It’s A New Year!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!  I think the only resolution I’m going to make this is year is to try to provide more information.  I wasn’t very good at this last year. Soooo . . .

I have heard new horse people ask if a certain color of horse is the best to get.  Unless you are going to stay in a particular color breed, color should not be the first thing to look for in a horse.  Although some colors & coat patterns are very eye catching, resist the urge to buy based solely on color.  If you are a novice, you should look for a horse that would be good for your skills, one who has a great attitude, and probably an mature horse.  A horse that is too young, green broke, nervous, or labeled “needs experienced or intermediate rider” is not a good candidate for you.  Also, don’t read what you want to see in an ad.

If you have done your homework and invested in riding lessons, ask your riding instructor for help.  He/she may have good leads for a suitable horse.  Or if you have found one, ask your instructor to go with you to look at the horse.  Let the instructor ride the horse.  He/she will have good judgement for matching your skills to the horse in question.  If the instructor is satisfied, you ride the horse.  Discuss your ride, the horse’s skills and its attitude with your instructor.  But do yourself a favor and go home to discuss it.  You may feel pressured to make a quick decision if you stay.  Listen to what your instructor has to say and keep an open mind.  If you go into this with a case of the “have to haves”, you are likely not to accept constructive criticism.

If the horse still looks like a possible candidate after discussing all of the its qualities & flaws, make arrangements to go back for another ride.  Go back for a third ride or fourth.  The point is don’t make a decision too quickly .  This is one purchase that absolutely should not be made in haste.