I’ll preface this post by telling you that Harrison and I are currently looking for another horse. We only have Dede, and when we both ride and want to go on trail rides together and go to horse shows, Dede can’t be under two riders at once. Dede is a great teacher for Harrison, so I am looking for my up and coming superstar. I don’t want just the next horse that rolls into my life, I am really looking for THE one. I want an impressive mover, an athlete, and also a connection that tells me that my new horse is the one for me. I am at the age that I want a life partner that I can bring up the levels and be competitive with for years to come.
No matter what you are looking for, we all end up searching for a horse at some point. Trainers (if they are good at their job) can be very helpful in the search for a horse. Having a larger budget can also be advantageous in getting every little thing you want. Here are some broad things to consider when looking for a horse, whether for yourself or someone else:
- Rider’s level of experience
- Rider’s level of confidence
- Horse’s temperament
- Future goals
- Realistic budget
This last point is especially important since I talk to you about budget on this blog as well. If you have lots of money to spend on a horse (I wish I were you), then by all means have an open budget. But for the rest of us, we need to be very realistic about what we can afford. As many of you probably know, buying the horse is not the expensive part, the continued costs are where we have to look at budget!
More things to consider, but might not be deal-breakers depending on your budget:
- Horse’s age
- Horse’s color
- Horse’s breed
- Horse’s experience (if you are an inexperienced rider, and more experienced horse would likely be more suitable)
- Conformation
- Ability to go as high in the levels that you are wanting
I should note, that when I meet horses, I love them all. However, I am after a feeling of connection to that specific horse in addition to having the physical traits and athleticism that I am looking for. This may or may not matter to you. I keep my horses forever, they are family members, so they have to feel like just the right “fit” for me.
To give you an idea of what I am looking for:
- Young (ish) prospect (age 2-10 preferred)
- TB or Warmblood
- Suitable for upper level dressage and/or jumping
- Kind and sweet
- Moderate temperament (I want Harrison to be able to handle the horse as well without it being crazy wild all the time)
- Athletic
- Great movement and articulation
- The feeling that the horse is “the one”
- Prefer little to no training from anyone else. My ideal horse would be about 4-5 and someone accidentally left them in a field instead of starting them under saddle. I prefer to do all training myself
I am pretty picky! We’ve looked at a few TBs who weren’t ready for the upper level stuff due to past injuries and some conformation flaws. I also met a very cute (and VERY well started) young Friesian cross. She was adorable, but ultimately, I felt like she lacked the movement I am looking for to go all the way through the levels.
We are in no hurry so I’ll keep looking. I usually advise people not to be in a rush when horse shopping. The right fit will come along. Also, stay realistic to your requirements, wants vs needs, and budget!!
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