1. Fact Sheet 819
Horse Shopping? Better Ask Some Questions
So you’re in the market for a horse. disposition, conformation, movement,
There are many horses out there, so it’s previous use, or breeding potential. It
sometimes easy to get mesmerized into helps to write this information down, to
thinking that each one you encounter review it from time to time, to discuss it
is the “perfect match” for you. But with your instructor or trainer, and to
remember: take your time and do your update it as your needs change. Before
homework to get the best match for the looking at a given horse, review that
best price. It’s expensive to own and care list carefully. It can be difficult to resist
for a horse, so you want to get it right sales pitches of people who are looking
when you buy. to sell, sell, sell. So make sure that you
First, determine your goals for both you know what you want and need before
and your horse. Before setting out to find beginning your quest. Fill in the list of
your ideal horse, develop a prioritized goals and priorities below, and consider
list of requirements for your horse. The taking it with you when you look at
list may include breed, gender, height, horses for sale.

2. Goals/Priorities for My Horse Third, enlist the help of an experienced
horse person (especially if you are not),
and Me: because they can help you make an
informed decision. Working with a
1. Must be safe trail riding (for example)
trainer who knows your riding ability and
2. your goals can be very beneficial.
3. Meanwhile, it’s important to get answers
4. to the following questions. Some may
be answered from carefully reading the
5.
advertisement for the horse. Others are
Second, survey the market fully. It easily assessed when you watch the horse
always helps to know what is available, and see the setting where the horse is
and at what prices. Knowledge is power, kept. But some should be asked outright
especially in the horse market. Don’t on the phone or in person. It helps to see
limit yourself to “the horse next door.” that the information in ads matches the
Purchasing the first horse you look at is
information that someone offers about
not always the best option. When you
find a horse that you like, you should a horse. And remember: better safe than
make several visits to evaluate the horse sorry, so do your homework. And good
before making the decision to buy. luck horse shopping!
2

3. Questions to answer— occur, and what is the prognosis?
either from the ad, from observation, ______________________________________
or from interviewing the seller:
______________________________________
1. How long have you owned the horse?
______________________________________ 13. What health records are available for
the horse? ____________________________
2. Why are you selling the horse?
______________________________________ ______________________________________
3. How old is the horse? 14. What kind of hay and grain is the
______________________________________ horse being fed? ______________________
4. What breed is the horse? (some are How much? __________________________
rather obvious; others are not, so be sure How often? ___________________________
to ask) _______________________________
Is it registered? ________________________ 15. Is the horse on any supplements or
With what registry? ___________________
medications? _________________________
5. How big is the horse, and how much Get a list of the products and amounts
does it weigh? ________________________
used. _________________________________
6. What vet services has the horse ______________________________________
required in the last 2 years?
______________________________________ 16. Are there any issues with the horse’s
______________________________________
ground manners? _____________________
7. For what diseases has the horse been ______________________________________
vaccinated? __________________________
______________________________________ 17. Is the horse cooperative for the
What are the vaccination dates?
farrier? _______________________________
______________________________________
8. Does the horse crib? ________________ 18. How often does the horse get
trimmed? ____________________________
9. Does the horse have any other vices—
kicking, biting, weaving, etc.? Is the horse shod? ____________________
______________________________________ Is there any therapeutic reason the horse
10. Does the horse stand quietly to be is shod? ______________________________
clipped and bathed? __________________
19. Does the horse tie and cross tie
11. When were the horse’s teeth last
quietly? _____________________________
floated? ______________________________
By whom? ____________________________ 20. When turned out in a group, where is
Was it manually done or done with
power tools? _________________________ the horse in the pecking order?
______________________________________
12. Has the horse had any injuries?
______________________________________ Does the horse get along with both mares
What kind, when did the incident(s) and geldings? ________________________
3

4. 21. Does the horse trail ride? __________ How often is the horse ridden?
Alone? _______________________________ ______________________________________
In a group? ___________________________
27. What experience level rider does this
22. Does the horse load and trailer well? horse require? ________________________
______________________________________
28. Does the horse cross water?_________
23. Has the horse been shown? _______ Bridges? ______________________________
In what sort of shows and what sorts of
venues? ______________________________ 29. Has the horse been ridden in an
How did the horse perform? ___________ arena? _______________________________
______________________________________ Indoor? ________ Outdoor? _________
How does the horse handle each?
24. What jumping experience does the ______________________________________
horse have? __________________________ ______________________________________
25. What kind of bit is used on the horse? ______________________________________
______________________________________
30. Do you work with a trainer? ________
26. Has the horse been in regular work? Who? _______________________________
______________________________________ What discipline(s), and how often?
Who has been riding the horse? ______________________________________
______________________________________ ______________________________________
4

5. ______________________________________ pinned, teeth bared, other reactions, etc.?
______________________________________
31. How does the horse deal with being
tied to a trailer at a show? _____________ 5. Does the horse move freely with a
______________________________________ rider? ________________________________
______________________________________ Any stiffness? _________________________
Does the horse track up correctly?
Notes and other observations to keep ______________________________________
in mind: 6. Is each gait technically correct? (e.g.,
no 4-beat canter, no uneven walk)
1. Start your evaluation of a prospective
horse in the field/stall first. Is the horse Walk ________________________________
cooperative to catch, groom, and tack up? ______________________________________
2. Watch the owner or somebody else Trot ________________________________
ride the horse first. ______________________________________
3. How difficult is the horse for someone Canter ______________________________
to handle when mounting? ______________________________________
______________________________________
Other breed-associated gaits (e.g., slow
4. What temperament does the horse gait, running walk, paso largo, etc.
have when the rider climbs aboard? Ears ______________________________________
5

6. 7. Note color of horse’s coat: white/gray For further information, contact
horses will likely have melanomas. Some the author:
can be serious problems, so be aware of Elaine Long Bailey
the potential. _________________________ University of Maryland Extension
Calvert County
8. Strongly consider getting a pre- P.O. Box 486
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
purchase exam with your own Phones: 301-855-1150 or 410-535-3662
veterinarian. Note that there is a lot FAX: 410-535-2438
of variation in the exam and cost, elbailey@umd.edu
depending upon the purpose for your
horse. Reproductive soundness exams are
critical for purchase of breeding stock,
radiographs may be needed for some
Reviewed by:
Amy O. Burk, Ph.D., University of Maryland, College
performance horses, etc. Prices can range Park, MD
from $200 to $2000 up, depending upon Elizabeth Greene, Ph.D., University of Vermont,
the detail of the exam. Burlington, VT
9. Depending upon the situation, you
may want to request references on the
seller.
Good luck finding just the right horse!
Horse Shopping? Better Ask Some Questions
by
Elaine Long Bailey
4-H Extension Educator
Calvert County
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland, College
Park, and local governments. Cheng-i Wei, Director of Maryland Cooperative Extension, University of Maryland.
The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University’s policies, programs, and activities are in conformance with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on
nondiscrimination regarding race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans With Disabilities Act
of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director of Human Resources Management, Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
Symons Hall, College Park, MD 20742.
P08