Know before you buy

The best horse is the one that suits the rider you are now, at a cost you can keep paying. Settle these before you look, and the looking gets easier.

What you actually need

Be honest about your level, how often you ride, and what you want to do in two years. A green rider needs a made horse. An ambitious rider needs scope to grow into. Most people buy for the rider they hope to become and end up over-horsed; buy for the rider you are, with a little room.

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is the smallest number. Board, farrier every six weeks, vaccines, dental, deworming, insurance, tack and lessons add up to more per year than many horses cost. Work out the monthly figure for your area before you set a budget.

Who is on your side

Bring your trainer or an experienced friend to every trial. They see what you cannot when you are already in love. Choose the vet for the pre-purchase exam yourself; do not use the seller's vet.

What the record should show

Ask for the history: previous owners, what the horse has done, show results, soundness issues, any surgeries or time off. On Foalioo that is the horse's Record tab. Where records are private, ask; a seller with nothing to hide will share them.

Red flags

A seller who will not let you see the horse caught from the field. A horse that is already tacked and warmed up when you arrive. No vet records at all. A story that changes. A price far below the market. None of these is proof, but each is a reason to slow down.