How to Choose a Perfect Family Horse
Buying a Family Horse
Buying a horse to suit the whole family is a bit different than buying a horse solely for one person. A family horse may need to be more of an 'all rounder', since different family members may want to do different things with the horse. One family member may want to ride western, another English. One may want to barrel race, while others may want to trail ride. This takes a special type of horse, one that can adapt to the needs of various disciplines.
These horses do exist, but it may take some extra effort to find just the right one.
Of course, the basics of finding a beginner horse are the same whether you are shopping for yourself or your family. Good health, good manners, quiet temperament and soundness are every bit as important for a family horse as they are for a horse bought just for you. In fact, because various family members may be at different levels of horse handling and riding skill, and enthusiasm, it's even more important to find a horse that can cope with this. If there are young children who will be riding and handling the horse, size too, will be more of a consideration.
Before you buy a horse for the whole family, it's wise for everyone to take lessons, especially if there is no one in the family that has previous experience with horses. And, assess exactly what everyone expects a horse to be used for and how the labor of looking after the horse might be divided up. Parents may feel a family horse is a good way for kids to learn responsibility, but should be prepared to keep an eye on things and take up the slack if interest wanes.
The perfect family horse will be very forgiving and easy to get along with. It should be easy to load on a trailer, easy to groom and mannerly about having its hooves worked on by both the family members and the farrier. It will stand quietly to be saddled, and be mounted and ridden off at a walk without fuss. It will be a size that is easy for everyone to get on and ride. Too small, and the horse will have difficulty carrying a large adult, and the adult may become unbalanced easily. Too large, and small children may be intimidated or have difficulties reaching up to groom or mount.
When searching advertisements for horses look for words like:
However, even with the assurances of those words in the ads, make sure you see for yourself, by seeing it ridden by the owner and by your family members, that what the ad says is true. Avoid ads that claim 'potential' or 'prospect'. You want a horse that is proven.
Your family horse will likely be a horse that another family or individual has outgrown—either in size, interest or ambition. Alternatively, it may be a school horse that needs a semi-retirement home. Don't overlook an older horse. A good family horse will probably be over ten years of age, and perhaps even over twenty years of age. Any untrained horses, very young horses or horses with health or soundness problems are a poor choice for a family. Never buy a young horse so children can grow up with it.
It takes even more care to find the perfect family horse, because you need to take everyone's wants and needs into consideration. Don't rush the decision, and choose carefully. The perfect family horse is out there. It just may take a bit more time and effort to find.
Buying a horse to suit the whole family is a bit different than buying a horse solely for one person. A family horse may need to be more of an 'all rounder', since different family members may want to do different things with the horse. One family member may want to ride western, another English. One may want to barrel race, while others may want to trail ride. This takes a special type of horse, one that can adapt to the needs of various disciplines.
These horses do exist, but it may take some extra effort to find just the right one.
Of course, the basics of finding a beginner horse are the same whether you are shopping for yourself or your family. Good health, good manners, quiet temperament and soundness are every bit as important for a family horse as they are for a horse bought just for you. In fact, because various family members may be at different levels of horse handling and riding skill, and enthusiasm, it's even more important to find a horse that can cope with this. If there are young children who will be riding and handling the horse, size too, will be more of a consideration.
Before you buy a horse for the whole family, it's wise for everyone to take lessons, especially if there is no one in the family that has previous experience with horses. And, assess exactly what everyone expects a horse to be used for and how the labor of looking after the horse might be divided up. Parents may feel a family horse is a good way for kids to learn responsibility, but should be prepared to keep an eye on things and take up the slack if interest wanes.
Ideal Qualities of a Family Horse
The perfect family horse will be very forgiving and easy to get along with. It should be easy to load on a trailer, easy to groom and mannerly about having its hooves worked on by both the family members and the farrier. It will stand quietly to be saddled, and be mounted and ridden off at a walk without fuss. It will be a size that is easy for everyone to get on and ride. Too small, and the horse will have difficulty carrying a large adult, and the adult may become unbalanced easily. Too large, and small children may be intimidated or have difficulties reaching up to groom or mount.
When searching advertisements for horses look for words like:
- quiet
- all rounder
- husband horse
- family horse
- bomb proof
- child or kid safe
- calm
- steady
- proven
- Maximum Temperament-five or less
However, even with the assurances of those words in the ads, make sure you see for yourself, by seeing it ridden by the owner and by your family members, that what the ad says is true. Avoid ads that claim 'potential' or 'prospect'. You want a horse that is proven.
Horses to Avoid
Your family horse will likely be a horse that another family or individual has outgrown—either in size, interest or ambition. Alternatively, it may be a school horse that needs a semi-retirement home. Don't overlook an older horse. A good family horse will probably be over ten years of age, and perhaps even over twenty years of age. Any untrained horses, very young horses or horses with health or soundness problems are a poor choice for a family. Never buy a young horse so children can grow up with it.
Take Your Time
It takes even more care to find the perfect family horse, because you need to take everyone's wants and needs into consideration. Don't rush the decision, and choose carefully. The perfect family horse is out there. It just may take a bit more time and effort to find.
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