Bit Headstall
10 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying Your First Horse
Being a horse owner requires a sizable investment of both dollars and hours. The emotional energy spent is a large factor as well. One of the first decisions you’ll have to make is which horse to buy from among countless choices.
Of course, it’s important to do your homework first or you run the risk of buying a horse that’s a bad match Choosing poorly could mean you end up with a dangerous horse or one that requires a great deal of work with a qaulified trainer before you can ride hime.
Make a plan before you look at horses for sale and do these 10 basic steps first.
null How Good A Rider Are You?
Be honest. You’re not doing yourself any favors by overstating your experience and abilities. Remember that most horses won’t take your word for it – they will test you and he will exploit your inexperience.
Even if you’ve ridden before, now would be a good time to take some riding lessons – if you haven’t ridden before, now is absolutely the time to take lessons. Lessons will be a good refresher or a solid start on proper horsemanship. Even if you have some experience on horseback, a qualified riding instructor will be able to recognize and correct any bad habits or mistakes that could lead to problems with your new horse.
In addition to learning to ride a horse, you’ll also learn how to safely groom and handle one. And having a relationship with a trainer can be priceless if you find need help with your horse in the future.
null What Type of Riding Will You Do?
There are many types of horse riding styles that fall into the broad categories Western and English. There are several, more specific choices that fall into those categories like trail riding, endurance riding, jumping, Dressage, and eventing, just to name a few. However, there’s no need to choose only one.
Regardless of discipline, though, it’s important to know ahead of time whether you’ll ride only for recreation or if you hope to compete. So, consider not only the disciplines you wish to pursue, but how far you wish to pursue them.
3. What Kind of Person Are You?
Yep, you need to know yourself before you get to know your horse. How would you describe your personality? Outgoing, bold, and upbeat or quiet, subued, and low key? Who you are is just as important a consideration as how you hope to ride in selecting a good equine partner. Some riders want a horse with a big engine and a lot of fire. Others like a horse to be quiet and laid back. While it isn’t wise to consider horses to be pets, they do often reflect the personalities of their owners just like cats and dogs do.
One very important note I always share with people is that it’s generally easier to get a slow, slightly lazy horse to rev his engine and pick up the pace than it is to get a fireball to calm down and take it slow. So unless you’re planning to (and are capable of) competing in very demanding, high-performance disciplines, always err on the side of choosing a horse that’s slower and calmer than you think you want.
4. Is There a Particular Breed You’re Interested In?
Don’t worry if you don’t have a breed preference – your personality and riding goals will help determine this to some degree. Some breeds are associated with certain types of riding. For instance, Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods are usually thought of for the Hunter/Jumper circuit or dressage. Quarter Horses and Appaloosas have historically been popular in western disciplines.
5. Big Horse or Small Horse?
For kids, and even small adults, consider a pony that you can easily handle and groom. Better that a child outgrow the horse in a few years and have to pass him along to another young rider than be intimidated by too large a horse as they are just getting started in their riding.
If you’re looking for one for yourself, consider both your own personal stature and the type of riding you want to do. Western styles of riding do not require a large horse and most of the stock type horses can carry a large adult even if the horse is 15 hands or smaller. Small horses are also easier to mount without a step up or boost. You’ll rarely find these items along the trail.
If you’re considering hunter/jumper competition, than you’d do well to look for a horse of 16 hands or more. However, smaller horses can be very capable for learning to jump with and competing in smaller, local shows. You can always super-size your horse later on as your skills and ambitions grow.
6. Mare or Gelding?
A gelding or a mare should be your only consideration. Stallions are a handful even for experienced riders.
Geldings are especially popular because they tend to be more predictable. Preferably he was gelded before his second birthday so that he never learned stallion behavior.
Mares also make great equine partners, though they sometimes get a bad reputation for being moody when in heat. That’s occasionally true, but plenty of mares have calm, stable personalities.
7. Will You Keep Your Horse on Your Property or Elsewhere?
If you’ll be housing your horse at a boarding facility, you’ll want to take the time to visit several. If you’ve been taking lessons at a facility that offers boarding, that may very well be your best choice. Nonetheless, it’s always a good idea to look around and consider your options.
Some barns and boarding facilities cater to specific disciplines, which is great if that’s the discipline you plan to pursue. On the other hand, being the only western pleasure rider at a dressage facility might be less than satisfying.
Keeping your horse on your own property is the dream of nearly every horse owner, but you’ll need to be sure you’ve got approrpiate fencing, a barn for shelter, and enough time to feed and care for yourself all by yourself. Find out any local and state liability laws for a horse property before you bring your new horse home.
8. How Much Can You Pay For a Horse?
Purchasing a horse can require a sizable outlay of money. It goes without saying that the more you can spend, the greater choices you will have. Having your money saved ahead of time will put you in a stronger negotiating position with sellers. Buying a horse on payments is sometimes an option, but sellers are less likely to reduce the total price under these circumstances.
Take some time and visit some horse websites to get a feel for how much you’ll have to spend for the type of horse you’re looking for. Though I wouldn’t recommend buying a horse over the internet without seeing it for yourself first. Simply use your onine research as the first step in the buying process and to set your budget.
9. Can you Afford the Ongoing Expenses of Horse Ownership.
Speaking of budget, the cost of a horse doesn’t end when you buy him. In fact, it’s just getting started. If you plan to board your horse at local equestrian facility, your monthly expenses include board (which typically includes feed, hay, and bedding), lessons, and nutritional supplements. Keeping your horse on your property makes you responsible for feed, hay, and bedding, but you won’t have the boarding cost.
There are reoccurring expenses that don’t come every month but still need to be added up for a year’s cost and averaged as a monthly expense. These include farrier visits, worming, vaccinations and vet care such as floating teeth and an annual Coggins test.
10. Are you Tacked Up?
Purchase the basic supplies before you get your horse so that you’ll be all set when you bring him home. Brushes, shampoo, liniment, leg wraps, buckets, and a first aid kit are a good start on supplies to have ready.
After you get your horse home, or at least after you’ve picked her out and closed the sale, you’ll need to shop for a headstall, bit, reins, curb strap, saddle pad, saddle, girth, halter, and lead rope. It’s important not to put the tack cart before the horse as so many of these items need to be fitted specifically to your horse.
It’s always a good idea to have your instructor or another experienced horse person help you select these items to ensure they are the proper size, type, and style for your horse and the way you plan to ride. Never pass up an opportunity to buy used tack, either. The price of this gear can add up very quickly and you can save a lot of money by considering pre-owned tack that’s in good condition.
Now, Go Ride!
Having answered all those questions, hopefully you’ve arrived at a place where you’re ready to begin shopping for a horse. But please don’t feel like you have to go it alone. Horse people are almost always anxious to offer guidance and direction to people just coming to the sport. And who doesn’t love to go horse shopping, even if were not shopping for ourselves!?
Spyder’s new bit, headstall and reins
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Used Leather One-Ear (Braided) Bridle Headstall with Bit Horse Size $12.99 |
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Greg Darnell Billy Allen Bit & Cowboy Tack Headstall $70.00 |
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FANCY COMPLETE MATCHING SET: SILVER BIT BUCKSTITCHED HEADSTALL HORSE HAIR REINS $395.00 |
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Western SHOW Headstall Bit – Shank Bit – 5″ – Stainless Steel – NEW $7.99 |
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KMSS Balanced 4″ Stainless Steel Western Medium Port Pony Bit Bridle Headstall $19.95 |
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Shoofly Cowboy Rawhide Horsehair Tassle Bridle Headstall Bit Curb Strap $23.99 |
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Leather Horse Show Bridle Headstall Bit Curb Strap w/ Rope Center Turquoise Teal $11.99 |
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Leather Horse Show Bridle Headstall Bit Curb Strap w/ Rope Center RED $11.99 |
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Leather Horse Show Bridle Headstall Bit Curb Strap w/ Rope Center WHITE $11.99 |
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Stainless Steel Curb Chain w/ 2 Quick Links 10″ x 3 mm for Bridle Headstall Bit $10.99 |
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NYLON HEADSTALL WITH COPPER MOUTH BIT $4.99 |
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NEW English Bridle, Snaffle Bit Reins Headstall $75.00 |
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Horse Colorado saddlery O-ring bit/burgundy easy-change 1 eared nylon headstall $15.00 |
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NEW BRIDLE W/ SINGLE EAR HEADSTALL SNAFFLE BIT CURB AND REINS $20.69 |
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1 Ear Large Headstall With Bit $15.00 |
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Walking horse stainless steel bit with adjustable nylon one-ear headstall $12.00 |
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Headstall Bridle HS Bit Loose Ring Bit Reins Noseband Browband Braided Drk Brown $85.00 |
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Vintage Bronze Nickle INDIAN HEAD Horse Bit with Headstall & Reins NORTH & JUDD $199.00 |
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Nice Vintage old Used Western KEYSTONE BROS. bridle headstall reins with BIT $150.00 |
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Barrel Racing! Soft! Single Ear Headstall with New Barrel Bit & 7′ Cotton Reins! $8.00 |
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Antique Western silver bit w/ headstall & reins (628) $65.00 |
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antique iron horse bit early 1900s hackamore &headstall rare $25.00 |
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HEADSTALL 1 EAR COWBOY WORKING HARNESS LEATHER LIGHT OIL AMISH MADE TIE BIT END $19.99 |
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Vintage Garcia Set, headstall, bit and matching reins $3,000.00 |
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Regular Headstall with Loop Reins and Snaffle Bit Complete Older Good Shape $20.00 |
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HUGE LOT OF WESTERN TACK – bridle, headstall, cinch, bits, boots – 517-1 $0.99 |
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SHOWMAN Western Horse Headstall CA BB Rawhide D Bit End $54.00 |
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Dark Oil Silver Show Headstall, Reins Silver Heart Bit Complete Show Set $169.00 |
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Lightly Used Noavel Headstall – Horse Tack Bridle Bit Reins Saddle Halter $56.00 |
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RARE ANTIQUE/VINTAGE HANDMADE SNAFFLE BIT SWEET IRON HEADSTALL SADDLE $9.99 |
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ANTIQUE/VINTAGE HANDMADE SNAFFLE BIT NICKEL PLATED SWEET IRON HEADSTALL SADDLE $9.99 |
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Horse tack barrel racing headstall reins bit $25.80 |
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Used single loop headstall with 5 inch correction bit- sweet iron/copper- $14.99 |
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1800′s Vintage Headstall with North and Judd kissing bird bit with Romel reins $150.00 |
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WATER LOOPS FOR BRIDLE HEADSTALL,BIT SADDLE,SHOW,PLEASURE LEATHER $8.00 |
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NEW Black Leather Walking Horse Bridle Black Pat Brow $28.00 Quality Leather Walking Horse bridle. This is a great beginner show bridle. Choice leather with Elegant styling. Designed to fit walking horses. Complete with stitched caveson and fancy browband, leather reins and throatlatch. Reins and Headstall bit ends have hook closure. Caveson and throatlatch have buckle closures.You have to see to believe how nice this bridle is! Such a deal!Size: HORSE . Co… |
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Saddlesmith of Texas Pony Bridle W/Curb Bit $33.99 This Pony Bridle Features A 5/8″ Wide Strap W/ Bit Tie Ends, Split Reins And A Nickle Plaited Curb Bit…. |
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Weaver Gag Bridle w/Sweet Iron Snaffle Bit $37.90 The Weaver Gag Bridle works as a normal snaffle, with gag action only as needed. A great training tool, it teaches flex, bend, and head set. This 3/8″ nylon rope bridle features top quality materials and three different bits are available. Features: Stitched burgundy latigo leather earpiece A great way to teach flex, bend, and head set Rein rings and stainless steel sliding bit 5″ smooth sweet iro… |