Buying a horse for a beginner is a thrilling, yet scary, venture. The buzz of buying yours or maybe your child’s first horse or pony and finally taking the step you’ve dreamed of is unrivalled. However, the responsibility and pressure that comes with this is huge and the first equine partner a rider has will shape the rest of their journey. The right animal will probably mean you’re hooked forever and create the best memories to look back on, so to avoid the dream becoming a nightmare, take a look at our comprehensive guide below covering the key considerations.
Understanding the needs of a beginner rider
Getting the best height and build
It’s quite common for riders new to the industry to buy a horse that is the wrong size for them. To ensure the horse is not too small, you can follow the general rule of thumb that if the weight of you and your tack & equipment is under 20%, you are good to go. For example, if your horse is fit and healthy and weighs in at 500kg, you and your tack should be under 100kg combined.
On the other hand, getting a horse too big will also cause its own problems for a beginner rider. Over-horsing yourself will increase the difficulty of learning to ride.
Having a plan of action to improve as a rider
Before buying your first horse, you should have decided on an instructor to take you from a beginner to Team GBR’s next gold medalist (maybe not quite that far, but you get the gist). By selecting a suitable instructor for your riding lessons and briefing them on what you are looking to achieve before purchasing a horse or pony, they can use this and their wealth of knowledge to give you a more tailored insight into the type of horse you should buy.
Top tip - When you view the horse, take an experienced equine professional with you, ideally, the instructor you’ve chosen to give you lessons once you own the horse.
Forming a relationship with your next horse
To have any real success as a rider, your horsemanship has developed with your riding. The key part of horsemanship is the bond you have with your horse or pony. Even if you’ve worked with horses for a long time and maybe just not have ridden or owned your own, there’s now a new dimension to add to your skills. For a guide on building a bond, take a look at our article on the 5 best ways to bond with your horse.
Have you considered all of the other responsibilities and costs that come with owning a horse?
Horse ownership involves a significant commitment of time, effort, and resources. Patience and a willingness to learn are equally important. Take the time for some reflection before committing. Ask yourself why you want to own a horse and what you hope to achieve. Maybe you would be better suited to loaning a horse or visiting a riding school.
What are the key features of a suitable beginner’s horse?
Temperament
A beginner-friendly horse or pony should possess a calm and gentle temperament. They should be easygoing and not overly sensitive to rider movement or sudden changes in the surrounding environment.
Remember, it is your responsibility to maintain this, a horse won’t keep these important traits if you don’t provide a good environment and show good horsemanship.
Level of training
Getting a horse that has “been there, done that, and got the t-shirt” is very important, you don’t want to buy a horse that is green or just hasn’t been used for novice riders before. A horse or pony that has been purposely trained to work with riders lacking fundamental skills is crucial to your development as a rider. The ideal horse will also be a little older, something 10 years old plus. Depending on the height, the suitable horse or pony could be listed under lead rein & first ridden or family horses.
Breeding
Although not the most important factor, horse breeds will have a big impact on the temperament and the type of training the horse or pony would have been subject to as all horses are bred for a purpose. Below we’ve broken down the best horses and ponies for beginners by height.
- 10.2hh & under - Shetland Ponies. A cheeky little pony that is the perfect size for toddlers.
- 11hh to 12.2hh - Welsh Section As, Exmoors, and Dartmoor ponies. All possess the right qualities to be good children’s ponies with the right training.
- 12.2hh to 14hh - Gypsy Vanners, Fjords, and Highland ponies. Sturdy ponies with a gentle nature.
- 14hh to 15.2hh - Gypsy Vanners, Haflingers, and Normandy Cobs. Well-built horses who are relaxed and good doers.
- 15.2 & over - Irish Draughts, Clydesdales and Suffolk Punch horses. The biggest horse breeds that possess an easy going nature and a sensible brain.
A common theme for the breeds above is they are all chunkier types compared to other breeds that fit within the same height parameters. The reason for this is they were designed to be a slower, more sturdy and reliable type. Horses and ponies that are finer were bred to be faster and more sporty, which isn’t what we’re looking for in a beginner’s horse.
Good health
As for anyone buying a horse, you’re looking for a horse that is sound and in good health. The horse or pony doesn’t have to be perfect but they need to be fit for the purpose you are buying them for and if there are any potential problems, make sure you are aware of them and understand the implications that are associated. To be 100% sure, get a pre-purchase vetting on the horse by a vet of your choice.
Buying the horse you need, maybe not the horse you want
It is very easy to be drawn to buying the most beautiful horse you can find, with the floatiest movement, brightest coat, and longest mane & tail. Ultimately, these are the last things you should be considering, particularly as a beginner.
