HORSIN' AROUND WITH VAN HARGIS
"How to Purchase a Horse"

Good horses are hard to find, so today I'd like to talk about some of the basic things to look for in purchasing a good animal. The first thing to look for is a good quiet disposition, followed by conformation. Conformation is followed by color, or the particular breed you want. A lot of folks place too much emphasis on color, and forget about some of the other things such as disposition and conformation.

Consider what you want to do with your horse. The activities you wish to participate in should determine the breed you choose. For example, this horse is a ranch gelding. In purchasing him, I was looking for a horse with a good quiet disposition that can handle a lot of different situations, and he has a conformation that tells me he's going to be able to work and do a good job for me in a ranch setting. His color, obviously, is a nice bonus -- but nothing more than a bonus.

What I look for in purchasing an animal is a horse with a big, sound, quiet eyes. Eyes will tell you whether or not a horse will be nice and quiet -- an easy horse to train and educate. The horse should be what we call "balanced". Look for a solid build with a short back together with a nice slope to the shoulder and a long belly. These physical characteristics are important in a sound, healthy animal.

It's good to shop around, and make sure you're dealing with good reputable people; people who have been in the horse business for a while and understand good horse flesh. Personally, I feel that there are so many breed registrations out there today that buying a horse without registration is like buying a car without a certificate of title.

So when you are looking for a horse to purchase, make sure you're dealing with knowledgeable, reputable sellers; pay attention to disposition first, conformation second, and color or breed third; and make sure you're purchasing a registered horse. For more information about the characteristics, history, and purpose of various breeds, I recommend the Horse Breeds of the World web site.