Finding the Right Horse

Having fun with our horses, versus being frustrated and scared, completely depends on finding the right horse and developing our skills as horse handlers.

While having a horse that is very well trained can definitely help you develop your skills, even the best trained horse can easily digress to the level of an inexperienced handler. My criteria for choosing the right horse, is finding a horse that truly wants to be with you. This connection is difficult to convey to first time horse buyers. In a perfect world, every first time horse buyer would be matched with a horse they connect with; and has received adequate training and a temperament to fill in for any lack of expertise.

It could be said that purchasing a horse is similar to getting married. You will appreciate the one you marry far more if you date a few others first. On the other hand, if you rush into marrying the first person who comes along, you may not appreciate them if they are great, and if they turn out to be not so great - you will spend a lifetime trying to develop and/or improve the relationship.

Shopping for that first horse takes patience. Often the excitment of finally making your dream of horse ownership come true can blind folks to reality. Not much different than rushing into marriage while still infatuated, or because it is easier than letting go. Again, just like marriage, the more difficult the horse, the greater opportunity for learning and growing. The problem with this is that folks getting started with horses later in life are not bouncing as well when they hit the dirt.

When students seek my assistance to purchase their first horse, I encourage them to meet and try out several horses before they ask my opinion. As with everything about horses, this too has become a learning experience for me. More often than not, by the time I meet the horse, the decision has pretty much been made. This means I am really going out to see if there are any obvious concerns about the horse. However, it has become clear that even when everything seems to be going well, a bad match can still happen.

For example, one of my students bought a lovely, quiet mare who didn't show any cause for concern during the 3 visits prior to sealing the deal. However, it turned out this mare had lived most of her life alone, and had therefore not developed adequate social skills when exposed to other horses. While her aggression towards other horses is understandable, this is a problem that poses real danger to anyone riding near her.

Another example; a student who purchased a lovely morgan cross. This horse seemed to be a perfect fit for a beginner, age, exerpience and temperament. However, after being brought home, this horse started to act out under saddle. When a thorough check of saddle fit and extensive ground work didn't fix the problem, the horse was sent back to the original owner. Upon arrival, the disgruntled seller saddled him up and off he went without a hiccup. Clearly, it wasn't an issue of a dishonest horse dealer. This man had personally trained and ridden this horse for 10 years and had never seen him act up under saddle. Needless to say, he redeemed his reputation when he was able to demonstrate the horse was good - for him.

On the flip side, I do a lot of work at Dare 2 Dream Horse Rescue, teaching beginners who are considering purchasing their first horse. My initial reaction was; beginners should not be starting out with young horses. However, after 2 years of observation, it is remarkable to see that the majority of these partnerships are working out extremely well. Folks volunteer at D2D, grooming and handling the horses, often in a very minimal way. What Brenda and Henry are very good at, is noticing when a strong bond developes between the horse and a volunteer, and then helping them nurture that bond.

I firmly believe the trusting relationship we have with a horse has a huge impact on the success of that partnership; and to me success means safety.

Happy horse shopping (or should I say dating)!

Tovie and the "Boys"