From: Christi
Jessica, Remember me? I am preparing for my first horse.
I've started shopping because it's fun! I haven't been in a hurry (even when sellers say "she/he may be gone tomorrow").
I start lessons next week--I think I found a great instructor. I'll be using a well-mannered QH owned by a girl who gets lessons from the same instructor (the instructor had worked out the same situation for her and she seems to be passing on the favor.) I plan on boarding at the ranch where I'm taking lessons until I'm ready to care for my horse myself.
I've looked a a halter-broke 2-year old--I don't think so; a sorry looking "5-year old" QH with saddle sores, a scar on her forehead and some ribs showing--poor thing, but no way; a cute TN walker mare that likes to bite and is a "one-person horse"--not for me; and a great big beautiful 10yr old gelding QH, well-broke, well- trained, even cantered for me on the wrong lead when I asked him too. Oops! But he has "side-bone". Here's where my question comes in. Some have told me STAY AWAY from him, this condition at 10 is very bad. Some have said, for what I want (pleasure, trail, occassional camping) he'll be okay. He's never been on drugs for it and shows no lameness (haven't had him vet-checked or anything). Whatdya think?
Regardless, I'm still looking. Not making any decisions for a while. Still reading a lot.
Take care, Christi :)
Use YOUR vet or your instructor's vet, not the horse's regular vet. Some horses have incredibly horrible-looking x-rays, but keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny, with no drugs... others have x-rays that look clean and lovely, but are lame! You need a good vet who can interpret what he sees.
When you DO get that vet-check, tell the vet exactly what you plan to do with this horse, not just this year, but next year and the year after. In other words, if you're just planning to do basic flatwork for a year, but then you want to learn to jump and start eventing, TELL the vet so that he'll have a better idea of whether this horse will be able to do what you want him to, today, tomorrow, and two years from now.
Prepurchase exams aren't cheap, but they're absolutely necessary. And no matter what they cost, they're a LOT cheaper than buying the wrong horse and paying for medicine and board while you try to figure out just what to do with it.
If you aren't madly in love with the horse, though, you might think about waiting until you've had lessons for a while. As you become a better rider, and as you learn more about horses and your instructor learns more about YOU, the two of you will get a much better idea of what you want to do with your riding and what kind of horse you want. Don't be in too much of a hurry -- you may fall in love with jumping, or dressage, or competitive trail-riding! It's good to have a clear idea of what you want to do with a horse, so that you and your instructor and your vet can work together to find the right horse for you.
Let me know how the lessons go, and what happens with your horse-hunt -- and, of course, what you think about the book!
- Jessica
Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE is a free, subscriber-supported electronic Q&A email newsletter which deals with all aspects of horses, their management, riding, and training. For more information, please visit www.horse-sense.org
Please visit Jessica Jahiel: Holistic Horsemanship® [www.jessicajahiel.com] for more information on Jessica Jahiel's clinics, video lessons, phone consultations, books, articles, columns, and expert witness and litigation consultant services.