Learn
A few honest, practical guides - not a blog, just the things we wish every first-time buyer knew before they called us.
Buying your first horse
Match the horse to your actual experience, not your goal experience.A green horse with a big future is a different purchase than a steady schoolmaster. If you're still building an independent seat, buy the boring one - you can always buy an exciting one later.
Ask what the horse has and hasn't done. “Trail safe” can mean anything from “hacked out twice” to “packed kids through a parade.” Ask for specifics, and ask what spooks them.
Get a vet check (a “PPE”) on anything you're seriously considering, even if the seller has already done one. It's a few hundred dollars against a purchase you'll live with for years.
Factor in board, farrier, and vet costs before you fall in love with a price tag. The purchase price is often the smallest number in horse ownership - see the cost breakdown below.
Visit more than once if you can, ideally at different times of day. A horse fresh off turnout behaves differently than one that's been standing in a stall all morning.
What our health checks mean
Every horse we list gets the same baseline workup before it goes up for sale:
- General soundness exam - our vet watches the horse walk and trot on hard and soft ground, flexes each leg, and checks for heat, swelling, or an uneven gait.
- Current vaccinations- core vaccines (tetanus, rabies, EEE/WEE, West Nile) kept up to date on a normal schedule, noted on each horse's record.
- Coggins test - a blood test for Equine Infectious Anemia, required for travel and sale in most states. We keep a current one on file for every horse.
- Dental and farrier check- teeth floated and feet trimmed on a normal schedule, so you're not walking into deferred maintenance.
This is a baseline, not a substitute for your own pre-purchase exam (“PPE”) with your own vet - we genuinely encourage you to get one, and we'll happily schedule a time for your vet to come out.
What it actually costs to keep a horse
Rough, honest, Central Texas ballpark numbers - your area and horse will vary:
| Expense | Typical monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Board (pasture) | $250 - $450 |
| Board (stall + turnout) | $450 - $900 |
| Feed & hay (if self-caring) | $100 - $250 |
| Farrier (trim every 6-8 weeks) | $35 - $60 |
| Farrier (shod) | $120 - $200 |
| Routine vet & vaccines (annualized) | $40 - $80 |
| Dental float (annualized) | $15 - $25 |
| Fly spray, supplements, incidentals | $30 - $60 |
All-in, most owners land somewhere between $300 and $800 a month, before any unplanned vet bills. Set aside an emergency fund - colic surgery alone can run $5,000-$10,000.
FAQ
Do you offer financing?
Not directly, but we're happy to work out a payment plan for the right buyer. Ask us.
Can I have my own vet do a pre-purchase exam?
Always. We'll schedule a time for your vet to come out, or you can arrange transport to your usual clinic.
Do you deliver?
We can arrange transport within about 200 miles for a fee, or recommend haulers we've used before for longer distances.
What if the horse doesn't work out?
See our health guarantee and 5-day trial policy on the About page - we'd rather take a horse back than see it end up in the wrong home.
Are the horses registered?
Some are, some are grade (unregistered) horses - it's noted on every individual listing along with what paperwork is available.
Still have questions? Get in touch.