Horse Shopping Tips To Stay On Budget

​4 Essential Things You Need to Purchase the Right Horse For You and Your Budget

You are finally ready to purchase a horse. You have the space or a place to keep it, you have the time and money to take care of all of the horse’s needs including unexpected vet bills. There are four essential things you need to get lined up if you want a successful search for the right horse for you and your budget. It doesn’t matter whether you are shopping for your dream horse, the level up horse, or your first horse. These four things will help the search be less stressful and fun. They are a support person, a written list of criteria for your new equine partner, a budget, and an internet connection.

The first thing you need is a supportive (and hopefully knowledgeable) friend, spouse or partner that can review your picks. This person doesn’t really have to be super knowledgeable about horses, but it does help. Why would you need someone to look over your potential candidates? For most non-professional horse buyers, there is a lot of emotion that goes into a horse purchase and your heart isn’t always the best judge when it comes to financial decisions. This person can be the voice of reason when all your senses abandon you because the horse you found looks just like your childhood unicorn but is not suitable for your needs. The person you choose should also be someone you can trust to not enable you to make a poor choice. They should be someone you can trust to bring you back to reality if needed.   

Creating a written list keeps you focused on what you are looking for, and less distracted by “potential”.

​Now it is time to sit down and write a list of what you are looking for in your equine partner. Creating a written list keeps you focused on what you are looking for, and less distracted by “potential”.  It also gives your support person an understanding of what you’re wanting to purchase, and a reference to keep handy when your heart is feeling impulsive. On this list, separate items into three sections: Must Have, Would Like to Have, and Hard Stop. Must Have list should include, at minimum, level of training in your chosen discipline(s), mare or gelding or stallion, age range, and size (how tall). Any horse you consider needs to check ALL the boxes on your Must Have list. I cannot stress that last point enough. Would Like to Have list could include additional training in other areas, preferred color, and any other item that isn’t a must. Finally, the Hard Stop list should include anything you absolutely don’t want to deal with, such as a stallion, medical maintenance, etc. There is no right or wrong thing to put on these lists. They are purely up to you and what you are looking for in an equine partner.

Now the hard part since most of us do not have unlimited disposable income. Look at your finances and decide how much you realistically can spend on a horse.  Keep in mind that you may need to transport the horse so that may be an additional expense. Write down your budget at the top of your list. Now for the reality check. Do a brief search for horses with your Must Have criteria. Is your budget realistic? Can your budget be adjusted? Do some concessions need to be made to your Must Have list? This is the time to review and adjust what you can, so you don’t face disappointment or stress your finances by falling in love with and purchasing a horse that is way over your budget.  

This is the list I used when I wanted to purchase a miniature driving horse to use for showing in 2021:

Horse Budget: $2000 ideal - $3500 Max
Age: 4-12
Size: Under 38 Inches - Ideally 33-35 Inches
Sex: Mare or Gelding
Must Have: Show quality, Registered, Well trained to drive
Nice to Have: Prior Show Experience, Showmanship Training, Obstacles in hand and driving   
Hard Stops: Stallions, Over 38 inches, Not broke to drive, only ground driven or green broke to drive

Utilizing the list above, this means that I had to pass on every green broke, barely broke, or almost ready to hitch horse. Also no looking at stallions, or anything over 38 inches. Also, no looking at $5,000 horses. Sometimes prices are negotiable on a horse over your budget, but don’t count on it. Some sellers do take payments as well. Whether to do that is completely dependent on your financial situation. Initially I had trained for showmanship and obstacles on my list. After doing some initial searches, I realized that those skills combined with well broke to drive were not in my price range. I decided that driving was the most important to me since I was replacing my only driving horse. I could train the horse to do the other things I needed.

​Sometimes prices are negotiable on a horse over your budget, but don’t count on it.

​The last item on the list is an internet connection. These days a lot of horse purchases are initiated over the internet. I also recommend putting the word out to your friends in the horse world that you are looking for a new horse. So, if you are looking outside of your willing to drive distance be sure you have an idea of how your new horse is going to be transported to you.  Facebook horse groups are a great option if you are looking for your new horse to hitch a ride, and some sellers already have transporters to recommend if needed. If you can’t see the horse in person, be sure to request current videos and pictures. Ask every question you can think of and ask if you could speak to the trainer of the horse if they had one. If the horse is registered ask to see their registration papers. Also find a veterinarian in that area to do a pre-purchase exam (PPE) to ensure that the horse is sound or identify any issues. Finally, be prepared to sign a contract that details what horse you are purchasing, the price, and any other pertinent issues such as delivery or possession date.

With these four things in place your horse shopping journey should be relatively smooth. Remember to give yourself time and be selective. If you utilize your list and only look at horses with must haves within budget, you can even allow yourself to fall in love at first sight. Happy shopping!