I’ve seen the same sad situation happen over and over in the years that I have owned and been around horses.  A brand new horse owner comes to the boarding stable with absolutely no experience or very little experience with horses.  They don’t have any idea of the expenses involved with owning a horse, how to ride, how to safely handle their new horse, how to saddle and bridle their horse, how to choose a saddle that fits and doesn’t hurt the horse, what kind of bit they should be using, how to keep their horse healthy, proper hoof care and the list goes on and on and on.  Often these stories end up the same way with the owner getting frustrated and getting rid of the horse, the owner getting hurt, and/or the horse being hurt or neglected.

If you have very little experience with horses, but you think you would really like to own your own horse one day, there are several things you should do before you even consider buying a horse.

The first couple things I would recommend are learning as much as possible about horses and taking riding lessons.   There are thousands of books, DVDs, online videos, websites, and horse forums that contain a wealth of information on anything you want to learn about horses.  While you are reading and learning everything you can about horses, I would recommend you take some riding lessons which will let you experience horses without the commitment of ownership and will make you a better rider when and if you decide to buy your own horse.

Taking riding lessons is a great first step before making the huge commitment of horse ownership, but there are things you need to determine in order to find the right place or instructor to take your riding lessons from.

The first thing you need to consider is how much money you are willing to spend on riding lessons.  The costs will vary depending on where you live, how often you plan on taking lessons, the facility, the education and certification of the instructor, and whether you take private or group lessons.  Many instructors will sell lesson packages which are often a better deal than paying for each lesson individually.  You will have to check around your local area to find out what is available.  The best sources to find riding instructors is the yellow pages, doing a google search, checking the bulletin boards at local tack stores,  asking the people who work at those stores, and attending local horse shows and events and asking around.

The next thing you need to consider is the type of riding you are interested in doing.  Do you want to ride English or Western?  Do you eventually have goals of jumping, dressage, eventing, reining, barrel racing, trail riding, etc.?  There are instructors who specialize in all of these disciplines so you will have to take that into consideration.  You will also need to find an instructor who is willing to take you from a complete beginner to an advanced rider unless you don’t mind the possibility of having to switch instructors as your riding ability becomes more advanced.

What you need to do now is to be 100% honest about your true level of experience with horses.  Do you know about horse safety? Do you know how to groom a horse before saddling?  Do you know how to clean out their hooves correctly and safely? Do you know how to put on a saddle and bridle?  Do you know about safety gear such as riding helmets and boots with heels?  If you don’t know any of this information, you will need to find an instructor willing to take the time to teach you all these basics.

When you arrive at a facility you are considering, you want to make sure the facility is clean and well kept.  You want to make sure there isn’t junk laying around everywhere which can be a safety hazard.  Look carefully at the horses and make sure you don’t see ribs and backbones protruding, and that they look healthy.  If the horses are already saddled, they should have been properly groomed.   Look into the stalls to see if they are clean or if horses are standing in piles of manure and puddles of urine.  The horses should look relaxed and happy, not restless and agitated.  I would also watch the way the instructor and barn staff handle the horses.  You should see them handling the horses kindly but firmly, and the horses shouldn’t look fearful when they are approached.

There are important things you need to know before you choose a riding instructor.  You will want to know their level of experience with horses, how long they have been teaching riding lessons, do they have any special certifications, and if they are willing to let you speak to references.  If a trainer will not give you references for people at the same riding ability as you, that should be a big red flag.  You will want to know if they have insurance and if they have first aid training in case you get hurt.  If they don’t have these two things that should be another big red flag.  Ask the instructor if they would allow you to watch some of their lessons.  If they say no that’s another red flag.  If they will let you watch some lessons you want to notice how the instructor interacts with the students.  Are they supportive but firm, or are they belittling and yelling at them?  Do the students appear to be enjoying the lesson, and are they actually learning new skills?  Do the horses seem calm and happy, or do they look unhappy, pinning their ears, swishing their tails, etc?  Is the student getting their monies worth, or are they trotting around in circles while the instructor is on the phone or talking to other people the whole time?  

If after taking lessons, you decide that you really enjoy riding, and you want your own horse to ride on a regular basis, the next step I would suggest is leasing a horse for at least 6 months to a year or more.  By leasing a horse, you have all or most of the same benefits as if you are the owner, but in the future, if the horse isn’t working out or you decide you really don’t have the time or finances to keep a horse, all you need to do is terminate the lease.  For part 2 of this series please read Before Buying Your First Horse…Part 2.

Do you have any other good advice for people considering getting their first horse?