The idea of owning your very own horse is exciting, but it can also be incredibly frustrating when you are trying to buy one. One thing you need to remember is that this endeavor comes with its fair share of challenges. In today’s world, buying a horse can be a bit tricky. Not only do you have to understand the costs involved in finding your perfect future friend. But you also have to navigate through all of the scams and not-so-honest people that seem to be in the business to take your money without delivering on what they have promised. It can be very disappointing.
Let me share with you some things I have learned while I have been searching for a new horse for myself. It isn’t easy, that’s for sure. But hopefully, I can help you from experiencing some of the things I have had to while you get ready to buy the horse that’s just right for you. In this blog post, I will help you to overcome some of the hurdles you might encounter when purchasing a horse and offer some tips to help you navigate through this exciting yet challenging process. It is definitely a roller coaster ride. Forgive the pun, but let’s saddle up and get ready for an adventure on the way to horse ownership!
Have Your Money in Hand
Before you make the first contact with a seller about a potential horse, have the money set aside for your new horse. If you don’t already have the money, don’t even think of going to see a horse in person. Let me explain.
I found an ad for a horse for sale on Craigslist. And the ad had been there for a while, so I wasn’t sure if the horse was even still for sale. I saw the ad a few days before, and the price of the horse went from $5500 to $3500. I was like, cool – the horse is in my price range now. Or I should have said she will be in my price range when I save up the money and have it set aside for my horsey shopping.
I justified going out to see the horse thinking this was a good test run to see what was available. I didn’t think this horse was the right one for me in the first place. So I set up a time to go see the horse. And, of course, my buddy came with me. I gave her explicit instructions not to let me fall in love with the horse!
But after seeing the mare, watching how her owner interacted with her, and how the horse interacted with me, and then riding her….well, she was perfect. This horse, even though she wasn’t anything I thought would work for me, was perfect.
How Not to Buy a Horse in 2023
However, I didn’t have all of the money for her yet. So I emailed the owner, thanked her for her time, and told her how much I loved her horse. My fingers typed faster than my reasonable brain would allow, and I told her how I didn’t have the money yet, but I would, and I wanted to buy her horse. I sent off the email and waited for a reply, but none came.
And while I waited for a reply, I noticed she had re-published her ad on Craigslist. I knew at that moment I had pissed her off. Then later that evening, she did send a reply email. She said, “Thank you for coming out. The horse has been sold.” And that was it. My heart sank. I was heartbroken all over again. But I had no one to be upset with other than myself. It was so stupid on my part not to have the money in hand, ready to go when I set up the appointment to see the horse.
So, long story short – do not go look at a horse if you don’t have the funds ready to go. If you do, you are setting yourself up for heartache. Don’t be a Lisa!
I am a firm believer in things happening for a reason. And even though this horse would have been perfect for me – or so I had thought, it wasn’t meant to be. Things happen for a reason, and I was not meant to have this horse. No matter how much I want her. She is sold and gone to a new owner now, and I can only hope that they are good to the horse. Because she was so cool. Such an awesome horse.
Keep Your Poker Face Intact
What I mean by this is, don’t reveal everything in your life to a potential seller. Remember what I said earlier about the first horse that I looked at? Well, I have a problem with being 100% honest. Funny how I think that’s a problem, right? But I have learned that it is best to keep your mouth shut and don’t answer a question unless you are asked.
When you go out to see a horse, you should be the one controlling the conversation and keep it relevant to the horse you are looking at. Don’t share your complete history. The seller doesn’t need to know that you love the book National Velvet. Or that you have always dreamed of having a horse like this because of blah blah, blah. No! Stop yourself before you say something that you’ll regret. Remember the email I wrote? Yes, like that. Keep your information to yourself.
How Not to Buy a Horse in 2023
There will be instances where a seller will ask you questions, but keep your answers short and concise. This is an art, really. You want to be sincere, not cold. But don’t use that question as an opportunity to share everything that has happened in your horsey life. Try to remember less is more when it comes to your sharing. After all, you are the one who needs to be asking the questions and controlling the conversation about the horse, So be prepared with the right questions to ask.
I found an incredible checklist that is extremely helpful to bring with you when you go to look at a horse. In fact, it is great to have from the moment you are considering buying a horse. It’s called the horse buying checklist, and you can find it on Equine Legal Solutions website. When I went and saw that first horse, I had my friend with me, but I couldn’t remember the things I should be asking about the horse. Having Lynda with me helped prompt me with what to ask. But I should have been prepared ahead of time. And since I found this Horse Buying Checklist. I am much more prepared when I outreach a seller now because of this.
The checklist helps to keep you focused on the task at hand. It helps to keep your mind focused on the questions you need answered instead of daydreaming about riding this horse down the trail or what it will be like when the horse is unloaded off the trailer at your barn. Stay in the moment, and stay focused! You are there to find out everything you can about this horse and make sure it is the right horse for you. And this checklist is so handy to have. It’s free too, by the way, in case you want to get it.
Watch out for Scams
Oh my goodness, the scams. To me, this is just terrible. I cannot believe how many scams are out there right now targeting buyers. It is just nuts. And while I wish there was some way to get these horrible people, there doesn’t seem to be any way to stop them.
Let me just say, If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is. Let me say that again IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS!
If you learn nothing else from reading this article, I hope you learn this. Make it your mantra when searching for a horse, especially on the internet. Let me give you yet another example.
I had put a comment up in a Facebook Group, pleading my case that I was searching for a horse, the area I was looking in, how much I was willing to spend, and what my wishlist would be for a horse. Well I got a few messages back, nothing that I had asked for, and then I got a message from a ‘seller’ sharing videos and photos of her horse that she was looking for a good home for. Below are a few clips of the conversation.
If it Sounds Too Good to be True – It Is
Notice where it has the “a contact unsent a message” These were the videos, and then a picture of a cell phone trying to entice me to put a deposit down on the horse before I had even seen it in person. Remember when I said earlier if it’s too good to be true? Well, this horse was too good to be true, for sure. And as our conversation continued, I noticed ‘Sophia Mia’s’ sentences got more and more awkward. She wouldn’t answer any of my questions directly, like where in Littleton the horse was located, and there were other examples, but she removed them from the message.
How Not to Buy a Horse in 2023
When this person asked me for a deposit to hold the horse and then sent a message saying she had other clients interested in the horse, I knew I was getting scammed. And a few days later, purely out of curiosity, I checked on Facebook to see if I could reach out to this ‘seller’ and this is what I found:
This just confirmed my suspicions. Sophia Mia isn’t a real person. Well, she might be, but not this one.
If anyone asks you to use an app to put a deposit on a horse, sight unseen, and you know nothing of the seller – DO NOT GIVE THEM A DEPOSIT! 99.9% of the time, they are scamming you. And there is no horse. Now, if you go see the horse and you want to put a deposit down, fine. Have a written agreement with the terms of the deposit, and then give them your money. But never, ever, never give someone money for a horse you found on the internet before you even see the horse.
Seller May Not Be 100% Honest
I hate to say this, but it really seems to be true. Don’t believe everything a seller tells you about a horse. Or at least keep in mind their idea of ‘athletic’ and your idea of ‘athletic’ will mean two entirely different things. If the ad says the horse is up to date on everything, you might take that to mean the horse is up to date on all of his vaccinations, Coggins, parasite management, dental care, and things like that. The seller’s definition of being up to date on everything could mean the horse received a deworming paste 6 months ago.
Be sure to ask for documentation on everything that has been completed. Regarding registration papers or show records…well, I am not savvy in this area. But if you are spending tens of thousands of dollars or more, I am sure this is very important for you and your future horse. Be sure to check everything that has been discussed.
Don’t Shop for a Horse Alone
Not only from a safety perspective but having a friend with you when you look at a horse is a good idea. Especially if you are meeting a seller at their home or in an area you aren’t familiar. Maybe I’m too cautious, but this is because of the world we live in. Always have someone with you when you go to see a horse.
Now this can be hard, but you gotta listen to your horsey friends. And especially your coach regarding a horse. Don’t buy a horse with your heart unless you are 100% prepared for the potential problems that could come up. And always bring a voice of reason with you when you are trying a horse. Not only can the other person help you to remember things that you may forget, but they can take pictures as well while you are trying the horse out.
A second set of ears is also good because they may pick up on things that you either didn’t want to hear or truly did not.
As I said before, do your homework and your research before entering into any type of purchase agreement for a horse. And above that, listen to what your instructor, horse care professionals, and best horsey friends are telling you. It may sting a bit, but they have your best interest at the goal of their words.
Don’t Overlook Reputable Rescues
And I saved the best for last. If you find yourself having a difficult time finding a horse, why not at least visit a rescue? Yes, these horses have a history. But honestly, every horse has a history that you will never know despite your best detective skills.
And you might be surprised at the horses you find at a rescue. Do you see the buckskin in the corner of this picture? She is a Mustang at a rescue here in Colorado. The palomino foal lying in the sun is her baby. There are a lot of horses that are waiting for their forever home. And a horse rescue is an incredible place to visit to see if your new horse is there, waiting for you to come find him.
However, not all rescues are what they claim to be. It has been my experience that some of them are the horse traders of the 1980s. Which isn’t a bad thing. I bought a really cool horse from an old horse trader when I was 16. He cost me $300. He was awesome. And the horse trader was a pretty cool grandpa type of guy. But do your research on a rescue if you are considering buying a horse from one.
My Thought on Horse Rescues
Personally, I love horse rescues. I have a soft spot in my heart for horses with history. Whether a horse was surrendered or found at an auction. To me, that doesn’t matter. What does matter is the care that they receive before being able to be adopted. A good rescue understands what it means to rescue a horse. I look at them as the first responders. They are the EMTs and paramedics that show up at the scene first. They are the ones that do a lot of the leg work to figure out the horse and give that horse what he needs to have a successful start to the next chapter of their life.
I have a lot to share with you about horse rescues. So I think I will hold that over for another article. I have one rescue, in particular, I want to share with you, and I think you are really going to really be impressed.
How Not to Buy a Horse in 2023
Well, there are my hopefully helpful tips for you when you are searching for a horse to buy and bring home. I have been looking at a lot of horses for the past couple of weeks. And the examples I have talked about here are things that have happened to me during my horse-buying process. But thankfully, my horse shopping days are over – thank the sweet baby Jesus – I am done horse hunting!!!!!
And I know you are curious to know who my new horse will be. I promise – you will find out soon enough. But for now, I have a little bit of shopping to do to get ready for my new horse(s)!
Happy Riding!
