How to Purchase A Horse for your Child

Your child loves horses, but is he/she ready for a horse of their own, and what kind? This guide will help you decide.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Before you buy a horse for your child you will need to consider a few things.
   *Does your child know how to care for a horse?
   Just taking riding lessons is not enough knowledge to own and care for a horse. Consider horse camp (where children learn about basic horse care) as well as instruction on horse care from the place they take riding lessons from. Your child (or you) will need to know how to feed (what and how much)how to clean (grooming and stall cleaning basics), health care (preventative care such as deworming and dental care as well as emergency care)as well as training and horse psychology.
2. *You will also need to take into consideration how much a horse cost.
   The purchase cost of the horse is usually the cheap part! You will need to figure monthly expenses such as:
   - feed(anywhere from no cost for pasture to $400 a month in hay and grain.
   - boarding fees (anywhere from $50 a month for pasture board in a low-cost of living area to $500 a month or more for full-care stall board).
   -health care (deworming and hoof care - $25 to $100 every two months)
   
   You will also have vet bills every 6 months for vaccinations and routine care that can range from $150 to $400.
   
   There is the cost of the tack (saddle, bridle, blankets) as well as maintenance supplies (wheelbarrow, pitchfork, shovel, buckets, ect)
3. Once you have decided that your child is ready for a horse you can prepare to go horse-hunting. You should consider asking a knowledgeable person (such as a trainer or breeder) to help you look.
   
   You should have an idea what your child wants to do with the horse (pleasure riding, showing, jumping, trail riding, ect..), and then research the different breeds and what they are good at.
   
   Looks do not matter much in a first horse - every little girl wants a beautiful black horse with a flowing mane and tail, but safety should be your first and foremost concern. A not-so-pretty mixed breed horse with a chopped-off mane (from the last little girl that loved him) might be your child's best friend.
   
   You will want to have a test ride, a vet-check, and I would suggest dropping by for an unannounced, second visit. It might not be proper etiquette to drop by without calling, but unfortunately some people are not honest and may drug a horse before you visit to enhance it's performance or mask problems.
   
   Be sure to use a good contract that covers all your basis and work with respected professionals (vet, trainer, ect..)