Less than 60 days later, the horse owner ended up in an emergency room with torn ligaments in her knee. The owner was on crutches for a long time and finally turned the horse over to a trainer who thought he would make a good cutting horse because he was “so handy on his feet.” Was it the horse’s fault that the owner ended up in the emergency room? Absolutely not. It was no one’s fault but the owner who not only witnessed all the signs of a horse with a lack of character, but was actually told by a professional that the horse had no character and was never going to be a horse you could put your trust in.

Any trained horseman would have spotted the character flaws in that horse before he came out of the trailer, just as I had done. So, as I mentioned earlier, the best way to save the most money on all the horses you will own in your lifetime is to invest in YOU. Do all that you can do to ensure that YOU are the best-trained, most well rounded rider you can be. This means learn to ride Western and English. Ride with professionals in all styles of riding that you can access. Find a riding instructor that you trust and you respect. Make sure their credentials include a safe, effective, fun, well-rounded program. I suggest that you spend a day visiting the stable of your choice and watch the lessons being given. If you hear a riding instructor screaming and yelling at students, keep looking, you haven’t found the right teacher yet.

If you want specific information on how to find the perfect first horse for you, check out my book, "A Parent's Guide to Buying That First Horse." It is filled with helpful information on exactly this topic.

I want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments or suggestions that you would like to share with the rest of us, drop me a line at:

Bonnie Marlewski-Probert
P.O. Box 548
Yellville, AR 72687

Or you can reach me on the Net at BRMP@AOL.com

For more information on any of Bonnie’s books,

A Parent’s Guide to Buying That First Horse
Debugging Your Horse
The Animal Lover’s Guide to the Internet
Horse Tales for the Soul, Volumes 1 – 5
Dog Tales for the Soul, Volume 1