Horse Buying Checklist – What You Need to Consider When Buying a Horse!

Buying a horse involves a lot of factors. From preparation and the search to the final purchase, thoughtful planning helps prevent unpleasant surprises. Learn here what you should look out for when buying a horse!

Table of Contents

Horse Buying Checklist – What Should You Consider During and After the Purchase?

To avoid potential complications when buying a horse, a checklist can help keep all the important points clearly in sight.

Checklist – Before Buying a Horse

Experience: You should already have experience handling horses before buying one of your own.
Expert Knowledge: Before starting your horse search, you should inform yourself about all important aspects of horse ownership and acquire the necessary knowledge to properly care for a horse.
<>Management & Husbandry: Research different types of horse-keeping arrangements before the purchase and decide on the right option for you.
Costs: Calculating costs is vital; not only must the initial purchase price be covered, but also ongoing livery/maintenance costs, as well as an emergency fund for vet visits or similar expenses.
Time: A horse requires a lot of time and flexible management; you must ensure the horse’s care is guaranteed at all times.
Insurance: Good equine insurance provides peace of mind and is the best way to offer your horse what it needs most: health.

Checklist – During the Horse Search

Seller’s Credibility: Check whether the seller is reputable, ensuring they aren’t selling a horse with hidden defects or demanding shady payment methods.
Previous Owners: Ask about past owners. Horses that have passed through many hands might have had bad experiences or could display behavioral issues.
Reason for Sale: Always ask why the horse is being sold, as the reasons are not always independent of the horse itself.
Training Level: Verify whether the horse actually matches the stated training level and can meet your requirements.
Show Record & Competition Experience: Double-check any stated show records and, if possible, watch videos of past competitions on various online portals.
Behavioral Quirks: These can be hard to spot during a trial ride, so you should always ask to see the horse in its stall or paddock as well.
Handling: When trialing the horse, tack it up yourself if possible to see how it behaves in everyday handling.
Health Status: Ask the seller about past illnesses, injuries, and whether the horse had comprehensive insurance coverage and thus good medical care. You might even be able to take over the existing insurance. If that’s not possible, you should choose an equine insurance policy before making the purchase.

Checklist – During the Purchase

Pre-Purchase Examination (PPE): Never waive a PPE; it protects you against hidden defects and helps you assess future health risks.
Transport: The horse’s transport must be safe, and a means of transportation along with a qualified driver should be available at all times.
Sales Contract: A contract should always be drawn up, especially in private sales, and reviewed thoroughly so that no ambiguities arise if complications occur.
Right of Return: Look into the right of return, as handling defects in horse sales is not as simple as with standard product purchases.
Equine Insurance: It is best to take out horse insurance before the purchase so your new partner is well-protected from day on

Where Do I Buy a Horse?

Many breeders and riders sell their horses via ehorses, the leading online horse market. With practical filter functions, you can specifically find horses in your area or internationally, and you can also get support from friends, acquaintances, or your trainer during your search.

Breeders and riders in your area undoubtedly sell horses from time to time. Many sellers list their horses on an online horse marketplace like ehorses. Here, you can input your preferences using the filter options and select your location. This allows you to find out who is offering horses for sale near you, across the country, or in another country. The marketplace offers horses of all breeds and disciplines. ehorses is the leading online horse market on the internet and your primary point of contact for everything related to horses.

Additionally, you can reach out to friends, acquaintances, your trainer, various yard owners, and breeders to describe what you are looking for. They will surely be happy to help you with tips during your search.

What Are the Opportunities and Challenges of Buying a Horse Abroad?

Buying a horse abroad often offers attractive opportunities but requires careful planning. Alongside favorable purchase prices or a larger selection, legal and logistical aspects must be taken into account.

Pay attention to the following points:

Clear regulations on transport and import, including customs regulations.
Compliance with veterinary requirements such as vaccinations and health certificates.
Vetting the provider to avoid fraud or ambiguous origins.

With the right preparation and guidance, you can benefit from buying a horse abroad while minimizing risks.

What Do I Need to Consider When Choosing a Horse?

Choosing the right horse depends on your desired discipline and your own skills. Whether it’s jumping, dressage, or Western riding—every horse has its specific type. Furthermore, the horse should match the rider’s level of experience: an inexperienced rider will ride more safely and develop better on an experienced horse. It is well worth seeking advice from experienced riding instructors or friends who might even know of a suitable horse.

During your riding education, you will usually discover a preferred discipline. Whether it’s jumping, dressage, endurance riding, or a Western discipline—there are specific horse types and breeds for every style of riding. For instance, a Western rider will rarely buy a dressage horse, and a show jumper won’t buy a carriage horse.

The horse should be suited to the desired discipline and trained to match the rider’s skill level.

Once the discipline is clear, the question arises: how well do you ride? The guiding principle here is: “Inexperienced rider on an experienced horse, experienced rider on an inexperienced horse.” Professional riders love young horses that they can train themselves. On the other hand, riders who want to gain experience will find joy in a seasoned horse. They will feel safe on it and can learn from it, making riding fun and safe for both horse and rider. The training level in the respective discipline and the age should therefore depend on the rider’s level. Additionally, you need to decide whether you want to compete at shows or not.

As a rider who does not favor a specific discipline and instead enjoys long hacks and spending time with horses, you do not need to choose a specific breed. Nevertheless, the horse or pony must suit the rider. It must be an appropriate size, and for inexperienced riders, it should already be well-schooled and bring some life experience with it.

It is always a good idea to share your preferences with your riding instructor or another experienced person. This allows you to get advice and secure excellent tips. Perhaps your acquaintances and friends even know someone looking to sell a horse that matches your criteria.

What Are the 10 Most Important Questions to Ask When Buying a Horse?

Why is the horse being sold?
What is the horse’s character and temperament like?
What is the horse’s level of training?
Are there any known illnesses or surgeries, and what was the previous insurance coverage?
If it is a gelding: When was he castrated? / If it is a mare: How does she behave when in season?
How many owners has the horse already had?
Are there any known stable vices or bad habits?
What is its current type of management and husbandry?
How has it been fed so far?
What is the purchase price?

How Do I Avoid Mistakes When Buying a Horse?

A common mistake when buying a horse is choosing an animal that is too young or inexperienced and does not match the rider’s skills. Likewise, you should never waive a Pre-Purchase Examination (PPE) or skip signing a sales contract to avoid later problems and ensure legal protection.

In addition to things to consider, there are also many mistakes to avoid when buying a horse. One of the most common errors is picking the wrong age, as young horses are often bought because they are cheaper. However, young and untrained horses are demanding and completely unsuitable for beginners—even more so if they lack professional support. Buying young horses for beginners or children is often risky; while this combination can work beautifully, it can also lead to significant difficulties.

Young horses that have had bad experiences during training carry this baggage for a long time. Older horses are often overlooked or excluded from searches, even though better-trained horses can teach novice riders a great deal. Moreover, they are usually much more level-headed due to their experience. Furthermore, you should absolutely avoid choosing a horse purely based on its appearance, because whether a horse is a match for you has nothing to do with how it looks. Rather, it is the horse’s character and how well you harmonize that determine a stable horse-human relationship.

Another mistake is impulse buying. “Bought as seen” is unfortunately not the best option when purchasing a horse; you should never skip a viewing, a trial ride, or a Pre-Purchase Examination (PPE). Time to think should also be granted, as the decision to buy a horse should not be made lightly. Safeguards must be established, both in the form of a sales contract and a PPE. The PPE can be carried out as a basic or extensive check and should be documented in the sales contract so it can be referenced at any time. A PPE should not be waived, as it rules out existing defects and helps estimate potential future issues. It is also crucial if you ever need to request a return.

Additionally, it is important to conclude a horse sales contract to ensure you as a buyer are legally protected. This contract should be verified and must not contain invalid clauses, as it needs to hold up in case of disagreements. The question of whether you need a sales contract is easily answered: Yes, a horse sales contract is a highly sensible step. Although it isn’t legally mandatory to seal a horse purchase with a contract—theoretically, it can be done with a handshake—practically, signing a contract is essential to protect both buyer and seller and to define the terms.

In a horse sales contract, especially for private sales, the details of both the seller and the buyer should be recorded, along with the PPE results and the horse’s condition. Additionally, the intended use and warranted characteristics should be noted so that any defects limiting its use or contradicting those traits are not left to chance, but explicitly define the conditions under which the horse was purchased. The main components of a horse sales contract are, of course, the price and payment method, as well as all the papers belonging to the horse being sold.

Where is the Best Place to Buy a Horse?

Horses can be purchased in various ways. On one hand, there are horse breeders, breed associations that host auctions, horse dealers, and training stables that sell horses on-site. These businesses, as well as private sellers, can also offer their horses on online platforms such as www.ehorses.com.

Beware of Fraudsters When Buying a Horse!

Scammers often demand an advance bank transfer for the transport of a horse that is allegedly located abroad, but the horse usually doesn’t even exist. To stay safe, always arrange a viewing appointment, be accompanied by a trusted person, and never sign a sales contract without having seen the horse.

Secure Payment – Our Tips

A procedure absolutely typical of fraud is the demand for an advance bank transfer. The ostensible sellers tell the interested party that the horse is abroad and that the transport must be paid for in advance. Time and again, buyers fall for this because they don’t want to miss out on an alleged bargain. However, the horse usually does not exist at all, and once the buyers have transferred the amount, they never hear from the sellers again.

Our tips:

Always arrange a viewing appointment with the seller, including the option to trial ride the horse. You should always get a personal impression of both the horse itself and its current living conditions. If available, look at X-rays or a PPE to assess the horse’s health status.
Never sign a sales contract without having seen the horse first, and inform yourself in advance about which components are most important in a sales contract.
Have a trusted person accompany you who also has experience with horses and can support you with an objective opinion.
Speak openly and honestly with the seller about the topic of “payment” and do not let yourself be pressured into any rushed decisions.

Beware of Fraudulent Listings

If a horse seems too good and too cheap to be true, exercise caution! Fraud is often behind such offers. Always think twice about whether the price is realistic, and do not let yourself be enticed into a quick purchase. Make sure you have seen and ridden the horse beforehand, verify the contact details, and always demand transparency from the seller.

Try to keep a cool head at all times and don’t let yourself be tempted into spontaneous purchases. Here is an example: Many people think at first glance: “Great, cheap!“ Caution is advised! You should always keep in mind what comparable horses would cost and why this horse is being offered so cheaply. It is usually beneficial to contact the seller to find out the reason for the low price. Through this conversation, it is often evident whether the reason is plausible (e.g., due to illness) or if the story is too shady to believe. These bizarre stories usually involve fraudsters who only want to collect money.

Keep these points in mind for a safe horse purchase:

Be cautious of any horse you haven’t seen in person (live or via live video) or ridden yourself. The picture in the sales ad might not always represent the horse being offered.
Watch out for contradictory data in the listing.
Ensure telephone numbers and contact details, as well as the location of the horse and the seller, are correct.
Be careful if you are asked to transfer money for a horse you have never seen before. No deposits either! Always demand transparency from the seller.
Always consider what a realistic price for your dream horse would be. Do not let cheap prices tempt you into a purchase, as the horse usually doesn’t exist or does not meet your requirements.
Always keep in mind that a proper horse has usually been specifically trained for a certain use or discipline. If the horse can do a suspicious amount across completely different categories, you should watch out and question everything thoroughly.

Beware of Scam Messages When Buying a Horse

To offer users on ehorses the highest possible security, the contact forms are designed so that the prospective buyer’s private email address is not visible to the horse’s seller. Accordingly, sellers must initially communicate with interested parties via ehorses.

Scammers often write to interested parties asking them to send their private email address so that the message history cannot be saved on the ehorses server. If a provider writes a similar message to you, and perhaps certain details in the ad and the message are unclear, we advise you to either break off contact immediately or contact the seller by phone to clarify your questions directly.

If you are unsure about a listing or have questions, you can always contact us—we are happy to help!

What Tips Do I Need to Consider When Buying a Pony?

When buying a pony, you should think about what purpose you have in mind, e.g., children’s riding or leisure riding. Pay attention to size, temperament, and breed, and ideally have the pony checked by an expert. A Pre-Purchase Examination and a solid sales contract are also important to prevent later problems.

If you are looking for a suitable pony for yourself or your children, the essential points do not differ from those of a standard horse purchase. You should also consider in advance what goals you want to achieve with your pony. They are highly versatile, especially for children’s riding, leisure riding, therapeutic purposes, and sometimes even for specific sports like carriage driving.

In addition, it is important to think about accommodation in advance and what financial resources are available for the animal’s care. A Pre-Purchase Examination also makes complete sense when buying a pony.

The size of ponies varies depending on which pony breed you choose. For example, a German Riding Pony is naturally built more athletically and larger than a Shetland pony. The maximum height for a pony is 148 cm (14.2 hands).

Temperament, breed, and intended use are important criteria that should be taken into account. It is advisable to be accompanied by an experienced rider or equine specialist to thoroughly test the pony.

A solid sales contract that regulates all important aspects is also essential to avoid later ambiguities.

Horse Buying Checklist – Further Frequently Asked Questions

What should I ask when buying a horse? Important questions to ask are primarily related to the sales advertisement, as all information contained within it should be verified. In addition, the horse’s past, previous owners, competition experience, training level, and the reason for sale should be inquired about.
What do I need to consider if I want to buy a horse? At the start of the horse purchase, the credibility of the seller must be ensured to avoid any subsequent problems. Furthermore, you must be certain that you can take on the responsibility of horse ownership and that you know what you are looking for, tailored to your own abilities and ambitions.
How can I optimally protect my horse after the purchase? Even before your new horse moves in with you, you should think about the right protection. Comprehensive health insurance including surgical (OP) cover, as well as a reliable equine liability insurance policy, are essential to protect you from unexpected costs.

How Do I Make it Easier for My Horse to Settle in After the Move?

Moving to a new environment is a stressful experience for any horse. With the right preparation, you can make acclimatization easier for your animal and strengthen trust.

Important steps for settling in:

Give your horse time to get used to the new environment and its new herd members.
Start with simple routines that provide your horse with security.
Ensure a low-stress integration into the herd, if necessary through step-by-step introductions.

A patient and calm approach helps your horse process the change much better.