Global Sports: Horse Sales For Everyone.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Horse Sales For Everyone.

By Lee Gilbert


Some may say that buying a horse is easy, however they are mistaken. It's not a case of going to a farm or riding center looking and then buying. It takes research and a good knowledge to make the right buy. Horse sales is a risky thing and should not be done without proper thought.

If you are a novice when it comes to horses, it may be a good idea to contact someone who has been working with them for a while. If you are not able to find one, find a book to help. A book will give you all the information and will steer you in the right direction. Here are a few tips that may also help you in making that all important decision.

The breed you're looking for is one of the factors to consider. Each breed is suited to a type of riding. Arab breeds are known for excelling in endurance racing. Thoroughbreds are best suited to showing, jumping or even dressage. Warm-bloods are also a breed known for showing. These factors are to be looked at when you know what you would like to d. If you are looking for something for pleasure, breed is not really a factor. For this you should really just worry about characteristics.

You have made your decision now on what you are going to do, the characteristics you are looking for and the breed. Now it's time to think about cost. Buying a horse is not cheap. If you would like a well schooled horse, you are looking at spending more money than if you purchase one that is not necessary well schooled but has been ridden for a while and is used to it. Buying is not where the spending stops. Horses are expensive to keep. Some need special food. Some need special supplements. They all need their hooves clipped every four to six weeks and are all inoculated annually against certain horse sicknesses. You really need to think about the cost of owning a horse before buying one.

Different breeds have different types of care needed. There are your general care needs that are applicable to all horses such as having their hooves clipped every four to six weeks and annual injections. Some breeds require that extra bit of care though. A Thoroughbred is known to be a high maintenance breed. It requires more food than others, requires a blanket and stabling in the winter and is prone to sickness if not correctly cared for. This breed may run up your vet bill to a high amount. The Arab breeds are a more low maintenance breed. They require less concentrated foods and are a hardy breed. They are bred to live in the desert. They are used to tough conditions and therefore get by on very little sustenance.Your budget should be worked out, however you should remember that you may go over budget sometimes when sickness or injury strikes. In this case, your horse should be on stable rest and will require extra hard concentrates.

Now that your budget has been worked out, you will need to look at more than one horse. It's not a good idea to buy the first one you look at. There are many things to consider when looking purchasing.

The general condition should be looked at. Does it have many scars? If so, this may be a sign of clumsiness and may end up costing you a fortune on vet bills. Does it pull its ears flat when people are nearby? This may be a sign of not trusting humans. When it is caught, was it caught easily? If not, you will end up spending most of your time trying to catch it instead of riding. Most horses come with a story behind it. Some sellers may tell you the truthful version and others may make one up just to be rid of a horse quickly. Always keep your eye's and ears open for signs of the seller lying.

Now you have decided what type you are looking for, how much money you are willing to spend and you have also looked at how much time it will take you to look after your horse it is time to make an appointment to view. When making that appointment, always try and be there a little earlier than agreed. Most sellers will have the horse saddled up and ready to go for when you arrive, this will take away your opportunity to see the difficulty of catching.

It's always a good idea to take a vet along to a viewing. The vet will do a thorough check and will be able to tell you of any old injuries, sickness or faults. The vet will be able to tell you if it's a good idea to make the purchase or not.

Once you have decided to buy and are now ready to pay, always ask the seller to provide you with a change of ownership papers. This certificate will state the amount you have paid, when it was bought and whom it was bought from. This certificate will state that the seller relinquishes all rights of ownership and that it is fully the property of yours.

In short, there really are many things to look at when buying a horse. Always try to take a person with who knows horses. If no one is available to accompany you, go and see a horse expert first, and have them write down in short what you are to look for. Take the information home and read it through thoroughly. Do not take it with you on your viewing, this will show the seller that you may not know much and he or she may take advantage of you. Think it over for a long period of time before buying and do your research. Good luck with the horse sales!




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