If you are going to buy a horse or pony, remember that you are taking on a significant responsibility. There is a lot of knowledge, time, and money required to maintain a horse. You will have to groom, exercise, feed, and care for your horse, or pay someone else to do it. It will take time to travel to and from the stable, if you can�t keep your horse or pony on your own property. Also, costs of horse ownership are high and include shelter, food, medical care, riding equipment, riding lessons, and shoeing.

Why Buy A Horse or Pony?
The first step in buying a horse is to determine why you are buying it. Is it for your child to ride or the whole family to enjoy? Take some riding lessons beforehand. A stable will be only too happy to let you feed, water, and brush horses, as well as muck out the stalls, for practice. This will give you some idea of what is involved in horse ownership and help you to decide if you are buying for the right reason.

Plan Ahead
Learn how to assess a horse�s age and health condition or hire someone to help you.

Before buying a horse or pony, decide where you will keep the animal and how much it will cost if a stable is involved. Livery fees can rapidly add up to more than the horse�s purchase price. If you are going to keep the horse on your property, be sure you have met any local regulations and have an adequate stable, including heat for those bitter winter months.

You may need riding lessons and will have to ride in an indoor arena during the winter. This costs quite a bit.

Be sure you know how and what to feed your horse.

Research equine illnesses and their symptoms so you will know when veterinary care is required.

Be sure someone is available to shoe your horse.

What Kind of Horse or Pony Should You Buy?
Buy a horse that suits the personality, experience, and style of the person who will ride it. Nervous riders need a calm horse. Children need a pony that will not bolt. An experienced rider will want a horse that responds quickly to commands. A horse that has some training is pretty much essential for a first time buyer.

Decide if you want to ride on level ground, learn to jump, or go hunting, trail riding, or show the horse.

Where to Buy a Horse or Pony
In some cases you can look for a horse at a stable where you already ride or consult a riding instructor. classifieds.co.uk has many horses and foals on offer from reputable horse breeders and private sellers who may have a suitable animal for you or may be able to refer you to someone who does. Do bear in mind that if you buy from a private owner, you have little recourse if issues occur at a later stage.

Checking the Horse
Before you buy a horse, you should consult a knowledgeable owner or trainer. Take this person with you to observe the horse, preferably outdoors in sunlight. Does it look �hangdog?� Does it prance or shy away while being saddled? Does it seem nervous or �antsy?� Does it kick or try to bite? Unless you are a seasoned owner and are prepared to do some serious training, don�t buy a horse with bad habits like these.

Always ask the owner to ride the horse first. Watch closely. It shouldn�t dance, toss its head, or fight the bit. It should walk, trot, and canter smoothly. Having observed the horse, if you feel comfortable with its behaviour and your riding skills are up to it, you can then ride it. Observe its behaviour again and give various commands as you ride.

Try to arrange a seven to ten day trial period before finalising your purchase. Have the animal checked by a vet before purchasing it. The vet will check its:
  • age
  • general condition, including alertness, eyes, ears, heart, lungs, digestive system
  • skin and coat
  • musculoskeletal system � legs, conformation, feet, shoes
  • body for parasites.
Conclusion
Remember, a horse or pony is a living being whose life is in your hands. The costs of horse ownership are significant so be sure that you can meet this financial commitment on an ongoing basis. Also be sure that you have the time to care for your horse properly. Once you have found the right animal, you should enjoy a long and incredibly rewarding partnership.


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Horses & Ponies ( Free Ads )  
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Classified Ad Results  ( 1 to 20 of 37 ads found )
01 July 2009
This horse is so enegetic and and good for you. just take the horse to your home.
£1,000
IV10
30 June 2009
Cobalt is an incredible young weanling friesian stallion. his pedigree is superb: he is out of a krist mare, and grandmother is ster, great grandmother is the infamous klementine model+pref, and great great grandmother is ster+prefborn on june 4 2003, and he sports a. .
£250
Registered yearling gypsy vanner with exceptional temperment and movement. opens shoulder and good push from behind. serious performance prospect. sire is cobalt, 6 time vanner champion. dam is bonny, producer of furturity reserve champ filly and district 4-h champ gel. .
£500
24 June 2009
chestnut mare 15. 2 for sale 8yrd hacks out in company or alone . would do teenager or adult . would do for someone comming of ponies onto horses needs a confident rider . is currently being ridden by exerienced rider. and doing some school work so would like her to go. .
G81
Gelding 15. 2 for part share 3 days per week . would suit someone wanting horse without expence of buying . would cost £30 per week with no extra cost of shoeing etc. for further information contact 07774627900.
G81
A&j livery yard/riding school full livery,diy,partgrass, we have out door school,jumps,exellent off road hacking, in country park, lovely stables ,well managed grazing fields. riding lessons we have small group lessons ,private half hr lessons available on requ. .
G81
19 June 2009
Hay manger for sale new never used will hold 4 to 5 bales of hay buyer to collect or may deliver for more details phone 01977 792092 . .
£180
WF7
17 June 2009
Hi, i am looking for a bomb proof pony for loan with view to buy. i am an experienced rider who suffers with ms. an older pony would be preferd. new forest type wanted. must be 100% safe in all ways. own horse no longer suitable for me. thankyou denise .
DY8
07 June 2009
Cariad is a 3 year old chestnut roan section a filly, sired by:- gydros glen. she has excellent potential to make a lovely childs riding pony and do well in the show ring. easy to handle, catch and comes to call. she has lovely movement and bone structure. she is a lov. .
£600
SA40
04 June 2009
I am reluctantly selling "chips" as my circumstances have drastically changed and can no longer keep him. 3 years old, piebald cob stallion, approx 14 hands. gorgeous to look at. he has been broken and can be ridden in paddock, he has been long reined for carting and a. .
£3,000
CM0
31 May 2009
here i am advertising my new, up and coming livery yard set in beautiful yorkshire countryside. post and rail throughout. all year turnout. horses fed and turned out in winter if required. secured yard. diy/part and full livery available i wil. .
£15
YO8
28 May 2009
Poppies tack, feed & livery stables we are now taking nominations for a new equestrian facility in welton. with superb facilities and excellent hacking we can offer you tailored livery packages designed to be practical and value for money for you and your horse. .
£45
LN2
To make approx. 13hh. recently halter broken. quiet but still a little nervous,he needs someone with more time than i am able to give him. he will make a very nice childs pony when broken. £150 ono. .
£150
BH21
27 May 2009
Brand new 24x12ft woden field shelter. it has approx 2x8ft openings to the front. it has never been erected and comes complete with instructions and nuts and bolts. the shelter is still flat packed. .
£1,595
S6
26 May 2009
Desperatly wanting my first horse, had lots of let downs with other horses. happy hacker/allrounder wanted in swindon, wiltshire. horse wanted for a 18 year old girl who has been riding since 9 years of age, but has had some confidence set backs, so a nice calm tempre. .
13 May 2009
2 acre grazing. secure paddock with small shelter. call w hodgens 07826530898.
10 May 2009
Brown gp/hunter saddle. a few scratches but in good condition. long girth straps. made in england by c j copeland. has been check by saddler fitter, all was fine (tree etc). 17" medium but theres enough flocking to remove and become a large please e-mail me if. .
SO24
04 May 2009
For sale / long term loan tb broad mare bay 16hh: 9 years old, has had one foal. no reasonable offers refused. .
£1,000
SA38
02 May 2009
For sale 3 year old black tb/swedish warm blood gelding (stallion :zidan). nice paces ready to start work: to make 16hh good all rounder. mare from national hunt stock, stallion from dressage. .
£2,500
SA38
For sale 4 year old bay gelding 16. 2hh ready for work good paces out of id/tb mare to tralener/aa stallion good all rounder. .
£2,500
SA38
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