(Part 3)

Some Thoughts On Buying A Horse

by Susan Jan Hornstein

 

SAVING MONEY

In this article we will be focusing on performance horses. These horses can be found at small barns where the prices might be lower but the choices are limited and large barns where the prices can reach dot.com levels. Cost will be cheaper the further away from urban areas you are but information about the seller and horse will also be harder to get. Generally the Woodside and South Peninsula area as well as Southern California have prices a little higher than those in Sonoma, Humbolt, Napa, east toward the foothills and Gold Country. Rural areas will have a smaller buying population to draw on, a slower economy and generally prices will be 10-20% below those in urban or affluent areas. Of course, you must factor in your time to travel (and gas!).

Horse prices can also be seasonal. Between December and March horses are less expensive as professionals don't want to maintain a horse over the winter months with little riding and various problems associated with the wet weather. You may be able to save by getting a horse that is too small or too large for the breed type. You can always save by buying an ugly horse but if it's got the brain and the skills, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Another way to save money would be to buy a horse that has been on the market a long time. There are plenty of wonderful horses (like the horse in the above story) where the trainer/owner has had a horse for sale longer than they can afford and the price could be very soft. A horse that has been on the market for a long time may be a great mount it may just be a marketing problem-lack of advertising or sales acumen. He may have a quite workable problem such as cribbing or weaving. He may have been "off" due to unforeseen circumstances such as abscess or kicked by a field mate that are unlikely to affect performance in the long run and easily remedied. Or, even more likely, the potential buyer who appreciates him hasn't tried him!

HITCH YOUR WAGON TO A STAR ... OR THE FREE OR ALMOST FREE HORSE

Other options for saving money can involve getting a free or almost free horse. Sometimes a horse owner just wants to find a great home for the their horse and know what the future will hold for the animal. In this case, the owner usually contacts trainers, other riders and seeks the free horse by word of mouth.

Summer camps often look for seasonal homes for their horses from fall to spring. This helps them to have a no cost/low cost way of maintaining their mounts and keeping them in shape during the off season. Again, these mounts are usually placed by word of mouth that has evolved through the contacts circle of the camp or previous campers. These businesses are usually seeking temporary eight to nine month homes for their mounts. Summer programs often get their free horses through local classifieds, you could try this as well. You could post your own wanted ad on bulletin boards at local feed or tack stores and run a classified in a local horse publication.

Individuals who are trying to give away horses frequently don't have the time or expertise to prepare their horses for sale. Horses that become available this way are often in their teens or early 20's. The owner or owner's family is most committed to finding a good home. They may have very specific qualifications in terms of pasture, paddocks, special feeding, etc. These horses often become available when a child goes off to college and can't take their equine buddy with them or the owner has outgrown the horse but wants to know it continues to get great care and attention.

The cost of placing the horse for sale with a professional may be prohibitive. The true costs of preparing a horse for sale may be unrealistic. The owner may feel they will have the best chance of securing the type of home they want for their animal by starting with a network of friends and horsepeople. Be aware that frequently these horses may not have been ridden recently and will take several months to bring back into condition.

Another source of a low cost horse may be a rescue horse. Rescue organizations are usually run by caring individuals who literally rescue horses from bad situations. Most of these rescue homes are careful to look for a good match as they do not want to find their horses in a similar situation again. These beneficial organizations depend on donations to keep their shoestring operations going. Horses found through these operations are usually suitable for companion horses, trail horses or a low level performance horse suitable for schooling shows. A good source of information about rescue horses in the Bay Area is Myriam Pasternak. You can reach her for further information at (415) 662-2209. In the Northern Bay Area you can also contact Mia Young at (707) 874-1850.

Do not be swayed from what you want because a horse is free. You still must work quickly to find out about the horse and make sure the prospect will match your needs. An inexpensive vet check can be helpful in obtaining a good match.

This is the third excerpt of this article. If you wish to receive this article in full, please send $2.50 along with a self addressed stamped envelope to: Susan Jan Hornstein 11114 Falstaff Rd. Sebastopol, CA 95472 This article first appeared in Stable News. All rights to this article reserved by the author.

Susan Jan Hornstein, proprietor of Icssoma Farm, has been a dressage and event rider over the last 30 years. Since 1978 she has taught hundreds of students. She currently teaches and trains horses from her new stables in Sebastopol, as well as giving regular clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a winning show career in dressage and eventing. Her students have shown successfully in the dressage, event, and hunter/jumper areas. Clinics on groundwork, leading, longing, loading are offered at Icssoma Farm as well as day camps. Keep checking our website for new clinics and more educational updates!

Susan Jan's Students Say:

"My horse went through a major transformation in the first two weeks of training......" J. Plant, Sebastopol

"My first experience with Susan Jan was as an adult beginner. She is extraordinarily insightful and sensitive to the unique challenges with which adult learners struggle. Her tenacity and dedication to my success and mastery of the skill and the fine art of classical riding have persisted to this day, 15 years later." M. Fallon, Santa Rosa