A Beginner’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Riding Horse

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Finding the right horse means observing and paying attention.

The first thing to remember is that your horse is a living creature, with a body and mind of its own. What this means for you as the rider is that you’ll have to learn to trust him or her with your safety. To make this happen, communication between you and your horse will be key. When trying out horses for purchase, pay attention to how they move around their environment—you can tell a lot about their temperament and personality by how they carry themselves. For example, do they drag their feet? This could be an indication of boredom or lack of focus; it’s also possible that something hurts them when they walk.

Similarly important is the way in which you communicate with the horse—facial expressions and posture are forms of nonverbal communication humans use all the time, but we often neglect how much our bodies tell other people about what we’re thinking (whether we mean for it to do so or not). Horses are very sensitive to these kinds of cues from us. In fact, researchers at the Human-Animal Interaction Laboratory at Purdue University have found that even just having a picture of an angry face in view can cause horses’ heart rates to increase significantly! It’s important for us as riders not only to notice when our own body language may be communicating anxiety or fear in a way that could unsettle our equine partners, but also when our horses might be feeling similar things because of our presence.

Find a trainer who’s a good fit for you.

Finding a trainer who’s a good fit for you is a great way to establish your relationship with your horse. Beginner riders should look for trainers with experience training beginner riders, while more experienced riders can look for trainers who have more specific skills and/or experience training horses that are similar to yours.

This may seem like an obvious point, but it’s important to find a trainer with whom you’re comfortable working. You’ll be spending them time together, so you’ll want someone you feel happy working alongside. Note that there are many ways of training horses, so choose one that fits what you’re hoping to achieve and is compatible with your own style of working with horses. For example, if you don’t want your horse wearing a dressage saddle or riding in western style clothes or boots, don’t ask about those options!

Know your goals.

Having a clear set of goals will help you look for the right horse, and it’ll help your prospective sellers tell whether their horses are a good fit for you. You don’t need to know everything before getting started, but knowing what you want to do with your horse and what you want to learn will make shopping for the perfect equine easier. Here are some things to consider:

  • How much time do I have available? If you’re busy, it’s best to avoid buying green horses that still need training. A younger horse can be trained by an experienced rider if needed, but it can take a lot of time and patience. If you live in a climate where winter brings snow and ice, that time may be limited.
  • Am I looking for a particular breed? Some breeds are better suited for specific forms of riding than others; some breeds are also more popular in specific areas of the country than others. If there’s something specific that draws you to a breed—whether it’s physical appearance or temperament—keep your mind open while shopping around; many people get hung up on type when what they really want is a sound animal who fits into their lifestyle well.
  • How much am I looking to spend? Horses can be expensive; even less expensive ones often come with additional costs, like vet bills or supplementary feedings (such as hay during the winter). If your budget is limited, careful planning early on will save headaches later on.

As long as you know what you want, don’t worry about what other people are doing with their horses.

Don’t get caught up in what other people are doing with their horses. As long as you know your goals and work towards them, it’s okay if your horse isn’t a great jumper or doesn’t have the endurance to go on long treks.

For example, you might enjoy riding in the arena. This is actually a great goal for beginners because getting out there and working on your skills can be fun and help you improve quickly! An arena may not be difficult to find, but you do need to make sure that it has some features that will help keep you safe as you get better at riding. For instance, most arenas have raised buckskin pads around the perimeter so that if an accident occurs, the rider will be protected from being stepped on by horses whose hooves are sharp enough to cause serious injury.

You could also decide that your primary goal is trail riding—in which case finding trails near your home or building one yourself would be important things to consider when choosing where to live (or relocate). If this sounds appealing then making sure there aren’t too many obstacles such as trees or branches along the way will also help ensure both safety and enjoyment during those rides!

It’s important not just to choose equestrian goals based off what others are doing with their horse(s), but also because having something specific in mind helps guide decisions about buying equipment (and other things) much easier than trying anything else would do.”

Don’t be afraid of horses you might consider “too much horse”.

It can sometimes be hard for beginners to know where to start when looking for their first horse. Maybe you’ve been riding for years, but never owned your own horse. Maybe you’re just starting out. Either way, the goal is the same: finding a good match.

The conventional wisdom has always been that beginners should ride horses that are calm, quiet, and well-mannered—a “babysitter” in other words. Nothing wrong with that…but there’s also nothing wrong with considering other options too!

A horse that’s a bit more athletic or sensitive than the typical beginner fare can sometimes be a good choice, particularly if it’s an older horse who has had plenty of training and experience with riders of all levels. With enough time and patience, such horses can be taught how to behave in a way that is suitable for riding by inexperienced riders. You’ll have to invest energy into retraining them (which will help further your own skills along the way), but if you’re willing, it could pay dividends in terms of joy and achievement—and it might even save some poor creature from being sent off to slaughter! In fact not only will you learn how to handle this “too much horse”, but he/she might even teach you something about yourself as a rider too! If you decide this is the route for you then let us know what happens! We’d love to hear from you!

When it comes to breed, don’t assume that all horses of the same breed are the same in temperament or ability.

When it comes to choosing a horse for the first time, you may think that the only factors are price and appearance. However, there are many other factors to consider when deciding which horse is right for you.

Breed can be an important factor in your search. While some breeds have a reputation for particular temperaments or abilities, this reputation is not always accurate. Many horses will surprise you and behave in ways that are not typical of their breed; others will live up to their breed’s reputation exactly.

Keep your eyes and ears open to what’s going on around you when you’re riding.

You’re riding along, enjoying your time in the saddle. It’s a beautiful day, and you’re doing everything right… except for the fact that you’re not actually paying attention to anything around you. You’re not looking at your horse, nor are you looking at what’s going on in your environment.

You should always be aware of what your horse might be trying to tell you with his eyes, ears, body language, or movements. Any one of these things could signal that he’s scared and needs reassurance from you as his rider. A good example would be when a horse jumps at something he sees out of the corner of his eye—if you paid attention to what was happening instead of just pushing him through it like I did with my first horse (who sadly died), then maybe something bad wouldn’t have happened (trust me: I was traumatized by watching my beloved mare die under me).

It’s also important to pay attention to what’s going on around you! Are there dogs or other animals nearby? Is there traffic? Did someone drop a piece of tin foil on the ground? There are so many different ways a ride can turn dangerous in seconds if we aren’t careful and attentive riders.

Do your homework about different breeds before getting a particular breed.

Before deciding on a breed, do your homework. Not all horses are created equal—different breeds have different personalities and characteristics. For example, some breeds have a reputation for being temperamental and hard to train. Learn about the breed you’re considering before committing to it. You’ll be spending a lot of time with your horse, so make sure you choose one that is compatible with both your experience level and your personality.

  • What does this particular breed require in terms of training? This is particularly important if you’ve never trained or ridden a horse before—you want to make sure you can handle the commitment.
  • How much maintenance is required when taking care of this particular breed? Horses need regular grooming and care to stay healthy, but some breeds are more high-maintenance than others and may require more work on your part.
  • Are there any health concerns associated with this particular breed? Some breeds are prone to certain health issues (e.g., back problems). Make sure the breed you’re interested in doesn’t face any major health concerns that could affect its longevity or reduce its quality of life.

Not all young horses grow into the type of horse they seemed like as foals, so be aware that this is a possibility.

The adage “buy a horse for its mind” is one that every buyer should take to heart when purchasing any horse, but especially a young one. While it’s true that some horses grow out of their juvenile habits and become more mature as they age, not all do. It’s important to realize that there are some things about the horse’s character that may never change, and make sure those characteristics match what you want in a riding horse. If you want an introverted trail horse who doesn’t need much maintenance or attention, it may not be wise to buy a young colt who is quite rambunctious at this point in his life. Be honest with yourself about whether this is the type of riding prospect you want and would be able to handle–and be honest with the seller if they don’t fully understand how their youngster will grow up.

If you have any questions or concerns, ask your trainer for help finding an answer or advice.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or assume that your trainer knows everything! If you have any questions or concerns, ask your trainer for help finding an answer or advice. You might also find value in asking other riders at the barn for advice.

It’s worthwhile to do some research and really think about what kind of horse will work best for you.

When you’re first starting out on your horse-hunting journey, it’s important to educate yourself a bit. Do some research on the different breeds of horse and what they’re best suited for. If you want to do jumping, take note of which breeds are best at jumping (hint: probably not draft horses). Think about your goals and ambitions. Are you interested in riding casually around a ranch? Or is it your lifelong dream to compete in the Olympics? Of course, all horses have the potential to be good at anything—it just depends on how much time and effort you put into training it—but certain breeds are better for certain things than others. You wouldn’t naturally assume that an Arabian is cut out for dressage, or that a Clydesdale could be an excellent racehorse if given enough training.

It can also help to talk to your trainer and ask him/her about their thoughts. How long have they been training horses? What is their opinion regarding this particular breed versus another one? Also pay attention as you ride different horses over specific obstacles (including jumps), or even as they go across different surfaces such as dirt versus pavement. Remember that there are no perfect animals; each horse has their own strengths and weaknesses, so there will never be such thing as “the best” one. It’s all about choosing the right one for you!

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