Wise Buy

Take Charmayne’s solid advice on how to avoid some common pitfalls that can happen after you purchase a new barrel horse. By Charmayne James with Bonnie Wheatley Routine and a positive attitude will go a long way toward bonding with a new horse. (Megan Parks) I would venture to say that nearly everyone who has ever been in the market for a new barrel horse dreams of striking that magical combination with the horse they ultimately buy. Everyone wants to “click” instantly with a new horse, and most sellers want it that way too. However, there are some common pitfalls that can happen when a horse changes homes, and I want to talk about some things you should be prepared for during and after the buying process. Buying a horse is a major investment, so it’s very important to take into account all the specifics regarding the horse’s care and maintenance. If you don’t take care of them to keep them at the level they were when they came to you, it’s like taking a match to your money. All the specifics that go into the care of that horse are things you will have to learn and do in order to keep them physically and mentally sound. The last thing you want is to get home without a well-advised plan for care, training and conditioning and then decide that the horse is no good. If someone was riding that horse and winning on the horse, then learn every detail from them—how they rode and worked the horse, the overall care, conditioning and maintenance. Our horses are bred to be sensitive and responsive. Ironically, the horses that I’ve seen have the most trouble with a new owner are the ones that are really good at what they do. Horses that try very hard and are fast and smart tend to go down faster if they encounter stress and frustration with a new rider or an unfamiliar environment. I’ve always made an effort to help whenever I have sold a horse, or I knew of someone who could help the new owner, and I think that most people are willing to help if you will pay very close attention, ask questions and listen closely. The Transition Period Realistically, I think it takes on average six months, give or take, to really form a bond with a new horse. Give it time because everything changes overnight for that horse, and there is an adjustment period for the horse and the rider to learn the feel of each other. To go buy a horse that is winning at the top level, a rider has to have the ability to ride up to that level in order to keep the horse there. Have realistic expectations and the willingness to learn and ask questions. Watch videos and analyze everything the previous rider was doing. Set up time with the person who was riding the horse and learn the work that is needed during the week away from competition. It’s very important, particularly if you’re not a professional barrel racer, to have the mindset that you will probably have to adjust some of your riding habits for the horse. Be very diligent about the small details—the exercise routine, how much work on the barrels and what type of work on the barrels fit that horse. Pinpoint all those little things, and as your timing comes together with the horse over time, then you will probably be able to adjust a few things for what best suits you. But stick with the previous owner’s original program through the adjustment period because it will eliminate stress on you and the horse. Horses are trained to expect certain cues, a certain feel of the rider’s timing, seat, style, rein pressure, hands and overall feel. When you get a new horse home, it might not immediately understand the feel of you as its new rider. It might not be a bad horse innately, just confused by unfamiliar cues or mistakes. When horses get frustrated they get nervous, so listen to them and get some help when nervous symptoms surface. Home Sweet Home When a horse is uprooted completely from his surroundings, there is a readjustment period, and it’s few and far between that this doesn’t happen. Age plays a part in that too. Younger horses need more of a routine because they are usually a bit more insecure. Older horses are a lot more forgiving in general. It’s important to keep your new horse content, and you can help do that by sticking to the same schedule of feeding, exercise, maintenance and shoeing that were working before you got the horse. If the horse was on a winning program, stick to it precisely. A lot of people fall prey to switching to a mediocre shoer without taking into account that there are very few great shoers out there. That shoer can make a huge difference in the overall soundness of your new horse. Also, find out how the horse was being stalled or if it’s accustomed to pasture turnout. Stick to the same everyday routine in order to give the new horse time to adapt to its environment. Your new horse might not be accustomed at all to being out in the pasture, so it might be a change you make very gradually over time in order not to worry that horse or get him hurt. If the horse you purchased paces in the stall or has a little quirk, how did the previous owner manage that? Learn their management practices because changing homes, going to an all-new environment, to a new rider with a different personality and a lot of expectations is a big change for a horse, not just physically, but mentally. Keep it Positive Part of really doing all your homework includes being on the look out for what kind of pens your new horses excels in—deep ground, hard ground, small or big arenas. Conditions vary so much, and there may be situations that are more favorable for that particular horse. Knowledge of what setting the horse excels in will guide your expectations as a rider. Some horses perform better at jackpots, and others respond very well to the rodeo atmosphere and the different ground conditions. It also never hurts to have a little luck thrown in there, so be optimistic. Horses feed off optimism. It’s just like you or me. We prefer to be around happy, positive, optimistic people, and I think horses are the same. It’s amazing to watch the reaction horses have to different personality types. I think horses are much more sensitive than people are in that way. They are so in tune with what the person’s mindset and attitude areso be happy! If you’ve done your due diligence there’s no reason that you and your new horse shouldn’t click. For more information on Charmayne James, and her books, videos and clinics, visit charmaynejames11.com. E-mail comments or questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 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