Before you get the equine veterinary surgeon to examine the horse.. should examine it yourself. This will save you unnecessary expense if is something obviously wrong with the animal. You will, however, mead know the main things to look for.

Temperament is a very important factor when choosing a new hose. Horses, even the smallest ones, can be very dangerous. It is most important for your safety that you assess the temperament of the horse very carefully. A horse should have kind eyes and should appear friendly with forward. If the owner claims that the horse is quiet ask him to thoroughly how to handle it (for example, rub his hands all over the back and body of the horse, rub down its legs, and pick up the feet). Once the owner had this, repeat the process yourself. Never stand immediately in front of or the horse. Unfriendly horses will have their ears back. They may attempt to bite or kick, and will not face you when you enter their box or yard It is important that you have complete confidence in the horse before buy it. You may need to visit the animal several times to gain confidence. Watch carefully as the owner bridles and saddles the horse. You must assess whether the animal remains stationary or whether for example it is head-shy (resents having its head touched). Once the horse has been saddled, ask the owner to ride it at a trot and canter. You may then feel confident to ride the horse yourself. This will give you an opportunity to get the feel of the horse.

Assess whether it has the confidence to suit you, and generally appraise the horse's ability. If you are happy with the horse, then call in a vet to give the animal a thorough examination before you commit yourself to the purchase.

Where to Buy a Horse?

Having decided that you can justify owning a horse—or pony—the next step is to find the animal that best suits your purpose. It may be a particular A thoroughbred is usually bred for breed (for example, Arabian, quarter horse, thoroughbred, Welsh mountain racing and may not have a suitpony) or a type (that is, beginner's pony, sporting horse, show hack or able temperament for a beginner. pleasure horse).

Whether there is any impairment of vision, quickly flick your fingers tog= the horse's eye. Examine the horse's legs for any obvious abnormaliti e as splints, ringbone, unusual conformation (bent or crooked knees), town injuries and disorders of the feet. your hhaanndd along the topline of the horse, pressing firmly on the spini column to see if there is any soreness. (Soreness will be indicated by - horse hollowing its back to avoid the pressure.) The hindlegs should be examined for 'sickle-shaped' hocks, 'cow' hocks, or capped hocks. : from behind, the hindlegs should be vertical to the ground, with no deviations. If you think you have discovered an abnormality, always contact your vet.

Veterinary Examination

Once you have completed your examination of the horse and it has passed all your tests with flying colours, the next step is to engage an equine veterinarian to examine the horse on your behalf. Make sure the vet is a recommended equine practitioner. Such a person is examining horses all day long and will be able to give you both a professional opinion and a practical opinion as to the horse's suitability for your purpose.

With the advent of modern drugs it is easy for a dishonest vendor te - mask lameness and other abnormalities—by sedating an hysterical (highly strung) horse, for example. Even experienced equine veterinarians may overlook a problem under these circumstances, so it is best to take the horse on a tenday trial basis. Most drugs are out of the system after five days and any lameness or mental quirks begin to show.

Be sure to take special care of any horse lent to you on this basis. it is, after all, not yours. Always insure the animal in case of any fatal accident and make sure you are covered against any damage the horse may cause.