Having your own horse is the dream of many riders. However, becoming a buyer is not an ordinary act. It is a long-term, physically demanding, ethical and financial commitment, involving many responsibilities for the care, in all its aspects, of the horse. So if you want your horse to become the ideal "life partner" and that he has a great time with his rider, it is necessary to follow and apply simple and obvious rules.
A horse lives on average 25 to 30 years, making it a long-lasting companion! So, before heading down the road of a long-term relationship, it is necessary to think twice.
The first criteria to take into account is the place where you will keep the animal, knowing that you need at least one hectare. Do you have a space which includes a shed to store hay, a tack room and the equipment needed to maintain your horse's living area?
Or should you instead opt for a horse livery, where the cost will vary between 200 and 500 euros per month depending on whether your horse is kept outside or inside, fed and exercised by you or someone else?
Making very pragmatic choices
Be sure to consider the following: Is this your first purchase? In this case, and if you are somehow a "beginner" in this field, do you think you have the time (between your personal, family and professional obligations etc.), energy (to exercise your horse very regularly) and the necessary budget for your horse? And this, all year round and in any weather?
Before making your decision, be realistic about your time schedule and your possible financial restrictions. These include horse food, insurance, vet care, livery costs (if not at home), farrier, breaking if it’s a young horse, equipment of all kinds, and... the unexpected. Bills can pile up very fast!
Will your horse only be ridden by you or by other people? Do you have the time, the patience and the skills to take care of an unbroken horse, not necessarily accustomed to the handling of man and whose temperament remains to be discovered? You can choose other solutions such as sharing your animal with someone else, and in this way dividing the overall cost of maintenance.
The advice of an equine expert
To ensure the best choice, why not seek the advice of an expert? It will help you to analyse the temperament of the horse by looking at the movements of his ears, his eyes or even his tail.
The expert will also help you to place the animal in a situation, to better judge its gaits and if the animal is nervous. Ride the animal before acquiring it and if possible, observe its behavior in the stable, alone or with its companions. Go see the horse several times, get a feel of him, find out whether you like him or not and... vice-versa!
Prepare your « To Do List »
To help you to "bet on the right horse", list your requirements: age, experience, qualities, temperament, breed and stick to them. Also keep in mind the points on which you are willing to compromise (the price, for example...). Some horses are made for sport, others for hacking. If you choose a hacking horse, he will have to be calm, docile, confident, obey the reins and not be reluctant to move on rough ground.
Furthermore, he should not be afraid of cars or other disruptive elements. Would you like to learn and improve with your horse? Are you looking for a sweet and obedient mount? In that case, it is better to select an animal sufficiently old, who has experience being around people. What about if you choose a sporting horse, able to compete? Learn everything about its origins. In brief, whatever the case, clearly define what you want.
Horses age too !
Your horse will age and alas, some owners do not anticipate the aging of their companion. One day, when he can no longer be ridden, the problem of the cost of his retirement will arise and will be just as costly as before! An old horse, declining, will not be sellable. Ethically, you cannot deliver your companion to the factory. That would be inappropriate. Unfortunately, frauds and scams involving reselling horses to factories are plentiful. This is the ultimate and painful moral dilemma faced by any owner of a horse who is coming to the end of his life, but fortunately you have alternatives such as renting a pasture with a shelter or retirement services offered by some livery stables.
Find the perfect match
Be ready for a search that could last a long time, perhaps months, before finding the ideal companion. You will certainly have to drive around, discuss, negotiate ... You will hesitate, maybe change your mind, and one day you will have a crush ... Why not ... provided you do not leave the bridle on his neck ! Tell yourself that adopting a realistic attitude while leaving room for personal feelings is the best guarantee to find the horse of your dreams.
The RODI conclusion
- Make room for your horse: not less than one hectare and a stable of 5m x 5m.
- Determine a precise and long-term budget for what your new buddy will cost you. Anticipate the unexpected.
- Get to know your future horse before buying it, ride it, observe it ...
- Trust an expert who will advise you on the horse of your dreams!
