by Amber Lesovoy

Created on: March 16, 2009   Last Updated: September 23, 2009

Always Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

The phrase "you get what you pay for" may not be true in some things, but where horses are concerned, it's quite accurate. With the economy in the dumps these days, people have a lot less money to spend. Horse owners are cutting back and selling stock in an effort to lower the cost of hay, feed, and upkeep of their stock. Demand for horses is low, and free or nearly free horses can be found in just about any area. There is always a reason for the low price, and a desperate seller is unlikely to divulge the whole truth about the history of their animal. Most freebie horses will end up being the most expensive in the long run due to age related, behavioral, or medical issues.

Older horses are often listed on websites such as Craigslist because they require more care than the average horse. Special feeds and supplements are necessary to maintain adequate weight and joint function, and sometimes even with the best of care these horses simply cannot work anymore. Instead of being retired to pasture or humanely euthanized with dignity, the horses are passed along at very low prices to inexperienced buyers and inevitably end up in very bad situations. Bargain seekers are drawn to these horses because they believe that if a horse is over twenty years old, he must be well trained and sedate and therefore safe for beginner riders. The truth of the matter is that personality does not change that much as a horse ages, and chances are a five year old with a bucking problem will be exactly the same way at 25, if not worse. Even elderly horses can have extremely dangerous behavioral issues that can cause serious injury or death.

Young horses are common "freebie" horses, simply because they lack training. They tend to be the result of an owners poorly planned breeding of two lower end horses, in an effort to either make money or because they think it will be fun to raise a baby and let their children experience the miracle of birth. They quickly realize that young horses are expensive, rambunctious, and will develop dangerous vices if not handled properly. Not surprisingly, they want the animals gone quickly. Novice horse owners pick these cheap babies up with little understanding of the level of experience needed to properly raise and train a youngster. These horses wind up being labelled dangerous and sold, usually after injuring an inexperienced handler. A free baby can be a very good deal if you have the knowledge and experience

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