Buying a horse is a very hard decision. They aren’t just “things” you ride, they are living creatures too, so making sure they’re looked after properly is very important. Before you look at buying your first horse you need to make sure that you are capable of looking after one yourself. If you don’t think you are able to take on all the responsibilities that come with a horse, then going to a riding school, or a pony club will help you learn more about what is involved in owning a horse. However, if you think you are capable of looking after and owning a horse you will need to honestly assess you riding ability.
If you’re a beginner and you have only ridden on quiet, well behaved horses you will need to look for the older “been there, done that” type of horse and not a young green horse who will need lots of hard work and training. But on the other hand, if you are more experienced and have been riding for a long time, you might prefer to look for a younger horse that you can train to create a wonderful friend.
The main thing to remember is not to choose a horse that will be too much for you to handle because horses have a very good memory, so if they get away with bad behavior once they can become absolute rascals! It is so much better to never allow that problem to arise by choosing a horse which suits your ability level.
Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of the series!!!
