18: Taking the Plunge by Buying a Horse in Visual Studio .NET

Encoder QR Code 2d barcode in Visual Studio .NET 18: Taking the Plunge by Buying a Horse

As with anything else you buy, the seller s reputation is very important especially when dealing with breeders and trainers If you don t know the breeder or trainer, ask for referrals or inquire about him or her from other horse people in the area Make sure the business or the individual has a good reputation before you get involved in any business dealings

If you like the idea of giving a home to a horse in need, consider adopting a rescued horse Rescue organizations, such as Horse Lovers United (www horseloversunitedcom) and the Horse Protection League (wwwcohpl org), may let you adopt a horse for nothing or for a minimal fee Although horse adoption is a noble cause, it s not always the right road to take for a beginning rider and first-time horse owner Some horses who are available for adoption make great riding horses for beginners, but others aren t suited to inexperienced riders or can t be ridden at all If you d like to pursue this option, do so with your horse-shopping expert in tow Remember to be rational and critical, just as you would if you were buying Don t take home a horse who isn t right for you just because she s free or because you feel sorry for her If the relationship doesn t work out (and chances are that it won t), the results can be disastrous for both you and the horse you re trying to help If the rescue group you re working with is reputable, it should match you only with a horse who s appropriate for your experience level

After you find a horse that both you and your trainer or expert agree on, it s time to get a vet in on the decision Most equine veterinarians offer a service known as a pre-purchase exam, or a vet check If you hire a vet to perform such an exam, the doctor comes out to where the horse resides and thoroughly examines the animal I walk you through the pre-purchase exam process in the following sections

After you find a horse you re interested in, you need to choose a veterinarian, decide whether you want an extensive exam or just the basics, and schedule the actual appointment

Some aspects of the pre-purchase exam are included in the basic price, although other services will cost you extra The more tests you have the vet perform, the more you ll learn about your prospective horse and the more you ll pay for the exam Pre-purchase exams can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1,000 or more, depending on where you live and whether you have the horse s legs X-rayed The following section explains some of these checks Make sure you select an independent veterinarian to perform the prepurchase exam not one the seller suggests or who considers the seller a client If you re unable to locate an independent veterinarian on your own, contact the American Association of Equine Practitioners for a referral (wwwaaeporg or 859-233-0147) 19 has more information on finding an equine vet If you re working with a reputable trainer to find a horse, your veterinarian may recommend that you take the horse you re considering for a one-week or longer trial period before conducting the pre-purchase exam That way, you have a chance to spend time with the horse, and you can ensure that the horse is drug-free before the exam

Following are just some of the things the vet looks at in a pre-purchase exam: Vital signs: The vet checks the horse for normal temperature, respiration, and pulse while the horse is at rest After the horse gets some light exercise, the vet checks these vital signs again Abnormal readings are sometimes a way to detect illness Heart and lungs: The vet listens to the horse s heart and lungs with a stethoscope to determine whether any problems are present Gut sounds: Using a stethoscope, the vet listens to the sounds coming from the horse s gastrointestinal system Normal gut sounds indicate a healthy digestive system Teeth: The vet examines the horse s mouth for problems with missing teeth, overgrown molars, poor alignment, and the wear from cribbing (an obsessive habit of biting on a fence, feeder, or other object and sucking air in at the same time) Eyes: Using a light source, the vet checks the health of the horse s eyes, looking for corneal scarring, cataracts, inflammation, and other signs of disease