How to Buy Your First Horse
If you want to buy your first horse, first figure out what your budget is, factoring in not only the horse but also additional costs like insurance, veterinary care, feed, and stabling. Once you know how much you can spend, ask your riding instructor, horse owner friends, and local barns if they can recommend any reputable sellers. When you've found a possible horse, get a vet to do a pre-purchase exam so they can ensure it's healthy. You should also arrange a trial period with the seller, or at least a couple of rides, to make sure the horse's temperament fits you.
Enroll in riding lessons. If you haven't had riding lessons before, you'll need to take some. Lessons from a professional horse trainer will provide you with the know-how to stay safe and confident when riding your horse. Check the American Riding Instructors Association for a detailed database of riding instructors near you. Community Education and smaller, rural colleges often offer high-quality horse-riding programs. Ask your instructor lots of questions. If there's anything you're unsure or confused about, rely on your riding instructor's expertise to help guide you. Get the instructor's advice about which saddle is right for you, as well. Get private lessons, not group lessons. That way you'll get more personalized attention to your riding style and habits. If you can't locate a professional horse trainer, you should at least link up with someone who is familiar with horse-riding who can give you ongoing, detailed lessons. Decide where you’re going to house your horse. Horses need their space. You should have a clean stable where your horse can be housed comfortably. A barn with an individual stable is the best bet. Alternatively, you might be able to convert a large shed into a personalized stable for your horse. If necessary, build a small barn for it. Your horse's pen should open into a large fenced-in space where the horse can trot, and where you can practice riding. Do not buy a horse in an urban space. A shed with at least three sides should be provided as shelter from the elements if you cannot afford to build a full barn. The shed should be large enough to allow the horse to turn around easily. Get a farrier. A farrier is someone who makes and fits horseshoes. Horseshoes are important for protecting your horse's hooves. Having a good farrier is will keep your horse's hooves healthy and strong.  Get advice from your riding instructor or veterinarian about where to find a good farrier. Learn to read horse ads. Horse ads have their own language. For instance, you should look for a horse described as “bomb proof,” meaning that it is not easily startled. You should avoid horses described as "gymkhana prospect," or "endurance prospect." These terms -- as well as “barrel prospect” -- indicate the horse is hyperactive and more challenging to control. Other, more obvious keywords that you want in a horse include “steady,” “reliable,” and “calm.” Horses described as “serviceably sound” may have health problems. Remember a free horse is never actually free, even if advertised as such. A horse listed as “free” could also have a history of health problems that could add up financially in the long run. Decide your budget. Horses can be expensive. Thoroughbred racehorses can cost upwards of $50,000. However, you should never invest such a sum in your first horse. Even a racehorse can be purchased for much less, closer to $35,000.  If you're purchasing a horse simply for fun and taking pleasure rides, you'll probably be able to get a good starter horse for around $5,000. The actual purchase price of your horse, however, is just a small part of your total budget. You'll also need to factor in several other costs which vary depending on your area, including: training riding lessons insurance (if you want a racehorse) farrier veterinary care feed equipment (saddle, tack stabling costs trailer hitch (if you intend to travel with your horse) Learn everything you can about horses. Educate yourself on their health, care, feeding, and other habits. The more knowledge you have about horses, the better equipped you'll be to make an informed decision when you're ready to buy. Although nothing can compare to hands-on experience, arming yourself with knowledge beforehand can help you avoid common first-time horse buyer mistakes. Once you've learned all you can, decide if you're ready to own a horse. A horse is not like a fish or other small pet that needs minimal care and attention. Horses need lots of love and affection, an adequate space to run and gallop, and lots of food. Depending on the age of the horse, it might also need training. Be sure you can provide these things before buying a horse. Buy an older horse. Many first-time horse buyers imagine that it would be great if the horse they buy can learn along with them. However, horses that have already been trained and are familiar with people will cause the least problems for you. Younger horses, on the other hand, can be rambunctious, finicky, and difficult to handle. If you're buying a horse for a child, a good rule of thumb is that the age of the child and the age of the horse should add up to 20. For instance, if your child is 10, the horse should also be about 10. Get an experienced horse. While age and experience usually go together in horses, they don't always. An experienced horse -- one that has been ridden and trained already -- will be more amenable to a new owner. Avoid buying a horse advertised as “green” or “in need of finishing.” These are horse-riding euphemisms for inexperienced horses. Get a gelding or mare. A gelding (a castrated male horse) might be your best bet. Horse owners find that they are more predictable and eager to please than mares. A mare could also make a good first horse, but they tend to be somewhat moody and stubborn, and also become difficult to handle during menstruation. Evaluate each animal based on its own merits. Whatever you do, never select a stallion for your first horse, as they tend to be too wild and unruly for novice horse-riders. If a mare is advertised as “in foal,” it means they are pregnant. Do not buy a pregnant mare, as a foal will be an extra expense for you, and you won't be able to ride the mare until some time has passed after it gives birth. Find a reputable seller. You can typically buy a horse from the person you get riding lessons from. If your instructor doesn't sell horses, ask if they know someone who does. You can also ask other lesson barns in the area, as these barns often buy and sell horses as well. Talk to friends and colleagues who own horses and find out if they're happy with their horse. If they are, ask them to recommend the person who sold them their horse. As a last resort, if you're still having trouble locating a seller, check the advertisements in the back of a popular horse magazine such as Horse Illustrated, the classifieds in your local paper, or online at Craigslist and similar sites. Use Equine Legal Solutions' checklist at http://www.equinelegalsolutions.com/uploads/4/0/2/5/40254925/hbc.pdf to help you identify important information and ask relevant questions before visiting a particular horse. For instance, you might want to inquire about the horse's medical history, temperament, training, and competition record. Many of the questions you ask will be specific to your own personal preferences in a horse, so think carefully about what information you need to make a good decision. Have someone check the horse out with you. Just as you would when buying a car, it's a good idea to bring along someone who knows what to look for when buying your first horse. Bring a trusted friend or family member with you to look over the horse or horses you're thinking of buying. They'll help evaluate: the horse's gait (should be measured and regular) the horse's temperament (the horse should not bolt out of the gate as soon as you open it, and should not twitch or shy away when groomed or touched) how well a particular horse would suit you based on your build (a bigger person needs a bigger horse, and vice versa) the horse's general health and activity level (should be inquisitive, alert, and playful but obedient) Have a vet look the horse over and do a pre-purchase exam. Before you buy the horse, it's important to make sure it's healthy. While it's a little costly, a pre-purchase exam can ultimately save you from getting a horse that'll require expensive vet bills and/or that you may never be able to ride at the level you wish due to injury. Don't have the seller's vet look the horse over for you, even if they offer to throw it in for free. You might not get an objective evaluation. Instead, choose your own vet to look the horse over. Pre-purchase exams can include everything from a physical and lameness exam to bloodwork, x-rays, and beyond. Have a conversation with your vet to discuss what your expectations are and what you can get away with not doing. Arrange a trial period to try out your first horse. Horses sometimes act differently when they are taken away from their home stables. You can often lease a horse for six months or more. Use this trial period to learn more about the horse's temperament, habits, and personality. If you want to arrange for a shorter lease, ask the owner for a lease period that suits you. Shorter leases of 7 to 30 days could be possible. The owner may want a written agreement and may ask you to supply insurance on the horse. They may also want to inspect the space where the horse will be kept. You might be able to lease a horse from your riding instructor. If you don't want to do a trial period, you should at least ride the horse once or twice at the barn it's currently living at to make sure you can ride at its level and that its personality fits yours. Avoid buying a horse online. On the internet, you can buy almost anything, including horses. Many people check out horses they might want to buy via online videos and pictures. However, as a first-time buyer, you'd do well to buy a horse locally. As you gain more experience with horses and horse-buying, you might choose to buy a horse online. If you do buy a horse online, always make a trip out to see the horse with a veterinarian before finalizing the purchase. You can find a local reputable vet in the area to visit and examine the horse with you, if your vet from home won't travel that far. Avoid buying from horse traders online. These people usually flip horses and are often associated with scams and not keeping the horse's best interest at heart. Avoid buying at auction. If a horse is sold at an auction, it's usually because the owner couldn't sell it in a private sale. This means that the horse is lame, sick, or too old to be sold to experienced and knowledgeable buyers. Plus, buying a horse at an auction means you won't get to ride it or get much sense of its temperament before making the purchase. If you choose to buy a horse at an auction anyway, be sure you know what you're getting into. Check the terms and conditions of the sale. Most horses at auction sales are sold “as is,” meaning you won't be able to make a return if you don't like it. Read the documentation for the horse at the auction. Auctions usually provide X-rays and a veterinarian's report on the animal for potential buyers. Read it carefully so you can make an informed decision. Familiarize yourself with the auction's dispute procedures. This way, if you do decide to pursue a return, you'll know how to do so. Draw up a contract. As with any significant transaction, you should draw up a contract with the seller. The contract must include the sale price, warranties, and any other stipulations made by you or the seller. You should both sign and date every page of both your copies. If the horse's owner has sold horses before, you can use their contract, but look it over with a lawyer or with someone you trust who has bought horses before. 
Enroll in riding lessons. Decide where you’re going to house your horse. Get a farrier. Learn to read horse ads. Decide your budget. Learn everything you can about horses. Buy an older horse. Get an experienced horse. Get a gelding or mare. Find a reputable seller. Have someone check the horse out with you. Have a vet look the horse over and do a pre-purchase exam. Arrange a trial period to try out your first horse. Avoid buying a horse online. Avoid buying at auction. Draw up a contract. 