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A Guide To Buying Your First Horse Buying a horse for the first time can be a very exciting but stressful time for those who do not possess a great deal of knowledge about what to buy and what not to buy in a horse. Sadly, there are a few unscrupulous people trying to unload inferior and unhealthy horses onto unsuspecting individuals. That means that if you're not careful, you could end up with a sickly horse that could potentially cause you a great deal of heartache and financial strain. For many novice equestrians, the best bet is to hire a veterinarian to ensure that the first horse you purchase is a healthy and temperate one that will bring you and your family a great deal of pride and companionship in the future. For a small fee, a veterinarian will check out your horse from mane to hoof and point out even the slightest defects, explain what they mean, and tell you how much time, attention and money they will cost you in the future. Even though the expert advice of a veterinarian is always recommended, sometimes it is not always practical to have a veterinarian perform a pre-purchase exam, especially if you buy your horse at an auction. It is true that great deals on horses can be found at auctions. By competitively bidding on a horse, you can end up with a horse worth a great deal more than what you invested in him. But the downside of buying a horse at an auction is that, unless you haul a vet around with you at the auction, there is no chance to have the horse in question examined by a professional. And you will be bidding against horse owners with a lot more experience than you. So, to stay ahead of the game, there are a few things that you should look for before you buy your first horse. Be wary. Pay very close attention to even the most subtle defects when examining a horse at auction. Keep in mind that the horse could have been rested prior to your exam or been given medications that would mask any health problems that he may be experiencing. Rule of thumb: do not be fooled into thinking that a defect is minor. It could potentially balloon into a major crisis within hours of bringing him home. Examin. Run your hands over every part of the horse's body to see if anything is warm or swollen compared with other parts of the body. Run your hands down all four legs to check for joints swollen with fluid or bowed tendons. Flex all of the horse's joints to check for ease of mobility. Arthritic joints will not like to move and bend easily. General condition. Make sure that the general condition of the horse is good. Look at the coat, hoofs and muscle tone of the horse. Also check for temperament during this phase of the pre-purchase exam. Get him moving. The final part of your pre-purchase exam should include watching the horse move about. Have him walk, trot and canter while you look for subtle signs of problems lying underneath the surface. Some warning signs include pinned ears, switching tail, head bobbing, and louder than normal breathing sounds. Also try him on a saddle so that you can see if the horse is suited to your level of riding experience. Owner reference and reputation. Before making a final decision to purchase a horse, do a little investigating on the owner of the horse. In many cases, information about the owner, how they care for their horses, and their level of honesty and integrity can be gleaned from other people. This is also an area where you can trust your gut instinct. If the owner seems shady, walk away no matter how healthy the horse seems to be. Purchasing you first horse will no doubt be the hardest equine purchase that you make. Once you become familiar with horses and the ailments that afflict them, you will be able to spot a good buy and a bad one almost immediately. While there is no better assurance that you are buying a happy, healthy horse than having a vet perform an examination, you can be relatively assured that you have made a sound decision after performing the above pre-purchase examination. By Dave T