This is a question that you probably think that you already know the answer to. Yes, horses are beautiful and they respond so lovingly in the movies! Maybe you can get a top quality racehorse out of that classified ad – a diamond in the rough that everyone else overlooked, and all of your dreams would come true, right? Or maybe you can somehow find a really nice untrained stallion who will sweep you off your feet and you can ride across the beach together into the sunset.  

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but reality is often a tough lesson. When it comes to horses, it pays to do your research and not learn things the hard way! Remember one very important thing – what you see in the movies is not necessarily reality! As always, buyer beware. The horse industry is almost like the auto industry, in that you need to really do your homework. Check out the temperament of the horse. Take a test drive of the horse. Check to make sure that all of his systems are working properly (vet check), and make sure that all paperwork is completed (registration, if there is one).  

The main reason of this page is to ask if you should get a horse. Here are some questions to ask yourself: 

1. Do you have the financial resources to be able to afford the UPKEEP of the horse? Don’t even worry about the purchase price yet. That comes secondary to understanding whether you can afford to keep the horse.  

2. Do you have the knowledge that it takes to care for the horse? If not, do you know where to find good information and resources?  

3. Are you willing to take the TIME that it takes to care for the horse? Horses need a consistent feeding schedule which means that if your horse eats twice per day, you either need to be home twice per day or have a responsible person who is able to do the task for you when you are gone. Make sure that this person understands EXACTLY how you feed your horse, as even the smallest slip up can lead to colic.  

4. Is this something that you are willing to make as a commitment? Too often people become caught up in the romanticism of owning a horse without looking into what it actually takes to own a horse! Realize what you are getting into before you jump in. Test the water a little by trying riding lessons or mucking stalls for time with horses. Spend some time with friends who have horses. If you are still sure that this is for you, then by all means take the next step!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 11:43 pm and is filed under Buying a Horse. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.