Driving through the country, it seems like every other old family farmhouse attached to more than an acre of land will have at least one horse penned up in the front yard. This might create the impression that a decent horse can be bought just about anywhere, especially for the people, many of whom may be thinking about purchasing a horse recreationally, that consider central and south Texas drive-through or fly-over country. This impression isn’t entirely mistaken; there’s a large informal market for the sale of horses, with animals being exchanged for the second and third time by casual owners. What the prospective horse owner may not know is that this informal market is notorious for selling mistreated and neglected horses.
In many cases, this is not because the owner or seller is cruel — often just the opposite is true — but the care of a horse is more complicated and involved than for many animals owned recreationally, and many first-time or casual owners are not aware of these additional dimensions of care that are required, including regular, rigorous exercise; extensive dental treatment; and regular hoof cleaning and maintenance. It is not, as is commonly believed, enough to pen a horse in a grassy area with a tank of water and some oats and hay.
Because of this, a first time buyer should be aware of the reputation of any seller or breeder of horses from whom he intends to buy. A sign posted in someone’s yard saying ‘Horses for Sale’ isn’t enough. Ideally, either experience as a breeder or seller indicated by registration with a reputable trade organization or through referral should be sought. Barring that, there are a few key questions you can ask to determine whether the seller has cared sufficiently for the animal or not. You can see how much research he’s bothered to do himself by asking the age of the horse, the breeder, or where and when he bought it. Another more up front strategy would be to ask to examine the horse and the conditions it’s kept in; no reputable seller — for that matter, no honest person — should refuse this request.
As with most industries, there are also several websites advertising horses for sale and horse classifieds. These sites can be a useful resource, but often give little information detailing the reputability or integrity of individual sellers, and often function more as a general listing service like Craigslist or Ebay. While a casual seller isn’t necessarily an abusive or irresponsible owner, a reputable seller will do more to guarantee the quality and happiness of their animals.
Whitley Ranch is one of the top horse and cattle breeding operations in Southeast Texas. A producer of some of the highest quality Brangus cattle and finest bred horses for sale, the Whitley Ranch staff offers generations of experience. Visitors are always welcome to visit Whitley Ranch. Call General Manager Buddy Roulston at 979.251.1215, visit us at 8853 Whitley Ranch Lane in Brenham, TX, or view our website at http://www.whitleyranch.com/
