Horse Buying Tips
I’m Susan Allen, welcome to Monday’s Open Range. If you’re in the market for a horse there is no better time to buy, prices are low and summer riding looms pleasantly on the horizon. For the average horse owner who doesn’t plan on showing I’ll be back with a few tips on what to look for in a good trail horse. The majority of horse owners in America ride recreationally meaning when they buy a horse they should be looking for a safe and savvy buddy to carry them down the trail. How do you find that animal? Well first, it’s tough, but don’t succumb to bling! Pretty manes, fancy markings and flashy colors. Good advise from the horse.com website is to evaluate your fitness level and make a list of the terrain and weather conditions where you ride, for example if you ride in a frigid climate, most thoroughbreds aren’t a great choice as they are thinner skinned and susceptible to cold. Take your camera horse shopping plus a notebook to help remember each animal. Familiarize yourself with what good confirmation looks like and why you want straight legs, a balanced body and good feet. Next observe how the horse interacts with humans and other horses and find a friendly animal with nice ground manners, easy to saddle, lead, and load in a trailer, trust me life easier so much easier if you can squirt your horse with fly spray or hose him down after a hot day. Each horse has it’s own way of moving. Some hurt my back others feel like a rocking chair, so spend enough time in the saddle both on the trail and in an arena before deciding. It’s a good time to make a great deal on a new horse . Happy trails. I’m susan Allen
