Horse Economics. Catherine E O'Brien
“What happens to new horse owners is an extensive injury involving $2,000 to $3,000 and this is a wake-up call for them.”
An injury can happen to any horse. A common example: a horse steps on a nail and punctures the navicular bursa♦. This requires surgery, long-term antibiotics, sterile bandaging, and special shoeing while the horse recovers. Or, a horse walks into a branch under the tree in his pasture and suffers a puncture wound to the eye—with a secondary fungal infection. According to Dr. Gorondy, the oral anti-fungal medications cost over $100 per day and are prescribed for a long period of time.
Clearly, you need to set up an emergency fund in the event of your horse suffering a serious injury or getting colic♦. The purchase of medical/surgical coverage can relieve some of the financial worry (see p. 45), but “older” horses (normally described as over the age of fifteen) are not insurable, and many beginning riders start out with older—wiser—horses. Regardless of your horse’s age, I recommend putting aside $150 per month in a savings account, or keeping a credit card with a zero balance, to use in the event of a horse emergency.
so you know…
♦ The navicular bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between the deep flexor tendon and the navicular bone in the horse’s hoof.
♦ Colic is abdominal pain or digestive disorder in the horse; it has many causes and is considered very serious.
PURCHASING A HORSE
When you are purchasing your first horse, you need someone with experience to guide you and be the voice of reason. Enlist an instructor or trainer you trust to evaluate a horse before—and after—purchase. While you may be lucky enough to have a knowledgeable friend who will help you horse-hunt for free, most instructors expect to be compensated for their time and travel. You can expect to pay from $15 to $50 an hour for their efforts.
Define Your Riding Goals
In addition to finding a good trainer to help you evaluate a prospective horse, it is important to clarify your personal riding goals. Thom Trout, head trainer and director of the Riding Academy at the Essex Equestrian Center in West Orange, New Jersey (the largest equestrian center on the East Coast), oversees twelve instructors and more than 100 horses. He specializes in finding the right horse for junior, amateur, and professional riders. Mr. Trout says, when looking for a horse to buy “…many people have a marvelous grasp of the insignificant. They focus on one or two things that are really unimportant in the scheme of things instead of looking at their overall goals and objectives in their riding.”
Do you intend to compete at a certain level? Do you want an experienced horse that has already proven himself in the ring? Do you want a mount that challenges you? Or, do you want a super quiet horse that will accept your current level of riding skill? These are important questions to answer before starting your search.
Evaluating a Prospect
Another key element to making a sound purchase decision is asking the seller questions to see if a prospective horse will indeed be right for you. A horse can be a perfect physical specimen, but his personality could be incompatible with your own and render him less than a joy to work with and ride. Questions should include:
How long have you owned the horse?
What is your reason for selling?
What is the horse’s training and ability? What is the horse currently used for?
Does the horse bite, kick, crib, or weave? Does he chew wood?
How does the horse behave while riding in a group of horses or in the show ring?
When were the horse’s last shots, worming, and farrier visit?
How does the horse behave for the farrier and vet?
Is the horse sound for all uses?
What is the horse’s history of injury or illness?
Has the horse ever foundered, colicked, or had his hocks or other joints injected?
Any eye or vision problems currently, or in the past?
Any respiratory problems?
Does the horse require any special hoof care, corrective trimming or shoeing?
What and how much grain is the horse fed? What type of hay? Any supplements?
Is he an easy loader? What type of trailer? How does he travel?
What is his behavior around dogs, children, and farm equipment?
Study the horse as he is handled by the seller, and see how he goes under saddle before you attempt to ride him yourself. While watching him perform, ascertain:
How are the horse’s ground manners?
Does the horse appear to tolerate grooming and bathing?
How does he act in the pasture and stable around other horses?
How does he react to tacking up and tightening the girth?
What type of saddle is used? Does he need any special pads?
What type of leg protection?
Does the horse stand still when being mounted?
Behave with other horses and riders coming and going?
Does the rider need to use a lot of leg?
Is the horse touchy and sensitive, or forgiving to the rider’s aids?
Does the horse stop from all gaits when asked?
When riding in an open field or on the trail, does he respond and stop?
Is he suitable for a beginner?
The answers to these questions can provide some insight into the temperament and behavior of the horse no matter the skill level of the buyer. They also provide clues about care and maintenance issues that could increase the cost of ownership for that particular horse. Discuss all these matters and observations with your instructor and veterinarian.
Pre-Purchase Examination
I advise anyone considering the purchase of a horse to have him thoroughly examined by a veterinarian. Satisfactory results should be a condition of the sales agreement (see p. 169). In addition to providing you with valuable information about the prospective horse’s condition and behavior, it also allows you to back out of the sale if there are any doubts raised. Of course, the veterinarian does not have a crystal ball and cannot guarantee the horse won’t be lame a month later, but he can assess the horse’s condition that day, give you his initial findings, and make recommendations for further diagnostics such as radiographs (X rays) or blood tests. The veterinarian can also screen the horse to detect any pain medication used by a seller to mask unsoundness, or tranquilizer to make the horse quiet.
Thomas J. Newton, DVM, and his wife own Little Hawk Farm in Crozier, Virginia, where they specialize in equine reproductive services. Dr. Newton recommends a pre-purchase exam—even on a “free” horse. “A person needs to know the condition of