AS-465 (2024)

Horses

Cooperative Extension Service

Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN 47907

Introduction

Before deciding what type of horse to purchase, perhaps it isbest to consider whether to purchase any horse. The time it takes tocare for an animal, the facilities needed, the knowledge needed forcaring for a horse, and the money to pay for all the maintenance ofthe animal are all important considerations. There are numerousalternatives to owning a horse such as taking lessons, renting a horseat camps or parks, and leasing a horse and boarding it elsewhere.

If the decision has been made to purchase a horse, thispublication should help you evaluate the criteria for selecting ananimal for an enjoyable, safe, and affordable first experience withhorse ownership.

Consider the circ*mstances when selecting a horse. If theprimary user is inexperienced, then disposition, soundness, andtraining become the most important factors. If the owner is investingin breeding stock or performance prospects, then the pedigree andperformance records are crucial.

Investment or Pleasure

The first decision must relate to the reason the horse is beingpurchased. If the horse is an investment, then the personal experienceof the buyer may not be as critical as the knowledge and experience ofthe advisor. If the horse is a young race or show prospect, or abreeding animal, it will be managed by a professional horseman.Investors should not pretend that they can manage breeding animals ortrain performance horses without extensive experience in these areas.Investing in horses is risky business. Although there are some shiningsuccess stories, the odds of making enough money to pay the bills andget any return on the investment are very poor. Be cautious with thefirst investments, and be sure that the advisor, breeder, or trainerinvolved has respected credentials and is someone who is trusted.

If the horse is intended for personal recreation for yourself orthe family, then the ability of the horse to cooperatively perform forall members of the family is essential. Owners eventually want to carefor the horse themselves, so the disposition, training, and soundnessis important. Also, the recreation animal should be considered likeany other form of recreation: money spent is done so for enjoyment andnot expected to net a financial return. The upkeep of the animal inmoney and time is ongoing and much different than buying a boat or aset of golf clubs. Selecting the right horse that owners can enjoyworking with daily is the key to finding continued recreation from thehorse.

The following criteria must be prioritized differently for eachsituation. There may be additional criteria uniquely important to you.

Experience with Horses

Very experienced horsem*n may purchase a young horsesuccessfully if they have the skills and knowledge needed to train thehorse. Inexperienced owners and young horses are a dangerouscombination. The best horse for a novice owner to use is a matureanimal that is well-trained and accustomed to the variety ofsituations.

If the owner intends to pay someone else to board or train thehorse, then the owner's expertise is not as critical; however, theymay not enjoy the horse as much once they bring the horse home. Besure to take into consideration the primary user. Just because anadult can make the horse obey, does not mean that a six year old childcan enjoy the horse safely.

Expected Use

The type of horse purchased determines how easily it can performthe intended use. Any type of quiet horse will work for a trail andpleasure horse as long as it is sound (physically capable ofperforming). A relaxed, mannerly horse that has a prompt, flat-footedwalk will be best for trail riding.

If a horse is being purchased for show purposes, then thequality and type become more important. Western horses tend to belower headed, quiet, and most often heavier muscled than the Englishhorses. Hunters have longer, flatter strides and move forward withmore impulsion and a higher head carriage than western horses. Englishor saddle type horses tend to be much higher headed, with their neckcoming higher out of their withers. They move with more hock and kneeelevation. Success in the show ring directly results from the horse'sbreed type and ability to perform. The type of horse selected shouldbe based on the type of show situation.

Performance horses such as polo horses, dressage, reining,cutting, and roping horses need more specialized training andqualities. These skills make the horse higher priced because moretraining needs to be invested in them. Success in these activities isa function of athletic ability and training rather than a specificbreed of horse.

Breeding should be reserved for those horses of a quality thatcan improve the breed or type. If the primary purpose of the purchasedhorse is to breed, then the success of the ancestors in the horse'spedigree and the horse's own performance record is important.Purchasing quality breeding stock is expensive, and the outcome ofbreeding horses is unpredictable, so spend as much as possible toobtain truly superior mares. Purchasing a breeding stallion shouldonly be done for income purposes, and only the very best (top 5percent) of the horses should stand as sires.

Soundness

Horses must be sound enough to perform the expected activities.Horses that are lame in their movement may have permanent problemsthat will limit the performance or make it inhumane to use the horse.Horses with blemishes (scars or marks that do not interfere with theirmovement) should be less valuable as show horses, but blemishes shouldnot be a consideration with breeding or pleasure horses. Horses shouldalso be sound in their breathing, vision, and reproductive capacity iffor breeding. A soundness examination should be done if much money isbeing spent or if a doubt exists. The more athletic the horse has tobe, the more sound it must be. A race or competitive show or eventhorse must be very strong and sound. Pleasure trail horses andbackyard horses must be sound enough to perform the expected activity,even if not perfectly. Soundness should always be measured in lightof the expected performance of the horse.

Grade or Registered

Grade, or nonregistered horses or ponies can be successfullyused as trail, pleasure, and performance horses. Resale value will begreater for registered horses (those belonging to a specific breedwith known ancestors). If disposition and comfort of a recreationalhorse are the most important criteria for you, don't overlook avaluable grade horse. If the purpose is to produce foals, then onlyregistered horses should be used. Many performance competitions suchas dressage, reining, competitive trail riding, combined trainingevents do not require registered horses. One can often buy aregistered horse as cheaply as a grade horse and the resale value ismuch greater. Open and 4-H shows provide excellent areas for thenonregistered horses to compete. If you are interested inparticipating in breed shows, races, or other activities, owning ahorse of that breed should be a priority.

Breed of Horse

The breed will dictate to some extent the activities andperformance abilities of the horse. Usually Saddle-type English horsesare of Saddlebred, Morgan, Arabian, and saddle-type Pintos. Thesehorses lend themselves to the conformation and action to do well inEnglish. Tennessee Walking Horses, Missouri Fox Trotters, Paso Finos,Peruvian Pasos, and Racking horses do not trot. They are verycomfortable for trail riding and showing in breed events, but willthey not be competitive in English, Western, or Hunter classesrequiring a walk, trot, and canter.

Most hunters are of breeds including Thoroughbred, QuarterHorse, European warm-blooded breeds, and ponies like Welsh andConnemara. Western event horses most often are the stock-type breeds(Appaloosa, Buckskin, Paint, Palomino, stock- type Pinto, and QuarterHorse). Western ponies include the Pony of the Americas (POA), andWelsh.

Race horses are bred to trot, pace, or gallop. All harness-racehorses either trot or pace and are Standardbreds. Horses that areridden and gallop are most frequently in the United StatesThoroughbreds.

All breeds of horses have calm, quiet horses as well as anxious,dangerous horses. The training and handling styles affect manners morethan does the breed.

Figure 1. Silhouettes of three breeds of horses.

Color

The color of the horse has nothing to do with disposition,performance ability, or soundness. Color is, however, a significantdetermining factor in many people's decision. Many breed registriessuch as Buckskin, Pinto, Appaloosa, Palomino, Pony of the Americas,and Dominant Grey are based primarily on color. If you are breeding orinvolved in these breeds, then color should be high on your prioritylist. Otherwise, the training, disposition, and soundness of the horseare more critical.

Conformation

The conformation or shape of the horse will dictate the athleticability and the ability to stay sound. Straight legs, especiallythrough the knees and hocks, suggest that the horse will not breakdownas soon as a horse with crooked legs. Body conformation and the angleat which the neck ties into the shoulder determine whether the horseis capable of being a saddle type English horse or is more suited tobe a lower headed Western type horse. Good body conformation isillustrated in Figure 2. Short, strong-backed horses, horses with goodangle to the shoulder, horses with long hips and strong hind quartersare desired. A bright, alert head and eye, a long neck, and a deepheart girth makes horses more athletic and consequently, attractive.

Figure 2. Characteristics of good body conformation.

Some unsoundnesses in the feet, legs, and eye sight are seriousand permanent. Horses with sight only in one eye are more easilyfrightened and are of less value. The diagram in Figure 3 shows thenormal straight legs of a healthy horse. Horses with their feet splayfooted (turned out) or pigeon toed (turned in) are more prone tounsoundness than are horses with straight legs. A horse's pasternsshould be set at about 45-52 degrees angle with the ground and the toeshould be the same angle as the pastern. The steeper the pastern, themore concussion on the foot and the rougher the gait for the rider.The lower the angle, the more comfortable the ride, but the pasternwill be weaker and more prone to tendon damage when worked hard. Aswith anything else, the importance of conformation depends on what usethe horse is intended. Less than ideal conformation can be toleratedif the animal is sound and will not be shown in halter classes atshows.

Figure 3. Normal and abnormal feet and legs.

Size of Rider and Horse

The horse is capable of carrying a tremendous amount of weight.The only time the relative size of the rider and the horse isimportant is when showing, then the suitability of horse to riderbecomes an issue. Small children are better off on quite dispositionedlarge horses than on small ponies that are wild. Likewise, a small,quite pony may be ideal for some; however the child will likelyoutgrow this mount. A rider's leg ought to fit down the sides of thehorse's side in order to give leg cues (signals to the horse), but notbe so long that the leg from the knee down does not touch the ribs.Most adults would do well to buy horses (over 58 inches at the top ofthe withers). As long as the mount is quiet enough for the child towork around and mount, the size of the animal should be consideredsecondary.

Age of Rider and Horse

Basically, the younger the rider the older the horse needed.This is a function of training, calmness, and experience that comeswith an older horse rather than with age itself. For a novice rider,it would be rare to find a horse under five that is trained and quiteenough. Horses live to be 25 to 30 years of age, so the purchase of a6 to 12 year old is wise for amateurs and novice. Older riders orthose with more expertise and experience can buy, handle, and trainyearlings or two year olds. These young horses do not make predictablemounts for beginners.

Training

The willingness of a horse to respond to the handler's cues is aresult of training. Horses that have "been around some" increase invalue for the beginner. As more intricate maneuvers are desired forhigher levels of competition, the more training is needed. Sometimes,highly tuned horses are so responsive to the riders' cues that thenovice confuses the horse and gets no response. It is also possible tohave a horse trained to the point that you get more response than youwant, ie. too fast a spin, too quick a start, too hard a stop, and therider gets hurt. Adequate training for the intended use combined withan experienced disposition is important.

Sex

Mares and geldings (castrated males) are the only good choicesfor horsem*n with limited experience. Mares often look more refinedand prettier, but can have dramatic behavior changes when in estrus.Geldings are often quieter and more consistent but more difficult toshow in halter classes. The only reason to own a stallion is to eitherbreed mares or performance test a potential breeding stallion. Siresin the horse industry should be of superior quality and havesuccessful performance records. Only those able to improve the breedshould be bred. Nonregistered males should be gelded within the firstten months of life to minimize stress on the horse and handlers.

Disposition and Vices

The manners of the horse may be changed with training andhandling, but the natural disposition is genetic and/or acquired fromthe dam. Bad habits such as kicking, biting, wood chewing and leaningon the handler can be corrected with firm, consistent, humanehandling. Vices (bad habits) such as stall weaving, cribbing, digging,and being afraid of its own water bucket are likely part of the horseand not fixable. Horses that have been exposed to trailering,clipping, shoeing, and trail riding are usually quieter and havebetter manners. The less experienced owners should try to selecthorses with minimal vices. A good disposition should be near the topof the priority list.

Facilities

Housing for horses must be safe and adequate to contain the typeof horses selected. Build or select housing that is suitable to thetype of horse needed, rather than selecting an animal that can behoused conveniently. If the facilities are not available, then boardthe horse elsewhere or don't buy one. Facilities should not be apriority when selecting a horse.

Price

The buyer determines the price that will be paid for a horse.The performance record, the breed type and conformation, the pedigreeand the degree of advertising will influence the price. Realize thatregardless of how much you spend to purchase the horse, you will spend$60 to $400 per month keeping the horse. Horses do not appreciate withage, rather they depreciate. Don't expect to get everything out of thehorse that you put into it financially. The value of horses can beincreased with training and subsequent race or show success. Putpriority on the criteria that are important to the expected use of thehorse. Don't pay extra for pretty if that is not the most importantcriteria for your use.

Most horseowners have their first horse less than three years.Either they gain interest and expertise and want to get a nicer horse,or they loose interest and get out of the horse business. Purchase ahorse with the plan of selling it in three to four years, or plan tocare for the horse until it dies. The nicer and more appropriatehorse you can buy, the better the resale value.

Adopting Wild Horses

Seldom does this alternative prove to be a good one for firsttime horseowners. It may sound as if you are buying a piece of theAmerican wild west, but the natural "wild" instincts of these wildhorses and burros are very strong. Only yearlings and occasionally twoyear olds should be considered because they are not as set in theirways as the older horses. This means that the new owner will work withthe horse or burro for one or two years before they can be ridden.Most of these horses have been under fed and their health managementnonexistent before they were gathered up by the Bureau of LandManagement. They have been kept in large groups of horses and havevery little exposure to humans. They are often underdeveloped fortheir age and take a lot of extra patience, discipline, and trainingto be useful.

Experienced horsem*n could consider adopting horses if they havethe expertise and energy to invest in a project horse. The horses areof very mixed breeding and seldom do you find a refined, qualityanimal in the group. Even when properly trained, the horses are seldomsuitable for show purposes.

It is a worthy cause to want to adopt these gathered-up wildhorses, but the low adoption and transporting expenses should bebalanced with the likelihood of a successful experience. For themoney, purchasing domestically raised horses represents less risk, butit does not include the emotional benefit of adopting a wild horse orburro from the public rangelands of American West.

Conclusion

Horse ownership can be a very rewarding experience if theappropriate horse is selected. The criteria discussed here should beprioritized for your situation and situations change with time. Asexperience is gained and interest grows (or changes) different typesof horses will be needed. Don't hesitate to find help when deciding onwhat type of horse is right for you. Evaluate thoroughly whether youshould obtain any horse at all. Regardless of the horse selected,consistent and firm discipline and proper management is vital tomaintain the animal. Horse ownership is a big responsibility, and themore knowledge you can continually gain, the more rewarding yourexperience.

Related CES Publications

AS-440 Should I Buy a Horse for my Child?

AS-434 Introduction to Horse Management

AS-429 Nutritional Management for Horses

New 9/93

Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State ofIndiana, Purdue University and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. H.A. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette, IN. Issued infurtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policyof the Cooperative Extension Service of Purdue University that allpersons shall have equal opportunity and access to our programs andfacilities.