Archive for the ‘Horse Buying’ category

Haflinger Horses: Versatile, Mild-Mannered and Sturdy

February 28th, 2011

If you are looking to add a new horse to your herd – or if you are purchasing your first horse – you might want to consider a Haflinger. These horses are versatile and generally mild in terms of temperament. While you still need to be sure it’s the right horse for your needs, it can be a great way to deepen your overall relationship with equines.

Haflingers have their roots in northern Europe. They are working horses, bred to stand tough in the harsh winter weather and to be able to negotiate the steep hills and mountainsides of the Alps. They’re smaller than most working breeds — so you’ll need smaller-sized horse equipment — but stocky. You can often identify them by their thick chests and strong short legs.

They are also horses who – because they needed to be functional in both snow and rain and able to handle long hard work days – tend to be well-mannered. They are by nature intelligent, readily understanding what is asked of them, and adapting emotionally to the needs of the herd and the handler. Generally, a Haflinger is not going to be standoffish. It’s not going to be a prima donna.

They can, however, be stubborn. It’s an important trait for an animal that needs to be able to drag heavy logs up a steep hill. But if you’re just looking for a nice trail ride, that trait can be a bit annoying. The trick is to give your Haflinger a lot to do – make them think. Make them work a bit. Make them negotiate a stone wall, for example. Don’t feel like you have to stay on the trail. In fact, plenty of Haflinger horses are much happier when they step off the path.

If you want a horse that can work – whether we’re talking about clearing garden space or doing some winter logging – the Haflinger breed can be just your ticket. They are also perfect for climates that see a great deal of cold and inclement weather. Be sure that you spend some time with a prospective new horse. Breed traits are general traits – each specific horse is going to be unique. But Haflingers offer most horse owners the even temperament and flexibility that they need.

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Ponies for Kids

August 5th, 2010

Many parents who love horses think it’s a great idea to get their kid or kids a pony to ride. A lot of times they will search through the cheap horses for sale lists specifically looking for that kid-broke little mount. Ponies as horse gifts are great, but sometimes you get what you pay for. As a parent you want a pony that will take care of your child, that’s easy for them to handle, and that isn’t wild and crazy. You want to avoid your child getting hurt, so you try to minimize the possibility of that happening as much as you can. It’s very hard to tell what a pony is really like by just looking at sales listings. Picking just the right pony out to go see can be difficult. There are so many things to consider, the age of the pony, the height of the pony, the training and experience of the pony, and so many more. Plus children tend to have a vision of just the pony they want. Finding one that is a good pony that also meets the child’s image can prove to be difficult.

Once you decide on which ponies to go look at, it’s a good idea to try to see as many of your choices in one day as you can. Take pictures and videos and watch them be tacked up and ridden. I would recommend not taking the child with you for these visits, as they’ll fall in love with every pony and won’t be able to pick just one. They also might like the one that you feel is most unsuitable to cart your precious child around. After looking at all the ponies and getting all the pertinent information on each: vet records, training, age etc., go home and review your pictures and videos and carefully look at each pony, narrowing down the selection to those that best fit your requirements. Don’t be afraid to ask for a vet check, or go back for a second look. Sometimes you’ll even have to start your search over again. However you do it, take your time looking for that perfect pony for your kids, and while you’re working on that, it’s a good idea to start accumulating all the horse equipment you’re going to need to take care of that pony!

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Ready to Buy Horses? How and Where to Start

June 28th, 2010

So you’re ready to buy horses and you don’t know where or how to start? The first thing to do is take a deep breath and slow down. Assuming you already have all your horse equipment, there’s one more thing to do first. Before you can even start looking at horses to buy, you need to figure out what you want your horses for. Will you be trail riding, showing in dressage or hunter/jumper, or maybe even doing eventing? Are you prepared to break and train a horse or do you need one that is already finished and ready to go?

Another really good thing to figure out first is how many horses you can fit comfortably on your property. The general rule of thumb is one horse per acre of pasture (you can’t count the acres that the barn, your house and your lawn sit on). Also remember that horses are a herd animal, and you can’t have just one solitary horse or he won’t be happy. Horses need companions. If you can’t buy more than one horse, you will need some goats or a mule to keep him company. However, if you do buy two horses, sometimes another problem arises! You go to take one horse out of the field to ride him, and the other horse goes on meltdown because she’s alone. Really, three horses are optimal, if you have enough pasture and can afford it.

Most of the time it is possible to buy horses for little or no money. Many horses need new homes because their owners can no longer afford to care for them. Try checking craigslist.org for horses that need a home. You can also go to the local horse auction, but beware! You will want to buy all of them just to save them. The horse auction can be very depressing. Additionally, you don’t have the option of returning the horse if it doesn’t work out.

Most places that sell horses professionally will let you buy a horse and return him within two weeks or 30 days if he turns out to not be as advertised. You will pay a bit more money (or a lot more money) for a horse from a professional breeder, but it may turn out to be worth it. If you’re shopping for dressage horses, going to professional trainers and breeders is definitely a good idea.

Another place to look for good horses to buy is at the local tack shops and feed stores. All of them have bulletin boards and people post flyers about horses that are for sale. If you buy a horse from a private party, make sure you get a two-week or month trial period first. If they won’t let you have that, then walk away. That’s a sure sign that something is wrong; and even if there’s nothing wrong, it’s not worth the risk.

Buying horses is a lot of fun but requires a lot of research too. Make sure you do your homework and end up with the exact horses you need and want so you can enjoy them for the rest of their lives.

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