How to Choose Your First Horse

A first horse does not need to be young, cheap or special. It needs to be calm, sound and already trained. The most common beginner mistake is buying a young unbroken horse hoping to grow together — in practice, two beginners teach each other the wrong things.

For a first horse, the best age is between eight and fifteen years. Such a horse already knows the job, has been through the situations that frighten young horses and forgives rider mistakes. A twenty-year-old horse can also be an excellent choice for quiet riding.

Temperament matters more than breed. Watch how the horse behaves when you catch it in the paddock, how it reacts to a new place, how it handles hoof picking and how it acts when left alone. Visit at least twice, on different days, and insist on leading and riding it yourself.

Always get a pre-purchase veterinary exam. A soundness check, flexion tests and X-rays where needed reveal problems the seller may not even know about. The cost of the exam is small next to the cost of treating hidden lameness.

Finally, be realistic about time. A horse needs daily care and several hours of work a week. If you are unsure, start with lessons on school horses — you will learn a great deal before taking responsibility for a horse of your own.