Choosing a horse. Need advice

Hi everyone! I am getting my first horse. I haven't been on one in 20 yrs. I'm looking at a 1 1/2 yr old quarterhorse that's free and has no training but is good natured and is used to being around people. I may have someone who can train him for me but I'm not sure yet. Being inexperienced woman horserider, would I be better off getting an experienced trained horse?

IMO, you get what you pay for. I tell my husband, when he complains about the price of one of my horses, that it's cheap life insurance.

Green (rider) + Green (horse) = Black & Blue (mostly rider)

When parents and grandparents come to look at one of my horses for a kid and only want to pay $500 for a horse I ask them if that's all the kid's life is worth to them? A really well trained, babysitter, calm, been there done that, will get you out of whatever trouble you get you 2 into horse is worth his weight in gold.

IMHO no you should not get this horse. I would go for an older (doesn't have to be too old) however you would be better off with a been there done that horse in its mid-teens. A young horse is not the best idea especially since you have been out for so long and you won't even be able to ride this horse for another year or so.

You mean like this?



That bruise went most of the way to my knee, and still is sore daily 2.5+ years later.

Buying the horse is by far the cheapest part of getting into horses. For a new rider, if in doubt, add $1000 to whatever you think you can spend for a horse, and get one that is experienced & gentle. Learning on a spooky, dominant, fearful horse will take you much longer and include a lot more pain.

Frankly, after getting into horses at 50, I'd say that if you aren't ready to pay for a well trained horse, you are not ready to buy. Board, training, tack, fencing, etc all dwarf the cost of buying a horse. The horse may be 10% of the cost of the first year...heck, my first colic call to the vet set me back $400!

Ya know, a bruise like that is how I got my first Arab. I worked with the guy and he knew zip about horses but somehow thought he would "school" this horse because she was bucking his wife off. They were trying to make a Western Pleasure horse out of an English Pleasure (Saddle Seat) horse and she wasn't going for it. He ended up nicknamed Blue Butt and missed a weeks worth of work because of the toss she gave him. I ended up with a great Saddle seat mare who trotted like a fiend and was super kind, sweet and athletic. Difference was, I knew Saddle seat vs Hunt Seat vs Western Pleasure and could ride her the way she wanted to be ridden. He wanted to shoot her, wife was in tears, kids were hysterical, he called me to come get her FREE just get her gone.

I can understand. It was 6 months before I could lie down on a bed without pain stabbing up my back.

I've still got my mare. But I don't ride her in an English saddle anymore...

ROFL! And in 2 years I bet you've gotten some experience and learned her little tricks and when she's trying to dominate you?

Perhaps I should add my mare (yes, Arabian) was described as a former endurance racer, great for trail riding, OK for kids. Maybe the "OK for kids" was because they heal faster?!

Years later, you couldn't pay me to get on her without a helmet...

OP, if you want to have a good first horse buying experience, then you need to get a good horse. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with the filly, she just wouldn't be a good fit for you. You have limited experience and she would need a confident, knowledgeable handler to do her justice and give her some chance at a productive life.

In most areas here in the states, you can buy a gentle, decently broke (no vices, just doesn't know much past kick to go and pull to turn and stop), for a pittance.

Just consider this. You can take this filly for free now, spend at least a year and a half worth of feed, farrier, vet bills, plus trainer bills when it comes time to get her broke to ride (which is at least a year down the road) before you can ride her. Even after all that, she would still need a confident rider because she would still be very green. That would add up to thousands and thousands of dollars. Or, you could spend, at most, $2500-$3000 now and get a super nice, super well trained, push button horse that would guarantee you a pleasant re-riding experience and give you confidence.

Buying a horse that's right for you.

LOL, maybe because Arabians LOVE kids. I'd like a 3 year old ride a horse I wouldn't let my husband near, just because they seem to know they are carrying precious cargo when it's a kid. And because kids BOUNCE! I've noticed that after 40 we tend to SPLAT not bounce and it hurts more and longer.

Helmet is my big downfall. I started riding when you only wore them in the ring when jumping and have never developed that good habit consistently. I will be the first one to INSIST that someone trying one of my horses wear one though. It only takes once to ruin your life forever.