Wednesday, September 26, 2012

When Looking For Horses For Sale Colorado Equestrians Should Choose Wisely

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By Patrice McCoy


When searching for horses for sale Colorado citizens would be well advised to find a local breeder. He will be keen to maintain a good reputation. If he doesn't have a mount to suit your needs, he may know of others in the district. Horses are advertised in many newspapers and journals. A horse is an expensive item and its purchase needs to be made with great care.

If you are not very experienced, you should take someone with you to appraise the animal. It is easy to get distracted by a long, flowing mane and tail and large, friendly eyes. Someone not personally involved in the transaction will be more objective in their judgement. If you are buying a particular breed for showing, you will need to know any special characteristics of the breed. For example, a Friesian horse should have little or no white markings on the legs and face.

Color is the least important aspect of a horse in most cases. A young horse and an inexperienced rider are not always a good match unless there is supervision of both as they learn. Horses are intelligent and very quick to learn bad habits. They also pick up on a person's indecision or timidity.

He will need to have good feet and legs. The legs should not look spindly or weak. The teeth should meet. The older the horse the more the teeth will slope but the teeth should still meet as he will be able to chew his food properly.

As well as having good bone, the hooves should be of good size with front and back pairs matching in size. The action should be reasonably straight. You can check this by having the horse trotted away from you in a straight line then trotted back.

A carriage horse in particular needs a wide chest and strong shoulders as this is where it pulls from. A riding horse gives a more comfortable ride if the shoulders are moderately sloping. Straight shoulders result in a choppy gait which is uncomfortable when ridden but not so important in a driven horse. Horses that are deep through the girth will have plenty of room for the lungs and heart.

Before riding or driving the animal yourself, ask the owner to put the animal through its paces. Don't expect the horse to go quite as well for you. However, you should feel safe and in control. The ears are a good barometer of the mood of the animal. Ears flat back mean it is angry or aggressive. When ridden the ears should be relaxed and flick back and forth occasionally to listen to the rider.

The horse should allow you to rub your hands over the coat without trying to evade your touch and without showing any anxiety. Pick up each hoof. It should allow itself to be led from the barn or field without fussing. It should stand still to be saddled. A well-mannered horse is much easier to manage and if, for some reason, you later need to sell it, it is always easier to find a good home for an animal with good manners. Before travelling miles to view horses for sale Colorado breeders should be the first people you contact.




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