In today’s video I just wanted to share a little about my trip to Europe.
I had a wonderful time, and now I want to share a few tips on what to look for when you’re looking for a horse, including things to check and watch out for.
When trying a horse, I always like to ensure that the horse is in cross-ties when I arrive. I don’t want the horse already warmed up because I want to see how they are in cross-ties, how they handle bridling and saddling, and how they are to mount and dismount. This is really important to me, as it shows how the horse starts out.
I also carefully observe how the horse behaves with its regular rider in its normal environment. I watch how the rider warms up the horse, paying attention to things like which direction they start, which canter lead they pick up first, and whether the horse and rider seem relaxed or tense.
I’ve learned that any issues the horse has at home with its regular rider will likely be even worse in a new situation with a new rider, possibly in a new country. So, if the horse isn’t behaving well for its rider, I’m not interested.
If the horse seems good, I’ll then ride it, trying to imitate how the regular rider handles it. This is especially important with young horses.
Another crucial tip is to always check the horse’s legs and back after riding. I like to see the horse without bandages on its legs and without the saddle. I’ll run my hands over the tendons, palpate them, check the back, pick up the feet, look at the frog, and see if there’s any thrush. This is super important and can save you a lot of money on a vet check. Vets do the same thing, checking for splints, swollen legs, asymmetric tendons, and they’ll also examine the feet for symmetry and any flares. I also look at whether the legs are straight, meaning the bones of the foot go right into the middle of the hoof.
These are just a few tips, and I’ll include some other clips from my trip to Europe.
I hope you enjoyed this video.
Good luck if you’re looking for a horse, it can be really hard to find a good one!
Amelia
