If you are a rider over 50 getting back into the saddle after a long break or perhaps getting your first horse, horse selection is going to be key to your confidence, safety and fun.
Before you even begin to look at horses, and there are a lot of them out there, you need to be clear on what your own goals are for this horse. I grew up in Hawaii and got my first horse for my birthday when I was 14. The horse community there was quite small. Horse shows centered around 4-H, Pony Club, The America Horse Show Association, The American Quarter Horse Association and a few random gymkhana events that included classes like barrel racing and pole bending. We all had horses that would compete in every event. We’d ride both English and Western, jump fences on Saturday and run barrels on Sunday. Our horses could do it all!
Fast forward 30 years and I am on the search for the first horse I’ve had in as many years. I was so excited to be finally getting another horse that I failed to truly evaluate what the horse world was like and what I wanted to achieve. I bought a beautiful, 3 year old, 16 hand quarter horse mare. I was looking for that “all around horse”, a horse like the ones that were winning when I was a kid. This horse was not it.
It seemed to me that the horse world had changed. Horses were now “specialists” in different disciplines. It was rare to find a horse that competed across disciplines and even across events within disciplines.
I’m happy to now see that events like “Ranch Versatility” or “Reined Cow Horse” have gained popularity and celebrate the athleticism and ability of these all around horses.
Be Clear on Your Goals
I tell this story to illustrate the fact that it’s really important to be clear on your goals with this horse. Ask yourself these questions:
- Why do I want a horse? Is it to fulfill a lifelong dream? Is it for physical fitness? Friendship? The love of competition? May be its all of these things! I know this it is for me.
- What discipline do you want to ride in? English, Western, Dressage, Reining, Cutting, Western Pleasure, Jumpers, Hunters, English Pleasure? Perhaps you want to hit the trail all over the country. It’s important to clarify this before you write a check.
- Do you want to compete? There are competitions in all disciplines, even trail riding. If this is a goal, you will want to find a horse that can move you toward achieving it.
Selecting A Horse
Once you are clear on your own goals, here are four questions to ask yourself if you are wondering if the horse you are considering has the aptitude and desire to do the tasks you have in mind.
Is the horse “finished” in his training?
I believe that it is very important for those of us returning to riding later in life to find a horse that is “fully” trained. Safety and fun should be at the top of our priority list. Horses that we would once consider when we were 13 may not be appropriate as a 50 year old. A horse that is solid in his training will go a long way in building confidence in new or returning riders.
Did the horse at some time in the past complete a full regimen of training and seasoning? One way to determine this is to look at his performance record if he was a competition horse. Do research with past trainers and ask lots of questions about training, experience, aptitude, and soundness.
Does the horse have natural ability for the discipline?
Just like people, horses are born with their own unique set of talents and skills. You may find a wonderful, safe horse that you feel confident on, but if he doesn’t have the skills or athletic ability you are looking for, it’s best to pass and keep on looking. For example, if you are looking to compete in the sport of reining, then you will be looking for a horse that naturally has a good sliding stop. It’s a skill that you can not train for. If he doesn’t have it, you are going to be frustrated moving forward. This is why being clear about your riding goals is very important.
Is the horse sound?
Some of the events we wish to ride or compete in require extreme athleticism and movement from our horses. Jumpers, dressage horses, cutters, reiners, and barrel horses, for example, can sometimes have soundness issues that lie below the surface and cannot be detected without a vet exam. No horse can perform at his best when he is uncomfortable.
Invest in a pre-purchase exam and be sure to include x-rays. Personally, I have stifles, hocks, and fetlocks x-rayed to be sure nothing is going on. It’s well worth the investment! You may also want to ask your vet for a program to maintain his soundness and health and follow it.
Do you have a teacher/trainer in place for you and your horse?
If the discipline you have chosen requires help from a teacher or trainer, carefully consider what you need AND what your horse needs to keep you both improving as individuals and as a team. If you are a beginning rider or have been away from the saddle for a number of years, you may not have the experience to keep a horse working to his full potential.
You will want to research local training programs, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of individual trainers for both teaching you and supporting your horse. Perhaps you already own a horse, but he has been in the pasture for a long time. The first step may be for a trainer to condition and evaluate how solid he is. After that step is completed, then the trainer can suggest if the horse has the potential to be a good fit for where you are at this point in time and what your future goals are. For more information about finding a good trainer or instructor, be sure to check out my article on Finding an Exceptional Horse Trainer, Instructor or Coach.
Final Thoughts
I can’t stress enough how important it is to not rush into this decision and to find the right horse. Your safety and riding confidence depends upon it! I’ve seen to many of older riders get injured or have their confidence shattered from riding horses that were not a good match for their ability.
Good luck in your search! If you’d like a copy of my free Dream Horse Buyers Guide, be sure to click on the link below and I’ll send it to you.It’s a very comprehensive checklist and will help you narrow your search!
Let me know in the comments about your search for your first horse or your first horse after a long break. I’d love to hear about your journey and how you found your horse!
Enjoy the Ride!