the training that is right for what you want to do. Make sure you get the history of the horse, a validation that the horse can do what the ad said it can do, a trailer loading demonstration, and more than one test ride. Also, it helps to get to your appointment early -- although we'd like to think it wouldn't happen, people can and will drug horses to get them sold or will run the energy out of them. Stay away from horses with bad vices like bucking or rearing. There's plenty of horses out there that don't do that. Make sure YOU feel comfortable with the horse. After all, it's going to be yours!
Before you make the final decision, make sure you have a vet check the horse out. This vet should be a vet that has not been previously involved with the horse. It may cost a couple hundred dollars, but that's always better than buying a horse that you later find out has an extensive medical issue.
If all goes well, make sure there's a bill of sale drawn up. I've read about cases where a person has bought a horse only to have the owner claim that the horse was never bought and was stolen. Because there's no paperwork, it makes it a lot harder to defend that claim.
With that being said, pay for your new best friend and bring him or her home!
Happy days will be ahead,
Kelsey
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