Buying a horse is an enormous commitment, one that no one should enter into lightly. Quite unlike smaller pets like cats and dog, horses need a massive amount of space, time and care and often an extra person to help keep up with the demands. Not only this, but they can be very, very expensive and not just the initial price of purchase. There are veterinary costs to consider, not to mention purchasing all of the equipment, though a lot of horses and ponies tend to be sold along with alot of their equipment, or at a discounted price. Of course, if you don’t have the land available, you also have to think about where you’re going to house your horse and what rental price you are willing to play.

You must consider what age, sex and level of training you are interested in. Like most potential pet owners, you might think you want to buy a younger animal, but an older horse will likely already have been trained and thus will save you the time and hassle of getting it used to handling, though this is entirely dependent on what you want to use your new horse for. On the other hand, some older horses might suffer from conditions that require a little bit of extra care, so always be aware of this before you buy. Ideally, you will want to by a horse that is in tip-top shape and condition but, again, this is entirely dependent on your intentions.

You can look into local breeders, or alternatively try looking around auctions for a bargain price, but you must know exactly what you’re looking for and looking at. Auctions aren’t the ideal place for the inexperienced. If you’re unsure, have the horse vetted first – an expert will know a lot better than you if there are any conditions or ailments you need to be made aware of!