Horse Riding Articles

Buying Your First Horse for Riding Lessons

Horse riding is a wonderful sport and hobby that does require a serious commitment of time, energy and finances. There comes a time in every rider’s life in which they want to buy a horse of their own. Horseback riding is an activity that can be even more enjoyed with one’s own horse. This time should only come after a person has taken several years of riding lessons. Once a rider determines that they are indeed ready in devotion to the sport, and in their wallet, they can begin looking for a horse
The temperament of a horse is the most important issue involved in choosing a first horse. As the rider is still learning, the horse should have a well grounded personality. Having a “bombproof” horse is great for children, as these horses rarely ever spook. This said, all horses have bad days, and none are perfectly behaved all of the time. A first horse should not spook or shy at noises or unusual sights. Bucking, bolting and rearing are obvious deal breakers and should not be tolerated in a first horse. It is important to continue one’s horse riding lessons even after the purchase of one’s own horse.
Size is also important as a large adult can overwhelm a pony or horse of small bone. Bone thickness has much more to do with weight carrying capacity than height. A short stocky horse can carry a heavier person than a taller thinly built horse. A more tall spindly horse has smaller bones as well as a higher center of gravity. For particularly heavy riders a horse with large bones and a lower center of gravity will be a better mount. For children, it is also appropriate to get a well-sized horse. An eight year old should not be paired with a 16 hand horse, but neither with a 12 hand pony. For a child to be able to ride a horse, their legs should be able to reach around the sides of the horse—more than halfway down. The horse should be of manageable size, but not so small that the child will outgrow it quickly.
A first horse is an important purchase, and a horse back riding instructor or knowledgeable horse friend should be taken upon visiting potential horses. It is good to have someone around who has bought horses before and knows what to ask and what to look for. It is an exciting time, but one should be careful not to become carried away and make hasty judgments.

CopyRights, horseriderkit.com