How to select a horse

ALEX: Selecting a horse, its important that you bring into consideration the horse’s breed, and also what you want to do with that horse, what type of discipline do you want to ride or what kind of competition. Those are a few of the first important factors in selecting a horse, and I’m sure that there’s some others that come into play too, Steve.

Steve: Well as a veterinarian, I look at the obvious. I mean if a horse is, you know, a two year old, or maybe too young, or not too experienced, or maybe he doesn’t have the best temperament, not the right size, not the right breed, you know, I mean, I make a comment about it. I mean, you know, some of these things are really common sense based, and you’ve gotta really think about what it is that you’re gonna look at.

If you’re trying to buy a cutting horse, you’re obviously gonna buy cutting horse that’s a quarter horse that comes from a heritage or pedigree, and has the right type of background training and things of this nature.

When these things are not in line, you know, I mean, I tend to step in and mention that, hey, we need to kind of reevaluate what we are looking for here. Same thing if you’re getting a jumper or dressage or a roping horse, or reiner, or western pleasure horse, because I’ve worked on horses in all these different disciplines over the years. So, you know, when they don’t fit, you know, its like the old square peg in a round hole. If its doesn’t fit, don’t force it, you know.

So, you know, I’ve gotta sometimes point out the obvious, you know, to maybe a green, or maybe a, you know, a person that’s a bit, let’s say, first purchase, or new buyer, or in other words, you know, basically a person that doesn’t have the much experience.

ALEX: So what, your saying, it’s equally important to know where that person is, and what level of competition they can compete at. When they go to select a horse.

STEVE: I don’t always know it, but you can tell a lot of times, you know, a person’s experience and knowledge base, just based on the experience I’ve had and where I’ve been, and what I’ve done. So, it helps a bunch, I think. At least, at least I try to interject that when I think it’s necessary.