By: Matthew M. Brendal
Pre-Purchase Selection: Keys to the Start of a Successful Relationship with Your Horse
There is one big secret to having a great horse, it's all in the relationship. The superb symbiotic relationship that has developed between humans and the horse was summed up by the famous Will Rogers quote, "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man." The remarkable thing about a horse, is that over time they will begin to represent a mirror image of you. A horse has a wonderful knack to exploit your imperfections. That is why it is imperative to have the horsemanship skills and tools to be able to "train" a horse. From the selection, training, management and to horseman, I have defined four sections to examine in order for you to take the steps to excel as a horseperson.
Selection: The horse you choose, is the horse you must live with and deal with on a daily basis. If you select a horse with "challenges" then you must embrace ways to develop and possess the skills to correct those "problems". There is no horse that is free of challenges or problems. Some horses just have less challenges then others. Your first horse should not have challenges that can in injure you. Challenges can be in many forms:
Age and Breed
Health Abuse
Attitude Neglect
Never Trained or Poorly Trained
Time to devote to the horse Facilities available
It is best if you shop around and educate yourself on what you really want in your horse. Love at first is not a good buying strategy for a horse. Inexperience in horse selection can be anything from unpleasant to very painful, including death. The wrong horse in the wrong hands can be a deadly combination. The average horse is ten times more powerful than you. Horse ownership should be an absolute joy and not filled with fear and anxiety. Selection of your first horse is paramount to having a good horse experience.
Psychological Selection: We may be psychological mirrors to the horses we gravitate towards, or the horses may be psychological mirrors of us. It is very common for the person buying a horse for personal use, to select a horse subconsciously for a specific psychological reason. I only address this here so you are aware of it. It is too complex an issue to discuss in its entirety here.
Cost: Good horses are expensive to purchase. But the initial price of the horse may be shortly eclipsed by the constant cost of expenses it may take to properly care for a horse. Veterinarian bills, feed bills, farrier bills, continuing education fees, tack, stable fees, etc.
Time: The time you spend with your horse is important. The horse's favorite companion is routine and habit. For a horse to develop well he should also be mentally and emotionally stimulated. To teach a horse something new, or to refine prior learned tasks, this is important to built exceptional communication. Again learning horsemanship is a two way street, you must also develop your horsemanship skills. My personal goal as a horsemen is having people try to figure out how you got the horse to do the the maneuver I ask, with no obvious signs of a cue. When people always ask you how it is you have the best mannered and such a well trained horse, that is when you are becoming a horseman. In my opinion there is no more noble quest than to be a superb horseman.
Breed selection: There is no perfect breed. Each breed always has pluses and minuses. Each breed has it's limitations and attributes. Some breed organizations are large, others are small. You should select your horse based on your intended use and individual flare. Arabian horses usually make poor roping horses, but they make superb endurance racers. Quarter Horses were originally bred to produce an all around ranch horse that was extremely fast running a quarter mile. Walking horses make excellent trail horses, their gait and endurance allows for a long pleasant trail ride. Each breed may have their temperaments, some may be "hot" or "cold". Horse shows, fairs, television programs and the internet are just a few places to learn about different breeds. Most people will be more than happy to embellish enthusiastically about "their" breed of horse if asked.
Age: Young horses can be very enjoyable, most of the time "baggage free". They can also become nightmares in the wrong hands. Raising a young horse from weanling to riding age can be the best thing ever, to both you and the horse, if handled properly. It is not wise to have your first horse be a horse younger than six years old, that has not been properly trained. Your first horse should never be a green horse. A ten year old well seasoned horse is worth its weight in gold. They usually are very mature and have few veterinary problems. Your first horse should be your buddy. A horse that will help you learn at your pace. A green or young horse will learn at their pace. If you are unprepared to teach the horse, let someone else start and train your horse.
Place of Purchase: Buyer beware was a phrase born by dealing with horse traders in the old days. Auction barns can be a place to get a very good deal or a perpetual problem. The best place to purchase a horse is from a well respected breeder or private owner. The first question you should ask is: Why are you selling this horse? A breeder makes a living selling horses. His or her response should be, "That's what I do." A private owner may have numerous different responses. Hopefully they will be frank and honest with you. It is possible to pay an experienced horseman or horsewoman to help you select the horse that is right for you. The phrase many people use today in selecting a horse is called "matching personalities". Don't feel you have to be coerced into buying the first horse you see. There are millions of horses out there, buy the one you think will suit you best. For your protection ask for a 30 day trial period. If the horse turns out not to be the horse for you, a honorable person should take the horse back. A person that is truly interested in the welfare of the horse will want what's best for the horse. The seller should want what's best for the horse, if not you are a buying a horse from the wrong person. The horse should be in the same condition it was when you bought it, if you expect to return it.
Normal wear and tear: The only time a horse is usually perfect is the minute he is born. Horses will get cuts, scars, bumps, bruises and other sundry problems. Chronic medical conditions that cost large sums of money to treat or will impede the normal use that you expect with your horse is entirely different. HYPP, laminitis, club foot, heaves, and other serious diseases/syndromes can become a horrendous ordeal. It may be beneficial to have a veterinarian conduct a "vet check". The veterinarian can point out any physical pitfalls. That of course will require a fee, but may in the long run be a lot cheaper.
Horse Home: A horse needs space and/or daily exercise. Horses in the wild average 20 miles of travel a day. The smaller the confinement, the more potential problems you will have with your horses emotional state. Horses do much better emotionally with a buddy of some type. Horses feel more comfortable in groups, as in the wild they bond together in bands. The point being that horses are plains animals, and rely on other horses in the herd/band to spot potential enemies/threats. When there is no one else to help look out, a horse can become emotionally over concerned and may not rest well. The area in which the horse is confined should be free of hazards.
Horses, as the joke goes, could injure themselves in a padded room, or the other joke, the more expensive the horse the greater chance they will hurt themselves. The area in which a horse is housed needs to be inspected for various hazards a horse may find during their free time.
