Buying Your First Horse: A Comprehensive Guide to Preparing For, Finding and Purchasing a Great Horse - Softcover

Guay, Mary; Schlinkert, Donna

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9780965466967: Buying Your First Horse: A Comprehensive Guide to Preparing For, Finding and Purchasing a Great Horse

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0965466965 ISBN 13: 9780965466967

Publisher: White Papers Pr, 1997

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This practical guide is a must for every Western or English rider and buyer of a first horse. Section one prepares you for the issues related to horse ownership including safety, expenses and boarding decisions. In section two you learn how to find a horse that is safe, sound, healthy, a good match for the rider, a good buy and a great ride. Includes glossary, index, questionnaires for evaluating horses and boarding facilities, and sample contracts for boarding, leasing, bill of sale and liability.

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About the Author:

Mary Guay is a writer in Atlanta, Georgia. She has collaborated with her sister, Donna Schlinkert on several equestrian publications, including Buying Your First Horse. Mary loves to hear from her readers (wpp@juno.com) and welcomes any equestrian related questions.

Donna Schlinkert is a lifelong professional equestrian with 20 years international experience as a broker, trainer, instructor, barn owner and manager. She has been active in the equestrian community in both the United States and Australia. She has collaborated with her sister, Mary Guay on several equestrian publications, including Buying Your First Horse. She now owns and manages a successful Hunter/Jumper barn in Dallas, Georgia. Donna loves to hear from her readers (wpp@juno.com) and welcomes any equestrian related questions.

You, or someone close to you, wants to own a horse. Congratulations - you are about to enter a wonderful sport that will provide a lifetime of fun and fulfillment. There is no other sport that is equally open to young and old, male and female regardless of size. Riding can be relaxing and exhilarating and enjoyed by the entire family. The equestrian community spans the spectrum of socioeconomic classes from the humblest country farm to the most elegant royal stable. Riding sports are diverse, including racing, trail riding, rodeos and Olympic competition. Though diverse, one aspect is shared by the entire equestrian community: the bond between horse and rider. Caring for your own horse can create a trusting, educational and emotional bond that can last a lifetime.

On a more practical note, how do you find that perfect horse? Will you pay a fair price? How can you increase your chances of finding a safe horse that doesn't bite, kick, rear or buck? Are you ready for the commitment? How do you avoid the unsound horse? Because this decision will affect you for years to come, you should prepare as thoroughly as possible. This book will help you answer these questions and more.

The issues in this guide relate to all riding disciplines - English (hunt seat, dressage, saddle seat or combined training) and Western (stock, roping, reining, or pleasure). Both horse buyer and rider, if not one in the same, will benefit from the information within.

It takes years of professional involvement with horses to adequately judge the potential of a horse. The information in this book will prepare you for horse ownership, and guide you in making the best choice. If you are a beginning rider, you should use this guide along with the help of your instructor to select your horse.

Buying a horse is a tremendous commitment and a long-term decision. A successful horse and rider have a strong, long term relationship. You can insure this by putting careful and deliberate thought into the selection of your horse. Horses vary widely in temperament, price, size and ability. Whether you are buying a horse for yourself, your child or someone else, you want to choose a horse that will match the rider's abilities and one that will be able to grow with the rider's skills. You want a horse that's safe and healthy, one without bad habits, and of course, you want to pay fair price. This guide will help you be better prepared and more confident that the horse that you purchase is safe, a good buy and a great ride.

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