Buying a horse can be the first step on a magical adventure! It’s a big decision, however, and not one to be taken lightly, especially if it’s a brand new experience. Finding the right horse to meet your needs can take a lot of time and thought. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of some of the considerations you’ll need to think about when choosing the right horse for you!
Older and wiser
Young animals are always cute, be they foals, puppies, kittens! Despite this fact, if you’re buying your first horse, it might not work in your favour to go for a young, inexperienced equine friend. They will require a lot of training and education, something that’s probably best carried out by an seasoned handler, and their character can change drastically during their formative years. An adult horse of at least five years-old might prove to be a better choice!
Bigger isn’t always better
The size of the horse you buy is a practical thing to consider. Depending upon your own height and weight, you’ll be best off with a horse to match. If you’re on the shorter side, or buying a horse for a child, you could be best suited to a pony, rather than a fully grown adult horse. As a rule of thumb, in the UK, the guidelines are that you shouldn’t weigh more than 10% of your horse’s bodyweight.
Why do you want a horse?
The kind of activities you want to pursue with your new horse will have a large impact upon what type or breed you’ll want to go for. If you’re looking for an equine friend to go hacking about the countryside, a calm and hardy breed such as a Welsh Cob could be a good bet – especially for beginners. Light horses like Arabians and Thoroughbreds are great for speed and agility, but can be harder to handle!
Be wary of breeds
While there are many breeds of horse, and each one tends to display common characteristics, this isn’t always the case. Just because Clydesdales are generally calm, doesn’t mean every individual horse belonging to the breed will share the same trait. Every horse has its own personality, so spending time getting to know any horse you’re considering buying before the final purchase is essential.
How will it live?
How are you planning on keeping your new horse? If they’re going to live all-year-round in a field, a tougher, native breed might be more appropriate than some others, which may prefer being stabled. Also consider how much time you’ll have to spend with your horse, as certain breeds or temperaments can require more attention, working and grooming than others.
While there is a lot to think about when getting a horse, it should also be a fun and exciting experience! Once you’ve found the equine friend for you, it might also be worthwhile looking into horse insurance. At The Insurance Emporium, we offer Horse Insurance with Death, Theft Or Straying as standard, alongside a range of Optional Benefits, such as Vet’s Fees. You can also get up to 30% discount*. Head to The Insurance Emporium today to find out more!
* The 30% discount is made up of 20% Introductory Discount plus 10% Multi-horse Discount (if appropriate). The Introductory Discount is available for the first 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies.
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