Frequently Asked Questions
This is my first time buying an Arabian. What kinds of things do I need to know?
Buying Your First Arabian Horse
If you're looking for a companion who'll be your partner in adventure or
competition--and your friend for life--then you'll want an Arabian horse.
No other horse can match the Arabian for beauty, athleticism, devotion and
companionship.
Designed for the passionate, consumed horse person, the Arabian horse brings
thousands of years of pure breeding together with its beauty, intelligence,
personable nature, and athletic abilities, requiring only what it will freely
return to its owner: mutual respect and lasting companionship.
Before you even decide to buy, evaluate your own skill level and devote
some serious thought to what you expect to do with your horse once you have
bought it. Will you pleasure-ride, learn a new horse-related skill, or participate
in the show ring. You will likely change your focus once you have your horse;
perhaps it will be very talented in some direction or a great endurance prospect
or a happy and able jumper. The Arabian horse, in particular, is capable of nearly
any athletic accomplishment towards which you aim. There is no law that says you
must stick with your original ideas; common sense, however, dictates that you operate
within the ability-range of both you and your horse.
If possible, seek the advice of a reputable horse person, preferably
someone without a financial interest in your purchase. When you have found the
horse you really like ask for a veterinary check by a veterinarian of your choice;
it will be an invaluable investment.
If the horse you are evaluating is trained for a specific activity, be sure
to get on the back of the horse and see how it responds to your cues. Match your
wants and desires with the attributes of the horse under consideration and make
sure that it meets your specific needs; only then discuss a price for the horse.
Your goal should be to find a horse that will provide you with long-term enjoyment.
Purchasing the wrong horse because the price was right, won't make you a happy horse
owner.
As with people, great offspring can come from both humble backgrounds and champion
blood lines. The opposite is just as true. When evaluating a potential purchase
first check the horse's conformation, gait, attitude, athletic ability, and then
its pedigree.
{Return to Top}
Finding the Arabian that's right for you is easier than you might imagine. When
shopping, knowledge and patience are your best tools. Look for a horse that meets
both your needs and price range. When considering young fillies or colts, the
personality, disposition, conformation, type, action and athletic ability of
the parents offer clues to how the horse will look and perform at maturity.
And, since Arabians often remain active longer than other breeds, an older horse
may be perfectly suitable and a very good buy.
Many people have the mistaken impression that all Arabians are expensive. The
truth is, Arabians can be bought as reasonably as horses of other breeds and
excellent Arabian horses are now accessible to all horse enthusiasts. Best of all,
with more living Arabians in the U.S. than in all the other countries of the world
combined, we have a stunning variety of Arabians from which to choose.
When looking for an Arabian of your own, check in your local paper, at your tack
or feed store or in regional magazines devoted to horses or horse clubs. Use our Arabians for Sale Classifieds to find thousands of purebred Arabian Horses for Sale online. You can also
pay a visit to an Arabian farm or breeder in your area by going to the online
Arabian Farm Directory. If you are not quite ready to buy, but would like to visit an Arabian farm, you can search for one of our Discovery Farms right online.
{Return to Top}
Make an appointment to see the horse you are interested in; turn up on time; and
be candid with the seller about what you are looking for. If you truly like the
horse, ask if the seller will accept terms if the purchase price is more than you
had planned for. It is not unusual to make an offer on a horse, but do not insult
the seller by making a ridiculously low one; explain that you are working with a
pre-set budget and you will be pleasantly surprised at the number of sellers who
will work with you given a measure of courtesy and good will on both sides. Also,
ask to see the horse's health records and make a note of the names and phone numbers
of the seller's veterinarian and farrier. In addition, ask to see the horse's AHA registration papers. You'll need that document signed on the back in order for your to transfer the horse's registration into your name.
If you purchase a horse on contract, be sure that the contract is in writing,
properly signed, dated and witnessed as called for by the statutes of the state
you live in. Also, contact the Arabian Horse Registry of America (303-450-4748)
and verify the horse's registration status and current ownership.
Finally, recognize that it is possible to absorb all this good advice and then
walk into a barn or farm or field and fall completely, irrevocably in love. The
horse may not be what you planned on, may look totally different from your image
of your ideal animal, may not suit your predetermined plans at all-it will
nevertheless totally absorb your interest and possess your imagination and will be
the only possible horse for you.
An Arabian, in particular, possesses incredible qualities of personality, equine
intelligence and striking beauty which will wind themselves around your heart and
become an essential part of your life. The greatest and most lasting rewards will
come from that almost inexplicable bond which can arise between human and horse,
from that completely un calculating companionship which these marvelous animals give
so generously.
{Return to Top}
First, call and ask questions prior to your visit:
- Find out the date foaled, sex, color and height.
- Is the horse registered? Look up AHA registration information.
- Do you have the original registration papers?
- Are you the registered owner?
- How is the horse's health?
- Does he or has he had any specific health problems?
- How would you describe the horse's temperament?
- What is the horse's training history?
- Can the horse be loaded into a trailer?
- What has the horse been doing recently? (specific disciplines)
- Is the horse kept mostly in a stall or pasture?
- Does the horse have any bad habits or vices?
- Has the horse spent much time with other horses, or mostly alone?
- Who owned the horse before you?
- If I come out to see the horse, do you have somewhere where I can ride the him?
If not, are you willing to take the horse somewhere where I can ride him or have
someone demonstrate riding him?
- Can I have a vet check the horse out before I make my final purchase decision?
Second, visit the horse where its kept.
- Does the horse's overall appearance look healthy?
- Do you notice any soundness problems?
- Do you sense an attraction to the horse? Remember it will become part of
your family.
- Do you like the overall appearance of the horse (color, head, expression)?
- Do you sense anger, pain, fear, lethargy or sedation?
- How is the horse's conformation relative to the purpose you have
for purchasing it. If you're an inexperienced person, have an experienced
horseperson evaluate the horse for you.
Next, evaluate the horse's performance with the owner or handler:
- Standing tied
- Walk, trot, stop, backing up
- Round pen longing
- Saddling and bridling
- Have the handler show you how it performs if you are purchasing for a
specific discipline.
Then, test ride the horse:
- Try all of the above yourself with the owner/handler present. Be
sure to use the proper protective gear.
- Be sure to try out the horse for the specific discipline for which
you are buying the horse.
- If you don't feel comfortable doing this, look for another horse.
This is the first step in your relationship with the horse.
Finally, check the horse's registration and health papers
Be sure to ask to see the registration papers and verify the horse's age and lineage.
Check to make sure that the horse matches the information and the markings as
presented on the official registration certificate. Also, check to see if the
person selling you the horse is the registered owner. If so, the seller should
sign the back of the certificate and provide you with a bill of sale. If not,
make sure that the seller provides you with a bill of sale from the registered
owner to the seller and a bill of sale from the seller to you. To register the
horse you will need the official registration certificate, signed, and documented proof of
the chain of ownership. Don't assume that you can get the paperwork straightened out
later just because the horse is a purebred Arabian. After the sale you will want
to conduct an official transfer of the registration for the horse into your name and receive an updated Registration Certificate to validate that you are the current registered owner of the horse.
Even if you do not plan to use the horse in shows, races or for breeding where
registration is required, the registration certificate will help retain the horse's
value. Besides, you never know what the next owner may want to do. Too often an older
horse is purchased for a son or daughter who wants to show, but the certificate was
not transferred properly creating enormous difficulties for the new owner.
A veterinary check can help you make an informed decision. Depending on how
well you know the owner or what type of assurances you may have in a purchase
agreement, you may want to hire a veterinarian to do a
pre-purchase exam.
{Return to Top}
As you might imagine there are no set rules when establishing prices but, be assured
that Arabians today are priced competitively with other popular horse breeds. And,
you will find that very good horses are available in every price range. This range
is established by the seller's circumstances, the horse's age, level of training,
conformation, pedigree, show record (if any), and even by the geographic area in
which you are looking. As you review the prices of horses you will see these prices
separate out into distinct categories. We won't attempt to tell you what to pay for
a horse, but rather give you some general guidelines for evaluating what you should
expect for your money.
Part of the cost is made up of its structural soundness and the level of training
the horse has had for a specific activity. The other part will consist of the "market
value" of the horse's potential based on its blood lines or its actual performance
history if it has been involved in a competitive activity. Generally, as prices go
up, more and more has been invested in the training of the horse and the closer the
horse is to being immediately "ready-to-go" for a particular activity, whether it be
trail riding, showing or even racing. If you are looking for an older horse, find out
about its recent history regarding use; by whom, how often, and about any peculiarities.
Most of all, get on that horse and ride it for a while. And, don't forget the vet
check.
When prices begin to get very high for foals or younger horses, the market is
putting a much higher value on the horse's pedigree, implying a potential for a
great show horse, race horse, etc., than it is on conformation or current
performance. On the other hand a proven champion show horse or race horse with
breeding potential, like any known entity, will be in much greater demand and
therefore claim a much higher price.
The thing to remember is that, although a history of champions in the horse's
pedigree can be a good indicator of potential for that horse, without proper
conformation, a good attitude, athletic ability and proof of soundness of structure,
the horse most likely will not meet your expectations. On the other hand, there are
many great horses that meet all of the criteria for great form, ability, and
disposition that come from more humble backgrounds and go on to be that dream
horse everyone is looking for, or even a champion athlete.
Check out the Arabians For Sale classified ads on this web site for a realistic view of current prices for Arabian horses. You'll find horses in all price ranges and for all uses.
{Return to Top}
Sometimes owners do have a fixed price on a horse, but more often than not the sales
price is negotiable. Offers tend to vary from five to fifteen percent off the
listed price depending on how motivated the seller is. The higher the price,
the more you'll be able to negotiate. If the horse checks out and you really want
it, make an offer. Sellers will often throw in some perks like lessons, temporary
boarding or transport to your location to maintain the sales price. These can be
helpful depending on your individual situation.
The best advice is to use a legal sales contract to eliminate any possible
misunderstandings in the future. If any additional perks were offered, make sure
that they are itemized in the sales agreement. Remember, once you sign the contract,
you own the horse. If you plan to get insurance, it should be effective the moment
your purchase is consumated, just in case something happens prior to getting the
horse home.
{Return to Top}
Return to Q & A Index
Click here to contact us if you didn't find the answer to your question.
|
