How to Find a Kid’s First Horse

Youll need to narrow your search by location so you can meet the horse in person and take a test ride.
Many of the best youth horses change hands through word of mouth so be sure you ask around and let your horsey friends know that you are looking. Pony Club and 4H leaders are good sources for finding good kids horses too.
Auctions are not a good place to find a horse. You usually cant vet or test ride the horse first and its very risky.
Questions to Ask When Horse Shopping
Read the ad carefully. Words like prospect green and potential means the horse is inexperienced and still needs a lot of training. If the ad says experienced rider only or not a novice ride keep moving alongno matter how beautiful he is!
When you find a good possibility have your parent send the seller a message. Ask why the horse is for sale and if he would be appropriate for a rider of your age and experience.
Youll want to find out if the horse has been in regular work or sitting in a field. These things can affect the horses rideability once you get him home.
Also ask about any special care the horse requires. For example does the horse do well living in a field full time or will he need a stall? These questions will help you avoid expensive surprises and find a horse that is a good fit for your plans.
Ask about his personality bad habits or if he has any stable vices such as cribbing. Has the horse been lame or had any other health problems?
Test Riding a Horse
If you your parent and your trainer are happy with the answers to these questions its time to meet the horse!
Get there on time and ask that the horse not be groomed or tacked up yet. Observe his ground manners. Does he pin his ears and kick when being cinched or is he easy to handle? If he is sweaty or looks like he has been longed for a long time before you arrived consider this a big red flag.
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