What Kind of Horse Should I Buy?
Click here to read The Morgan: America's Working Horse
There are a few decisions to be made before you start the search for “The Perfect Match.” Horses come in all shapes, sizes, abilities, colors and temperament.
Breeds
If you don’t already have a specific breed in mind you should do some research. We have provided links to the Breed Associations for the more common breeds on our website. Find a breed you’d like to know more about and go to their site to read about that breed’s characteristics.
Next, look for a local club or breeder and find a contact phone number to get more information from them. Be sure to ask what the shortcomings of the breed are in addition to the strengths. Ask what horses in that breed typically sell for and how hard they are to find.
Click here for the Breed Registry list
Mare, Gelding or Stallion?
You also need to decide whether you prefer a mare, gelding or maybe a stallion. Geldings are generally the easiest to get along with because they’re not affected by the desire to breed. Some mares can be difficult to handle when they are in estrus, usually every 3 weeks during breeding season. However, mares are just as capable as geldings in any discipline and they offer the advantage of future breeding potential
Stallions are almost always a challenge. They need special quarters where they cannot escape because of their desire to be with nearby mares. They have more “attitude” and require a more experienced handler, especially if they are being ridden in the proximity of mares. Only horses with top performance potential and “cream of the crop” pedigrees should be kept as stallions and allowed to produce offspring.
Foal or Adult?
Another consideration when looking for a horse is its age. Nothing is more rewarding than hand raising a foal and training it from an early age. However, there is considerable expense involved, in addition to the purchase price. A foal needs time to grow before you can begin riding. Some horses can be started as early as 2 years and some breeds need 3 years or more before they are ready to ride.
An older, already trained horse may be more suitable, although you will pay more because of the training and care it’s received while growing up. It’s easier to evaluate an older horse for conformation, abilities and temperament while you try to find the perfect match.
Amount of Training
The amount of training a horse has had and the discipline a horse is most suited for is also an important consideration. Some horses do well in both Western and English tack and respond to the difference in riding aids but most are trained in one style only. If you are a novice you either want a well trained horse or you need access to a professional trainer if the horse is green. You will pay more for a fully trained horse but it may be worth it in terms of time and safety.
Ideally, color should be the least important decision in choosing the perfect horse. But, we all have our favorite colors and it’s hard not to be attracted by a horse that matches our dreams.
Despite generalizations about geldings, foals, training, etc., remember that every horse is an individual and should be judged on its own temperament, abilities and fit for the buyer.
