Posts Tagged ‘buying a horse’

I am buying a horse and need some breed suggestions. I am an Intermediate-advanced rider.

I know owning a horse needs more than just riding, but im actually learning faster at the caring than i am at the actual riding. I haven’t been riding long at all, but think i know all the basics in Horse Care. How long you recommend riding for, before considering to buy or lease a horse? And if anyone has any basic Horse riding/ Horse care questions, i’d be willing to try and answer them.

Im thinking about buying a horse, but i have 49 to choose from. i have never bought a horse by myself and im not sure how to pick one. I want a horse that im going to be happy with but i don’t know what to look for to find a horse that i like and will be good for me since i have not spent much time with it. Ill be using this horse for pleasure and a mild amount of riding. So i need tips on things to look for in a good,assertive,kind horse.

Deciding to own a horse is a major decision and a big commitment. Not just financial, but there is the time commitment to consider as a horse needs caring for 365 days a year. Among other things, there is the concern of where to keep it and who will look after it when you’re on holiday, ill, working late etc. Horses are not like having a cat or a dog, as most people will happily feed and walk a dog while you are on holiday but a horse?! Most people would run a mile, not because they don’t like horses, but because they are harder to look after, take more time and are generally more expensive to fix if something goes wrong.

The first decision that needs to be made once you have decided to have a horse is where to keep it. Some of us don’t have the option to keep our horses by our house and therefore livery yards offer a solution. Some liveries offer a ‘full’ livery service others a ‘part’ or ‘DIY’ (Do It Yourself) service. Choosing a livery yard suitable for you and your horse might depend on the type of service best suited to your needs, where your friends are or just simply down to location. Other people might be fortunate enough to keep their horse at their own property.

Wherever you keep your horse, there will be times when you need help from someone to care for you’re your horse. Whether it’s just to feed him 1 night or to do everything for 2 weeks, at some point you will need a hand and whom will you ask? For those using a full livery service this shouldn’t be a problem but for the rest of us finding help can be tricky, especially help that is competent and reliable.

Some people might temporally move their horse to a livery yard that offers a full livery service. However getting a stable on a yard when you need it might not be that easy, so travelling even further away from home might be necessary. This option can be stressful for your horse, especially if he doesn’t settle well or is a bit nervy. Others might relay on friends or other horse owners but what happens if something goes wrong? What if that person can’t make it and if the horse is injured who pays for the vet bill? This option can lead to favours been owed or friendship frayed.

So what’s the solution?

A professional mobile livery service.

Leave your horse where it is. No stress for your horse, no stress for you. Have a Mobile Livery come to care for your horse.

A Mobile Livery Service brings the services of a typical full livery to you and your horse so the horse doesn’t move and you don’t keep risking friendships or replying on family. Mobile liveries are operated by freelance grooms or horse sitters and are a professional horse care service. Whenever you are going away or are tied up with life commitments a mobile livery will come to your horse and provide all the care he needs. You won’t have the hassle of finding a livery yard with a spare stable or the inconvenience of transporting and your horse won’t get stressed by changing his routine. You can leave your horse exactly where he is and nothing will change for him. He won’t even know your not there!

Mobile livery, freelance grooms and horse sitters are all horse care professionals, caring for all types of horses and yards is what they have been trained to do. They will have equine qualifications and should be CRB checked, but most importantly will have *insurance so if something does go wrong everyone, including your horse should be protected.

Remember to always find out about the person you are leaving your horse with read more advice on what to look for at http://www.kirstyshorses.com/blog/ or locate someone to care for your horse at http://www.kirstyshorses.com

So when life gets busy or you’re going away and you need someone to care for your horse, think of the easiest solution and that’s leave your horse where it is and have a professional mobile livery come to you. Hassle free, worry free, SIMPLE.

*insurance covers my change from company to company, you should always check what the person you are using is insured for.

Author: Kirsty Rickett
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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What are the specific things you look for in a horse that you go to see? What are things you ask the owner about their horse?

How can you, as a buyer, be able to tell how healthy a horse is before having a vet do a pre-purchase exam?

As a first horse, what qualities would you really look for?

In today’s society about 20% of families in the United States own more than one horse.

Thousands of other families living in urban or suburban communities with small acres of land and some with no land at all would like to own a horse or two. Many of these families have very little to no knowledge in owning horses in the suburbs or urban horse keeping.

Owning horses or a horse can be a very enjoyable, exciting, educational experience, for the young and old. Or it can also be a dangerous unpleasant experience if the proper knowledge of horse keeping in the suburbs is not pursued previous to buying a horse.

To many people, horses are simply beautiful creatures. But prospective horse owners should look beyond the appearances and know that there are many differences to horses many different responsibilities to owning a horse in urban areas as opposed to rural & agricultural areas.

-You need to learn about buying and how to buy a horse.
- Horse care & handling
- You also need knowledge of horse equipment.

You must also have the proper facility or accommodations for your horse if you have a small piece of land. You’re going to need a proper horse barn or shed, proper turnout area or run, also how are you gonna keep your horse or horses exercised?

There are many other things to consider, such as how many horses does your community permit per acre? How are your neighbors going to react to you having a horse or horses? Are they going to be comfortable with it and the possible smell of urine & horse poop, depending on how close or far you are from their property? Another thing to think about is what are you going to do with the muck after you clean the stall or paddock? Do you have the room to compost it or are you going to need a company or someone to pick it up? Where are you going to store hay and feed? Where will you store your horse trailer if you decide you want show with your horse or do some trail riding? Lastly consider what will be the cost to keep your horse at home, for feeding and maintenance etc…?

If owning a horse in the suburbs you may want to consider boarding your horse at a local horse boarding facility so you need to consider how much that will cost you as well.

See more Ideas Information & Tips at:
Horsekeeping Maintenance & Horse Grooming

God’s Horsemanship

Author: Gary Houston
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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You’ve done the searching, you’ve combed the classifieds, you’ve test ridden several horses and you’ve settled on THE ONE. What do you need to do now? Write the seller a check, load up and head down the road? You can… but depending on what you want to do with the horse, your level of long term commitment to the horse and your goals for the horse, a pre-purchase exam might be money well spent.

What is a pre-purchase exam? A pre-purchase exam is a series of tests performed by an equine veterinarian that determines the horse’s current soundness and health and can identify problems that might affect future soundness. There are few things more heartbreaking than having your perfect horse go lame or have some other problem that turns him from your best riding companion in to a lawn ornament. A pre-purchase exam is best performed on a potential purchase prior to falling completely in love with the horse and deciding that you can’t live without him. The pre-purchase exam is requested by the buyer, the buyer contacts a veterinarian of their choosing and the buyer is responsible for all costs incurred from the exam. It is usually recommended that the buyer select a veterinarian that is not the seller’s usual veterinarian, both to eliminate conflict of interest and to not put the veterinarian in an awkward position of potentially reporting negative results which might cause the sale to fall through for his client.

When your veterinarian shows up to perform the pre-purchase exam, the first thing he or she should ask is what your intended purpose is for this horse. What do you want to do with him? Are you looking for a trail horse that will go on leisurely rides 2 or 3 days a week? Or is your ultimate goal with this horse to be a high end competitor in your sport of choice? A good veterinarian will take this information in to account when evaluating a horse for you and this information will influence the final report made on this horse.

There are three main types of pre-purchase exams: a basic pre-purchase, a full pre-purchase and a breeding soundness exam A basic pre-purchase exam entails a complete physical exam and lameness exam. A full pre-purchase typically includes x-rays and often other diagnostic measures such as a routine blood panel. Breeding soundness exams are performed on animals intended to be used as breeding stock and are often performed in conjunction with a basic or full pre-purchase exam.

In a basic pre-purchase exam, the veterinarian will listen to the horse’s heart, lungs and gut sounds. He’ll examine the horse’s eyes, dentition (both the condition that the horse’s teeth are in and how well the horse’s teeth align), legs, joints and overall conformation and condition. He’ll likely ascertain the horse’s health history, such as whether or not the horse has had problems with colic or lameness in the past and whether or not the horse is current on his vaccinations and deworming. The veterinarian will then ask to see the horse move, both at the walk (in hand) and at the trot (usually on a lunge line). He is looking to see how well the horse tracks and whether the horse wings, paddles or interferes when he is in motion (signs that can indicate a conformational issue and can lead to unsoundness). He’ll also be looking for obvious or subtle signs of lameness. The next set of tests will involve using hoof testers on the horse’s hooves to apply pressure to very specific parts of the hoof and internal structures. Hoof testers can find signs of laminitis, stone bruises, navicular disease and other problems that may lead to the need for a career chance for the horse.

Once the horse has passed these tests, the veterinarian will move on to flexion tests. In a flexion test, the veterinarian will hold the horse’s leg in a flexed position, focusing on each individual joint or series of joints (hock and stifle for example) for about 60 seconds at a time. He’ll then ask the handler to trot the horse off in a straight line. The veterinarian is looking for signs of lameness following the flexion that can indicate an issue that requires further diagnostics such as x-rays or nerve blocks. It is not uncommon for a veterinarian to advise the buyer not to proceed with a horse that cannot pass his flexion tests as it often can indicate the presence of bony changes or arthritis.

A full pre-purchase exam has the same elements as a basic pre-purchase but also includes diagnostic radiographs (x-rays) of at least the front and rear fetlocks, front feet and hocks. Depending on the intended use of the horse, some practitioners will recommend radiographs of the stifles and knees as well. These x-rays will allow the veterinarian to look for bony changes such as arthritis, bone chips, high and low ringbone, navicular syndrome and OCD lesions that can all affect the horse’s performance and lead to future unsoundness. A full pre-purchase exam may also include bloodwork to rule out metabolic disease, thyroid problems or the use of masking drugs which may make the horse appear sound or sane at the time of the pre-purchase exam.

A breeding soundness exam is requested on a mare or stallion whose intended purpose is that of a breeding animal. For a mare, the veterinarian will perform a rectal palpation and ultrasound to make sure the uterus and ovaries are of normal size, consistency and free from any abnormalities. A vaginal exam will ensure that the mare has a normal cervical seal and is free from scarring or tears. The veterinarian will also look at the mare’s perineal conformation (whether her vulva is tipped in relation to the anus) and check her udders. Stallions will have their semen collected and evaluated, testicles measured and palpated and behavior noted.

Many times when a buyer is having a pre-purchase exam done on a horse, the question they are dying to ask is, “Well, did he pass or fail?”. In reality, the veterinarian is not there to “pass” or “fail” the horse and can only point out all abnormalities and potential causes for concern. Veterinarians don’t have a crystal ball and they do not have the ability to predict a horse’s future soundness; they can only report on what they see on that day. It is up to you, the buyer, to make the final decision on whether or not you can live with his findings.

Julia A. Patton, owner of Aviance Arabians in Loveland, Colorado (http://www.AvianceArabians.com), a successful breeding a sales barn, Julie has been breeding horses for over ten years. The long time breeding manager at a 350+ head Arabian horse farm, Julie brings current, hands on knowledge in the areas of breeding horses from stallion collection to foaling and foal handling. She also spent several years at Colorado State University as a project manager working on reproductive safety trials for pharmaceutical companies. From there, she went to Florida to set up an embryo transfer and frozen semen station for a veterinary practice in Ocala. Now the resident horse expert at http://www.horsesportscentral.com, Julie shares her passion for horses, horse sales and breeding in articles, blogs and posts.

Author: Julia A. Patton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If you are considering buying a new horse, there are several issues of concern to you. Smart buyers and riders know what they want before speaking to horse sellers.

It is important to know everything you can about the new horse. Learn its history, blood lines, habits, preferences, skills and overall attitude. It is also important to find out about its inherent traits. All horses have their own unique traits. Know which ones are most desirable to you.

Traits to Consider

Some horses are better at certain tasks than others. When buying a new horse, pre-determine what skills you want the horse to possess. Some to consider are:

* English riding

* Showing and jumping

* Racing

* Western riding

* Trail riding

* Roping

* Team roping

* Barrel racing

* Endurance

Questions to Ask Before Buying a Horse

How much do you expect to pay? Look only at horses within your price range. What gender, color, age and size are you looking for? Weed out horses that don’t fit within your requirements. Does the horse load and unload from trailers well? Will it tolerate shoeing and hoof trimming? Score your prospective horses on a scale of one to five for these items. The higher scorers will help you determine which horses are of the most interest to you.

When buying a new horse it is important to be sure it has been thoroughly evaluated. An initial inspection of the horse must be performed by someone capable and experienced. If you don’t know what to look for, bring someone you trust who does. Here are the areas you need to check:

* Eyes. Make sure the horse can see out of both eyes. Do a flinch test by waving your hand quickly in front of each eye. Check for any differences.

* Ears. Check for excess ear wax or over-sensitivity when the ears are touched.

* Mouth. Check for any lesions or sores. Be sure the teeth are normal and aligned. Watch the horse chew to check for normal biting ability.

* Head, neck and chest. Check for symmetry and balance of muscles. Be sure the horse moves its head, neck and chest freely and without difficulty.

* Feet. Inspect all four feet for swelling and sensitivity to touch. Flex and extend all joints to look for pain, resistance or head lifting that indicates pain or discomfort.

* Rear end. Check for good tone, signs of discharge and signs of diarrhea.

* Lameness. It is imperative that you are able to observe the horse trotting in circles in both directions and in a straight line. Watch closely for irregular bobbing of the head, sloppy movements or skipping that may indicate pain in any of the legs.

If the horse has passed your initial evaluation, it is time to take it for a ride. Observe its stamina, nerves and whether or not it is alert and well behaved.

If you have any doubts, either walk away or arrange an agreement based on the findings during the veterinary examinations. This is common practice and a legitimate horse seller will agree to some reasonable terms.

Be sure the three required exams are performed by a veterinarian of your choosing or one that has a neutral opinion. The required exams are:

* Health certificate, which is usually for crossing state lines.

* Insurance exam, to satisfy mortality and other questions related to insuring the horse.

* Pre-purchase veterinary exam, detailing the medical status of the horse at the time of purchase.

When buying a horse, you want to find one that is healthy and has a good attitude. The horse’s experience and dependability levels must closely match, or be above, that of the primary rider. A willing and intelligent horse can be trained to bring you years of pleasure and skilled work habits. Choose your horse wisely.

Rachel Harding has been riding horses since she was five. Sign up for our free newsletter and get all the information you need at Horse And Rider Info

Author: Rachel Harding
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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