Buying a horse

Please note that these guides do not constitute legal advice and any information provided in the guides should not be construed as legal advice or legal interpretation. We do not accept any liability for any loss caused by your reliance on this guide.

Buying a horse is a big commitment - financially and timewise. If you're considering buying a horse that you've seen advertised on DoneDeal, please ensure to take the following precautions:

• Make sure you can provide food, companionship, and healthcare for your new horse.
• Check that the breeder's facilities are clean and their animals are alert and healthy.
• Make sure the horse has a valid passport.
• Get written agreement that purchase is subject to a satisfactory examination by your vet within 48 hours of purchase.
• Check the ISPCA website for more information about owning a horse.

What you need to know about buying a horse/cob/pony

Do your research

Get advice from someone you can trust who has experience in buying a horse or pony

Have a good idea of what you are looking for before you go to the seller’s premises

Always go to the seller’s premises when viewing, do not meet elsewhere

What’s in the ad?

What is your price limit? Remember, sellers are often seasoned dealers so be sure not to be swayed on price

Is there a price on the ad, if not be sure to ask what approximate price the seller is looking for as this will eliminate any time-wasting for both parties

Phone beforehand and ask any questions that are not covered in the ad

Cut down on time-wasting

Arrange a suitable time to go to the seller’s premises to see the animal to help with your buying decision

Try not to waste each others time – if the animal is unsuitable do not be afraid to say so, there are plenty more equines for sale

Viewing the animal

If you are buying a pony for a child, make sure to bring the child with you when viewing

It would be advisable for the horse/pony to be ridden as a trial when you see it, this is always at your own risk, so be sure to bring your safety gear (helmet, back protector, boots etc)

What is the horse for?

What has the animal done – what level of equestrian discipline will you be partaking in – showjumping, eventing, hunting or simply hacking for leisure – there are usually videos and photos to back up a horse’s competition/activity  record

If the horse/pony is for leisure riding, make sure it is quiet and experienced, in other words, not a young and inexperienced animal

What is your level of riding experience? Do not bite off more than you can chew by buying an impressive horse that may be too much for you as a leisure rider

Condition of animal

Is the horse well looked after? Has it been vaccinated? Does it look healthy? Has it been wormed regularly (this is very important in equines)? Read our guide to horse health.

Make sure the animal has an Identification Document/Passport book. These are now a legal requirement in horse ownership. If the horse has no ‘book’ it is possible to get one from Horse Sport Ireland but will be an additional expense for you after purchase

Make sure you fill out the Transfer of Ownership form (available to download for free on www.horsesportireland.ie) but the transferral costs €40 and will need to be covered by you as the new owner

Expenses

Horses and ponies (cobs are small horses or large ponies) are expensive to keep

Before you purchase make sure you have somewhere to keep the animal. In summer months they can live outdoors but in the winter months horses need to be stabled at night in cold weather

Facilities

Do you have your own field and stable? If not, livery (keeping the horse at a yard) can cost from €70 per week (known as DIY livery where you must muck out and feed the horse) rising to €100-120 per week for full livery (where the livery yard looks after the horse in full)

If you have your own facilities remember you will also have to pay for bedding (straw/shavings) €10-20 per bale lasting about a fortnight, hay/haylage €20-30 for a round bale lasting approx. 4 weeks for one horse and horse food €10-15 for 20kg bag lasting for 1-2 weeks for one horse, as well as shoeing of the horse every 6-8 weeks by a farrier (€50-€70 for every set of 4 shoes)

Transport

You will also have to transport the horse from A to B, so you will need a horsebox (see our transport section)

Veterinary

Horses will sometimes need veterinary attention which can range from simple vaccinations to more serious assessments of lameness or ill health for example

Before purchasing the horse may need a full veterinary examination which costs approximately €100

A full veterinary is only necessary if the horse is to be used in competition and needs to be sold on again at a later stage

Ponies and cobs for leisure riding will generally not need to be examined before purchasing

Read our guide to horse health

Equipment

For leisure riding, you will need the basic riding equipment of a helmet, back protector, riding gloves and jodhpurs as well as tack for your horse – bridle and saddle – and a headcollar and leadrope for daily handling. You will also need indoor and outdoor rugs for your horse to keep it clean and warm

Time

You will need to allocate daily hours to look after and /or exercise your horse – allow 2 to 3 hours every day for mucking out, exercising and feeding regime

Remember, once you own a horse they have to be looked after every day (unless at grass in the summer months). Horses are creatures of habit and only benefit from a structured routine

A horse can live up to 25 years old and far beyond in many cases. Be prepared for many years of looking after your equine. Afterall, they will depend on you, as their new owner.

What you need to know about buying a horsebox

Do your research

There are many types of horseboxes for sale, so make sure you know what you are looking for

Will you be using the horsebox frequently or just occasionally, maybe you have a friend with a horsebox that you can borrow (See our equine notice board)

Types of horseboxes

There are horseboxes that carry two horses (double horseboxes), horseboxes that carry one horse (single horseboxes) and there are many different sizes of horse lorries which carry anything from three to six or more horses/ponies

What’s in the ad?

What is your price limit? Remember, sellers are often seasoned dealers so be sure not to be swayed on price

Is there a price on the ad, if not be sure to ask what approximate price the seller is looking for as this will eliminate any time-wasting for both parties

Phone beforehand and ask any questions that are not covered in the ad

Does the ad have good quality photos of the horsebox – if not ask plenty of questions when arranging a viewing time

Seek advice

Ask someone experienced for advice and bring them along when viewing the item

Do you have your towing licence? This is a legal requirement in Ireland when towing certain weights

Arranging to view the horsebox

Always arrange to meet the seller at their own premises when viewing the horsebox

Ask plenty of questions about the horsebox – what age is it? Did they own it from new? Where did they purchase it? Try to make sure that the seller is trustworthy by asking them a number of questions

All modern horseboxes have identity codes on their tow bar/hitch area so check that this has not been tampered with

What to look out for

Is the horsebox in good condition?

Are its tyres in good order?

Most horseboxes have rubber matting on the floor – is this in good condition?

Check both inside and outside for any damage or to make sure that it has its partition (in a double horsebox) and the front and rear bars for transporting the horses

What you need to know about horse driving equipment

Seek advice

What do you want to buy? There are many types of driving equipment

Seek advice from someone you can trust and bring them along when viewing the equipment

What are you looking for?

There are a number of types of driving carriages which can be pulled by a horse

There are traditional traps and carts (usually wooden with wooden-spoked wheels) that can carry approximately four people

There are also more lightweight ‘sulkies’ for trotting races. These tend to be made of a lightweight metal with two rubber tyred, spoked wheels and generally carry one person

What’s in the ad?

What is your price limit? Remember, sellers are often seasoned dealers so be sure not to be swayed on price

Is there a price on the ad, if not be sure to ask what approximate price the seller is looking for as this will eliminate any time-wasting for both parties

Phone beforehand and ask any questions that are not covered in the ad

Tack

For horse drawn activities, you will need different tack from riding tack.

You will need tack specifically designed for horse-drawn activities – a blinkered bridle with a driving bit and long reins, a collar, a straddle and hames for attaching the shafts of the drawn vehicle to the horse

Horse-drawn activities and carriage driving need a strong level of expertise and should not be attempted without prior knowledge or under supervision of a knowledgeable carriage driving individual

What’s in the ad?

What is your price limit? Remember, sellers are often seasoned dealers so be sure not to be swayed on price

Is there a price on the ad, if not be sure to ask what approximate price the seller is looking for as this will eliminate any time-wasting for both parties

Phone beforehand and ask any questions that are not covered in the ad

Photos and videos

Are there good quality photos and/or videos in the advertisement?

Ask any questions that are not answered in the ad when you phone to arrange a viewing time

Be aware

Who are you buying from? Are they trustworthy?

Arrange to view the horse-drawn vehicle at the seller’s premises

If there are horses there, are they healthy and in good condition

The use of lightweight trotting sulkies on roads is highly dangerous and the ISPCA is working to introduce bye-laws under the Control of Horses Act to combat this

What you need to know about buying equestrian equipment

What type of equipment?

There are many types of equestrian equipment for sale

Use the search tool to narrow down what you are looking for on the Done Deal site

What’s in the ad?

What is your price limit? Remember, sellers are often seasoned dealers so be sure not to be swayed on price

Is there a price on the ad, if not be sure to ask what approximate price the seller is looking for as this will eliminate any time-wasting for both parties

Phone beforehand and ask any questions that are not covered in the ad

Safety equipment

If you are buying safety equipment (helmets, back protectors) make sure that they are in good condition and are not too old, preferably under approximately 5 years old as safety standards are constantly evolving in equestrian equipment

If you are buying a riding helmet, in particular, make sure it has not suffered any major impact

Ask the seller how old it is, did they buy it from new?

If it has suffered impact, it may be damaged so will not be safe to use as a safety helmet

Make sure the helmet/back protector is up to safety standards. Is it kitemarked? You will find this inside the helmet, on the label

Make sure that safety equipment is the correct fit or it may not perform properly

Wear and tear

If you are buying a bridle, saddle or leather equipment make sure the items are in good order

Be sure that the items are the correct size for your horse/pony

Have the leather goods been well looked after? Have they been regularly treated with saddle soap or neatsfoot oil? Are there any obvious signs of wear and tear? Is there any obvious cracking of the leather?

Correct fit

With saddles, it is important that they fit your horse correctly so it may be necessary to arrange a fitting by bringing you horse (if this is suitable for you and the seller)

Bridles, martingales, breastplates are generally sized pony, cob and full-size

Make sure that any equestrian clothing fits you properly or if it’s for someone else make sure to bring them along to make sure the item fits

What you need to know about buying horse feed and/or bedding

What are you looking for?

There are many types of feed and bedding for equines

Do your research and ask someone in the know before you go to purchase

Bring someone knowledgeable with you when viewing

Always view the item for sale at the seller’s premises

Horse feed

‘Hard feed’ for horses/ponies - coarse mixes, nuts and cereals (oats, maize, barley etc) can be bought in 20-25 kg bags (approximately €10-15 per bag) or in large bulk orders of varying prices

Horse feed is generally sold at co-ops, farm shops or veterinary premises

What type of feed?

‘Hard’ horse feed ranges in quality, energy and vitamin levels which is detailed on the product’s labelling

Be sure not to overfeed your horse/pony. A leisure/hacking animal will only need a low-energy oat-free 10% protein feed, whereas a competition horse will need a 12-15% protein feed with high energy cereals

It is always important to remember the old equine saying, ‘feed little and often’

Hay

Horses that are stabled or on insufficient grass will need to be fed ‘ad lib’ hay or haylage

A round bale of hay costs €20-25 and will last one horse about 3 to 4 weeks

Square bales of hay cost approximately €3 each and last one horse about 5 days

Haylage and silage

A round bale of haylage costs approximately €25 but because it is a fermented grass wrapped in plastic it needs to be used within one week of opening or it will become mouldy and dangerous to ingest

You can purchase small square bales of haylage for approximately €8 which will last one horse about 4 days

When purchasing haylage make sure the outer plastic wrapping has no holes or tears as this causes mould in the haylage

Silage is a further fermented type of forage and costs approximately the same as wrapped haylage, but of the two, haylage is more suited to equine digestion

Bedding

There are many types of bedding for equines – straw, shavings, shredded paper, shredded rubber, rubber matting etc

What are your bedding requirements?

Straw is generally the most economical type of bedding – a round bale will cost €10-15 each depending on how good the autumn harvest has been – a round bale will last one horse approximately two to three weeks

Wood shavings cost approximately €6-8 per square bale but you will need two bales to give a good base. You will need one bale per week per horse

Transportation

As with any feeding/bedding type, when bought in bulk the cheaper it becomes per unit or weight

Some sellers will deliver to your premises in bulk for free or for an extra charge if buying in smaller quantities

Can you transport the feeding or round bales yourself?

Storage

It is very important that hay and straw are stored in a dry area like a shed otherwise they will be affected by bad weather

With wrapped haylage/silage/shavings be sure that there are no holes in the wrapping that may cause mouldiness to develop. They can be stored outside if the wrapping has no holes in it