At an auction, you can choose your horse anywhere between when the sale begins and when it is complete. Once you do, however, you must take him or her for a trial run before you spend money on him or her.
This can be difficult if the horse is already being used for training or show purposes. Fortunately, there are several ways to buy a horse. One way is at an auction, where large groups of horses are sold as a whole group. Another way to buy a horse is through private sales where only the owner can participate.
Then, you must be prepared for your inspection and final paperwork! If you are looking to purchase a riding horse, then this article may also be of interest to you.
Contents:
Know the type of horse you want
If you are looking for a useful dressage horse, need a trail horse with strong footing, or want a jump horse with smooth legs, look for horses that have the desired skills.
You will be paying more, but buy the horse that you want when you want it! Look for clues of what type of horse you want in its physical characteristics. For example, an elderly pleasure horse might look different from a young jumping horse
horse, you will get more out of the two if you invested in them.
Check for discernable injuries or medical problems before bidding to make sure you do not pay too much and get an injured horse. Also, if you are buying a young horse to go together, check with your veterinarian to see if they feel it is ready to go at auction.
Visit many different auctions
You can find horses at both local and national auctions, but you may be limited by your skills in finding them. For example, horses with good habits are more likely to be found, horses that jump well and pasture trained are better candidates at auction.
If you see a horse that looks healthy and runs well, save the phone number of this horse so that he may be invited to the sale. Don’t let money get in the way of meeting this horse, he may be the one that fits your need.
Look for patterns in horses such as brown with white socks or shoes, or a single white band on a horse’s leg. If there is a trend towards more black or no coloration, look for clearer black and/or no coloration such as solid white socks or shoes.
Talk to many different people about horses
This can help you find a horse that someone else did not! Many people meet their horses at competitions, where they earn their training and riding skills.
It can help you find a horse that is getting too little time in the ring or is not the type you want to ride. Once you get them adjusted to you, they are fun to ride!
If you have a horse that does not seem happy, this can help find a good home. Sometimes horses are able to communicate with us about their happiness or unhappiness, and we can use some feedback.
Gaining knowledge about horses will help you buy them next time! If you don’t feel comfortable taking care of your own horse, at least talk to other owners about whether they might want to take them in.
Have a plan for what you’re going to do with the horse
Once you’re able to afford a horse, it’s time to get riding. This is the best time to learn how to ride because the horse is being trained as your mount.
Many times, people apprentice on horses for a year or two before trying riding alone. If you are new to riding, have a trainer help you build your confidence.
Have a strong grip and strong legs for getting on and off the horse. In case of an emergency, you need these things down fast!
Have fun learning how to ride and feel comfortable doing so every day. Have your own practice areas or just walk around until you feel like you can go out on your own.
Have enough money to buy a horse
Having enough money to buy a horse is an important tip when attending an auction. It is at the heart of what you are buying a horse for, how much you are paying for it, and whether or not you will be satisfied with it.
At the same auction you can look at low bidder’s horses and gauge their quality. You can also see high bidder’s horses that have been taken out of their foal season or sold as juniors so they can develop their shape and fit.
You can call around to find places that sell horses cheap. Some people pay between $400 and $600 for a horse, which is reasonable price for good quality horse. Buy from people who will give you good quality horses for cheap!
Have some realistic expectations when buying a horsealleasanthe best deal for your horse may be going elsewhere! Have some money left over to take care of your new ride.
Be prepared to pay top dollar
When buying a horse at an auction, you should be prepared to pay the highest price that you can pay. You would want to use all of your bid increments when purchasing a horse at this stage of the game.
This is because the seller will receive the highest bidder when the final value of the horse is reached. This may be hard to believe when looking at the horse at this stage, but it will make sense once you read what they have paid for it.
You can save some money by doing this, but the seller has to respect your bid and not raise it while they are taking it down so low. This will ensure that you get your horse, as well as someone who does not meet your needs who wants it.
Making sure that you have enough time to take your horse out before heading up to buy it also helps save some money in shipping costs.
Know your options if something goes wrong with the horse
If you’re buying a horse at an auction, you have some risk management options. The seller can re-assure you if something unexpected happens, however.
If the buyer is not comfortable with the horse, the horse can be put up for sale again. If that happens, someone else can take it up with them if they like it.
The judge can make a comment about the horse’s temperment or whether they were calm when they were judged. Some judges are more prone to horses that are nervous or that did not meet their standards of calmness.
Knowing what kind of horses you want and what kind of results you want from horses is important in going to find them.
Take precautions when buying a horse at auction
When looking to buy a horse at an auction, there are some precautions you should take. Usually when a horse is for sale at a auction, someone has a need for this horse and is willing to pay enough money for it.
However, this needs to be done safely.