So soon I’ll be saving up for a first horse but I’d like to buy the tack, rugs etc first… But how will I know which size to buy? I haven’t chosen a breed yet but I do have some I’m interested in. Could you list the things helpful to buy and tips, thanks.
I want to be as prepared as possible 
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2 responses so far ↓
1 Ananda // Feb 18, 2010
You shouldn’t buy any tack before you have the horse, or at least know exactly what horse to buy. You need to know the horse before you buy tack because there could be any assortments of specialties the horse requires. what kind of bit works best? How big is he? Western or English? You need to know these things.
The breed isn’t as important as the horse, IMO. There are some people who care A LOT about the breed and pedigree, but if you really care about the lives of horses, you will buy from a slaughterhouse or auction. The horses there are cheaper but usually unbroken. They take more time to train and more love, but they are worth it.
If you’re not an experienced rider, on the other hand, I would not recommend that at all. Make sure the horse you buy is equal to the level of skill you have. If you’re a beginner, you should buy a near bomb-proof horse who’s patient, etc.
Make sure you have the resources to take care of the horse you buy, too. If it is a foal, make sure you have foal feed, etc. etc. As long as you know what you’re getting into and have dedication you should be fine.
Good luck!
2 Emi // Feb 18, 2010
Dont buy tack fist, the tack has to fit the horse as well as you and it can be a time-consuming and frustrating task…. For whatever reason, people think all saddles fit all horses and this is certainly not the case. You can cause lots and lots of problems because of an illfitting saddle. Also, don’t bother buying rugs or anything if you don’t know how big the horse is! Just buy grooming supplies, a halter, maybe a saddle pad if you really want to… But that is plenty good for now. Also, buy feed and things once you know what the horse is already getting because a fast switch in feed can make some horses colic… Bad.
When you’re looking for a good first horse, look for an older horse who has been there and done that. I would look at Quarter Horses mainly, because they are known for being easy to train and fairly calm. Don’t go buy a 2 year old! Don’t buy anything under the age of 10 or 12! You will regret it dearly and you may get hurt. Make sure when looking at horses you take someone you know and trust and is good with horses. Don’t take any "expert" because everyone who has a horse thinks they are an "expert". Take someone who was a horse who you’d like to have someday. Maybe a really good trail horse, a good dressage horse, etc, so that they can see what you’re looking for.
Also, be prepared to do a prepurchase exam. This is very important. There is so many things that can go wrong with horses and you won’t know until all is said and done. This may range into $400-$600 so it’s a big expense and only do this with a horse you want. If the news is bad, hard as it is, move on. Contact a reputable vet in the area and ask about a prepurchase exam on a horse.
Other than that, make sure you see the owner ride the horse, and ride it yourself, and even have your friend/trainer you bring along ride it. Talk it over with them, don’t fall in love with first one, be picky because this is suppose to be a lifelong partner! Or, atleast for a few years.
Note: Make sure you have a trainer ready to start taking lessons to improve yourself. Alot of older horses know a ton and can do all kinds of fancy things if they are asked right ;).
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