Is it okay to buy a horse if it us under $3000.00?

Question

It would be an older horse, and of course I would check to see if it is sound and healthy and everything. The thing is I am 13 years old and it would be my first horse and I have to pay for everything myself, so I don't really have a huge budget.

Answer 1

Yes! I know someone who sells horses for anywhere from $500-1,000 dollars.  

Answer 2

But of course! Every horse I have ever looked at was under 1000, and they were all wonderful! You can find a great animal for as little as fifty dollars, or you can rescue your best friend for free!

Answer 3

First off, paying for a horse is not just buying it.  It's bills bills bills (vet, farrier, board if you don't have your own place, etc), and those bills tend to add up.

I would recommend leasing for a while, just because you'd be able to get a (potentially) better horse with the option that, if it it doesn't work out, you can stop leasing.  With older horses, they may very well be sound, but they are much more prone to illness/injury, so your vet bills could end up being astronomical (but I guess that's how it goes with any horse).  Also, with an older horse, you probably won't have as much time where the horse is actually usable/alive.  If you're going to put forth all that effort and money to care for a horse, just to have it go lame/die right after you've started bonding with it (and I'm exaggerating that a LOT), it will be like throwing your money down the toilet.

I suggest you lease, save up some more money, get a lot of experience under your belt, and buy when you're a little older and more ready.

Answer 4

I bought myself a rescue horse 5 years ago for 20 dolars.  There was nothing wrong with him but he hated people.  It took me half a year to let me pet him and pick up his feet but within two years he was one of the best working horses on our ranch and some of our other QH are worth like 40 thousand.  And my little gelding age 14 now if and amazing roper. Just because the price tag is not huge does not mean the horses abilitys are.

Answer 5

Definitely! I got my amazing mare for 1,500 (which included tack) and she is amazing!

Also my friend who is in the NBHA bought her horse for $400 and he's now worth loads from training with her. He got her into the NBHA!

I'd suggest paying a vet or an experience horse person to come with you when you go check out the horse. They could find something you couldn't see, even with your experience.  

Answer 6

hmmm....

i'm in a smartbehind mood, so if i'm overly offending, dont mind me. hehe.

okay, well lets see, my priece range is 1,000 and under, and i've never owned a horse that i paid more then 2,500 for (low end show horse that i hoped to show, that was a bust, didnt pass the vet check..sigh)

Anyway, if you havent noticed, the economy is down, that means that people cant really afford to keep their horses, and that leads to the prices of horses DROPPING like flies with that ultra fly spray (hehe that stuff works great!! and can provide a blonde with hours of fun..hehe)

so horses that were once 5,000 in price, drop drop drop down fast.

it's not the price of buying a horse that's killer, it's the vet bills, the ferrier bills, the well just bout everything else you have to pile on after you buy the horse.

good luck, go buy an old schooling pony, i did that for my first horse. hehe, but that's just mah advice.

Answer 7

One thing that a lot of people who are horse shopping don't realize: The price tag on a horse has not a whit to do with is value...it's the value that the present owner has put on his horse to sell and means nothing else.  You have just as good of a chance to find a horse that will suit you, and one that you can be proud of for $750 as you can for $3000, so don't let the prices dictate the value of the horses that you are looking at.  Sometimes sellers can't sell a horse for $800, so they raise the price to $2500 and get him sold.  Same horse, nothing different but what it does mentally to the buyer.

Answer 8

Where I live (western Montana) you could get an older, relatively sound, well broke horse for nothing.  With feed costs as high as they are, many people are giving horses away.  There are veterinary costs, also, so you need to have some money saved up for that. The horse will need hoof trimming about every six to eight weeks, or maybe shoes.  My farrier charges $35 to trim, $85 for shoes.  Most farriers charge more.  You should call around and ask the charges so you know.  Hay is up around $200/ton.  Generally you need three tons. If you buy by the bale it is more.

I think that if someone is trying to sell you a horse for $3000, that's a lot of money, unless the horse is very good for a specific event, barrels or jumping or something.  

Do more research before you get a horse.  The costs I gave are for where I live. Costs vary by area.    

Have you looked into a shared lease at a local training barn?  That works for lots of people.

Answer 9

I would ever buy an old horse for that price

You should be looking for a horse that is 4-10 years old.

And there are much cheaper younger horses then that price.

Answer 10

sounds ok to me!  my horse was a ton more but i think it is fine if you know what you are getting into!

Answer 11

I bought a really good horse for $190.00  

Answer 12

If you are only young and have a smaller budget and depending on your experience, you are much better off going for an older horse.  

Answer 13

$3000 is actually a bit much for an older horse.  You can find many horses much cheaper than that that are well trained.  Some of them may not be registered but if it's you're first horse and you're not really looking to breed it or anything then that is ok.  I bought one of my horses for $200 and she is one of the best horses ever.

Try looking on equine.com. You can do an advanced search for your area, price range, breed, age, discipline, etc.

Answer 14

of course its fine to buy a horse for under $3000, you dont have to spend a fortune to get a good horse. i bought my thoroughbred for $1000, he did have some problems but he was a rescue horse. my friend just bought a 4 year old green broke paint mare for $200 at an auction, and she is the easiest horse to work with. i bought my first horse for $3000 and he was 16 years old. it all depends on the training and if you care about the bloodlines or not. you do have to ask questions about why they are selling the horse for so cheap(if it has bad vices, health problems, etc.)

Answer 15

I have only bought two horses over $2000.  Both of them are former show horses.  The rest have been very reasonable.

Angel, 20 y/o english pleasure mare w/ great papers in foal to the son of a WGC: $900

Delite, decent papers and great riding mare: $800

Maverick, amazing 16hh black gelding: $1200

Two were given to me.

The two ones I paid higher prices for are:

Harper, 6 y/o who is a highpoint champion as a 2 y/o, with decent papers and amazing potential: $2500

Beau, former champion hunter jumper, dressage, and cross country gelding: $3000

It really is possible to get a great horse for under $3k.  I love every one of mine, and I've been very lucky.  Best of luck to you!  I'll be more than happy to help you find a Tennessee Walker.

Answer 16

I've never bought a horse for over $400 and have gotten some great horses.  In fact, my best horse was FREE.

Answer 17

Definitely - sometimes the cost of a horse is not the slightest reflection of what you're getting.

My TBX gelding just turned 7 in April, is amazing under saddle, stands (almost perfectly, lol) for farrier and vet, is great with me messing around with his legs and feet, right down to putting on SWAT, and has attached himself firmly to my hip. I couldn't ask for a better friend and partner; and he cost me all of $200, paid to the equine rescue that saved his mother from a meat auction.

It's the rest of the costs that you're going to have to look out for. Please be realistic, and think of some worst case scenarios that might result in spending more on your horse's care than it cost you to buy  him or her in the first place.

But no, as long as the horse checks out (a history helps) don't let a low price deter you!

Answer 18

I just bought my horse for $1,800. He's absolutely perfect and everyday i'm SURE his value is increasing.

He's turning out to be quite the little jumper too.

So to answer your question, of course its okay. Just make sure you know what you are buying. Have fun!

Answer 19

Well first of all I've NEVER purchased a horse for more than 3000.

Many of my best horses have cost between FREE to 1500.00 You can find a Quality useable horse and many registered horses for under 3000. In fact for 4200 I've purchased 5 total registered appaloosa horses.

You don't have to spend tons of money for a horse especially if it's your first horse. Your 3000 budget should find you a very nice horse.

Answer 20

My horse was $1000.  A higher price doesn't necessarily mean better horse.  It depends on the horse and how it acts and how it may have been trained etc.  There are PLENTY of great horses out there for well under $3000.

Answer 21

Of Course it's alright to buy a horse for under 3,000 dollars I bought a Mare that was 14 for 800 dollars and she was great and when I went to Junior rodeo we always won barrels and poles I just bought a 21 yr. old arab. mix for 1,500 and we've won polebending at ky state 4-h got 2nd in flags 5th in barrels and 5th in showmanship. Nobody has to know how much you spent on it as long as its what you've been looking for!!!