What’s the first thing that runs through your mind when you think of buying a horse? I talk to many people whose first thought is, “Oh no!” Although you may have a more positive mind set in regards to horse shopping, buying a horse will definitely put you through a gamut of emotions ranging from joy to bitter disappointment.
MM Training and Consulting will be offering a shopping guide complete with a buyer’s checklist to help you make the right decision when you buy a horse. This article is a brief overview of the shopping guide.
Although we encourage you to ask for the help of a respected horse person if you lack confidence in your horse shopping skill, everyone has the ability to buy a horse that is well-suited for them. The trick is to be disciplined, take the emotion out of the process and know your own strengths and weaknesses as a horse person.
Create two separate lists. On one, list the things that you need in a horse. On the other, list things that you want in a horse. Include breed, sex, age, type, size, disposition, experience, confirmation, soundness, movement, training and color in your lists.
Next, distinguish between what you need to have and what you want to have. Once you’ve established the “need to have” criteria, do not look at, read about, or talk to anyone about a horse that does not match your “need to have” list. Only consider your “want to have” list after all of the criteria on your “need to have” list has been met.
Once you’ve found a horse you want to look at, establish some rules for your behavior while you’re there. Do not approach the horse until the owner has handled and ridden the horse for you, no matter how “cute” or “sweet” the horse may seem. Stay objective and critical when it comes to the horse’s confirmation and movement. Don’t be swayed by a pretty color or flashy stocking feet. An unsound or poorly put together horse will not be fun to own, no matter what color it is. And, those flashy white feet won’t look so pretty if the horse moves like a freight train.
Those of you who read our newsletter article, What Color is Your Horse Really?™ or have been exposed to the horse colors through one of our clinics or presentations, have a pretty good idea of what we’re talking about here. Your personality color is going to naturally mesh better with certain horse colors. (Remember we’re talking about inside colors here, the horse’s personality type.) If you’re a blue roan, don’t buy a blue roan horse unless you’re prepared to step outside of your own color on a regular basis. If you’re a beginning rider, go with a gray horse, one that will be tolerant and steady while you’re learning.
Ask yourself if you want or need a challenge or if you want or need to build confidence, and buy a horse that can help you. Remember, palomino and blue roan horses take patience and consistency, and red sorrels will require you to be a strong leader all of the time. If you want a training challenge, buy whichever color would be the most challenging for you, but be aware that you need to have the desire, time, resources and character to follow through.
If you’re a weekend rider, buy a horse that has “been there and done that,” a gray horse that will not require a lot of time and consistency to be enjoyable. Buy a horse that compliments the color of your personality, and you’ll find riding more fun.
If you make a mistake and buy the wrong horse, it’s not the end of the world. Cut your losses as quickly as possible and try again. We’ve all made the mistake of buying the wrong horse, but learn from your mistakes and don’t repeat them.
Buying a horse can be a fun and rewarding experience. You can avoid buyer’s remorse by being disciplined, taking the emotion out of the process and knowing your own strengths and weaknesses. Remember our advice, use our shopping guide and checklist and have fun shopping!