Horse ownership is the ultimate dream for many riders and horse enthusiasts. Some wait years for that dream to come true and when it finally does, it really is fantastic and rewarding but at the same time, a demanding experience.
If you are lucky enough to find yourself in the position of looking to buy your very own first horse then you need to make sure that you are fully prepared for the responsibility that goes with it. It is no use trying to kid yourself that the first horse you see is going to perfect for you.
As I found out the hard way two years ago rushing into horse ownership will more than likely end with a hefty price tag in both your time and your money! The wrong decision I made when buying my first horse, Auricula cost me a great deal of stress, heartache, time and thousands of "extra" ££'s, all because I took bad advice and did not take my time or do my homework properly.
The fact is, you're more likely to get the wrong horse than the right one, so what can you do to make sure the horse you buy is really the perfect companion for you? There are a few things you can do, but first it is more important to understand the things you should not do.
Tip #1: Make sure that you are 110% certain that horse ownership is for you. You need to ask yourself whether or not you are ready to buy your first horse and you need to be honest. This means that you have exhausted the other options available to you such as horse sharing and loaning a horse. These two options are more like a stepping stone of experience and getting a taste of what it really is like to own a horse of your own. The advantage of horse sharing and horse loaning is that you can share the costs and take on the responsibility of horse care but if you find that you don't have the time or you would prefer to just continue riding lessons, it is relatively easy to terminate the commitment. The disadvantage is that the horse will always belong to someone else, but this is why you should look at it as a stepping-stone of experience.
Tip #2: Understand that owning a horse is costly. The initial purchase price of a horse is the easy part. You need to take into careful consideration, the ongoing costs such as livery fees, veterinary fees, feed costs, stable supplies, worming, insurance, farrier fees etc. These costs pop-up throughout the year and most are continuous, for example weekly/monthly livery fees, and you need to budget for everything.
Tip # 3: Understanding that horse ownership requires a lot of your time. You need to remember that your new friend is going to be depending on you! That means you are going to have to make "enough" time available every day to visit, muck out, groom, check for any injuries, feed, ride and exercise him mornings and evenings. This is going to be slightly easier if you are keeping him at home. You can have a yard take on partial or full responsibility for caring for him but be aware that this can become quite costly.
Tip #4: Never buy the first horse you see. It is understandably difficult to walk away from the first horse that you go view because he seems to be so perfect, but it is imperative that you view many horses as you can in order to get an idea of market prices, gain more confidence in dealing with sellers and have a range of potential horses from which to choose a better-suited companion for you. This way you will be able to walk away from or question sellers overpricing their horse.
Tip #5: Always, always shop with an experienced equine buddy. More preferably a buddy who not only has equine experience but someone who has also helped others find their ideal first horse. A second opinion is always helpful.
You need to become like a sponge and gain as much valuable horse buying advice as possible to help you but make sure that the advice is right! Remember, your aim is to not find "The Perfect Horse" but to find the horse that is "Right for you!" It is both exciting and challenging, but armed with the right information you will have a better chance at succeeding.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sonia Panesar's step-by-step guide helps new horse buyers save money and time. For Instant Access To Your FREE "Top 13 Horse Buying Mistakes" Report Visit http://www.buyingyourfirsthorse.com/Freereport.html
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