Buying a Horse For A Child

The following is only to be used as a guide. What type of horse is right for one child may not be suitable for another. Please keep your child’s safety the first thing in mind. Always ensure that they are wearing an approved helmet, boots made specifically for riding, and optional safety vests.

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Many people enter the equine industry through their children. How many of us after all had begged our own parents for a pony when we were younger.

Unless you own a farm with horses already, there are a number of questions to ask yourself before committing to such a large responsibility.

How old is your child, and have they been involved with horses for a number of years and are they committed to their riding lessons? A child does not need to be showing or have great aspirations to be on the Olympic team one day in order for them to have their own horse.

What they do need to have is a 100% commitment to caring for that horse, and devoting as much if not more time to riding that horse, grooming, working through problems and more.

You as the parent of the child will be required to take them to the barn, if you don’t have your own farm. Pay for lessons, board, farrier and veterinary bills, and perhaps emergency bills that arise from time to time, as well as tack, grooming supplies and worming.  Then if your child wants to show you will be looking at trailering fees, show clothes, entrance fees, admission fee’s etc.

You should be motivated enough to learn enough about horses and stay involved that you can make the best decisions for your child and their horse regarding care, feeding program, what they really need and what they don’t really need, without a third opinion.

Is it possible? Of course it is. Many children have horses that don’t have farms and it is a wonderful experience for them and a sport that they really never will outgrow, that they can carry on with for the rest of their lives.

A child does not need to own their own horse to be able to ride.

1.  Lessons are available at a number of stables and at many facilities throughout the year. There are facilities that tend to focus more on showing and training for shows, and there are some that are just focused on learning to ride, and the basic enjoyment of it. Some facilities offer both. This may be enough for your child, and the responsibility of owning a horse may not be necessary.

2.  Equestrian camps are available on most school breaks, if your child still needs some more horse time.

3.  Clinics are an excellent way for your child to learn new things or improve skills. If the clinic is held at their schooling facility, many times they can participate on a school horse for a small fee.

There are alternatives to actually owning a horse.

1.  If your child is a well schooled rider and is willing to work with an owner or coach there are a number of part board opportunities which usually involve paying half the boarding cost, and farrier bills for the horse and being able to ride a certain number of times a week. Some facilities and boarding stables also offer horses for part or full board.

2.  Free lease options are excellent opportunities when you cannot afford a large sum of money for a horse but can afford to pay the boarding fees and for lessons. You must be prepared to carry insurance on the horse and you do risk your child becoming attached to a horse that the owner does not wish to sell, or may choose to not lease the horse, move it to another facility etc. In this situation I would highly recommend that you or a coach monitor your child working with the horse, as you can be held responsible if the horse becomes injured.

When you are ready to purchase a horse or pony:

1.  Budget, Budget, Budget……unless you have unlimited funds, you are going to have to budget how much it is going to cost to keep a horse. A worksheet is attached that will enable you to work out the average costs of keeping a horse per month. Costs vary depending on regions and facilities. Remember what is needed and what we want are two different things. To keep a horse is expensive but there are ways to cut down on costs.

2.  If you do not have a farm, first decide where you are going to board the horse. Your first choice should be where your child can continue taking lessons. They will need the support of their coach and friends as regardless of how long they have been riding, owning their own horse will be a completely new experience.

 If the cost is too expensive at that facility then there are alternatives. If your child is young then really they should have a coach working with them and there new horse at least once a week. Your child may need to get a new coach, or see if the new facility would allow an outside coach to come in once a week and give your child a lesson. If your child is a well established rider then they could continue taking lessons at their old facility and practice what they are being taught where their horse is being boarded. In the end it can all work out, you just may need to fine tune the details to what you can afford.

3.  Speak to your child’s coach or someone you can trust. You need them to be honest with you and help you decide what type of horse would be best suited to them. Make a detailed list of what your instructor suggests according to your child’s level of riding.

4. Look around on the internet, through equestrian publications, for horses for sale that seem to fit the description you have come up with. (at this point see “Buying a Horse”)

5.    If at all possible it is best to purchase your child a horse that has been ridden by another child and has experience in the discipline your child wishes to ride in.

6.  If possible have your child’s coach attend at least one trial ride with you and your child, so they can give you their perspective on whether the horse is suitable for your child. If this is not possible ask a parent, or a more experienced rider to come along and give you their opinion on the mount.

7.  Have your child participate in collecting the horse from its pasture, grooming it and tacking it up along with any preparation the horse requires prior to riding.

8.  Prepurchase exam- The last thing that you want is to have your child fall in love with their horse, only to find out after you get him home that he is lame or has some illness. For your child’s sake even a basic exam by a veterinarian should be done.

9.  Take your time finding the right horse for your child. You may only have to look at one horse but it may take going to see twenty before you find the right one.

Avoid the following when looking for horses for children.

Stallions

Pregnant Mares

Foals or horses not broke to ride

 

Advertisements that state any of the following are likely not suitable for your child’s first horse. However as always there are exceptions to the rule.

a.       “needs an intermediate or experienced rider” 

b.      “recently off  the track”

c.       “Not finished growing”

d.      “spirited”

e.       “requires a rider with soft hands”

f.       “requires a rider with a good seat”

g.       “NOT suitable for lead line”

h.      “has a lot of go”

i.        “sensitive to aids”

j.        “has a great deal of speed”

k.      “has bucked, bolted or tends to rear”

l.        “Does better with a mature rider”

m.    “Can be pushy”

n.      “can be marish”

o.      “gets possessive of mares”

Read the ads carefully. People place these comments in their ads to assure that only competent individuals enquire about the horse.