How to Buy a Morgan Horse to Buy a Morgan Horse ... the costs of various types of horse care in your area. ... generally first trained to drive as early as two

How to Buy a

Morgan Horse

Phot

o ©

Stu

art V

esty

w

ww

.ves

ty.c

om

HowToBuyAMorgan 10/15/10 3:37 PM Page 3

2

3 IntroductionBecome a Member of the American Morgan Horse Association

3 Examine Your ResourcesTimeMoneySkills

5 Selecting the Morgan HorseTemperamentSizeAgeGenderLevel of TrainingSuitability to Discipline

7 The Morgan Standard of Perfection8 Breeding and Bloodlines8 Finding Morgan Horses for Sale

The AMHACompetitionsLocal PublicationsThe InternetSales

9 Communicating With the SellerCaveat EmptorVideos/PhotosCompetition RecordsCare RecordsDaily HandlingTraining HistoryTrying the HorsePriceCommissionsDepositsPayment TermsWarranties/GuaranteesTrial Periods

12 The Purchase ProcessThe Pre-Purchase ExamDocumentationLeasingInsurance

14 Conclusion14 Resources


3

INTRODUCTIONThe selection and purchase of your Morganhorse is the first step to an involvement withthe Morgan world that can be one of themost rewarding and enjoyable experiences youwill ever have. The information in this book-let will help guide you through the process ofselecting and purchasing the Morgan horsethat is right for you. While this booklet willprovide you with a lot of answers aboutselecting and buying your new Morgan, youwill discover many questions for which youwill have to find your own answers. Theanswers to those questions will determine inlarge measure what Morgan is right for you.The more diligent you are in asking thosequestions, and the better you understand theanswers, the better the relationship you andyour new Morgan will have.

Become a Member of the American Morgan Horse AssociationYou will find many references in this booklet asto how the American Morgan HorseAssociation (AMHA) can be of valuable assis-tance to you before, during, and after the pur-chase of your Morgan. Perhaps the first orderof business is to become an AMHA member.

EXAMINE YOUR RESOURCESThe first step in the selection of a Morganhorse that will meet your expectations and becapable of delivering the full potential of theMorgan experience involves some examina-

tion of your resources. As a horse owner, youhave the obligation to care for your newMorgan properly. Before you buy a horse,be sure you understand what your responsi-bilities will be and how they will be carriedout. If a Morgan is to be your first horse,the assistance of experienced Morgan own-ers and professional Morgan trainers can beinvaluable. They can help you assess yourneeds, resources, and goals to help steer youto the right horse. The AMHA can provideyou with a list of Morgan owners andtrainers in your area who will be glad toassist you in finding and purchasing yourfirst Morgan horse.

TimeYour enjoyment of Morgan horse ownershipwill significantly improve if, in the very begin-ning of the process, you closely examine youravailable resources. Of particular importanceis time. How much time can you devote toyour Morgan? How you answer this questionwill make a tremendous difference to the costof horse ownership. Do you have time to carefor your horse at home Maintaining a stableat home can be very enjoyable, but it willrequire a commitment of your time with yourhorse. It is important to remember that thiswill be time in addition to the pure recre-ational time with your Morgan. If you do nothave time to maintain a stable by yourself, youmay want to consider paying for some extra


help at home, or it may make sense to boardyour Morgan at a facility where its routinedaily care can be done for you so your timecan be used for trail riding, driving, lessons,competitions, etc.

MoneyIt is often said that buying the horse is thecheapest part. It is unfair to your Morgan tobuy it and then discover your financialresources will not allow you to care for itproperly. Annual care and maintenance costsvary greatly depending on many things. Ahorse turned out to pasture year round willcost considerably less than a youngster in full-time professional training. Horse care costsalso vary depending on where you live.Fortunately Morgans are relatively inexpen-sive to feed and care for, and are known as“easy keepers.” Ask local horse owners aboutthe costs of various types of horse care inyour area. Before you buy your Morgan,understand there is a huge difference betweena hobby and a business in the horse world.The vast majority of Morgan owners owntheir Morgans purely for recreational enjoy-ment. If you are considering entering the

Morgan world from a business standpoint,talk first with your financial advisers and otherpeople already engaged in the facet of theMorgan business that interests you. Engagingin a business with horses, like any businessendeavor, usually involves significant financialresources, a clear business plan, and a seriouslong-term commitment. If you are going toown horses for pure recreation, be realisticabout the chances of your hobby returningincome. For many families with children, timewith their Morgan is time together, and thathas rewards money can’t buy.

The price of your new Morgan will varydepending on the horse’s age, breeding, levelof training, competitive ability, and overallquality as a representative of the Morganbreed. Prices also vary slightly depending ongeographic location. As the popularity of theMorgan breed spreads to other countries,even currency exchange rates can come intoplay. Once you have a clear determination ofyour specific needs, stick to your selected cri-teria and, when you find the right Morgan, bewilling to pay just a little bit more if you can.You will not regret it.

SkillsIn selecting the right Morgan horse, you mustassess your own equine skills. If you arealready an experienced rider or driver, mostlikely you have a clear idea about the level oftraining and ability your new horse alreadyshould have. However, if you do not havemuch horse experience, consider taking somelessons with a professional trainer in order toassess your skill level and make a better deter-mination of the training level your newMorgan should have to match your skills.While it is an attractive idea to buy a horse to“move up to” in terms of your own skills, itmay prove to be very frustrating to own ahorse you cannot enjoy because it is tooadvanced for your skill level. If there is anyquestion, re-examine your choice and recon-sider buying a Morgan more suitable to yourpresent skill level.

Will you be selecting a Morgan that needs

4


further training? Do you have the time andskill to provide this? You may need to consid-er placing your Morgan in the care of a pro-fessional trainer and recognize that it maytake some additional time for your Morgan tobecome ready for you to ride and drive onyour own.

SELECTING THE MORGAN HORSEA horse is more than just a pretty color or acute face. Temperament, age, size, gender,training level, and suitability for your pre-ferred discipline are just a few of the otherthings to consider when you select the rightMorgan for you.

TemperamentMost people find that of all the characteris-tics possessed by horses, the right tempera-ment is paramount to an enjoyable relation-ship. The Morgan breed is blessed with awonderful temperament in general. Theirwillingness to please is legendary amonghorse breeds and endears the Morgan totrainers and owners. However, Morgan tem-peraments vary from horse to horse and it iswise for you to spend some time with yourprospective purchase in order to assess itsbasic temperament and disposition. If you areinexperienced at assessing equine tempera-ment, you should enlist the aid of an experi-enced horse person, preferably someone whohas success in matching people to horses.Once you have located a Morgan that seemsto fit your criteria, make arrangements withthe seller to spend some time with this horsebefore you purchase it. Be wary of sellers whoare reluctant to allow reasonable visitation.

SizeThe Morgan Breed Standard of Perfectioncalls for horses between 14.2 and 15.2 handswith some individuals over and under thoseheights. The Morgan is a very strong anddurable horse for its size and smaller individ-uals are generally much more capable thanhorses of similar size in other breeds. It isprobably wise to try horses of various sizesbefore you make the final determination ofwhat size is right for you and the uses you

have in mind for your Morgan. Do not dis-miss the smaller Morgan for children andsmall adults. Some people are easily intimi-dated by larger horses and find the smallerMorgan quite suitable for their needs. Tallerpeople generally prefer proportionally tallerhorses. Size is an important consideration,but it should probably not be the highest pri-ority on your search criteria list.

AgeThe Morgan horse reaches its physical matu-rity at about eight years of age. Morgans aregenerally first trained to drive as early as twoyears of age and first ridden as early as threeyears. At those young ages though, their train-ing is far from complete and their physicaland mental immaturity enables only limiteduse. The advantage of purchasing a youngMorgan is that you have more control over itshandling and training than you might havewith an older horse. On the other hand, theadvantages of purchasing an older horse isthat the bulk of its elementary trainingshould be behind it and it may be ready tofully enjoy right away. When purchasing anolder horse, you should determine what kindof handling and training history it has. It maybe good, in which case your new Morgan willbe ready to enjoy right away. It may, however,be unknown or even filled with events thatmay take some serious professional handlingto overcome. If your prospect has anunknown history, it will absolutely benefit

5


you to have a professional evaluation of thathorse before you purchase it.

Do not overlook the teenage Morgan!Morgans generally live long and useful livesand some of the best buys in the breed are theteenage Morgans. They have training, experi-ence, and a history of usability that makestheir suitability for your needs easier to assess.Chances are a teenage Morgan that is stillstrong, sound, and healthy will not have ten-dencies for lameness or health problems.Keep in mind that the older horses most like-ly will have more mileage, which inevitablywill take some toll. If you are considering anolder Morgan, make the effort to determinewhat kind of “mileage” your prospective pur-chase has had, as it will help you evaluate howmuch stress was involved.

GenderThe question of breeding potential in yourprospective purchase is important in certainsituations. If the primary use of your Morganwill be breeding, you should be selecting onlystock that meets the highest criteria, especial-ly in terms of temperament, type, and con-formation. If you are selecting a Morganmare or stallion primarily for use as a per-

formance horse, the question of breedingquality may be secondary to other criteria.The steady, reliable, and consistent tempera-ment and performance of Morgan geldingsoften will make up for their lack of breedingpotential and Morgan geldings generallymake great choices for family recreationalhorses. Probably the most common fault inselecting horses is the idea that if the horse

does not live up to its potential as a perform-ance horse, one can always use it for breeding.Only Morgan stock that is intentionallyselected for breeding and meets the strictestcriteria in terms of Morgan temperament, type,and conformation should be used to reproduce.

Level of TrainingHorses are never too old to learn andMorgans are wonderful at learning newthings as they get older. The Morgan is a ver-satile breed and many individuals are verycapable of learning new and different disci-plines. Generally speaking, the inexperiencedrider or driver combined with the inexperi-enced horse is not an ideal match, and is bestavoided unless you have professional help thatcan help the two of you make it work. If theMorgan horse you have in mind has notreached the training level that is suitable foryour skills, carefully assess whether you arewilling and able to make the additionalinvestment of money in training. It can be avery rewarding educational experience to beinvolved with this training, but be realisticabout the time it will take to bring the horseto your skill level. Seek advice from profes-sional trainers about what will be involved inbringing along your Morgan to the pointwhere you can ride or drive it. And remember:when training horses, faster rarely means better.

Suitability to DisciplineThe immediate goal is to buy a Morgan thatis suitable for the discipline you plan to pur-sue. The Morgan that is a star as a drivinghorse may know little or nothing about sad-dle work. That will likely make it unsuitablefor riding disciplines without further training.Only with the help of a very good, trained,experienced eye should you try to select asuitable horse which is not already engaged inthe immediate discipline you plan to pursue.

The hallmark of the Morgan breed is itsinnate versatility. A Morgan with good train-ing and handling is capable of pursuing andbecoming competent at many different disci-plines. Your purchasing dollar may buy youmuch more horse for the money than someother breeds. This becomes an important

6


consideration as the two of you grow oldertogether. You may begin with a riding horseand decide years later that driving would bemore enjoyable. The Morgan is up to thechallenge. Many competitive Morgans beganby excelling in one discipline and movedthrough several others as they aged and astheir owners changed their desires and priori-ties. If you are purchasing an older Morgan,do not underestimate the value of the train-ing; it may already have had in a discipline ortwo that is different from the one for whichyou are purchasing it. Your situation maychange or you may decide to sell your Morganat a later date. The better and more extensiveits training, the greater enjoyment and versa-tility that horse has for you. And, if you needto sell your horse, your opportunities forsecuring a good home are far better.

THE MORGAN STANDARD OF PERFECTIONThe Morgan breed has a specific writtendescription and graphic illustrations of theideal type and conformation for the Morganhorse. Since this is a description of the idealmature Morgan, it is best to have an experi-

enced breeder or trainer help you evaluateyour selection if you are considering a young,immature Morgan. It is wise to keep in mindthat the Morgan Standard is a description ofthe “ideal” Morgan. Obviously, not everyMorgan has ideal type and conformation.The Morgan Standard is the benchmark allbreeders strive for, and against which allMorgans are compared for judging purposes.You will find many individuals that havegood, but not “perfect” conformation, andgood but not “perfect” Morgan type. Theseindividuals may, however, be perfectly accept-able and ideally suited for your needs. Ofcourse, it is wise to evaluate the conforma-tional deficiencies and what impact they mayhave on your intended uses of your newMorgan. Again, an experienced Morgan train-er or breeder as well as a good veterinariancan provide immeasurable assistance and per-haps help you avoid disappointments in thefuture.

An anatomical chart of

THE MORGAN HORSEAmerican Morgan Horse Association Inc.

Poll

Forehead

Nostril

Muzzle

Lower LipChin GrooveNeck

Line of Shoulder

Cheek

Throat Latch

Face

Point of Shoulder

Chest

Forearm

Knee

Cannon

Fetlock

CoronetPastern

HoofHeel

Chestnut

Gaskin

Hock

Cannon

Coronet

HoofPastern

Fetlock

Point of Hock

Girth

Ergot

Stifle

ElbowAbdomen

Buttock

ThighFlank Barrel

Dock Croup Loin WithersBack

Crest

7


BREEDING AND BLOODLINESWithin the Morgan breed are differentbloodlines and closely related family groups.Each bloodline or combination of bloodlineshas certain physical characteristics and per-formance and behavior tendencies. While theMorgan breed is relatively small, sorting outthese bloodline-related characteristics is usu-ally beyond the scope of the first-time buyerwho will be unfamiliar with the various fami-lies and influential horses within the Morganbreed. If available, the seller should provideyou with a copy of the Morgan’s registrationpapers. On it will be listed several generations

of Morgans who contributed to producingthe Morgan you are considering. Only thosewith actual experience in breeding and/ortraining many different Morgans can accu-rately advise you on the relative importance ofthe ancestors in the pedigree of your prospec-tive purchase. Ask for the input of a few expe-rienced breeders and trainers. Keep what theysay in perspective and try to find commonareas where they agree. Each person will colortheir views with their own personal prefer-ences and each person’s experiences are apt tobe somewhat different.

FINDING MORGAN HORSES FOR SALE

The AMHAThe AMHA can provide you with names andcontact information of Morgan owners,breeders, and trainers in your area who mayhave Morgans for sale. They can also provideyou with a list of your local Morgan associa-tions, some of which maintain sales listingsof Morgans for sale.

CompetitionsOne way to familiarize yourself with theMorgan breed is to attend some horse showsand competitions where Morgans are com-peting, if you are interested in showing yournew Morgan. The AMHA can provide youwith dates and locations of competitions inyour area. There you can see Morgans inaction as well as talk to their owners andtrainers in the stable areas. Most will be veryglad to speak with you, however, rememberthat trainers are apt to be under some pres-sure to ensure all goes correctly with theirhorses and under some time constraints inpreparing and showing their horses. It is bestto ask them when they will be free to speakwith you rather than to expect them to imme-diately devote their attention entirely to youwhile they are involved in competition.

Local PublicationsLocal publications may list Morgans for sale.A good place to start is by contacting yourlocal tack shop. They often have local equinepublications in their shops or will knowwhich ones are likely to list Morgans for salein your area.

The InternetThe Internet is a growing source for leads onMorgans for sale. Several sites list classifiedads as well as web pages for breeders, trainers,and owners of Morgan horses. You will findan up-to-date list of Morgan horse farms andgeneral equine websites on the AMHA web-site at www.morganhorse.com

8


SalesAnother source of Morgans for sale are pub-lic sales. These generally fall into three cate-gories: production consignment, and disper-sal sales. A production sale usually is held bya farm or ranch selling stock that they haveproduced themselves from their own breedinghorses. They usually are not selling this stock“just to get rid of it.” They are using the saleas way to promote and market the stock theyare proud of and you usually will find verygood individuals in their sale catalog. At aconsignment sale you will find all kinds ofMorgans being sold for all kinds of reasons.Some are there because their owners have sit-uations that force the sale of their horses,some are there just to find new homes, someunfortunately will be problem horses theowners find unacceptable. Some consignmentsales offer high quality Morgans and use thisas an efficient means to promote great horsesall in one place. Some consignment sales arejust a means to have the horses change hands.At dispersal sales you will find horses for saleby an owner who is going out of business forany number of reasons. No matter what thetype of sale or the reasons why the horses arebeing sold, if you are not experienced in buy-ing horses, be sure to have someone who isadvising you. Often sales have veterinarians inattendance and it may be wise to seek theiradvice on things which concern you about thehealth or soundness of any of the horses youmay be considering. Auctions are anotheravenue you may want to take to find that per-fect Morgan.

COMMUNICATING WITH THE SELLER

Caveat EmptorBuyer beware. Asking questions is often yourbest insurance that what you see is what youare buying. Ask why the horse is for sale. Theonly dumb question is the one you do notask. No seller should be reluctant to answeryour questions or be evasive in his or heranswers. Beware if you are unsatisfied with theanswers or if the seller is not readily forthcoming.

Not all the onus is on the seller to rec-ommend a suitable horse for you. You have tobe honest in communicating your require-ments and your abilities to the seller. Onlythen will they be able to recommend the cor-rect horse. If they know your requirements,reputable sellers will not intentionally sell youan unsuitable Morgan.

Videos/PhotosSellers often have photos or videos of theMorgans they have for sale and will sendthem to you prior to an actual visit. These are

useful tools to help give you some idea ofwhat the horses are like but be careful not toplace too much importance on what you see.Sometimes what you really need to know isnot in the video. Use them only as a guide.Call the seller back if the materials raise morequestions. When viewing videos, rememberthat most televisions are not properly adjusted, particularly in horizontal and vertical adjustments, and this can present aninaccurate picture of the horses. Do not necessarily move on to another horse if theseller does not have videos or photos readily

9


available, particularly if you are buying aMorgan from a private owner as opposed to aprofessional trainer. Good photos can be hardto come by and not everyone is equipped tomake a sales video.

Competition RecordsAsk for a competition record if the Morganhas been shown in competition. The youngerthe horse, the shorter the record will be. Dono necessarily move on to the next Morgan ifthe horse does not have a performance record.But do try to find out why it does not exist orappears to be incomplete. Ask about the levelof competition. All wins are not equal. Be

reasonable in your expectations of horses thathave won at the local level when they move upto regional or national levels.

Care RecordsEvery Morgan should have some sort ofrecord of its vaccinations and worming.Morgans generally are very hardy, sound hors-es but you should ask for a veterinary recordwhich would list episodes of lameness and ill-ness. Ask about those incidents if they arepresent. Report them to the veterinarian whomay be assisting you with your purchase andask them to evaluate their importance. Askabout stable vices. The Morgan breed is rela-tively free of stable vices but they do exist.Some vices are relatively harmless, but otherscan be tough to live with and can be detri-

mental to the health of the horse.Fortunately, the Morgan breed has few inher-ent weaknesses when it comes to feet and legs.You should ask about the horse’s foot careand you may wish to speak directly with thefarrier who maintains the horse’s feet.

Daily HandlingAsk about the horse’s regular daily care. Themanner in which it is presently being caredfor may be significantly different than whatyou have planned. That difference may becritical to the attitude and disposition of thehorse, as well as to its physical appearance.For instance, a horse that is used to beingoutside 24 hour a day may change dramati-cally in personality if you plan to keep it sta-bled for long periods of time. Conversely, ahorse kept stabled most of the time may reactunexpectedly if you plan to keep it outside allthe time. Ask how the horse gets along withother horses. What is its turnout schedule? Isit apt to be the herd boss, somewhere lower inthe order, or at the bottom? Most of the timenone of these positions is more or less desir-able than another, but the answer may giveyou some more insight into the personality ofthe horse and help you assess how successfulyour plans for it may be. Ask the seller tocharacterize the horse’s disposition. Is it com-patible with your criteria?

Training HistoryAsk about the horse’s training history. Whotrained it, when, for how long, and in whatway (i.e. western pleasure, carriage, hunt seat,etc.)? Are the answers compatible with yourplans? Speak with the person or persons whotrained the horse. Often they can tell youmore about the horse than the seller. Try todetermine what the horse does not know. Arethese things which it will have to learn beforeit becomes the Morgan of your dreams? If so,how much time, effort, and money will it takeand is the horse likely to learn them?

Trying the HorseOnce you have spoken with the seller and hadyour initial questions answered, make an

10

Photo © Omar Gonzales


appointment with the seller to see and try thehorse at a time that is convenient for all par-ties involved. If you feel unsure about yourability to assess the horse in any area—whether it be disposition, conformation, type,soundness, and/or training level, etc.—it isunwise to proceed without the help of some-one who has more experience. Keep your eyesopen when you visit the seller. When you firstsee the horse, does it appear at first glance tobe the horse that was described to you? If youwere told it was 15 hands and bay and itlooks 14.1 hands and a different color, moveon to the next seller. Try to assess the dispo-sition of the horse, not only while it is beingridden or driven but at all times when you aretogether. You may learn a lot about the horseby how it has been, or is being, kept.

When trying the horse, always ask to seeit being ridden or driven by its handler beforeyou try it yourself. Never ride or drive a horseyou are not positively certain can perform atleast the basics for you. If you are buying ahorse to “grow into” as your skills improve,take an accomplished rider or driver with youand have him or her try the horse for you. Donot rely on the seller to do this for you unlessyou know him or her to be reputable.

PriceObviously the price of the horse must bewithin your budget. Often the asking pricecan be negotiated. However, do not wasteyour time or the seller’s time trying horses outof your price range. Find out how firm thehorse’s price is before you try it. Purchasenegotiations can be quite simple or quitecomplex depending on many factors. If thehorse meets your needs but is slightly beyondwhat you planned to spend, in the long run itmay be worth the extra money up front toown exactly the Morgan you want. You mayalso find that you and the seller can work outa deal that is comfortable for both of you.Sellers usually are pretty good at makingadjustments in order to sell their horses. Onthe other hand they usually know what theirhorses are worth, and expecting them to droptheir price significantly just because you can-

not afford to pay more is unrealistic.

CommissionsOften, commissions are involved with the saleof horses. It is wise to ask about them. Whois receiving them? Who is paying them? Howmuch are they? There can be commissionspaid by the owner of the horse to whomeverhelped to prepare the horse and facilitate thesale. There may also be commissions or find-er’s fees paid by the buyer to whomeverhelped to find just the right Morgan for thebuyer. The amounts of these commissionsvary with the individuals involved. If com-

missions are involved, it should be clear toeveryone involved with the sale who paysthem, who receives them, and how much theyare. This information should be specified inwriting in the purchase and sale contract.

DepositsAfter you and the seller have agreed to theprice and terms of the sale, often a deposit isinvolved. This can be a conditional depositwhich will be refunded only under certainconditions. For instance, it may be refundableon a pregnant broodmare if she is determinedprior to the completion of the sale not to bein foal. Or it may be refundable subject tocertain negative findings from a pre-purchaseexam by your veterinarian. The deposit mayalso be applied to the purchase price at thetime the purchase and sale contract is signed.

11


If you pay a deposit in advance of the sale,make sure you fully understand the terms andconditions that apply to it.

Payment TermsSometimes sellers will extend payment termsfor their horses. Since a horse is a living,breathing animal, such arrangements cansometimes be quite complicated, especially ifbreeding options are involved. Such arrange-ments can and do work for both the buyerand the seller, but usually it is better to payfor the horse in full and own it outright fromthe signing of the purchase and sales contract.

Warranties/GuaranteesThe legal intricacies of warranties and guar-antees vary from state to state. You may wishto check with a legal adviser if you are con-

cerned about them. Clauses that address themshould be included in the purchase and salesagreement. Do not sign one until you are sat-isfied they are present in the contract and thatthey will hold up in the event of problemsafter the sale. Sometimes conditions or stipu-lations will apply to the sale of a horse. Thesemight take the form of describing or restrict-ing the use for which the horse is being sold,such as for breeding purposes only. The sellermay know things about the horse that theymay wish to stipulate prior to the sale. Forinstance, the seller may know the horse has astable vice or is unable to be bred and wish tomake certain you are aware of it. These types

of conditions and stipulations should bespecifically written into the purchase and saleagreement.

Trial PeriodsSome sellers will offer trial periods duringwhich the buyer can live with the horse to fur-ther assess its suitability and compatibilitywith you and its new environment. The struc-ture of trial period agreements will varygreatly from seller to seller. Inquire about it,but don’t expect it. The terms of such anarrangement should be precisely spelled outin writing beforehand to avoid any misunder-standings. Instead of an official trial period,most sellers will gladly make reasonable timeavailable to buyers to spend some time withthe horses before actually buying them. Thisis a courteous gesture and you should returnit by being reasonable in your requests.

THE PURCHASE PROCESS

The Pre-Purchase ExamOnce you have determined that the horsemeets all your requirements, it is a good prac-tice to have a veterinarian of your choosingperform a pre-purchase exam. Out of conflictof interes concerns, most veterinarians willnot perform pre-purchase exams if theyalready are employed by the seller. TheAmerican Association of EquinePractitioners can help you locate a veterinari-an qualified to perform an equine pre-pur-chase exam, and their contact information isin the Resource Section of this handbook.The results of a pre-purchase exam shouldgive you a picture of the physical condition ofthe horse on the day it was performed. It maygive you some idea about what its life was likeup to that point as your vet may find existingevidence of previous injury. It may also giveyou some ideas about the future soundness ofthe horse. Obviously your vet cannot predictthe future or reconstruct the past with 100percent accuracy, but he or she may be able touncover warning signs of future problemsbased on his or her findings. It makes a lot ofsense for you to be present at the pre-pur-chase exam, if at all possible. This will allowyou to discuss findings with your veterinarian

12


as they are made. Such discussions may saveyou money and will undoubtedly influencehow the examination proceeds. One of themost common ways to proceed with a veteri-nary pre-purchase exam is to start with therudimentary checks on the eyes, heart, lungs,teeth, and a basic soundness evaluation.Suspicious or obvious defects should benoted. Those findings may be enough tocause you to reject the horse for your purpos-es at that point. If you decide to investigatefurther, the examination should then proceedwith a more indepth analysis. Flexion tests ofthe limbs may indicate the existence of prob-lems which may need further investigation. X-rays of the feet and the perhaps joints higherup the leg may be in order. Whether these arenecessary will depend on the individualhorse’s age and condition, your intended use,and how much maintenance you are willing tocommit to in order to keep you future horsehealthy and sound. If you plan to use yournew Morgan for breeding, your veterinarianshould examine it with that in mind. Theyshould be able to give you fairly accurate fer-tility predictions. If the horse already hasbeen used for breeding, ask the seller for anybreeding records they have. Once the exami-nation is complete and you understand theramifications of any problems that wereuncovered, it is up to you to decide if you arewilling and able to live with any problems.Your veterinarian can help you determinewhat may be involved, but only you can deter-mine whether you can live with them. If youfeel unqualified to make the determination,rely on your veterinarian’s expert opinion orthat of any experienced advisers who are help-ing you with your purchase decisions.

DocumentationOnce you are satisfied that you have found asuitable Morgan and with the findings of theprepurchase exam, it is time to sign thePurchase and Sale Agreement. Not every con-tract will be the same and sellers usually havea form they prefer. There are, however, someclauses which should be in every contract,such as the name of the owner who is sellingthe horse; who the seller’s agent is, if any;

commissions involved; the date of the trans-action; the name, description, and AMHAregistration number of the horse; the price ofthe horse; and how payment is to be made.Clauses about warranties, guarantees, andother stipulations as applicable to this partic-ular horse, who will pay for the registration

transfer (or who will pay for the registrationif it is not already registered) should also beincluded. Generally speaking it is a good ideafor the buyer to secure a signed registrationtransfer form from the seller and to send it tothe AMHA themselves, but some sellers pre-fer to do it. (Transfer forms are available fromthe AMHA.) If the Morgan is not alreadyregistered, make sure it is eligible. If you havequestions about the eligibility contact theAMHA Registry. In any event, how and whenthe official transfer and updated registrationpapers of the horse are to be handled shouldbe in writing in the Purchase and SaleAgreement. Both buyer and seller shouldretain signed copies.

LeasingWhile it is beyond the scope of this booklet,leasing can sometimes be a reasonable alter-native to purchase and is mentioned here onlybecause it may provide some benefits to boththe owner/lessor and the lessee. This may beespecially true if you are not entirely surehorse ownership is for you. It does provide away for you to experience life with horseswithout the risk and commitment of outrightownership.

13


RESOURCES

American Morgan Horse Association4066 Shelburne Road, Suite 5 • Shelburne, VT 05482-6908 • phone: (802) 985-4944Fax: (802) 985-8897 • e-mail: [email protected] • website: www.morganhorse.com

American Association ofEquine Practicioners

4075 Iron Works Parkway Lexington, KY 40511-8434859/233-0147, fax 859/233-1968www.aaep.org

American Driving SocietyP.O. Box 278, Cross Plains, WI 53528608/237-7382, fax 608/237-6468www.americandrivingsociety.orgE-mail: [email protected]

American Endurance Ride Conference11960 Heritage Oak Place, Suite 9,Auburn, CA 95603530/823-2260, fax 530/823-7805www.aerc.org

American Farriers Association4059 Iron Works Parkway, Suite 2Lexington, KY 40511859/233-7411, fax 859/231-7862www.americanfarriers.orgE-mail: [email protected]

American Horse Council1700 K St. NW Ste 300, Washington D.C., 20006202/296-4031, fax 202/296-1970www.horsecouncil.orgE-mail: [email protected]

InsuranceShould you insure your new purchase? As ageneral rule of thumb, if you cannot afford toincur a total loss on your equine investmentor a loss would present a significant hardshipfor you, then, yes, you should insure yourMorgan. You may wish to insure your newMorgan anyway for your own peace of mindand to help with the possible expenses shoulddisaster strike. The best time to start anyinsurance is at the moment of purchase.

CONCLUSIONIf at any time during your search for the per-fect Morgan horse you have any questions notanswered in this booklet, please contact theAMHA. They will make every effort toanswer your questions or put you in touchwith someone who can. Once you have pur-chased your new Morgan you will be ready tojoin the other Morgan lovers in learning moreabout the breed and the AMHA. TheAMHA offers many programs for you andyour Morgan and your support throughmembership in the Association will not onlybenefit you, it will help promote and preservethe wonderful Morgan horse!

About the AuthorThe author, Jeff Morse, learned to ride on Abbington OfShady Lawn, the 1949 National Champion MorganMare. He spent 12 summers as a youth at GreenMeads Farm riding Morgans and attending the NewEngland Morgan Shows. He returned to Green MeadsFarm as manager in 1974. He has served as vice pres-ident of the New England Morgan Horse Associationand president and treasurer of the MassachusettsMorgan Horse Association. He has been the chairman ofthe Massachusetts Morgan Horse Show since 1989. Hecurrently is training Morgan horses with an emphasis oncarriage driving at Green Meads Farm in Richmond,Massachusetts.

14


American Part-Blooded Horse Registry12294 SE 104th Ct. Portland, OR 97267503/698-8615www.apbhorseregistry.com

American Morgan Horse Institute, Inc.P.O. Box 519 Shelburne, VT 05482-0519802/985-8477, fax 802/985-8430E-mail: [email protected]

American Veterinary Medical Association1931 N. Meacham Rd., #100Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360800/248-2862, fax 847/925-1329www.avma.orgE-mail: [email protected]

Carriage Association of America3915 Jay Trump Rd. Lexington, KY 40511859/231-0971www.caaonline.com

National Animal Poison Control CenterCollege of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of IllinoisUrbana, IL 61801888-426-4435www.aspca.org

National Cutting Horse Association260 Bailey Ave., Ft. Worth, TX 76107817/244-6188, fax 817/244-2015www.nchacutting.com

National Museum of the Morgan HorseP.O. Box 700 Shelburne, VT 05482-0700802/985-8665, fax 802/985-5242members.tripod.com/~NMMH/E-mail: [email protected]

National Reining Horse Association3000 NW 10th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73107405/946-7400, fax 405/946-8410www.nrha.comE-mail: [email protected]

North American Riding For theHandicapped

P.O. Box 33150, Denver, CO 80233303/452-1212, fax 303/252-4610www.narha.org

North American Trail Ride ConferenceP.O. Box 2136 Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557-2136505/751-4198www.natrc.orgE-mail: [email protected]

United States Dressage Federation4051 Iron Works ParkwayLexington, KY 40511-8434859/971-2277, fax 859/971-7722www.usdf.orgE-mail: [email protected]

United States Eventing Association525 Old Waterford Rd., NWLeesburg, VA 20176703/779-0440, fax 703/779-0550www.eventingusa.comE-mail: [email protected]

United Professional Horseman’s Association4059 Iron Works ParkwayLexington, KY 40511-8434859/231-5070, fax 859/255-2774www.uphaonline.orgE-mail: [email protected]

USA Equestrian4047 Iron Works ParkwayLexington, KY 40511-8434859/231-5070, fax 859/255-2774www.equestrian.org

15


4066 Shelburne Road, Suite 5Shelburne,VT 05482-6908Telephone: (802) 985-4944Fax: (802) 985-8897E-mail: [email protected]: www.morganhorse.com

Photo © Edwards


Documents

How to Buy a Morgan Horse to Buy a Morgan Horse ... the costs of various types of horse care in your area. ... generally first trained to drive as early as two