Nov 21, 2020

Top 10 Tips for Purchasing a Horse with Courtney Cooper

Courtney Cooper and Briarhill Excell Star Take 2 at The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

The process of purchasing a new equine partner can be a daunting one. Where do you start? What are the important questions to ask? What red flags should you be on the lookout for?

Five-star eventer Courtney Cooper owns and operates C Square Farm and is a partner in Excel Star Sporthorses in Nottingham, Pennsylvania and Aiken, South Carolina where she buys, sells, and consigns horses as well as trains students, teaches horses, and runs a successful breeding operation. With extensive experience sourcing horses domestically and overseas, Cooper shares her top tips to remember when you are on the hunt for your next horse.

  1. Set up your parameters to help you clarify your search. These six parameters will help you clarify what types of horses you should be looking at. This is also a good time to ask a trusted professional to help you with everything from simply reviewing your parameters to acting as a buyer’s agent.
    1. Age
    2. Height
    3. Sex
    4. Experience
    5. Conformation
    6. Movement
  2. Be very honest with yourself regarding your riding abilities. More than ever, I value trainability and attitude over almost any other criteria. I will take a young horse with a great attitude over an older horse with a suspect attitude any day. Athletic ability is great, but if you can’t ride him, then it’s not helpful. If you cannot ride him, then he is the wrong horse for you!
  3. Do not be fearful of dealing with people that you’ve never met. Simply ask them for references in addition to asking them for examples of the horses that they’ve sold. Also, be sure to ask them what they do should the horse you purchase not work out.
  4. When you are trying a horse, be sure to watch the horse being tacked up and handled in the barn as this will give you a good idea of their personality. And ALWAYS have someone else ride the horse first. If possible, try to bring a friend or trainer with you to video and ask any questions that you might forget about.
  5. The first thing you should do when you get on a new horse is make sure you have brakes. I always do a few walk-halt transitions before moving on with the rest of my ride.
  6. If at any point during your sales appointment you decide that you don’t like the horse, don’t be afraid to speak up and wrap up the visit. No one will be mad, and if anything, they will be appreciative of you being honest.
  7. If you decide that you like riding the horse, continue to ask questions. Some important questions can include: What is the horse’s turnout routine? How does the horse deal with days off? Is the horse only ridden by professionals? And anything else that may affect how the horse transitions from his current situation to your life.
  8. When it comes time to do a pre-purchase exam, remember that the exam is just showing you a moment in time. Be sure to keep the horse’s history in mind and discuss with your vet whether the horse will be able to do the job you’d like them for.
  9. Ask for the horse’s entire health records as part of your pre-purchase exam. If the owner is unwilling to do so, that might be a red flag. Or if you receive incomplete records, that might be another red flag.
  10. For people that are having trouble deciding on “the one,” I like to remind them of the great Jim Wofford’s advice: “What horse do you wake up thinking about, and what horse do you want to see first thing in the morning? I always liken your horse relationship to a marriage – you want a horse that you will always love, even if you don’t like them in the moment.”

Want more tips from top professionals? Check out other articles in our Top 10 Tips series!

Nov 05, 2024 Interscholastic

Request for Expressions of Interest: USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships Host Sites

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is excited to announce a request for expressions of interest to host the first standalone USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships in 2026 and 2027. With the success of the inaugural joint championships in 2024, the USEA is confident that the progression of these programs lends to a standalone event for these hardworking students in 5th through 12th grade and undergraduate college programs.

Nov 04, 2024 Convention

USEA Podcast #373: Make a Difference in Your Sport at the 2024 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention

The USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is easily one of the most influential weeks in the sport of eventing in the U.S. and this year it is headed to Seattle, Washington, Dec. 12-15. USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown talks about all the details surrounding this year's Convention with USEA CEO Rob Burk and USEA President Lou Leslie. From important discussions around safety and horsemanship to a charity poker tournament and more, there is so much going on in Seattle this year that you won't want to miss!

Nov 03, 2024 News

33 Strength and Fitness Workouts for Horses

The following is an excerpt from 33 Strength and Fitness Workouts for Horses by equine training and conditioning expert Jec Aristotle Ballou. Strength routines and this workout are for horses and riders with a good existing level of fitness who are working toward increased strength and endurance.

Nov 02, 2024 Competitions

Best for Last in the CCI4*-L at the Eventing Championships at Galway Downs

Being the last rider in the final competition of the day can be an unenviable position. Molly Duda felt the pressure all day while gearing up for her ride on her own 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding Disco Traveler (Donatelli x Cadence).

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA