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Some general pointers
on choosing your
first horse
Geldings
generally have the most consistent behavior. They are generally the
most even tempered and pleasant natured. Not every gelding will be like
this, it's that the odds are greatest that a gelding will be
consistently good natured.
Mares, go in and out of
"heat". They have
hormone cycles. This may or may not affect a mare's behavior and
temperament. Some mares are even tempered. Some can be Jekyll and Hyde.
Be aware of this and ask the owner.
Stallions are not
suitable for
anyone other than experienced horse people. A beginner should not even
consider one. End of story.
On the age of your
horse, young
horses or inexperienced older horses are not suitable for a beginner.
Your ideal steed will be at least 5 and have been well handled and
trained. You are after a horse who has maturity, who is familiar with
the world of humans. A horse in his late teens or early twenties has
plenty of maturity and would be a great first horse.
Of course,
you are after a sound, healthy and pleasant natured animal. If the
horse has a health issue, consider how this will affect the riding you
want to do before deciding yay or nay. If the horse has a cranky
temperament, it is not suitable for a beginner. Living in fear of being
nipped or kicked by your first horse will destroy your confidence and
your horsey dream, as well as being a physically dangerous situation.
Cover
the basics
First of all, let's go
through some questions to find out what you're after and what's most
suitable.
At
what level are your horse and riding skills? It is a huge mistake, as a
beginner, to purchase a horse that is beyond your current ability. It
is far safer and easier to grow out of a horse than into one. You want
a horse that you can ride now, based on your current level of skill.
Untrained,
lightly trained, lightly handled or 'green broke' horses are often
cheaper. There's a reason for that. It's because they need work, an
experienced hand and time. They aren't as predictable or reliable. The
training required can take months or even a few years (think $$) and
can lead to a dangerous horse if not done right (by a beginner).
What
you pay for with an experienced horse is the training that has gone
into the animal and the world experience and familiarity the horse has
with human ways. It IS worth it for a first horse.
And
please remember that if a horse is to be ridden by more than one
person, look for a horse that will be suitable for the lowest skilled
person.
Next question, is
this a child's horse or an adult's? The answer will determine a
suitable size for you to be comfortable on and build to carry your
weight. A horse for both children and adults will need to be small
enough for the kids to be comfortable, while tall and strong enough to
carry an adult easily.
Now what
sort of riding do you want to do? Is this a work horse? A show horse? A
serious or fun competition horse? A jumper, barrel racer or endurance
ride? Or a trail & leisure horse? Do you want to do dressage?
The
reason for answering this question is that it will help you focus the
temperament, skills and confirmation you require from your horse. And perhaps
a suitable breed.
There
is no right or wrong breed of horse for a particular genre of horse
sports in terms of suitability. It is dependent on the individual
animal. Some types of competition are restricted to a particular breed.
ie horse racing is restricted to thoroughbreds. There aren't many of
these, but find out beforehand.
Having
said that, some breeds TEND to be particularly suitable for particular
sports as they have been bred to excel in these. For instance,
warmbloods and dressage, quarter horse and barrel racing, arabian and
endurance riding. This does not exclude other breeds from excelling.
Confirmation (the shape and way a horse is put together) will determine
what horse will be good at what activity. A good endurance horse is
built differently to a good dressage horse, for instance. There is no
need to purchase a purebred or discount one breed over another. Find
out what is important in a horse for your chosen discipline and look
for a horse with those qualities. This is where your expert friend will
help sort a suitable horse from one that just won't do. If you don't
have a specialised sport in mind, any sound, healthy, quiet, gentle
natured, well trained horse will do.
As
far as a 'good' breed for a beginner goes, there is no right or wrong.
The individual temperament of the horse and the training it has
received are more important factors than it's pedigree or papers.
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http://horsetrainingsuccess.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-to-look-for-when-buying-horse.html
