08/21/2025
What is on my mind?
How people decide to buy horses, that's what's on my mind. Many people who are new to horses, do it all wrong.
I hear so many stories about how people who bought a horse that they feel they got tricked into thinking it was the perfect horse, only to be disappointed.
Last weekend a woman told me the last two horses she bought, found out later that they had major physical problems. They were ruined by the past owner or sick and dumped on her. She thought she was getting a healthy, well broke horse, only to find out she got burned. One she even had to put down. From this ordeal, she's learned to have a very thorough pre-purchase exam done at her expense, which is a very smart thing to do. Many people do not think about having a horse vetted prior to purchase. Blood tests, genetics, x-rays and a physical exam are wise things to do. Yes, it costs money....but it could save you a ton of time, money and frustration.
My heart breaks for these people, who think you just find one you like on line, go ride it once and buy it. THIS IS A HUGE MISTAKE! Please do not buy horses like this. If a seller is will not willing to let you come several times to ride, do not buy from them. The smartest thing to do, is to take lessons on the horse you plan to buy for a couple of months, if possible. I encourage people to continue to take lessons after the purchase if you are new to owning a horse. If the horse is too far away for you be able to go look at it in person and ride it several times with a few lessons from the person who currently owns it, do not buy it.
I have rules when it comes to buying a POA pony or horse from us. Why do I have these rules? So the animal and you get joined up properly for a very smooth transition. To do that I first need too make sure you are a good fit for one of our ponies, who we consider to be our kids... I need to make sure the pony is a good fit for your ability and what you plan to do with it. We require pre- purchase and post-purchase lessons with us. You also need to be willing to give them a forever home. We feel a horse should be a lifetime friend and a family member. We plan to keep what we have unless, we can find another person who believes the same way we do. Someone we can trust. More importantly, someone the pony or horse can trust. It's traumatic for animal to just be abruptly sold...because of so much change too fast...new people, horse friends, food, places and things. Too much change at once, is overwhelming to them. If you make these changes gradually over time, the transition, goes much smoother and is less stressful on the animal. Plus, this will be much less stressful on you, the buyer!
The welfare of that animal and it's feelings....needs to be top priority and when most people buy they do not take that into consideration. They get upset when they get the horse home and it is not the same horse it was at the previous owners place and they start out right away with problems. It can take some horses up to a year to settle in with a new owner. It takes time to develop a relationship and bond with a horse....it takes trust.
So if you are someone who can't find that right horse...something is always wrong with them physically, mentally or they are just not as well trained as they were told. Maybe it's not the horse. Maybe it's you. Maybe your not putting enough time into making sure the horse is healthy and a good fit to begin with. You can not do this by just watching videos, or watching the owner ride and then taking one spin for yourself. You need to be educated by the current owner. Are you willing to spend time with the current owner to learn about who the horse is? What they like and what they don't? All horses have quirks...anyone who says they don't is a liar. A good horsemen learns how to work around these quirks. Are you willing to take lessons from that owner so they can teach you about these quirks and how to avoid getting into trouble....where all that horse's buttons are and how to push them? On mine you usually have to push two or three at the same time to get a response. That takes skill and time to learn. IF you are not spending money and time on pre-purchase and post-purchase lessons...and then have a problem with the horse once you are on your own...you're mindset and expectations are the problem, not the horse or the trainer. It's simply your expectations.
So slow down, go see the horse in person, ask if it is possible to take pre-purchase lessons, go on a trail ride or to a show and get that thorough pre-purchase exam done! I think if you slow down and invest more time, you will be less likely to be disappointed with your new horse, once you are on your own.
Marta
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