Buying First Horse

Buying your first horse is always exciting. The anticipation of things to come and having your own horse to ride is a big thrill. However, it's important to remember there are many things to think about and look for when buying a horse. Many people buy with their eyes and on impulse rather than thinking it thru and evaluating the animal for important characteristics. Here are a few basic things to keep in mind. First, if it is your first horse and you are fairly new to horses, an older more experienced horse is usually a better fit than a young one. An older horse will be calmer and have experience with a wide variety of things such as cars, tractors, snowmobiles, ect. than a young horse. An older horse will help you gain confidence and learn to ride better and you will enjoy it more if you can relax and enjoy the ride, than if you have to worry about what the horse may do next.
There are many different breeds of horses and many have traits specific to their breed. Do some research and decide what traits are important to you. If you are a large person, you should look for a large horse. You don't want to get a horse that will be too small to carry your weight on long rides. Check conformation of the horse. This means how the horse is balanced in relation to their body length and neck. The slope of the shoulder, the height of the withers and croup. I will explain all those parts in my next post, and check legs for straightness and sound joints.
You should try lifting all four hooves and hold them as you will need to inspect your horses hooves every time you ride. A horse should let you lift and hold all four legs without pulling away or stepping.This is especially important for beginners. Rub their face and round their ears to see if they are what is called "head shy." You don't want a horse you will have trouble getting a bridle on and off.
There are many more things to consider and it's a good idea to try to find an experienced person to help you and go with you to look at horses when you decide to get your first one. We horse people are always ready to help a "newbie" learn the ropes.